Last Wolf Standing (#7, The Mystic Wolves) Read online

  But Thorne’s.

  Gasping for air, I broke away, quickly swiping my tongue over the gaping wound I’d made and stopping the blood flow. The fragile dam inside me broke as hot tears streamed over my cheeks.

  I’d come so close to losing control, again.

  But you didn’t, Mason added gently. You found what you needed before you went too far. That’s the key, sweetheart. Once you realize that, control will follow.

  “Damn it. Are you okay, Thorne?”

  “The better question is, are you? I’ve never fed a vampire before. It’s definitely not something I want to repeat,” he replied grouchily. It was music to my ears.

  “I—” My gratitude was interrupted by a loud clanging at the door before it opened.

  “The Master will see you now, Darcy. I hope you didn’t spoil your appetite by feasting on that road kill,” Helena mocked, the outline of her figure illuminated by the outside light.

  Waving her hand, she blasted us both with a jolt of magic. Thorne reached for me, his intention to somehow protect me with his body.

  It was too late, though, the spell knocked us out instantly.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Darcy

  A hard slap across my face pulled me into awareness, the sharp sting lingering on my cheek. When I didn’t open my eyes immediately, it was followed with another. Helena’s satisfied smirk was the first thing I saw.

  In the time I’d been unconscious, she’d moved me into a formal dining room—a stark contrast to the dark, bare, and empty cell from earlier. It reminded me of the beautiful eating area at Vivien’s with its mahogany table and velvet cushioned high-back chairs. I’d loved the crystal chandelier that hung overhead, something she’d taken great pride in. The one that lit this room felt like a cheap imitation.

  From the tacky china design, the lackluster silverware, and blah-colored linens, it was on the tip of my tongue to tell Helena she would never come close to the elegance Vivien possessed.

  In my mind, she would always be a poor-man’s version of my good friend, and I almost told her that—just to watch that smug expression she wore slip away.

  “Be gentle. I like my belongings without bruises.”

  “You don’t own me,” I hissed, finally looking down the long table at Julian. If Helena appeared full of herself, he positively radiated arrogance. He exuded superiority, like a king sitting at the head of his table entertaining guests.

  The bastard.

  My head whipped back as Helena struck me again, her lips twisted into a vicious snarl. “Watch your mouth.”

  “Now ladies. Play nice.” A condescending civility all but dripped from his voice. “I trust your accommodations have been to your liking, Darcy?” Julian asked, signaling to the nearby female server he wanted his wine glass filled.

  “If you call being chained in a dark room comfortable, then yes,” I retorted, not bothering to curb my sarcasm.

  “Excellent. I’m glad to hear it. I accept your gratitude for the food I left in there with you, as well. I hear that bear is especially pleasant to a vampire’s palate.” And just like that, I caught a glimpse behind the fake façade he’d erected and saw who he truly was.

  Ignoring his reference to Thorne, I pressed against the cuffs that kept my wrists firmly secured to the chairs arms. “Are these restraints really necessary?”

  Julian cocked his eyebrow; surprised I’d even ask. “Will you try to kill me if I remove them?”

  “In a heartbeat,” I answered without hesitation. Helena stepped forward, her fingers now curled into a tight fist. “And then I’ll come for you.” I shifted my gaze to her. It was stupid to antagonize her, especially when pain from her punch made me see stars. For a witch, there was nothing dainty about her. Helena knew how to hit.

  “Enough!” Julian thundered, his mask of calmness fully dropping. Anger blazed in his eyes, aimed directly at Helena. “If I remember correctly, I’ve supplied you the artifact to open the Vortex. You have more important things to do than spar with my guest.”

  I watched her leave, resentment filling her face as she glared one last time at me. “Wow, you’ve got her trained. Does she bark on command, as well?”

  “My, you are a cocky thing, aren’t you? I wonder where this new sense of bravado has come from. Here I was thinking you’d be more timid . . . compliant . . . considering you answer to me, now. Aren’t you afraid of what I might do should you anger me?” Julian studied me closely, as if I was some kind of mystery he still hadn’t quite solved. “I can’t tell whether you are brave or foolish.”

