Redemption (16 page)

None of that mattered right now. Tears trekked down her cheeks as she clung to the last tendrils of hope within her. She couldn’t stand aside and let Bessa die, not if she or someone could make it go away.

There had to be a way to save her.

Doc had worked with Bessa daily, spending many hours in the garden with them as he diligently attempted to work a miracle. Mira should’ve done this a hell of a long time ago.

She halted in front of Deimos and glared down at him. His calmness fed the rage welling inside her. She swallowed the pain. “She’s dying, Deimos.”

“That’s unfortunate.” He set the book he’d been reading aside. “She was a remarkable woman from what I could tell.”

Disbelief kept her mute a moment. This couldn’t be happening. “You can save her.”

“Not everyone can be rescued, Mira. It’s a rough lesson to learn—probably the worst of all. Intervention isn’t always the answer.”

“Bullshit. The Deimos I knew in the facility wouldn’t have spewed such toxic drivel. He would’ve moved heaven and earth to keep me and everyone else safe. And you know what? He did.” She crossed her hands and shook her head. “I wish I could rewind, return, because the Deimos I see now isn’t half the man as the one from I left there.”

He stood and closed the distance between them. “You have no idea what you demand. There’s much at play here you don’t understand. This is for the best. Trust me.”

“No. I can’t, Deimos. I can’t trust you.” She swiped another tear. “Bessa means
everything
to them. She’s the soul of the pack and the heart of their rightful Alpha Commander. Hell, my heart bleeds for her loss and I met her barely a few weeks ago. Intervention may not always be the answer, but I can’t see how cowering in your bunk while she gasps her last breath is the best course of action. The Deimos I knew wouldn’t let an innocent woman suffer. I’m thinking he died before I rescued him, because he wouldn’t have ever been such a coward.

“Did you know they thought you wanted me as a mate because you intervened? They couldn’t imagine any of their kind saving a worthless Impure like me. But they’ve all regaled stories of their warriors and the sacrifices they made to protect the females, the packs and the dens and the young. Up to now I thought you were a god among all those brave warriors, Deimos. Now I realize you’re nothing but an imitation because the real heroes are out there doing what they lack the power to do.”

Deimos fisted his hands at his side and closed his eyes. “This isn’t a simple situation, Mira.”

“Bullshit. You endured two years of hell for an Impure you didn’t even know,” she shouted as she closed the distance between them. “You felt everything they did to me, every violation. Every pain. Yet you won’t walk out there and save one of your own kind? Adrik’s pack would lay down their lives for you and they don’t even know who the fuck you are. Guess what? They wouldn’t care! Whatever you’re in here cowering to hide won’t matter to them because they are good people. I used to think you were too. I guess I was wrong.”

She motored from the room in rage and smacked into Peyton. The wolf’s eyes were wide, her mouth gaping. “There a problem?”

“Nope. Let’s go. Adrik needs me.”

“Yes, he does,” she stated as she followed along behind Mira as she wound her way through the barrack and toward the exit.

With the confrontation behind her, guilt and worry settled in her gut. “How much did you hear?”

“Enough.” Peyton halted. “He did a lot for you in the facility, but I doubt there’s anything he can do for her, Mira. Doc is the strongest healer in existence and he hasn’t been able to save her. Knowing the limitations of our people may help relieve some of the anger you feel. Helplessness isn’t a good feeling.”

Was she really bonding with Peyton of all wolves? Mira swiped at the hot tears of shameful hopelessness running down her cheeks. “She doesn’t deserve an ending like this. Neither of them does.”

“Jarvis is a strong warrior. With the pack’s support he’ll manage.” Peyton forced a smile. “We all will. Let’s get you to Adrik.”

Right. She’d have plenty of time to fall apart later, probably in the garden she’d tended thanks to Bessa’s guidance. A fresh stream of tears tumbled and Mira halted, forcing gaspy breaths in and out. She needed to get her shit together.

Peyton squeezed her arm. “I didn’t get why you were so important to him, why he fell apart when you disappeared a couple of years ago. I mean, you weren’t his mate. Y’all weren’t even fucking.”

“Not now, please. Anytime but now.” Mira wiped her cheeks. “I need to get to him. I know he needs me strong.”

“No, he doesn’t.” Peyton shook her head. “That’s what I’m getting to, Mira. I get it now. He needs you because you need him, his strength. You make the warrior wolf in him strong because you trust him completely to protect you, keep you safe. You need him and he needs you to need him. Am I making sense?”

