Grounding Gracus (First Wave Book 6) (19 page)

Gibly shook his head sadly. “Until the watchers stop watching and decide what to do… we can only watch her die before we follow her in death. The water will only prolong the inevitable, but will disperse enough energy to allow you to be with her, without igniting the air around you,” Gibly said cryptically as he looked around the room.

Gracus felt the consciousness slip from Rebecca and he roared in rage, lashing out with the hand not holding Rebecca’s, he pounded his fist against the rock wall until his blood smeared the wall.

“You failed, you arrogant bastard! She’s going to die because you didn’t think about what this place would do to someone like her! Your failure is going to kill her, Fiorn! You fucking bastard…,” Gracus screamed at the walls, his fury increasing rapidly due to the energy.

Gibly suddenly stood in front of Gracus and laid a paw on his knee, the energy crackling between them as he did. “Turn off the water and hold your mate. I will sit with you,” Gibly said, shocking Gracus.

“But, that…,” Gracus began, but when Gibly nodded his head, Gracus understood.

He looked at Rebecca’s red-flushed skin and knew he couldn’t let her continue to suffer like this. The bond between them had grown strong enough for him to know that she wouldn’t want to leave her world this way. She would want to go on her terms and Gibly agreed.

Gracus looked intently at the cat, wanting to make sure Gibly knew what would happen. When Gibly nodded his head sadly, Gracus choked out, “It’s been an honor, Gibly.”

Gibly nodded his head. “It has, Gracus Adrastor.”

Gracus didn’t know how to turn the water on and off and really didn’t care at this point. It no longer mattered. Instead, he reached into the shower and pulled Rebecca to him. He immediately felt burned by the heat of her body, but refused to let go of her.

Once he had her settled as comfortable as possible onto his lap, Gibly stepped up and sat in Rebecca’s, placing a paw on Gracus’s shoulder to complete the energy circuit between their bodies. They both watched, a little in awe, as the energy cascaded through the room like a rainbow waterfall, the heat and energy increasing to the point of agony. Before it all went black.

*****

Caden watched dispassionately as the body dropped to the ground before another shot rang out and the last body fell. He turned to his men with a grin on his face.

“Well, you all know what this means,” he said to the cheers of his men and much back slapping.

“You cut that pretty damn close, you bastard,” Grai said as he took his weapons back from one of Caden’s men.

Caden just laughed. “Oh come on, you had to love the look on his face before he ate that bullet. Killing bastards like that is the most fun we get up there with your crazy brother, my friend. You must give us a little latitude,” Caden said jokingly.

Scaden and Niklosi took their weapons back and nodded at the Relian clones in thanks, still stunned that the men who dropped were spies that Grai had among his brother’s warriors. They’d discovered that some guy named Shinopai, a friend of Grai’s, had gotten the request for help from Jacordan and had immediately sent a team loyal to Grai.

Amun, Decano and the cats came into the clearing in front of the cave entrance, rejoining the others. It had been agreed that they would stay behind with the cats in order to make it look for real to Jacordan.

Scaden couldn’t help but ask Grai about the spies he had on his brother’s ships. “How the hell do you manage to have your hands sunk knuckle deep in every damn thing that goes on everywhere?”

Grai laughed. “I’ve had hundreds of years to nurture relationships with good people of every color and species. And I’ve learned the hard way how to choose my friends wisely. Caden, Shinopai and I go way back and my debts to them are incalculable. Their intel has been vital to our cause and in thwarting many potential disasters,” he said before turning to Caden.

“If you are here, does that mean you and your men are staying this time?” Grai asked with a smile, hoping that he was. Caden’s luck was going to run out one of these days and Grai wanted his friend on the planet and living in peace before that happened.

Caden laughed and slapped a large hand on Grai’s shoulder. “My friend, what would I do here in paradise? After first your father and now your brother, any other challenge pales in comparison! What fun would a life like ours be, without a challenge?” Caden asked with a twinkle in his blue eyes.

Grai wasn’t smiling. “Caden, it will be difficult to explain the absence of so many and your presence here on the planet…, Grai said before Caden cut him off.