  “Does it matter?”

  Swirling the wine about in his glass, Julian shrugged. “Not really. So, how is your beloved mate doing? I’m sure this has him all riled up and bloodthirsty,” he asked, adding a short laugh at the end.

  “Are we really going to waste time on pleasantries?” He didn’t need to know that from the second I opened my eyes, Mason had been inside my head, taking in every detail I could show him. While he hadn’t recognized any of the décor, he was still there, quietly observing, waiting for that moment when Julian would screw up and divulge something telling.

  His sigh of exasperation was almost comical. “This brazenness you’re displaying is very unbecoming of you, Darcy. I believe it’ll be the first bad habit I break you of once my plans come into fruition.”

  “Which are?” I pressed, trying to lock eyes with him. While I hadn’t tried compelling someone from this distance, I still needed to try. If not to get free, then at least to get the information Mason and Devlin desperately needed.

  Julian waved his hand, dismissing me. “There’ll be plenty of time to share my secrets. Although, I think it’s sweet you think you’re strong enough to use your weak vampire compulsion on me.”

  “A girl can try, can’t she?” It was my turn to appear indifferent.

  Standing up, Julian smiled, shifting back to his role of gracious host. “You keep distracting me from the reason why I brought you in here.” He smoothed his hands over the dark tailored jacket he wore before unbuttoning it. “I had a wonderful meal prepared in honor of our first evening together. I took the liberty of choosing a few items for tonight’s menu. Over time, I’ll learn more about what pleases you.”

  “If you want to please me, let me go,” I interjected.

  His brow wrinkled, creating frown lines above the bridge of his nose. “I didn’t go to all this trouble to simply change my mind and release you, Darcy. You belong to me. Now, you have a choice between baked chicken and lamb carving. Personally, lamb is a favorite of mine. With just the right amount of mint and cooked to perfection, it melts in your mouth.” Julian closed his eyes, moaning with imagined pleasure, his arm resting lightly over the top of his chair.

  “I’m not hungry.” The last thing I could stomach right now was sitting here eating as though all this was normal.

  Anger sparked, his face darkening for the fraction of a second before the emotion disappeared. “Oh, how thoughtless of me.” Julian chuckled, waving to someone in the other room to come join him. Then leading the young server toward me, his hand resting against the small of her back, he whispered something softly in her ear.

  I didn’t have time to question what caused her startled expression because the answer came before I took my next breath. In one fluid, horrifying motion, Julian reached up with both hands and snapped her neck, dropping her lifeless body on the table in front of me.

  “No!” I screamed as bile rushed up my throat. “Why would you do that, you psychopath?” I hadn’t even known her name and the blonde haired girl had died for me. Struggling against my restraints, there was nothing I could do to save her. The whole thing sickened me.

  He sickened me.

  “Because I can, Darcy. You’ll do well to remember that.” With no regard for the life he’d cruelly ended, Julian grabbed her arm and shoved it into my face. “Eat before your food gets cold.” Pressing her wrist hard to my lips, he was the one who snorted in disgust
when I refused to open my mouth. “Now who’s being wasteful?”

  “You’re a monster,” I seethed. It didn’t matter that Helena’s son could be an innocent victim in all this—his body the one being callously abused. Every part of me raged at not being able to avenge the young woman’s death.

  “I’m not the one who was snacking on their new friend earlier, was I?” Julian turned his back to me and returned to his seat, pointedly refusing to look my way until he drained the contents of his glass. “But, we each can’t help who we are.”

  He was trying to make me feel guilty for the situation he’d placed Thorne and me in. While usually I had no problem beating myself up over perceived weaknesses, I refused to let him goad me. “I’m not ashamed of who I am.”

  “Of course you’re not.” Like a switch had flipped inside his head, his condescending expression returned. “In fact, I’m feeling particularly gracious at the moment. You’ve inspired me with your little declaration of self-esteem.” Winking, Julian tapped the side of his head. “Tell that mate of yours to listen up. I believe this is the chance he’s been waiting for.”