Mira nodded. She’d sort out all the needs in the sentence later, when her brain wasn’t mourning Bessa’s loss. Turning, she headed out the door and made her way to the square, where the Alpha Commander’s mate had fallen.

The pack surrounded Jarvis and Bessa. Adrik crouched beside the man, squeezing his shoulder. His voice drifted on the stiff, brittle wind when Mira approached.

“Let’s take her inside, Commander. It’ll give you two some privacy.”

Bessa’s eyelids fluttered. Her chapped lips moved, but no words came. Tears fell from Jarvis’s eyes and landed on his mate.

“No, she doesn’t want to be inside Medical. It’s a sterile, horrid place. Here, outside with the pack. It’s the right place.”

Mira thought of the garden, but remained silent. Jarvis knew his mate best and as she considered it, the square was the ideal place. The pack surrounded the couple while Impures hung around the perimeter. From what she’d discerned the past few weeks, Jarvis and Bessa loved this place almost as much as Adrik did.

The frail female rested in Jarvis’s arms, unmoving. Her lips moved and the male howled his grief for the world to hear. Long, low. Primal.

“Not yet, Bessa. They’re on their way, sweetheart. Hold on just a bit longer so the king can administer final passage rites. Then you can rest until I come to you.”

Flyers were coming? They’d left shortly after the meeting a couple of weeks ago. Apparently there were lots of Alphas to speak with and the new king preferred to have discussions face to face.

She waited for Adrik to turn and issue some sort of order to the sentinels behind him, yet he remained still, his attention drawn solely to the man beside him. Mira turned and looked at Ren and Peyton.

“Does something need to be done if flyers are arriving?” she asked.

“Normally, yes. In this case, when time is a commodity, no.” Ren’s voice held unspoken grief.

The air around everyone hung like a stifling, heavy blanket. How would the pack survive this? They’d sacrificed so much to make Redemption happen, to help others. Yet there was no helping their Bessa.

Doc appeared beside Mira. Grim helplessness marred his handsome features. “There’s nothing we can do now. Let’s give them the few moments they’ll have together. I doubt the flyers will make it here on time, though I know the king will come damn near killing them all trying.”

Whispers erupted within the crowd as Camryn, Lorn and Remy charged their way through the clustered pack and stood in a half-circle across from Mira and the sentinels. Hand on her sword, the succuba mage glared at her.

“You got your wish, Impure. I hope to hell you know what you’ve done,” Camryn growled, each hand on the hilt of a weapon.

What had she done? Confusion made her gaze sweep the area. Then he appeared. Deimos pushed through the crowd and paused to stand before Mira. His hand cupped her cheek.

“A lifetime of wisdom resided in your words, Impure. You were right. I’ve been cowering like a sullen child. The time for hiding has passed.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You’ll make an excellent mate for him. I couldn’t have asked for better for such a worthy warrior.”

Adrik stood, his fists clenched. Deimos stepped away with a smirk on his face. “Alpha wolf, take care of your female. She will no doubt give you a run, but I suspect you look forward to the adventure as much as I would.”

Dread pitted in Mira’s belly. “Why are your words so final?”

“We must plan for the worst and hope for the best.” Deimos maneuvered to a kneeling position across from Jarvis and Bessa. He leaned down and whispered something to them both. Bessa smiled.

The Alpha Commander’s shocked gasp echoed a moment before Deimos took Bessa into his arms and clutched her tightly. Jarvis stumbled backward, grasping for Adrik’s hand.

Eyes widened, the man whispered. “Secure the perimeter. Lock it down.”

The sentinels moved into a tight circle around Deimos and Bessa.

“What is it?” Adrik growled.

“I’m not sure. I’ve lost my mind in grief,” Jarvis whispered as he fell to his knees once again. “It cannot be.”

A golden light, as though the sun had landed in Redemption, erupted from Deimos. The powerful beams highlighted a fragile shell around him, one now riddled with fractured shards.

“Damn him. Nothing in half measure,” Camryn mumbled. Nudging Lorn and Remy, she maneuvered closer to Deimos. “Come, we’ll construct a shield between the sentinels and the crowd.”

The two young fledgling mages nodded and stood on opposite ends, bookending Deimos and Bessa. The light brightened, blinding Mira as she grabbed for Adrik.

“What’s happening?”

