Ember's Curse (Prime Wolf) (13 page)

"She wants to make an oath with us," he said.

"She doesn’t just want to do it; she is doing it, Collin."

"She-wolf, come to me," Orea ordered. She still held her eyes closed and was faced towards the lake, so she didn't see my face go pail or my body go rigid, but Collin certainly felt my fear. His arms gripped tighter around my body but I patted them reassuringly.

"I'll be okay," I said. "There is no turning back now. If something happens, grab everyone and get out of here."

Collin spun me around in his arms. I could feel his heart pounding hard against my chest. He took my face in between his hands and smashed his lips hard against mine. When he pulled away, he gave me the softest look.

"Either we all leave here together or none of us do."

I didn't have a good enough response to what he had just said. I was touched by it, speechless, but all I could think about was keeping him and my friends safe. So with that thought in mind, I pulled myself out of his arms. I straightened my shoulders and dug deep inside of me for the courage to move my legs, and by placing one heavy foot in front of the other, I walked over to the queen. It would have been so easy for me to turn and run, but I couldn't do that. I wasn't built that way. Fear was meant to be stared down and beaten to within an inch of its life. It was the only way I knew how to deal with such an inconvenient emotion. That left me with only two options: make a deal with Orea, or watch my mate and close friends get dragged into the murky blue.

Chapter 10

All the nerves in my body were on edge. Well, maybe not all of them. I'm sure there might have been a brave neuron or two all suited up in armor, ready for battle, giving me the fortitude to keep moving forward toward the queen. A small chill over took me the closer I got to her, so I grabbed both ends of my jacket and pulled them tightly together. Since it wasn't the actual temperature giving me such a frosty feeling, the added cover didn't help.

"I thought wolves were supposed to be quick on their feet," Orea said impatiently. "You’re as slow as molasses. Get over here. No harm will befall you."

I picked up the pace and reached her side after only a few more steps. She motioned for me to kneel next to her and I complied without question.

"Place your hand into the water next to mine," she said causally. I wasn't as calm as she was at all.

My hand shook a little bit as I sunk it into the water. As soon as it was fully emerged, something slimy wrapped tightly around it and I had to pull back against a slight tug.

"What the...?"

"Don't worry, child. Just take what the lake has to offer you."

I relaxed my body and opened my tightly fisted hand. As soon as I freed my grip, I felt a slender object placed into it. Orea grabbed my arm and pulled it free of the water. I looked down to see the object that had been given to me. Nestled in my palm was something that looked like a dagger. A dagger that was fully composed of solid ice, all the way down to its handle. What the most surprising thing of all was, somehow the ice weapon wasn't cold to the touch, just a bit cool.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" I asked her nervously.

Orea took the dagger from me. She grabbed my hand and turned it so my palm was facing up. Without any warning, she pressed the blade’s sharp point into my skin and a red line, of what felt like fire, was left in its wake. A small river of blood trickled out of the shallow cut and pooled over the side of my hand, falling into the lake. I tried to yank my hand from hers but she merely squeezed more tightly around my wrist so I couldn't move it.

"This is necessary if you want to save your human," she said, glaring at me. The look she gave was serious but didn't seem to hold any malice. The stern slash of her mouth had actually softened, and if I wasn't mistaken, I could spy a shadow of kindness in the depths of her eyes. It made me think that there might be a chance she wanted to help me and my friends, but I couldn't for the life of me think of one reason why she would want to. The last time I checked, it was her that Collin and I should be worried about. Maybe it was just the rules and traditions that bound and limited her actions that were the real threat to us.

"Alright, I'll cooperate. But I have to know what I'm committing myself to first," I said to her.

"Patience, Wolf. You're about to find out."

I stared at my cut for a moment. Blood continued to flow unbidden. I was beginning to feel a little light headed from the loss. "If we could do this before I bleed out, that'd be great," I said.

Orea dipped her hand into the lake. She cupped a handful of water and splashed it over my wound. Several drops of the now pinkish water spilt over my palm and dripped to the ground, and then the queen began to chant melodically, "Her hybrid blood flows freely to feed the earth and water, a fitting sacrifice unto your elemental altar. I seek a pact between dark and earth’s daughter. Hear my call; with death be the price, if one of us shall falter."

I could feel an electrical current run through my body. The hair on my arms stood up and my mouth went dry.

"I am here to witness," boomed a voice from beyond. "Claim your oath from the hybrid and quickly. I could easily lose my patience and feed you all to my Harpy instead."

"What was that?" I asked, looking all around me. I couldn't see where or whom the voice came from. But I could feel the presence of someone strong, and also very magical, judging by the shiver that ran straight up my spine.

"He is Ash, King of the Meliads, and don't worry. His bark is way worse than his bite," she answered reassuringly while standing up. She held her hand out to me so I could do the same. I took it gratefully. I was still lightheaded from the loss of blood and the little bit of help was useful.

"But his Harpy on the other hand," she continued on, "let's just say, it's best to keep a good distance from her. She has a bit of an attitude."

"Now see here Orea, don't go ruining my ghastly reputation just yet," the ghostly voice said. But then, after only a few tense seconds, the king stepped out of a blue flash of light. His dark hair was adorned with a crown of bright green leaves and his tall, well-toned body was covered only by another patch of leaves wrapped around his waist. The garment of foliage crept between his legs and wrapped snuggly around his thighs. I imagine that if I were to meet Adam in the flesh, he would probably look exactly like the King of the Meliads.

"Before we go any farther, I need your mate to join us," the king said. "If he is to be a part of this too, his oath will be needed."

"I'd rather leave him out of this if it's all the same to you," I replied. There wasn't any need for both of us to be tied to this craziness, at least that's what I'd hoped.

