The sound of water dripping was maddening but Laura refused to open her eyes and alert her captors that she was awake. She’d been trying to teleport out of here since she woke up but it hadn’t worked. Laura was stuck wherever she was until Dedric found her, and he would find her even if he were having second thoughts about their mating.
The mattress she was lying on smelled of mold, dirt and somebody else’s blood. Not a good sign for her future. The occasional gust of fresh air broke up the scent of a decaying body nearby. She estimated whatever or whoever it was had been dead a couple days.
Over the last few hours, she’d heard two women arguing incessantly. First, it was about what to do with her, kill her outright or use her as a sacrifice for a spell. Then they went on to fight about whether or not to wake her up, and finally, they argued about which sister had sacrificed more for their cause. By the end of it, they had said their names multiple times and she knew these were the witches that cursed the wolf shifters. Ceva had said it was heartbreak that led to the curse. Laura wondered what kind of heartache drove them to it.
The sound of footsteps interrupted her thoughts. “You might as well open your eyes. We know you’re awake.”
Laura knew they’d eventually figure it out, so she opened her eyes and looked at the blind woman on the other side of her cage. She looked around and noticed she was lying on a thin mattress thrown on the rocky cave floor. The area around her was dark and dirty. She wondered why dark wizards and witches always had to live in the creepiest places.
“Are your lodgings acceptable, almighty legacy wielder?”
“Somehow I’m guessing you really don’t care what my answer is.” Laura wouldn’t back down to these vile creatures who killed innocent babies with their curse.
“Ah, this one has a bit of a bite. Bad mutt,” she scolded. Laura wasn’t surprised by the put down and didn’t even bother to react. “You won’t be so smug once we remove the protection spell from you. You’ll be just like the rest of your kind, begging for your pathetic life.”
“So which one are you? Ula or Ethne?” Laura asked, completely ignoring the threat.
“I am Ethne, oldest of the Fire sisters,” she announced as though it was of great importance.
“Yeah, you’re the blind one, and your sister, Ula, is missing a leg. Got it.” Laura waved her hand dismissively. If these two wanted their egos enlarged, it wouldn’t be coming from her.
“You speak bravely for someone who is going to die.”
“I’m not dead yet.”
“Only a matter of time,” Ethne said and then waved her hand as Laura had done. For someone who’s supposed to be blind she certainly could see well. Good to know. “Sleep well, mutt. We start working on you tomorrow.”
Ethne laughed as she and Ula walked away until Laura could no longer hear them. Laura opened her senses until she was sure she was alone. All around her was rock; she tried to call the wind to her but there was so little fresh air she couldn’t summon enough in this small section of the cave she was in.
Laura tried a different one of her omega abilities and placed her palms against the rock beneath her. The permeability of the rock wasn’t the best but it might be good enough if given time. She could feel the living plants and roots around her. Even the moss on the cave walls responded to her call. If she could get a few large roots to the surface, she could use them as defense to buy her more time or give her a chance to escape. It would take time and she didn’t know how much of that she had left.
She rested one of her palms on her stomach and swore to protect her baby no matter the cost.
Dedric, my love, we need you.
Dedric bolted out of his chair scaring the remaining people around the table. He’d heard her, he knew he did. “Laura?”
Ceva and the king were by his side in seconds. “Do you hear her?” Ceva asked.
“Yes, she’s calling for me.” Dedric’s heart was breaking. His mate was out there all alone and calling for him, and he was powerless to help.
“Good…good, we can use that to search for her,” King Leonidas announced.
“We can? How? Show me so I can find her.” Dedric would grovel if he had to. He needed his mate back.
“It’s not a simple as that,” Ceva stated.
“It never is, is it?” Dedric growled in frustration. Laura had been missing for over twenty-four hours and his patience had worn thin hours ago. He needed to be out there searching, doing something, anything instead of sitting around his dining room table discussing strategy.
Samson was by his side while General Jensgar and Drune prepared the warriors to retrieve their omega. The pack had been distraught after learning their omega had been taken. Their fear turned into anger, which was a mighty thing. The pack would fight for Laura, no doubt. Dedric had taken the opportunity to inform the pack that Laura was pregnant with their first child. Not exactly the way they had planned to do it, but once he got his mate back they could throw a party to celebrate. Because he was getting his mate and baby back safe and sound—there was no other option.
