TwistedRevenge (13 page)

He thought about it for a minute and smirked as his hands
tangled in the waves of auburn hair that cascaded over her shoulder. The only
thing the witch seemed to want from him was sex and power. He was willing to
fuck her but she wanted him to share his power with her when he accumulated it.
Of course he’d agreed. It was the only way she would give him the gifts he
wielded freely thanks to her charm spell on his flute, but it was also a
promise he didn’t plan on honoring. “Yeah, it’s a little hard to believe. We
both know you only have two needs.”

A cruel smile curled on her full red lips as her brows shot
upward. “Oh? What two needs do I have?”

“Power and,” his hand shot out and grabbed her by the
throat, squeezing slightly, “sex. So which have you come to collect from me
today?”

Josephine laughed and her eyes darkened with lust. “I came
to watch your power play but the way you are touching me reminds me that it’s
been a while since you’ve satisfied me.”

“Darling, you are never satisfied. You’re a damn glutton.”

She licked her lips and nodded in agreement. “Guilty.”

“Unfortunately I don’t have time to fuck you today. You see,
I am in the middle of this scheme that requires my full attention.”

“You and I both know your plan fell apart. From where I’m
sitting,” her eyes traveled down to his cock that was already straining against
his pants against his will, “you look like sex is the one thing you do have
time for.”

“You are such a bitch. My plan didn’t fall apart.”

“The Big Bad Wolf is dead, his son and the girl lived, which
means the pack territory won’t be ruled by you and your army.” She tapped her
finger on her chin, “Come to think of it, that means the rest of our plans have
just gotten a lot harder. How is this not a catastrophe?”

He groaned. “We can still gain power. At least it will help
us that the Black Forest will be under the control of Luc who couldn’t really
give a shit less about whom or what passes through his forest. He’ll be too
busy trying to rein in his father’s pack of mentally unstable mutts. We will be
able to come and go as we please.”

“And you are certain that your other plans will fall into
place?”

“Of course. Prince Phillip is still under my control. Aurora
will not wake up any time soon. The kingdom will become so desperate that they
will demand that her father find a way to break their beloved princess’s curse
and that is where I come in.” She coughed and narrowed her eyes at him. Piper
grinned. “I mean, that is where
we
come in.”

“You aren’t concerned at all about the loss of the Black
Forest?”

“The territories are secondary to our cause, my dear. They
will fall into place later if we lose them now. It will all work out in the
end. You said I would gain power by ruining all of their fairytale endings.
Striping them all of their happily ever afters will make them weak and what
makes them weak makes me stronger. Having the kingdoms at my command will
happen eventually. I might not have gained the Black Forest this time around
but I did manage to put the wolf and the girl together only for them to be
ripped apart.” A cruel smile turned his lips up as he rubbed his hands
together. “The best part is, I won’t even have to lift a finger to finish the
job. They are doing it themselves. Sacrificing their own happiness for the sake
of the pack. It’s pathetic really and they deserve to be unhappy if they are
willing to put others before themselves.”

“You know what they say about sacrifice, don’t you, my love?”
She gave him a sweet smile when he refused to answer. “Sacrifice breeds
miracles. I don’t think you should be gloating just yet.”

He pushed her back from her perch at his feet and glared. “Are
you saying I have failed?”

Josephine shrugged her shoulders and gave him a bored look
before examining her fingernails as if she had nothing in the world to keep her
from monotony. “Perhaps. Would you like me to consult my bones again?”

A tic worked in his jaw. He was confident nothing could go
wrong but now her words were worming their way into his mind. Doubt started to
surface. “Fine, do it. Show me just how wrong you are to doubt me.”

She hopped up and pulled a leather pouch from her belt. He
moved out of her way as she threw her arm out, tossing the contents of his
small table crashing to the floor. He had to admit he did love to see her work
her magic. His mouth practically watered when she reached between her heaving
breasts to retrieve a piece of chalk she kept hidden there. She quickly
scrawled a circle with intricate symbols in the middle. He watched as her hand
slipped into the leather pouch. Josephine chanted mysterious words of magic,
ones he’d heard her mutter countless times before but he still could never
figure out what she was saying. One minute it was bright out and the next
minute, a dark cloud hovered over Piper’s camp. His soldiers were outside,
whispering about dark magic, just as Josephine cast her bones from the pouch
into her circle. Piper couldn’t contain his eagerness. “Well, what does it say,
witch?”