“We’re going to say Shinopai sent us when that idiot Jacordan and his men never reported back and we never found them. We’re going to classify them as deserters to be killed on sight,” Caden said with a satisfied grin.

“What about the cave?” Grai asked, knowing his brother wouldn’t give up looking for it.

Caden pulled his comm out of his pocket and pulled up some pictures that he showed to Grai. “We found this place nearby on the internet and made it look like the images were taken with my comm. Although, the rainbow of colors and unique formations in the cave are interesting, there is nothing special there and Dagog will give up his search. This place should be safe from him.”

Grai chuckled and turned to Scaden and Niklosi who looked suitably impressed with the man’s quick thinking. “Caden taught me the art of deception,” Grai said, grateful to Shinopai for sending Caden.

Grai turned serious. “Are you sure you aren’t ready for some peace?” he asked again. Even though he knew what Caden’s answer would be.

Caden’s smile fell and he looked at his men. “Who would lead them? Teach them there’s another way to live that doesn’t involve pain, death and destruction of everything beautiful?” Caden placed a hand on Grai’s shoulder and gave him a comforting squeeze before adding, “You have your destiny, my friend, and I have my own. Both must be played out the way the God’s have chosen.”

Grai gave him a quick hug before Caden called Shinopai for the transport and rappelled off the mountain to meet the ship that would pick them up a few miles away.

Niklosi watched the men rappel down and shook his head. “You know some pretty amazing people, Grai.”

“That I do. We better go, Gracus is probably wondering where the hell we are,” Grai said, turning away from where his friends had disappeared over the side.

Scaden slapped a hand on Grai’s shoulder. “He’s pretty damn quick thinking. I can definitely see that the student still has much to learn from the master,” Scaden said teasingly.

Grai led to the crevice in the rock that would open up to the cave. “Everyone slips up at some point. Or trusts someone that they shouldn’t have trusted. It is the oldest, the ones who’ve become weary and soft who are the most susceptible to being betrayed. If Shinopai and Caden do not come down soon, they will be killed.”

Scaden looked up with concern. “Would they talk?”

Grai stopped and turned to Scaden with anger. “Would you?”

Scaden didn’t hesitate. “Never.”

Grai snapped back. “Then do not ever think I would trust anyone who wouldn’t.”

Grai turned back to the opening and kneeled down to place his hands on the back wall, waiting for it to open. His dark brows drew together when nothing happened and he stood and turned to Niklosi, who was the closest to him.

“Put your hands flat on the back wall in there. It should open, you’re full Valendran,” Grai said, reasoning that his Relian blood was again causing confusion for whatever scanned and allowed passage inside the cave.

Niklosi kneeled down and placed his hands on the back wall, expecting the rock to slide to the side or upwards. Nothing happened. He waited there for several minutes before turning to Grai with a curious look on his face.

Scaden looked around. “Are you sure this is the right place?”

Grai nodded his head. He’d made damn sure he memorized the cave. “This is the place.”

Amun shook his head. “Maybe it requires an actual hybrid to open it? I don’t know what the parameters may be for opening the door, but Gracus, Gibly and Rebecca are gone and we haven’t heard from them in a while. They had to have gotten inside somehow,” he said.

Grai shook his head. “You would think that Fiorn would allow a full blood Valendran inside without a hybrid. All of your people needed safety and refuge,” Grai said, wondering what could be preventing the door from opening.

Niklosi snorted. “Maybe it’s the Sibiox? Maybe it thinks they’re dangerous?”

Grai hated to ask but it was Griff and Dorch who volunteered the four cats to run back down to the bottom of the mountain. Once they left, Niklosi went back to placing his hands on the wall, assuming once the cats were far enough away, the door would open. Again, nothing happened.

Everyone was beginning to get frustrated now. Scaden ran a hand through his hair and paced around before looking at Grai. “You’re sure this is the place?”

Grai just glared at him for a minute before suggesting, “I’ll rappel to the bottom with Decano, in case it’s because he’s a Relian hybrid without Valendran blood. Let me know if it opens when we hit the bottom.”

