Seductions (Alpha City Book 4) (9 page)

“What woods?” Brody asked. She could tell he was anything but calm.

“The entrance to the mines. They found something, but I couldn’t see what it was before Nick found me.”

Brody growled, “Nick—with a scar on his cheek?”

Sage nodded. She watched as a vein popped out in Brody’s neck. His nostrils flared when his bear appeared close to the surface. She had to calm down and hopefully that would calm her mate down.

Touching the side of his face, Sage fought back the emotions she was feeling and calmed herself. “It was just a dream. Just a dream,” she repeated.

“Maybe not.” Sage hadn’t noticed MJ sitting at the kitchen table, watching them.

“What do you mean?” Me-Len asked.

“I have read about witches all my life. Made it my life’s hobby to know about your race, and through my studies I’ve learned that some witches have premonitions. Sometimes it helps them change future events or gives them a way to save someone from death. So this could be something that can help us. Sage could be having premonitions in her dreams.” MJ glanced back at Sage. “I bet when you were younger, you had these odd feelings when something bad was going to happen but you thought nothing about it, right? Or you realized that you had these feelings and didn’t want people to think of you as strange.”

Sage put her feet down on the ground. Brody helped her up as she walked over to the table and sat down. Pushing the hair from her eyes she asked, “What else did your studies tell you?”

MJ picked up a piece of bacon and put half of it in her mouth. Pointing the other half at her, she said, “That’s what I thought. You’re are a dream witch who has the power of premonitions. A very powerful skill, if you know what you’re doing. Since this was your first one, you may need to practice a little.” Eating the other half of the bacon, MJ added, “You guys sure don’t know much about witches.”

Me-Len came and sat beside her. “We know plenty, MJ, but there hasn’t been a known dream witch in centuries, and if there has been they are keeping it to themselves. A lot of information can be found out while walking around in someone’s dreams. Basically, you have access to what they are thinking about, what they desire, what their future plans are. But what they don’t tell you is how dangerous it is.”

“How dangerous?” MJ studied Me-Len, taking in all the knowledge.

“Some witches like Claudia Blackwood, who practice in the dark magic, can pop in and out of places unnoticed. If she can do that and realizes you are in her dreams, she can reverse it on you and kill you in your dream. Thus making it impossible to ever wake up. And I’ve lost enough family.”

The color drained from Brody’s face. “You will not be dream hopping, so get that out of your head.”

“Brody, you can’t tell me what to do. If I can help the Order…”

“No! Absolutely not. You want to risk your life for…”

“You!” Sage yelled.

“Me?” Brody questioned, his voice rough with emotion.

“Don’t you get it? I would do this to protect you, Me-Len, and London. All the people I love. I can’t stand back when I could have done something. I won’t be that person. Brody?”

Picking her up, Brody carried her out of the kitchen and straight to his bedroom. Sitting her down on the bed, he turned around and started pacing the room, then kneeled in front of her. “You love me?”

Sage smiled. “That’s what you want to know?”

Brody nodded.

Leaning over, Sage kissed his forehead. “I love you.” Then she moved to the side of his cheek, “I love you.” Next, she kissed the other side of his cheek, “I love you, Brody King.”

His eyes were open, boring into hers. “Then don’t do this. Because I love you so much it hurts. The thought of you not waking up scares the shit out of me, Sage. I can’t protect you there. I can’t help you. I can’t…”

Clearing her throat, Sage needed to take away his fears. “I know that and you can’t protect me all the time. But if I can help you and the others, I have to try. Now, I’m not done yet. You remember this. If I do this, I will fight like hell to come back to you. I will always come back to you.”

“God, I love you so much.” Brody pulled her down so that she straddled his lap.

“But please don’t tell me not to do this. This is a gift, Brody, that has been given to me. I’ve got to use it. What if I can get into some of Claudia’s guards’ dreams? I could get so much information to help the Order out.”

“You could die, too. I won’t risk you, Sage. You have done so much for us. You got Carina out and it cost you. Please don’t do this. Plus, you have never done this before. You may screw up and this isn’t something you can screw up. Claudia is evil and cunning. She will know when you’re in her head—”

Sage placed her finger over Brody’s lips, cutting him off. “Let’s talk about this later. I know MJ is getting impatient and we have a lot to do today before the full moon.”