"I think it's too late for that, don't you?" he said, gesturing towards Collin. "Just look at your mate. That man is trying his hardest to respect your wishes by staying put. You do know your request goes against his very nature to protect his mate. He must really love you." I looked over at Collin. He was shifting from one foot to the other and staring daggers at the king and queen. It was obvious that he was more than a little bit agitated.

I’m okay, Collin,
I sent to reassure him. As soon as he heard my voice in his head, he calmed down considerably.

I'm coming over to you. There's no way I can wait any longer
, he sent back to me. His voice sounded ripe with emotions. I guess the king was right. I probably shouldn't have made him wait.

Alright then, just try and keep your cool. No shifting.

I switched my attention back over to the king. He was scratching the top of a very odd-looking bird’s head. The animal was perched on his broad shoulder. It looked content to be there. I had failed to notice the creature before; it resembled a grey owl with extremely long talons. Its feathers looked like they were made from leather or maybe suede, but what almost had me screaming my head off like a little girl, was its feminine, human-like, face.

"Aren't you the cutest Harpy that’s ever been? Yes you are, oh yes you are," the king cooed to his pet. The odd-looking bird rumpled its feathers and rubbed its head up against the praise and affectionate petting. This went on for a little while longer until he noticed me staring dumbfounded at him. He also cast a glance the queen’s way but she seemed unconcerned by his display.

"Pardon my manners, Ember," he said, throwing a flirtatious wink at the queen, before addressing me. "Let me introduce you to Fresia, my Harpy."

Fresia's head twisted slowly around until she faced me. It reminded me of the possessed girl in the Exorcist. That's where the resemblance ended. Crease lines formed in between her lavender eyes and she pinched her full mouth closed with a huff.

"Now, precious, where are your manners? Say ‘hello’ to our new friends," the king said, still petting her feathers softly, but the odd bird wasn't having any of it. She flapped her wings, catching the king in the face with the frantic beat, then flew up into the air and landed in the closest tree. When she settled, she turned up her chin to us and screeched so loud that I had to cover my ears.

"It takes a while for her to warm up to new people. Just to be safe, keep an eye out for her talons. She likes to pull hair when she gets into one of her snits."

I ran my fingers through my hair and peeked at the Harpy perched menacingly up in the tree. She looked at me with a smirk that I completely took as a threat to my long, dark locks. I made a deal with myself then and there, that if that damn bird came flying at me, I would have every right to fight claw to talon with her. The king be damned. So, I just put on my "I'm a wolf and I will eat you" glare and dared her to come at me, but I secretly hoped that she wouldn't.

"Don't worry Ember. I won't let the big bad Harpy get you," Collin said, loosening up a bit. I was happy to see him switch from attack mode to his usual lighthearted self. The tension in his jaw and the tense way his shoulders were set was proof that he was still very much aware of his surroundings and that he was staying on guard, regardless of the switch temper. It felt odd having my very own protector, a very sexy one at that. Collin’s loyalty made me feel special, and when he absently placed a large hand at the small of my back, the intimate and protective gesture calmed me down a little bit as well.

"I'm ready to do this. My blood has been spilt, your chant has been said, and we now have a witness. What more do you need from us?" I asked the queen.

Chapter 11

If you asked me a couple days ago if it were possible for me to be sitting Indian style next to my new mate, and next to the Queen of the Hydriads and King of the Meliads, I'd say it was crazy talk. But sitting here on a patch of damp grass with the royal nymphs was precisely what I was now doing. Orea was explaining to us how important it was that Collin and I come back here, in three months’ time, to help hold the porthole to the Dark Realm closed. In return for our service, she would excuse our part in the human trespass and oath breaking.

"I am willing to help in any way possible," said Collin. "I'm just not sure how we can.”

"They have no clue what they are now capable of, Orea. What their bonding has created," the king said.

"I'm sure your right, Ash. I have to say, I'm highly confused as to why this has escaped their notice. I can sense that the change has already occurred," she turned to me and our eyes met. Her silver, swirling orbs made me dizzy and I could feel her power probing and pushing against the walls of my subconscious.

"Have you two been consumed with a craving for blood? Or have you experienced any other changes since your bonding?" she asked us both.

"As a matter of fact..." Collin began to say.

"Some strange things have been happening. Blood cravings are one of them, and we have also been shifting differently."

"It’s happening then," the king said, nodding his head.

"What's happening? Can one of you please get to the point and explain this to me. I've had it up to here," I said, lifting my hand and hovering it over my head, "with this shit. Give it to us straight."

"Mind your manners child, and your mouth. I can still wipe my hands clean of you. I have no qualms in taking the human, and while I'm at it, your pack’s broken oath. I will squash them both."

Laughter from the trees pulled me from the queen’s reprimand. It was that damn Harpy. She sat like a creepy stalker staring at me with a smug look. Her lips pulled up into a wide grin, while she let out another chirpy laugh.

"I say drown the offending mutt, my queen. Let the water fill her mouth and burn her lungs. That will assuredly shut her up."

"I can handle my own dealings, Fresia. Keep your vengeful thoughts to yourself."

"Yes, my queen. But if you do drown her, can I have her hair? I really love hair. Especially the long kind. I could make such a beautiful nest from it," she said with a very disturbing lust-filled glance at mine.

"That’s enough, Fresia. It's time for you to leave us now. Go find Porter and have him cook you something delicious. Maybe a cheesecake or an apple pie?"

The hair crazed Harpy abruptly stopped staring at me and focused on her master at the very first mention of desserts. She fluffed her wings and licked her abnormally large lips. "Can I have Jell-O? That would make me go home, only for Jell-O."