Dedric looked around the room at the people who had come to help: Ceva, the king, Aldric, Helena, Joseph, Rowl and Karli, Doc and a band of white witches who had helped find and rescue Ceva when she was taken by her father to be a sacrifice to his evil plans. Dedric was thankful to each and every one of them and knew the power each one brought with them. The pack had rallied and prepared for any battle that might end up on pack lands. Gabi, Lily and Jennifer kept a constant flow of food and coffee to the people gathered. Dedric knew Laura would have been so proud of their pack.
“Okay, let’s have a seat and we’ll work on homing in on Laura,” Ceva suggested and the three sat back down. “Now I need you to concentrate as hard as you can on your mate. Picture her in your mind. Try to reach for her—talk to her.
Dedric did as Ceva instructed. He pushed as hard as he could but nothing happened, not even a sense of her. He was failing his mate. Images of her holding their baby flashed through his mind, urging him on. His precious mate was depending on him to save them. He would not disappoint them.
Laura, love. Where are you? I’m trying to find you, baby.
Dedric. He sensed her in his mind for a split second and it was gone, but it had been enough to get a general idea of where she was.
“I had her. I know she is to the north of us deep inside the earth,” Dedric announced, feeling slightly better at having been able to reach his love. He would keep trying until he found her.
“That’s what happened to me when we were looking for Ceva,” Lothar explained. “I was only able to sense a tiny bit, but with white witches’ help I was able to break through to reach her and teleport to that location.” He spoke with confidence.
“How long did that take?” Dedric asked.
Lothar wouldn’t meet his eyes when he said, “A couple days.”
“Days! What if we don’t have days? What if they’re hurting her and our baby right now?” Dedric knew that logically the baby was only a group of cells at this point, but it was still his child.
The room filled with calm and he knew all the omegas were trying to help, but he didn’t want calm. He wanted action.
“They won’t be able to hurt her magically or physically,” Ceva announced. “The moment I sensed something was wrong I placed a protection ward on her and your unborn child. It should buy us enough time to find her.”
“How strong are these wards?” Dedric asked.
“Strong enough to keep two dark witches at bay, I assure you.”
Dedric nodded, feeling a bit better knowing his mate wasn’t suffering, but still on edge. “I need to take a walk in the forest, to clear my mind and try again.”
“Good idea, take some time, let your senses free and see what happens,” King Leonidas agreed.
Before anyone could say another word, Dedric turned and walked out of the house. The sun was starting to rise as he made his way to the gardens. Laura had loved spending time here and he hoped that would help when he tried to reach her again.
It was killing him to think that they had spent their last moments together with Laura believing he was having reservations about their mating. That couldn’t have been further from the truth. The only concern he had was the pain level she would suffer every time she healed someone. He would stand with his mate through anything they threw at them. His love was strong and sure. He prayed Laura knew that.
He walked aimlessly through the flowers and fruit trees, no destination in mind, simply trying to connect to his love. His heart and body ached to have his mate in his arms again. Dedric turned the corner and found himself in the tiny private garden where Laura had recently delivered a healthy baby boy and saved the mother.
Dedric was shocked to find he wasn’t alone so early in the morning. Rion stood with his back turned, staring at the spot where his mate had delivered their son and his mate’s life was saved. Rion quickly turned when he sensed Dedric.
“I didn’t mean to disturb you,” Dedric said before turning to walk away.
“No, Alpha Dedric, you’re not interrupting. In fact I was asking the gods to help you in your search for your mate,” Rion replied before lowering his head. “She’s the only reason I have my family today. I don’t want to see anything happen to her.”
Dedric was struck by the sincerity in Rion’s voice. “Care to join me?” Dedric asked as he pointed to a nearby table and chairs.
“Are you sure, Alpha?”
“Yes,” he answered. It may seem strange to others but it felt calming being with the last person his mate had helped.
They sat both staring into the lush gardens. Laura loved this place and he’d often find her here. He’d give anything to have her here by his side. He would get his mate back no matter what it took.