Amun said, “It can’t be you, you’ve already been inside.” But, Grai had already dropped over the edge towards the bottom, quickly followed by Decano.

Scaden paced nervously while Niklosi kept his hands plastered to the inner rock wall. When they heard that Grai and Decano were on the ground and away from the cave and the door still didn’t open, no one was really surprised. Except for Grai, who was so frustrated that he ran all the way back up the mountain trail.

When Grai got back to the top, he glared at everyone. “This is the place! You all know that Gracus and Rebecca came up here! If this isn’t the place, then where the hell do you think they went?” he asked, venting his frustration.

Amun sighed. “The only thing that is different from the known times that entry was attained, is a hybrid.”

Grai thought about it for a second and said, “Then we’ll get a damn hybrid. Maybe Gracus and Rebecca will open the door for us before we get one here.”

Chapter Seventeen

Gracus tried to brush away whatever was tickling his nose and ended up with a handful of fur instead. He moved his head to the side and pushed at the furry lump, trying to go back to the blissful peace he’d recently been in.

The furry lump continued moving around, until Gibly’s voice penetrated the sleepy fog in Gracus’s mind. “Wake up! We’re being… studied,” Gibly said anxiously through the Shengari’ to Gracus.

Gracus was instantly alert. Sitting up quickly, he swayed for a moment as he looked around at the faces staring at them, before he saw Rebecca lying beside him. Ignoring the others, Gracus put his fingers against her neck and finding a pulse he sighed.
She was alive!

“Her temperature has returned to normal and the excess energy is being naturally depleted from you all,” one of the women said, startling Gracus.

He stared at the five women surrounding them, wondering where the hell they were. The room was a bright white, making it difficult to tell what the floors and walls were made of. He couldn’t see any doors or windows.
Or any way out for that matter
, Gracus thought.

“Who are you and where are we?” Gracus asked, moving to sit on the side of the bed, blocking Rebecca from the curious stares of the women.

The woman with dark hair and light blue eyes, who had spoken before, answered him. “I am Lauren Campbell and these are my fellow hybrids, as I’m sure your beast can verify for you,
Valendran
. And your potential mate, Rebecca, is somewhere safe.”

Gracus narrowed his eyes at the woman as Clatz verified for him that they were all hybrids. For some reason, he didn’t feel really safe and he damn sure didn’t like the way the woman had said the word, “Valendran”, like he was a bug or something.

“Where are we?” Gracus asked again.

Lauren stared at him for a moment with pursed lips, her hands behind her back and Gracus didn’t like her scrutiny any more than he liked how the other women were staring at him and Gibly.

“Shield your mind! There are two that are probing,” Gibly warned him through the Shengari’, just in time for Gracus to throw up his mental shields. He was getting pissed now.

Gracus stood to his full height and glared down at the five small women standing several feet away. “Quit playing games and trying to fuck with my head and tell me where the hell we are!” he boomed, the sound echoing around the room.

The women didn’t even flinch at his anger. “You can roar with rage all you want, but it will get you nowhere. Naturally, we have questions regarding why you are here. You can either cooperate, or not. The choice is yours,” Lauren Campbell said calmly.

That didn’t calm Gracus much at all. “Where the hell is your leader? Is Fiorn still alive? You know I am a Valendran and I’m not your damn enemy. I want to know why you are treating me like I am!” Gracus roared.

The unflappable Lauren Campbell didn’t even twitch at Gracus’s anger. “Your status as friend or foe is unimportant to us, since you are not our concern. You are being treated in this room because it is the only place that can safely deplete the excess energy from Rebecca, not because you are a prisoner.”

Lauren continued staring at him with cold blue eyes. “In fact, since you weren’t as affected by the energy increase as Rebecca was, you may leave at any time. But, Rebecca stays until she is healed and can answer for herself whether or not she would like to remain with us,” Lauren said without emotion.

Gracus looked at her with open-mouthed astonishment for a moment. “You expect me to leave my mate here with you? When I don’t even know who the fuck you are or where
here
is? Fuck you bitch! Get me someone in charge!” Gracus said with barely controlled fury.
Who the hell did this bitch think she was?
Where the fuck were they?