“Shush.” Her brows drew together as she studied the bones.
He paced behind her and the longer it took, the more he dreaded what she’d have
to say. Finally she stood straight and smiled adoringly up at him. “All is
well, my love. The wolf is walking the one in red to the Arch to say their
finally goodbyes.”

Her smile was contagious. She looked to be proud of his
accomplishments. As much as he loathed her, somehow her pride in him made his
chest swell. He swore he stood a bit taller after watching her grinning at him.
“See, I told you. Nothing to worry about.”

She nodded her head gracefully. “Indeed you were right, I
should not have—” She stopped midsentence and stared at her bones. They were
vibrating within the circle, jumping around as if they were alive. The tremors
from the small bones grew more and more violent. Soon the table itself was
shaking as was the ground beneath their feet. “Josephine, what is happening?”

“I… I don’t know. Something’s changed. Quickly, get your
flute. Scry for the wolf.”

He did as she commanded and went to the small bowl of water
he used for his scrying. He played the notes of the flute until the water
rippled with vibrant colors and finally stilled and revealed the scene he’d
wished to see.

Luc and Rowan stood at the Arch. They had been holding
hands. Everything was as it should be. Piper groaned. “Nothing’s changed. Your
bones were wrong, look, they are saying their goodbyes. All your worries for
nothing.”

She peered over his shoulder as if she were afraid to face
the vision head-on. She watched the couple and let out a sigh of relief. “But
my bones are never wrong. I don’t understand.”

He almost wanted to comfort her. Almost. Comfort wasn’t in
his nature but she looked utterly confused by what she’d seen and what her
magic had told her. Piper drew away from the bowl and wrapped an arm around
her, leading her toward a nearby chair. “Sit for a spell. Maybe you’ve just
lost your touch.”

Her eyes snapped up, filled with hatred. “I have not lost my
touch. Something is wrong, I’m telling you.”

“Nothing is wrong. I’ve won.”

“But—” She looked away.

He’d had enough of this. If her magic was failing, then she
was of no use to him. He’d have to find a way to be rid of the witch for good.

It was a shame because she was such a good lay.

His hand curled around the knife on his belt. One quick move
and he could sever her head from her body. He was just about to unsheathe the
blade when Aengus walked in. “Not now, boy. Leave us.” Piper glanced over to
see Aengus staring into the bowl, the boy’s eyes were wide as saucers. “Did you
not hear me? Leave us.”

Aengus pointed toward the vision in the bowl. “But, sir,
something’s changed. I think you need to see this…”

Rowan took another gulp of air as she made her third step. Tears
streamed down her cheeks. She didn’t want to go but she knew she had to. Before
her foot could touch the ground, she felt something grab her hand and pull her
back to the fairytale side of the Arch. Her eyes flew open to see Luc right
before he captured her mouth with his. She wasn’t sure if she was dreaming. Maybe
she’d slipped and hit her head on her way through the Arch but the way her body
responded to him told her this was all too real. He gripped her hips and picked
her up, never breaking the kiss. She wrapped her legs around his waist and
greedily darted her tongue out to stroke his. His mouth devoured hers as images
of what else he would be doing to her flickered in and out of her mind. She
gripped his hair, letting her body melt against his. He broke the kiss to
whisper against her lips. “Don’t go.”

Her heart thudded in her ears. She wasn’t even sure if she
had heard him correctly. “What?”

“Don’t leave me. Stay. I don’t care how hard it might be. We
will make it work. Will you stay with me?”

“But what about your pack?”

“They will accept you. You freed them and you freed me from
the madness. I needed my revenge but the moment you defeated Ulric, all of that
washed away. All I need is you.”

More tears streaked her cheeks. She could only nod her head
yes and kiss him more in answer to him.

Luc had been ready to stand back and watch as Rowan headed
toward the Arch even though it killed him inside. He was sure it would be the
end of him. He needed her in his life a whole lot more than she needed him but
he couldn’t be selfish and tell her to stay. His shoulders slumped when he
watched her take her final steps toward the arch. That’s when a twig snapped
behind him, drawing his attention away. Colin and Joffey both stood at the tree
line. Luc glared and hissed, “Not now. I’ll deal with pack business later.”