“I remember a time not long ago that even dreaming about having a mate and a future was dangerous. Our former alpha ruled with an iron fist, and we all lived in fear,” Rion explained. “When Alpha Joseph, Beta Rowl and Omega Karli came to take over the pack there was fear, but hope as well. I was over three hundred years old and afraid to bring another life into the hell we were living. Our new alpha triad had changed that and Amirelle and I mated with new hopes for our future. Amirelle became pregnant quickly afterward, but then there was the curse to contend with. We’d fought for so long to have the right to be a family and I could have lost it all if it weren’t for your mate.”
Dedric thought over what Rion had said. Without Laura, shifters would lose hope of having a healthy baby and creating a family. She not only meant the world to Dedric but the entire wolf shifter population as a whole. He’d only been thinking how her disappearance had affected him, his feelings, his fears, and he felt humbled. There were families out there desperate for her help, praying right at this moment for her safety.
This wasn’t only about the two of them and how much they needed and loved each other. This was about their entire race and its continued existence. He’d been selfish and had not taken into consideration the repercussions to so many other shifters.
Earlier, he’d been sidetracked concentrating on the pain she suffered when she healed others. Who was he to walk into Laura’s life and assume to judge the levels of pain she could endure? She had been handling her life quite well for a long time before they ever met but he had brought up her pain as an issue. In fact, she had been afraid to tell him about it in the first place believing he was going to make her stop healing people.
Dedric had to face the fact that Laura could handle the pain and all he could do was support her decision to continue as she always had.
“I’m thankful she was able to help your mate and son.”
“If you need more help searching please ask. I would be honored to help in any way I can.”
“I’ll remember that, thank you,” Dedric replied before Rion stood up to leave. “Take care of your family, Rion.”
“I will, Alpha.”
Dedric watched the retreating figure until Rion disappeared into the early morning mist. Dedric tried to loosen his rigid muscles but it was no use; he’d be tense until he had Laura back in his arms. Leaning forward, Dedric rested his elbows on his knees and buried his face into the palms of his hands in despair.
A sense of warmth flowed over him and Dedric’s head snapped up but there was no one in the garden with him. He let loose his heightened senses, still finding no one in the immediate area.
Laura? Are you with me, love? Dedric was showered with love, confirming it was his mate. He may not be able to talk to her yet but they could sense each other.
I’m going to find you, mate. I’m trying to sense which direction you’re in. Dedric stood and began turning in a circle, sending his senses out in all directions. If anyone had seen him they’d have thought he’d lost it, but the attempt at reaching Laura was working. He was even more positive she was north of them and finally received a push in a certain direction.
Dedric opened his eyes to see the Alerian Mountain range off in the distance and knew his mate was there, somewhere. As he felt his mate’s connection slip away, he sent her all the love and reassurance he could until she was gone. Then he raced back to the Mallory house.
They had to get moving.
Laura basked in the glow of her mate’s love. She shouldn’t have worried he would reject her; she knew that now. Dedric’s love was strong and pure without reservation. She hoped she’d been able to send out a beacon to lead him to her, wherever that might be.
Another good sign appeared when a small root popped up in the middle of her cage. The dirt and rock beneath her was porous enough to allow roots to pass through. The only problem was the roots could only work their way through slowly, and she didn’t have nearly enough to mount an attack of any kind. The only choice she had was to continue to call the local flora to her as quickly as she could.
“I see you’re awake. I see no reason to hold off any longer,” said a tall woman she knew as Ula. She looked a lot like her sister, Ethne. Both had long graying hair, pointed faces and soulless expressions.
Laura didn’t sense Ethne in the area so she decided to lay a few seeds of discontent. “You might mess this up. Maybe you should wait for your sister to arrive.”
She could see Ula’s eyes flash red for a second before turning back to black. “I’d watch your tongue or I’ll cut it out.”
“If you could physically harm me you would have already.” Laura realized that Ceva must have placed a protective spell on her when neither sister would come closer than two feet from the bars on her cage. Protection spells did more than simply protect the person. It attacked anyone who came close with the intention of harming her.
“Besides,” Laura continued, “I was only repeating what Ethne said.”