Lauren took a step forward. “This room requires peace in order for Rebecca to heal. And our only priority is to see that she recovers completely. If you can’t control yourself, we’ll be forced to remove you from the room.”

When Gracus began to erupt in anger again, the woman to the right, behind Lauren, raised her right hand and he found himself raised several inches off of the floor and completely paralyzed.

Lauren moved to stand directly in front of him and looked coldly into his eyes. “Let there be no doubt in your mind,
Valendran
that your life doesn’t matter to us in the least, unless it is Rebecca’s wish that you live. Which is the only reason you are here now. Do not test my patience, or you will find yourself wishing that you hadn’t underestimated me. Because, I can assure you, the other three women standing here would love to show you their abilities next. Do you understand?”

Gracus calmed himself instantly, fear for their safety becoming paramount in his mind. He needed intel before he could get them the hell out of there and if remaining calm was the only way to stay with Rebecca, then he’d do what he had to.

The moment he’d fully calmed, Gracus was released from his paralysis and he dropped roughly back to the floor. Gibly surprised him by jumping to the floor and moving to stand in front of him.

Gibly bowed before the ladies before his black eyes burned into cold blue. “May I ask what your intentions are regarding me?” he asked.

All five women smiled at the charming cat and it was the first time Gracus had seen any emotion in them at all. While the other four remained where they were, Lauren kneeled on the floor in front of Gibly.

“It is a shame that the
Valendran
fools don’t know what a true treasure you are Giblounian,” Lauren said, using Gibly’s full name before continuing. “However, I do know what you are capable of. Therefore, you can remain in this room until Rebecca heals or you can leave at any time. Once you leave, you can’t return. If Rebecca wishes to stay, you may stay with her, if you choose to do so.”

Gibly twitched his now smooth tail and looked up at the cold woman as if he was considering his options before he nodded his head. “Thank you. For the moment I wish to remain with Rebecca.”

Lauren smiled at the cat and stood. When she looked at Gracus her smile was gone and her eyes had gone cold again. “Now that you are awake, modifications will be made to the room for your comfort until Rebecca awakens. Food and drink will be sent shortly.”

Lauren took another step towards him. “I will remind you that this room is for the sake of Rebecca, any attempt to approach us with aggression will be responded to, in kind. You will remain our guest only as long as it takes for you to wear out your welcome,” Lauren said, looking at him coldly before she turned and the five women disappeared through a door that he never knew was there.

Suddenly, the room began to shimmer around them, the walls bowing inward and out, before a couch, table and chair appeared. Moments later, another woman appeared through the door bearing a heavily laden tray.

The small blonde didn’t even spare a glance at Gracus and smiled at Gibly as she placed the tray on the low coffee table. She placed a bowl and two plates on the table next to the tray and looked at Gibly.

“There’s fresh water and some freshly caught game for you. If you have a preference, please let someone know,” she said before she left the room.

Gibly moved over to the table and sniffed the plates and glasses still on the tray before moving over to the items set out for him and doing the same. He looked up at Gracus and spoke to him through the Shengari’.

“The food is untainted and safe to eat.”

Gracus was too pissed off to eat. Although, they had left food for him on the tray, he knew it was an afterthought. He may not be considered a foe, but he damn sure wasn’t considered a friend either, if their attitudes were anything to go by.

Gracus grabbed a large glass of water and downed it in one long pull, quenching his parched throat while Gibly did the same with his bowl. Using the pitcher left on the tray, he refilled Gibly’s bowl before his glass and set it back down.

“Do you have a clue what the hell is going on?” he asked Gibly, hoping the cat had more of idea than he did.

Gibly delicately chewed a morsel of meat before he looked up at Gracus. “There is no doubt they are hybrids and they do not have much respect for Valendrans. I don’t get the feeling that they dislike you, they just don’t think much of your people.”

Gracus snorted. “Yeah, I figured that out already. Can you reach anyone outside of here? Do you know where we are?” he asked, hoping for more than what he already knew.