  The constant shift in his moods gave me whiplash. “Are you going to keep talking in circles? Because if you are, I’d rather go back to my cell.”

  My flippant response hit its mark. “No, I’m going to give your precious friends a head start . . . make this race for power even more interesting. For some reason, winning isn’t as sweet when it comes so pathetically easy.”

  “Meaning?” I needed to make sure I understood him properly.

  “Meaning . . .” He drew out the word then vacated his seat, again, to claim the one directly opposite me. Ever the performer, Julian grinned, and leaned in closer. “I’m going to tell you exactly what I’m going to do next and see whether that little band of losers that Devlin and your mate lead can stop me.”

  “Then, by all means, share,” I answered, resisting the urge to snap my teeth at him.

  “Well, by now you’re all aware that I took your beloved Daniel because he knew where the artifact was hidden. I can’t begin to tell you how infuriating it was when you ruined my intentions with Amber. I thought she was a good option when I couldn’t overpower you, with the witch there to stop me, when I’d lost your magic and your dual nature slipped through my fingers. I was forced to find another way and she was supposed to weaken your resistance to make my possessing you, dear Darcy, easier.”

  “She was like a kindred spirit—her lust for power almost rivaling my own. It was a natural choice to pair goals with her . . . I would get you, and the magic Elynor had so cleverly robbed me of, and Amber would get Mason. Even when she became impatient and challenged you, her death still served my purpose. That is, until she screwed up and Mason realized something was amiss.”

  I didn’t hide my grin hearing how we’d thwarted his carefully laid plans. Then a memory surfaced. “That was you that I felt? When Vivien was exorcising Amber, I felt another presence in my body.”

  “Yes, that was me, but I was still too weak to hold on. Helena was still loyal to me, though, eager to see my return. And, if there was one thing I’ve learned over my many years, it is the importance of remaining flexible. As one plot failed, another one took its place. Or in this case, was put aside, so I could concentrate on the next stage of my quest for power.”

  “The Vortex,” I whispered, starting to see the pieces of the puzzle coming together.

  “Helena had already tried to harness its magic, unsuccessfully. I was convinced, then, that the only way I could accomplish it would be with the artifact. Torturing your mate was nothing more than fun, a way to repay a debt to the Silver Creek Alpha. He’d been loyal to my cause and he’d just lost his daughter. Little did I know by kidnapping Mason, it would hand deliver Daniel to me.”

  “How did you do it?” I blurted out. Now that Julian was freely talking, I was hesitant to interrupt him with questions, but I had to know. It was something that had baffled everyone since the night Daniel had come forward and challenged Mason at the Alpha gathering.

  “Do you know how long it takes to possess someone when you catch them by surprise?” When I shook my head, his grinned widened. He was enjoying this too much. “Just a few moments. While Devlin took your poor battered mate out front, Daniel and the other wolf with him quickly searched the grounds. Helena had the foresight to remain hidden and then seized her opportunity. Overpowering Daniel was simple. There was no need for a fancy, showy tattoo, either. A mere speck of ink beneath the skin and an incantation, and there I was . . . embedded inside his body, his spirit suppressed. While Mason recovered, Helena continued to work her magic until voila . . . Daniel was me and I was him. And no one was the wiser.”

  There was no wondering whether Mason was hearing all this—our mental connection burning with barely controlled fury. I wanted to calm him, tell him that he’d get his vengeance on behalf of his best friend. Julian had taken so much from us all, his first victim Devlin’s sister, Elynor. If we weren’t careful, Daniel wouldn’t be Julian’s last in his relentless pursuit to control and dominant.

  “And now you have the artifact.”

  He nodded. “Now I have the artifact. Although, I have to say I’m a little disappointed by it. Zane has done a wonderful job shrouding its existence from the world. I was expecting something . . . I don’t know . . . grander than the plain, stone chalice I found in Louisiana.”