“Not sure.” Adrik wrapped a hand around her waist. “What is this Commander?”

“Impossible. It cannot be.” Jarvis remained in shock, his gaze riveted to the blinding light now encasing Deimos and Bessa. “It cannot be.” Tears tumbled down his cheeks as he rocked.

“Flyers!” The crowd cheered their entry as they landed on the other side of the swelling gathering.

“Stand aside, flyers are here! Make way.” A well-meaning man shouted the command.

“No!” Camryn’s voice boomed over the noisy onlookers. “Lock them out. Secure the perimeter and protect your pack leaders. Now!”

“What the hell?” Adrik shouted. “You overstep your bounds, succuba mage.”

“I’ll run my sword through anyone who nears him,” she growled. She stepped closer, until her leg disappeared in the bursting beams of golden rays. “Surely you aren’t stupid, Alpha. You know what occurs here.”

Adrik tensed beside Mira. “That’s not possible.”

“It is,” Camryn stated as she drew her weapons. A tightness encased Mira as she gasped for breath. Giles and Peyton struggled as well. “Relax and it’ll subside. You’re being shielded because I trust you to defend him.”

Him. Deimos. Mira looked down at the man huddled with Bessa. The golden aura dissipated enough for her to get a better look. He was nothing like the frail, unfit man she’d grown accustomed to seeing.

His shoulders were massive, his hair long and golden, like the rays bathing the area. His exposed chest, no longer marred with scars, was muscled like Adrik’s, but bigger. The man was huge. Though he crouched, Mira knew he’d be taller than any of the wolf pack, probably taller than even Kadal, Trent or Kane—who were all now standing between the pack and the sentinels, their faces awash with shock as they stared down at Deimos.

Every protective instinct within her urged her forward, until she and, for some strange reason Adrik, were between the three flyers and Deimos.

“Stand aside,” Trent growled.

“Not until we get answers.” Adrik reached for his weapon. “Stand down. My pack and I have offered him sanctuary and we will defend him against anyone who approaches.”

“You think we wish him harm?” Kadal asked.

“How dare you!” Kane bellowed as he drew his weapon. “Stand aside or I gut you.”

“Stand down.” Trent crossed his arms. “What occurs here? Who’s in the healing circle with him?”

“Bessa.”

An awkward silence fell over the crowd as everyone stared in disbelief at the man holding Bessa. Each passing moment evaporated a few more rays until nothing masked him. He sat up, nuzzling Bessa’s neck as he mumbled something.

Her eyes fluttered open. The crowd gasped and cheered. Revelry erupted within the onlookers, except for the sentinels, flyers and the mages shielding Deimos. Mira swiped the joyous relief from her eyes as Bessa crawled over to Jarvis and drew him close.

The couple wept together, rocking. Their whispers fell on deaf ears as everyone celebrated the miracle. Bessa was alive.

Mira watched Deimos stand. Slightly taller than Kadal, his sheer stature demanded attention. Camryn turned and knelt before him, as did the two fledgling mages beside her.

“My sword is yours to command, my liege.”

“Stand, succuba mage. You have done more than I could’ve asked as it is.” He regarded Lorn and Remy. “As have you both. I’m proud of the warriors you have become.” He looked over at the other fledglings, who’d somehow managed to infiltrate the shield and take a protective stance around Deimos.

They all beamed proud smiles and puffed under the praise. Doc closed the distance first. Tears welled in his eyes as the two embraced, conversing quietly a moment. When Doc stepped away, Deimos approached Adrik, who knelt quickly. His sentinels did as well, followed by the entire pack. Straggling onlookers—Impures—gaped in shock.

Mira stumbled to her knees and leaned into Adrik. “Why are we kneeling?” she stage whispered.

Adrik growled for her silence. Deimos chuckled as he cupped her face and captured her curious gaze. “Your innocence and honesty are so refreshing, Mira. I pray they remain with you always.”

“W-who are you?” Mira asked.

Everyone around her gasped in shocked outrage. Huh. Guess she shouldn’t have asked.

“For you I will always be Deimos. Thank you for doing what no other would’ve dared and calling me on my cowardice. Hiding within your mate’s pack won’t solve the problems I must handle.”

Was now the time to mention Adrik wasn’t exactly her mate yet? She hoped he would be, but it wasn’t technically true.

Deimos looked down at Adrik. “You don’t swear your sword and those of your pack to me blindly as the succuba mage did?”