Gibly sighed. “I don’t know where we are. Nor can I reach anyone beyond this room. Not only is the room itself blocking me, but the women have also done something to prevent it. There is much power in them, we must tread carefully,” the cat warned before taking another piece of meat.

Gracus felt like throwing something and forced himself to control his anger. They didn’t know a damn thing and his choices were pretty slim. He sat on the edge of the bed by Rebecca and reached out to touch her much cooler skin and sighed in relief that she was truly getting better.

He stood so he could pull the blankets out from underneath her and cover her with them. He sat back down beside her as Gibly jumped on the bed and sat at Rebecca’s back.

Gracus tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and asked Gibly, “Is she alright?”

The cat nuzzled Rebecca’s shoulder affectionately before he spoke. “She is well. She and her beast need to rest and heal. Her body went through much and the room is helping her greatly. They did not lie about that.”

Gracus sighed and laid down beside her, watching her face as she slept. He already knew she sleeping, their mating bond so deep that he could easily sense it. But, his peace of mind demanded he make sure he wasn’t wrong.

“Do you know when she’ll wake?” he asked with a yawn, his own body still exhausted.

Gibly yawned right after Gracus and turned in a circle a few times before curling up at Rebecca’s back. “She is in deep rest and will not awaken anytime soon,” Gibly said. He barely finished speaking before he and Gracus were asleep.

*****

Grai and Scaden paced in front of the cave while they waited for the latest dropped group to get to the mountain trail. Grai had called for whatever hybrid led group that was on standby to get there as soon as possible and they’d dropped a few miles away, not long ago.

Niklosi had built a fire as the sun had begun to set and the men and cats had all gathered around it for warmth while they ate in silence together. Everyone except Scaden and Grai, who passed each other as they paced in front of the cave entrance.

Twenty minutes later Grai groaned, wishing he’d checked to see who the hybrid team leader was before he called for the first one on deck for emergency deployment. It wasn’t that he didn’t like the girl, on the contrary, he, like everyone else, adored her. In small, short… very short doses.

“Oh my God! This place is so freaking awesome, you guys! Awww, you already started the fire? I would have done that for you!” True Demetrios said, as she crested the trail and came into the clearing with her team behind her.

A collective groan went up among the men before they feigned a happy greeting to True and her team. Grai could swear a few of her own teammates had joined in on the groan at her words. In a dangerous situation, True was an incredible leader and asset to have.

But, her high energy personality and lack of a filter on her mouth could really get to you.
She was like Traze, on crack… and with a bigger mouth
, Grai thought with a grimace. And completely unsuited to this situation. He planned on sending her on her way the moment she opened the cave.

“Cuz!!! I can’t believe I finally get to work a mission with my family!” True exclaimed in a high pitched voice as she ran and hugged him… squealing in delight the whole time. Even the cats cringed at the sound. 

Grai hugged her tightly, until he realized it made her squeal louder and he stopped and stepped away.
Yeah, she had to go
, he thought. There was no way he was keeping her here, no matter how adorable and competent she was. Besides, he only needed her to open the door so they could get Gracus and Rebecca anyway.

True grinned from ear to ear and looked around. “So? What the hell am I here for? You guys just miss me or what? You missed me didn’t you? You did! I know you did!” True said with a grin at the quiet and tired group, while she played with a small ball of fire in each hand.

Scaden, who hadn’t had the joy of working with True before, looked at her in stunned confusion at her rapid fire way of speaking and stepped out of the way of the crevice that led to the cave. “We need you to reach in there and touch the back wall to open the cave,” he said.

True’s eyes got huge and the fireballs in her hands disappeared. “Oh my God! Oh my God! This is so epic!” she said with a squeal as her hands gesticulated wildly. “We’re recording this right? Haha! We record everything with the gear! I forgot. Has anyone ever been in there before? Is that why you called for a hybrid led team? It needs a hybrid to get in? Oh my God! That is so cool!”

Before anyone could actually process the rapid fire chatter, True had moved to the crevice and knelt down in front of it. She turned a blinding smile to the others, her stormy grey eyes, so much like her sister Dare’s, twinkled, before she looked at wall and slapped her palms to the rock inside.