Colin cleared his throat. “With all due respect to our new
alpha, you are a fool and so is she.”

Joffey nodded in agreement. “Time to be selfish, Luc.”

He narrowed his eyes at Joffey. “Since when are you my
cheerleader?”

“Since she broke our spell.”

Colin gripped Luc by the shoulders, looking him straight in
the eyes. “It’s true. It happened when I got back to the den this morning. All
of the pack that had been affected by Ulric’s madness seemed to snap out of it
all at once. Their heads cleared and they could think for themselves again.”

Luc looked at the men and then back at Rowan. Her eyes were
closed. He couldn’t help but smile. She was leaving the same way she’d come in.
He shook his head. “My father’s selfishness caused his insanity. I can’t bring
that upon the pack again. The Big Bad Wolf is dead. I refuse to become him.”

Colin’s eyes glanced from Luc to Rowan and then back to Luc
again. “Without her, I fear that is what you are destined to become.”

“You’re saying that I will become my father?”

“Without her, yes. Your father didn’t have anyone to soothe
him, comfort him or offer him support. He had your mother for a time but he
forced her into being his mate, she didn’t come willingly. It was the farthest
thing from true love I’ve ever seen. You and this girl, it’s the real deal. She
calms your wolf. She calmed all of us. Isn’t that enough to tell you what you
have to do?”

“If I make her stay, then I am no better than my father. I
will be robbing her of the life she had.”

“Who’s to say her old life is the one she wants?” Colin
shrugged. “Your time is running out. It’s make it or break it time, Luc.”

Those simple words were the last thing he had heard and from
there he’d acted on instinct, stopping her from crossing the Arch, kissing her
and asking her to stay. Her response was immediate, which only made him more
certain he’d done the right thing. With her lips still pressed against his, he
spun her around and savored the feel of her in his arms, something he hadn’t
thought he’d enjoy again when they’d left the cabin this morning.

He knew his pack mates had left. They would give their alpha
his privacy with his mate and in the stillness of forest, all he could hear was
the beating of her heart. Its rhythm matched his own. They were one and his
wolf was content.

He was still exploring her warm, wet mouth, his tongue
dancing with hers when lightning lit up the sky followed by a crack of thunder
that shook the ground. Rowan’s eyes widened. “What was that?”

Luc had already set her to her feet and placed her behind
him as he crouched, ready for an attack. “Someone is here.”

The voice that came from the tree line sent a shiver down
Luc’s back. “We aren’t finished yet. I will not let you ruin my plans.” The
woodsman stepped out to confirm it was their betrayer.

Rowan gasped. “Theron?”

Luc growled. “Lose the disguise, Piper. My father already
filled us in on who you really are.”

Piper lifted his flute to his lips and played the notes to
change him back to his natural appearance. His long blond hair cascaded over
his firm, lean shoulders. The steely look that his blue eyes held wished death
on both of them. He didn’t have to say the words. He was there to end them. Luc
pushed Rowan back. “Run, I’ll finish him.”

“I won’t leave you. We are in this together.”

He whipped his head around. “I can’t lose you. You saved me,
let me save you. Now go.”

She took off toward the Arch as Luc turned around to face
Piper. The wicked man grinned. “Sending her away won’t save her. I’m going to
gut you and then I will go after her. You will not ruin my plans. You will
never know happiness.”

Luc pulled out a long knife from his belt and twirled it. “Then
stop talking and let’s play.” Piper raised his flute to his lips. Luc’s eyes
narrowed. “Oh no you don’t.” He threw the knife. End over end, it cut through
the air and sank into the back of Piper’s hand. The man let out a howl of pain
and dropped the flute. Luc’s nostrils flared. “This time, no tricks.”

Piper pulled the knife from his hand and lunged at Luc. A
flash of silver told Luc that Piper still might have a trick or two up his
sleeve. He dodged the sharp piece of steel and gripped Piper’s wrist and
forearm. From the corner of his eye, Luc saw the flare of light that indicated
someone had passed through the Arch. His only hope was that it had been Rowan.
Piper struggled in his grasp. Luc was sure he had the upper hand until he heard
a faint click and something sharp bit into his leg. It met the resistance of
bone but the pain was enough to cause him to stumble back and release Piper. “Dirty
tricks, Piper. Only rogues use blade boots, I guess I shouldn’t expect anything
better from you.”