“Ethne said this?”
“Well, maybe not in so many words, but enough for me to understand she’s the boss here.” Laura kept digging at Ula. If she could get them to turn on each other, it could buy her more time.
Ula growled but when Ethne walked through the entrance, Ula remained silent, choosing not to confront her sister. Interesting.
“Are we ready to start, Ula?” Ethne grumbled as she set a long length of gold chain on an altar of sorts cut into the rock wall. The walls of it were gold, and as Laura watched, the gold chain Ethne had set there began to liquefy and coat the bottom ledge, ensuring the entire altar was now covered in gold.
“Yes, sister. We are ready.” Ula stated. Laura didn’t miss the glare she gave Ethne and neither did Ethne—convincing Laura even further that Ula wasn’t blind.
“Glare at me again and I’ll take your eyes for my own,” Ethne threatened even though she hadn’t even been facing Ula. There had to be some serious magic involved for her to have that ability. She would have to make substantial sacrifices to keep that up. Then Laura was reminded of the decaying scent from earlier and cringed slightly at the thought.
Ula huffed loudly as if daring her sister to try before pulling a small red bag from her pocket. She untied it and a small yellow stone slid out into the palm of her hand.
“You see this, omega? This will suck the very life out of you, and no matter how much you struggle, you won’t be able to stop it. An old friend of ours, Koen, Ceva’s dark wizard father gave us a smaller version of the one he had used. When placed in its golden shrine it begins to suck the power and life out of you, exactly as Ceva’s father had tried to do to her,” Ula explained with a certain amount of sick satisfaction in her voice.
“Once you’re dead, the line carrying the legacy will end and all hope will be lost for your race’s survival. Eventually the curse will take over until all of your kind are destroyed. And the bonus, all your power will be trapped into this stone for me to use at will,” Ethne crooned as she took the stone from her sister.
Ula snatched it back and held it to her chest. “Power we’ll use at will.”
The tension in the small room ratcheted up quickly. Laura realized that there had been some sort of discord between the two before she planted any seeds of doubt. At most, she might have brought it toward the forefront, but it had already been festering.
“Of course, sister, we share everything,” Ethne was quick to say before taking the stone back. “I misspoke.”
Ula watched her sister carefully as Ethne placed the stone on a small pedestal in the center of their golden altar.
Laura instantly felt the pull on her body, but she didn’t flinch or give the sisters any indication that she felt anything. She wasn’t going to be their entertainment.
“Willful little Omega, you may be confident now but from what I hear it took weeks for Ceva to be able to stand again after its effects. How long do you think that babe in your belly will last?” Ethne laughed and walked out of the room followed by Ula.
She placed her hands protectively over her stomach. The thought of losing her baby was like a physical blow. Laura increased her efforts to bring larger roots to her that she could use to defend herself. The smaller root dug through further and Laura realized it was the root of a Lacoya tree—the one tree in all survival situations one would be ecstatic to find. The Lacoya tree has another name: the water tree.
Of course, Ethne and Ula hadn’t offered her any food or water; hell, they wanted her dead. She was so thirsty. Laura brought the root to her mouth, released her canines and bit into the watery flesh. She didn’t know how long she sat there sucking water out of the root but her thirst was long gone by the time she stopped.
Now that she felt slightly reenergized, Laura summoned the roots with more vigor. A new plan was hatching. If she could get a length of small root, she might be able to reach that yellow stone and bring it to her.
Laura had heard the story of Ceva’s capture from the white witch herself and knew the stone’s power could be controlled by whoever held it. If she could get her hands on it, she and her baby would have a fighting chance of making it out of here alive. The only problem with that plan was the rock around her. The roots had to find a way through cracks and crevasses to get to her and it was taking time. Time she couldn’t afford to waste.
Warmth flowed over her and she knew her mate was trying to reach her again. Laura sent her love back and tried for a few words. Yellow stone, she repeated over and over again. Ceva would know what she meant. At least she hoped Ceva would. Slowly the warmth slipped away and the cold rock surrounding her seeped back in. With every fiber of her being, she wanted to be wrapped in her mate’s arms, and if she had to destroy the sisters to get there, so be it.