“Okay,” Brody replied. She could hear the distress in his voice. Vowing to never hurt him might be a challenge. Because if she got the opportunity to protect him, than she was going to do it. She would kill Claudia Blackwood in her dreams and end this once and for all.

B
rody held
her hand as they walked back to the kitchen. He hadn’t been able to make himself leave as she stripped down to take a shower. So he did what he should, and stripped down to clean his mate. She was still sore in all the right places, so he decided that he would do something different and let his mouth do the talking. Sage thought she was going to object until his tongue dove between her sweet lips. He sucked and licked until she couldn’t take it anymore and began rubbing herself all over his face, trying to get herself off.

“I’m so close! Fuck me, Brody. Please fuck me. I need you now.”

She had already told him that she was deliciously sore down there and he didn’t want to hurt her, but Sage jerked him up on his feet and jumped up in his arms, wrapping her legs around him. Grabbing her ass in his hands, Brody slipped inside her. Slowly, he pushed in and out, trying to go easy, but she wasn’t having any of that. “Now, please don’t make me wait. Please!”

Unfortunately, he’d made a promise to always give his mate what she wanted. Brody pushed her up against the shower wall and slammed in and out of her until they were both spent. A small smile graced her lips. He didn’t want to let her go, so he sat down on the seat while still inside of her. It was only when she shivered that he realized that she was getting cold.

He was leaving with Lex, Me-Len, and Meryl in a few minutes. They were headed to the lodge to meet with the twins and reverse the spell, but he hated leaving Sage and MJ alone. He felt conflicted, but if he shared that information with his mate she would get very angry, and right now he needed her focused on getting the information out of the books instead of trying to dream hop in Claudia’s head.

He wasn’t going to let her do it. He would put her under lock and key if he had to. She didn’t know that, but protecting his mate was his top priority. Once he’d dried her off, Brody watched while she got, ready putting her clothes back on. Then he patiently admired her beauty as she pulled her hair back in a ponytail. The woman made him hard just by brushing her hair. He was a goner and very much in love.

“You ready?” Sage asked MJ once they got back to the kitchen.

“Yep.” MJ closed her laptop and jumped up.

“Let me show you the books you will need.” MJ followed them to the library. He had a section of books that only the Alphas knew about. There was a lot of information inside the books that he hadn’t even read yet. Two years ago, he and Lex had copied each page of the books and put them on the computer. That way he could preserve the books that were encased in temperature-controlled, airtight container. These books were precious to the Alphas. The history of each of their families was contained in these books, and that included information on paranormals other than just the shifters. He was hoping that through the years, someone had written about the dragons. They needed to know if Jamal had any weaknesses. There had to be something that could help them in these books. He knew MJ was a computer wiz and if there was something in the books she would find it, and Sage was just as savvy. Me-Len had told them Sage was a great researcher and could find anything.

“Wow.” MJ whistled as she entered the room. A smile tugged at his lips. He thought it was impressive too. He loved to read and learn, and the only way to do that was to create a library any reader would die to have. He had plenty of money and he used some of it to make this sanctuary of books. Every book was in a category. He had a huge collection of every genre a reader would want. He loved books. Even his friends teased him about it. Calling him the grizzly bookworm. He laughed because he knew his friends were only joking. But then again, he was the keeper of books for the Alphas. Everything that happened to them was put into books. Soon, Sage and his story would be added to a book.

That’s what he loved about Sage. She was an intellectual just like him, and she loved his library. He couldn’t help to stare at the couch where they made love for the first time last night. His body quivered just thinking about it.

He could hear Sage’s breath change. He followed the direction she was looking and saw her underwear on the floor. Last night they hadn’t cared about where their clothes landed. With the aftermath of the mark, and the pain she was going through, they’d forgotten to get them before they went into his bedroom. Her face reddened as she stared at them crumpled on the floor.

He winked at her before he pointed up high toward the ceiling and said, “That’s where I keep the books you will need.” While MJ walked over to the bookcase, he quickly picked the underwear up and slid them down into his pocket.

He loved his mate and he didn’t care if MJ had seen them, but it made Sage uncomfortable and no matter what he wouldn’t allow her to be embarrassed, even about this.