“You’re right. You shouldn’t expect better. I don’t play
fair.” The trickster snatched up his flute. Luc couldn’t let him use his wicked
magic. He had to kill him before he could play a note. Luc’s body shuddered, a
ripple coursed down his spine and in a flash of brilliant white light he
transformed into his wolf and attacked.

The sound of snarls and barks filled the air around them,
his elongated canines clamped down on Piper’s hand, wrenching the flute from
him as he plowed into Piper. The power of the hit caused Piper to fall back. The
only thing he could do was bring his arms up to shield his neck and face from
the barrage of teeth snapping at him. Chunks of flesh and blood filled Luc’s
mouth as he tore into his enemy. Every cry for mercy was met with a satisfying
growl.

Piper dropped his guard in what looked like an attempt to
make the pain stop. Luc took the advantage and went for his throat. His teeth
were just inches from his target when out of nowhere a bolt of energy hit him
square in the side. He yelped and flew back. He tried to get to his feet but
his legs refused to obey his command. Blood trickled from his injured side.
Looking up, he came eye to eye with a woman standing over him.

She whipped her fiery red hair over her shoulder and glared
down at Luc. “You will not kill him.” She hit him with another blast of energy
and he howled in pain. He watched as she motioned for help from the tree line.
Young men and women dressed for battle skulked toward her. “Gather him, he
needs to heal. Take him back to camp.”

One of the men stepped forward. He was tall and lithe and
had the striking features and pointed ears of the Fae. “What about the wolf?”

“He is of no concern of yours, Aengus.” She motioned for the
others to take Piper away and turned to Aengus. “I’ll finish him. Apparently
your master underestimated the power of this mutt.”

“As you wish.” He nodded and headed off with the rest of the
soldiers, carrying away their injured leader.

Josephine glared at Luc. He’d shifted back to his human form
during her exchange with the Fae. His hand was pressed against the wound on his
side. Luc met her angry gaze and laughed. “So you are a witch and you’re
helping him?” He coughed. “Why?”

“I owe no one in this realm any explanation.”

She drew her wand and started to mutter her spell. The wind
whipped around the forest, all chatter of woodland creatures stopped and dark
clouds drew in shielding the sun. A spark rose from the tip of her wand. Luc
refused to close his eyes. He would meet his death head-on and looking it right
in the eyes. As Josephine started to draw back, a rustle broke out from behind
him and all he saw was a flash of red.

Rowan jumped over him and crouched protectively in front of
his injured body. Josephine’s chanting stuttered for a brief second, long
enough for Rowan to attack. Her hand flicked and two daggers ripped through the
air. One hit the witch in her shoulder, causing her to drop her wand. The other
was on target to sink into her chest but instead the witch went crashing to the
ground.

Luc blinked watching the young Fae male knock the witch
down. He glanced at them, giving them a cruel smile and snatched up the witch
in his arms. Luc could have sworn he heard the young man whisper, “My master
will not allow you to die like this.” Josephine grabbed hold of the man and
muttered an incantation. They vanished from sight within the span of a heartbeat.

Rowan spun around after the pair vanished and gasped. “How
bad are you hurt? Please don’t die, I just found you. I can’t lose you.”

Luc was already pulling himself up. “You won’t lose me and I’m
not dying any time soon.”

She pulled at his shirt and winced at seeing the bloody
wound but to her surprise it was already healing. “What the hell?”

“We heal fast.” He shrugged his shoulder. “I told you I wasn’t
dying any time soon. Although if you hadn’t shown up, I’m pretty sure that
witch would have finished the job.” A sudden frown crossed his face. “I thought
I told you to run.”

She leaned down and kissed him hard. He was already drawing
her into his lap. She whispered against his lips, “I could never leave you now
that I know you want me forever. I would happily face death to stay at your
side.”

She could feel him smiling as he seized her by her hair and
captured her mouth with his again. “Happily ever after? Is that what we are?”

Her head nodded, his warm mouth moved down her neck, coaxing
a soft moan from her. She tangled her hands in his hair as her body melted
against him. “Yes… Ever after.”

A chorus of howls broke out all around them and Rowan knew
this was where she was meant to be. In the arms of her wolf forever.

The End