  “It’s useless unless you can get close enough to the Vortex. Its entire purpose is to help the one holding it channel all that power.” That knowledge was the one ray of hope we held. Zane had tripled the security after Helena’s failed attempt, earlier, had killed the Enforcers there. The moment he learned Thorne’s home had been infiltrated and the artifact taken, he’d added more guards.

  The site had become a fortress.

  Julian’s eyes widened with sincere surprise. “Do you really believe I would let a few measly Enforcers stop me from achieving greatness?”

  Once again, he reminded me how delusional he was. There was nothing ‘measly’ about the force he would meet, if he were stupid enough to attack. “You can’t possibly think you’d win?”

  “Absolutely. And having you there, watching, as I finally claim my victory, will make it even sweeter.”

  His conviction left me speechless.

  He is insane. I inwardly whispered.

  He’s a dead man. Came Mason’s bloodthirsty response.

  Do you think he could really win? Absorb the Vortex and its magic?

  I hated that I even asked. I just knew it was unwise to underestimate the fervent drive of a mad man.

  “Let me guess?” Julian interrupted, pressing his fingers against his temple. “He’s not a happy camper right now.”

  “He’ll stop you. Him and Devlin.” The truthfulness of my words resonated through me. Glaring at my captor, it didn’t matter how psychotic he was or how strongly he believed in his own abilities. He would be defeated because I knew my husband and uncle better than he did. They would fight until the bitter end. They’d never submit to a tyrant.

  “Oh, I’m counting on them trying, my dear. Unfortunately, it won’t make any difference. God knows Devlin’s had his chances.”

  It was his next comment that made my blood run cold.

  “They will all still die.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Mason

  Despite the commotion going on around me, I’d never felt so focused, so fully centered, where all I could feel was perfect balance and clarity.

  Gone was the anxiety from earlier—the lingering concern that had fueled my fear of failing those I loved at the last moment.

  Even the fury that had threatened to overwhelm me had channeled into a flawless weapon. My anger didn’t spin me out of control. It gave me purpose, definition.

  It had all fallen away in the wake of Julian revealing his plans to Darcy. Where my determination would carry me through this next battle, his arrogance and conceit would le
ad his ultimate demise.

  “She’ll be okay. In his own sick way, Julian won’t hurt her.” Devlin stood nearby, his black hair pulled back at the base of his neck. We’d been silently preparing for what was to come, our small group the last that remained at the mansion. As soon as I’d relayed the information to Zane, he sprang into action—enforcers were armed and sent to offer more protection to the Vortex. Members from my own Pack had come forward, eager to do their part in stopping the tyrant who had taken so much from them and bring their beloved Alpha’s mate home.

  “He won’t get another chance to,” I answered with one hundred percent confidence. While the others selected their weapons of choice from the displays mounted on the training room wall, I ignored the lure of daggers and swords.

  Everything I needed I held within me. The second I had Darcy safely away from Julian, I would shift and let my wolf free. We each had our assignments and mine was carved into the very depths of my heart and mind.

  First, my mate.

  Second, Julian.

  “You sure you won’t take something?” Devlin had been studying me for the past hour, not even hiding the fact when I caught his eyes boring into me. Offering me a sheathed throwing knife, he didn’t push it when I shook my head.

  “I’m a werewolf. That’s enough.”

  No weapon forged from steel would claim the right of ripping his sadistic heart from his chest. It wouldn’t be until I extinguished the life from his eyes that this nightmare would finally be over. Even then, that might not be enough.

  I wanted to annihilate him—remove any future possibility of him returning, again. Only then would I rest and know that justice had truly been served.

  Devlin slid it into the top of his boot. “Wade and Moses said the exact same thing when I asked.”

  “I know weapons help give some an advantage; but most times, for me, they just get in the way.” Spreading my hands apart, I gestured to my loosened t-shirt and sweat pants. “I don’t plan on spending much time in human form—none of my wolves do. We’re more lethal with claws and better suited to fight.”