“So you have them in a protective case? How old are these books?” MJ asked.

“Some are from the fourteen hundreds and later,” Brody answered.

“You want us to look up information in books that old? If we leave them out too long it will ruin the books,” MJ pointed out.

“Yes, it will. So we copied them and put them on a computer.” Brody pulled out a thumb drive and handed it to MJ.

“Sweet!” MJ set her laptop on a desk and started downloading the information.

“Sage, I have another laptop for you. It has everything downloaded on it already.” Brody pulled the laptop off his desk and handed it to her.

“Thank you.” He wanted to stay and just be with her in his sanctuary, but it was already after twelve and they had a lot to do before they went underground.

“I have to leave,” Brody said. He hesitated, but Sage and MJ were already deep in thought, reading. He walked over and kissed his mate on the top of her head. “I’ll be back for you in a few hours.”

“Okay,” Sage whispered as she swiped the touchscreen, her eyes never leaving the screen. His fingers brushed across her cheek, and he watched as she shivered. A small smile appeared on her lips before he walked out. Something told him to take them with him, but he knew everyone had a job to do, and today Sage and MJ needed to find information that would hurt the dragon. Plus, his mate wanted to help, and this was something he could let her do. This wasn’t putting her life in danger. He knew MJ would protect her and he wasn’t leaving them alone. Three of his best guards were outside watching and waiting for anything. He had trained them himself and he knew they would give their life for their Alpha’s mate. Now she was their Alpha as well.

S
age sat back
, stretching her neck. She glanced over at the clock on the wall and noticed that they had been sitting there reading for hours.

“So…you and Brody on the couch?” MJ asked, still staring at the laptop. Sage knew her face turned red as an apple. Why did this woman have to be so blunt?

“Mary Jane, do you try to piss people off and embarrass them, or does it just come natural to you?” She knew her tone was uptight letting her know by calling her by her full name, but what MJ was asking wasn’t any of her business.

MJ’s head popped up over the screen and she tilted her head. “No. I’m sorry, that was none of my business. I guess you’re not used to my kind being so blunt. I don’t mean to be.” Sage could see how flustered MJ was becoming. The woman didn’t even know she was being an ass. “I just thought that we were friends and friends talk about boys to each other, or at least that’s what all the movies show. I’ve never had a true friend so I’m out of my element here. I thought I would give it a try.”

Sage sat back in her chair. This woman really was something else. She’d just admitted that she’d never had a friend and she thought of Sage as one. All she wanted to do now was cry for MJ. She didn’t even know how to act around friends. Hell, she didn’t know how to act around friends. They had something in common. “Well, I am your friend, but that still is none of your business.”

“I’m sorry. I guess…well, I just thought that’s what friends talk about,” MJ answered, bluntly.

Sage laughed, she couldn’t help it. MJ was getting her information on how to be friends through movies. Classic and sad, but then again, what did she know?

“What?” MJ asked.

“We’re such a pair. Neither one of us has ever had a true friend. And you’re trying to act out parts in movies. How about we just figure this out as we go along? Yes, Brody and I are together. Yes, it was the most—” MJ moved so fast, now sitting beside her. She turned her body and sat Indian-style, listening.

“Magical?” MJ asked. Sage couldn’t help but to tell MJ some of it. Neither of them had ever experienced friendship, and to be honest she wanted to talk to someone about what was happening to her. She had so many questions about what it would be like for her when she let her bear out. She would be a shifter. Thinking about it almost gave her an anxiety attack. What if she sucked at it? What if something was wrong with her bear, or she never shifted at all. Closing her eyes, Sage took a deep breath to remain in control. She knew Brody would help her every step of the way. She wasn’t alone in this.

Sage opened her eyes and smiled, “Yes, it was magical and erotic.” MJ’s eyes got wider. She had never seen her look so exposed. “Have you ever had sex before?”

MJ turned away. The look on her face wasn’t embarrassment. Her expression hardened and it broke her heart. MJ was sad. She put her hand on her arm, “I’m sorry. That wasn’t any of my business and I ask that you forgive me for being so rude.”

MJ just gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “Since we are sharing and I know I can trust you…to answer your question, no, I’ve never had sex with a man. I think I intimidate men, and women can’t stand my bluntness. When they say something stupid…” Sage watched as MJ shrugged. “I can’t stand it. I have to call them on it and like you said already, I can offend people. So, nobody wants to be around me and I just keep to myself. Plus, I don’t know what to talk about. Like you said, I’m using movies to guide me in how to be a friend. I guess I just wanted to know what it felt like to be in love and mate with someone.”

“You are talking to me now and I think you are doing pretty well. Let’s make a pack that when one of us gets offended about something, we tell each other.” Sage offered.

MJ smiled. “You think we should pinky swear or cut into our hands and become blood sisters?” Sage wanted to laugh but she could see the sincerity on MJ’s face.

“Here, let me see your hand.” Sage reluctantly gave MJ her hand. She watched as MJ called on her animal. Her fingers extended into claws cutting into Sage’s hand. It didn’t hurt, but she felt like a ten-year-old girl swapping blood and making a blood oath to be friends. Slapping their hands together, MJ said, “Blood sisters forever.”

“Blood sisters forever.” Sage repeated. She smiled back at MJ, who had gone completely still, her head turned sideways, listening. Sage listened but couldn’t hear anything. Her bear hadn’t risen yet.

Before she could ask what was wrong, MJ put her finger to her lips and motioned for her to follow. They silently walked out of the library and into the living room. MJ grabbed her hand and bent down, peering out the window. She was so silent in her movement that the only thing Sage could hear was her own heart beating loudly.

She knew someone was out there, but who? And if it spooked MJ, then something was wrong. Grabbing her cell phone out of her pocket, Sage put her phone on silent, and sent a text to Brody, quickly replacing her phone so she had both hands free.

Sage wanted to move and look out the window, too, but MJ had a death grip on her arm holding her down. Finally, MJ moved and got right beside her ear. “Someone is in the woods. I don’t see anyone, but I hear them. I know Brody left guards so where are they? I don’t like this.”

That’s when it hit Sage. The dream she’d had earlier. Claudia and her minions were in the woods searching for something. Grabbing MJ’s arm, Sage pulled her down and whispered in her ear. “My dream. They are searching for something just like in my dream. I know it’s Claudia.”

Realization hit MJ, and a look of fear crossed her face. Not for herself, but fear that Claudia would find the entrance to the mines and kill all the people there. “We have to warn them.”

“Yes, but remember my dream. I’m hiding in the woods and get caught. We need to do something to get them away from the area. Think MJ, what can we do to scare them?”

“Magic. You can use magic and we need to do something that will scare them a little. Make them think they are being watched. Turn it back around on them. A little paranoia goes a long way.” MJ glanced out the window again and searched the area. “I can see a lookout in the trees watching the house. Maybe if we took him out then made some noises that made them think they were being watched. They will leave.” MJ looked over at her. “What do you think?”

“The guards. Brody said he was leaving three guards. Where are the guards? Did they hurt them?” Sage asked, desperately.

“She may have put a spell on them.” MJ shrugged her shoulders. She was out of her element here. It was Sage’s time to be strong, because magic was what she was good at. She knew she could do this. She would help the others because if they found the entrance into the mines, they were all screwed. That wasn’t happening on her watch. This witch had taken too much from her. She wasn’t taking any more.

“Let’s go.” Sage crawled until she got to the kitchen then she got up. “It’s time to break the spell.”

MJ smiled and it wasn’t a smile that she wanted to be on the receiving end of. “Can you sense anyone in the back?”

MJ placed her ear to the door and closed her eyes. “I feel the guards but they sound like they are asleep.”

“Good. It’s time to wake them.” Sage quietly opened the door so she could look out.

“Won’t Claudia know you are doing this?”

“Nope, because it was one of her minions that did this spell. She wouldn’t lower herself to do this kind of grunt work, as she called it.” Sage opened the door long enough to slip out, along with MJ. Three guards were lying on the ground. She could see their chests rising, confirming they were still alive. Closing her eyes, she whispered the spell reversing it. She watched as the guards came awake. They shook their heads coming out of it. She didn’t want to startle them, so she scratched the ground just enough to make a noise that only a shifter would pick up on. That’s when the three shifters flipped over into a crouched position, searching for the danger.