Scent of the Heart (19 page)

Before he could shift, the wolf leapt, covering almost half the length of the hall with one jump. He stalked toward Casey, his golden eyes pinched, saliva dripping from his jowls.

“Sev, if he attacks, I want you to run. Do what you have to do, but find that item.”

“What? No, that’s stupid.”

“Do as I say, damn it. Save Mikhail. Save our people.”

Casey pushed Sev away a few steps and knelt down. “Hey, boy. You’re a handsome pup, aren’t you? Listen, we don’t want any trouble. We just need to find something. Can we go through?”

The wolf cocked its head, the black fur glistening in the dim lighting.

“Yeah, that’s it. You’re a smart boy. You know we don’t want to hurt you.”

Its lips drew into a snarl and his gaze went to Sev.

“Hey, no. Look at me. Only me.”

When the wolf leapt at Sev, Casey didn’t even have time to cry out.

When the beast slammed into him, Sev was terrified. He could attempt a shift, but his skunk body was more fragile in many ways. One bite and it would likely be all over for him.

“No, stop!” came a shout from his side.

The wolf paused for a long moment, glared at Casey, then turned his attention back to Sev. Casey leapt at the wolf, grabbing it by the mane and yanking hard, not even budging the huge beast. He punched the wolf repeatedly in its maw, and shouted for Sev to run. Sev skittered away and shifted, turning and lifting his tail, but he couldn’t work up a spray. The wolf shook Casey off and stalked toward Sev. As it got closer, Casey stood and weakly gestured toward the slavering animal.

“I can’t. I don’t know what to do.”

Desperation in his mate’s voice spurred Sev to act. He leapt on the wolf’s back and sank sharp teeth and claws into its neck, causing the wolf to howl. Casey cast the flash cantrip, but that did nothing to the wolf.

“Sev, I’m sorry,” he whispered, then hurled himself at the wolf once more. The solid thud barely moved the wolf who continued to thrash, trying to dislodge Sev, who had no intention of letting go. Casey slammed his fist repeatedly against the wolf’s eyes, but the blows seemed to have little effect.

Sev shifted to his human form and began to hit the wolf as well. Their blows were doing nothing, it seemed. It was then that Sev noticed the wolf wasn’t fighting back.

“Casey, stop.”

His mate’s blue eyes went wide. “What the hell?”

“Please. Stop. Look at him. He’s not fighting, he’s simply standing there and letting us hit him.”

Casey released his grip on the wolf’s mane and waited. The wolf whimpered and pawed at his eyes, then moved to where Sev stood, lay on the ground, and rolled to show his stomach.

“He’s showing his submission. I don’t understand. He rushed us, he’s certainly stronger, and I was sure he was going to kill us.”

Sev leaned over and rubbed the wolf, whose tail wagged furiously. “He doesn’t seem interested in fighting us anymore. That’s so odd.”

“Fine, whatever. We’ve got to move.”

As they once again took off down the hall, Sev noticed the wolf staring at them intently. It made no move to approach them and almost seemed to be waiting for permission.

“Did you want to come with us?” he asked, laughing when the great beast rushed toward them and took a spot at Sev’s feet.

“Well, that’s freaking great. You have a pet. You’re cleaning up after him,” Casey grumbled.

“No, I think it’s more like he’ll be feasting off your flesh.”

The cold voice from behind caused them to freeze where they stood. Jake stood there, completely nude, eyes red and watering.

“I don’t understand how the Protector deals with vermin like you, Tsvetok. His senses are unbearably powerful. The smell may never leave his nostrils.” Then he glanced down at the wolf. “I see you met one of my pets.”

In an act of defiance, Sev reached down and stroked fingers through the fur. “He’s a good boy.”

“The last person who found their way into my fortress ended up as a bone for him to chew. I don’t know what magic you used, Shaman, but you won’t hold him for long. He’s the most vicious of the animals here. I dare say in a fair fight, he might even give the Protector a run for his money. He is everything Kell was and more. Vicious, savage, without a shred of remorse. Kell had those qualities, but he also had his weaknesses in his desires for power. This beast has none of those trappings. I took him away from his mother before I killed her.”

Sev’s jaw dropped. “This was Kell’s son.”

“Very good, Tsvetok. He mated a bitch wolf and she bore him puppies. This was the most aggressive of the lot. Bigger, stronger, and meaner. When I had made my choice, I killed his mother and the rest of the litter, then brought him here, where I trained him to be the perfect killing machine. Had he been a shifter, instead of a wolf like his mother, I would have put Kell down and he would have been my enforcer.”

Kneeling next to the enormous wolf, Sev wrapped an arm around his neck. The wolf’s tongue lolled out of his mouth, and he seemed to be incredibly happy as he pressed against Sev.

“Kill them,” Elizar commanded.

The wolf jumped to his feet and placed himself between Sev and Elizar, teeth bared and a menacing growl echoing in the halls. His hackles were raised as he stalked toward Elizar.

“Stay back. Obey me.”

A hand slashed out, becoming Jake’s claw before it reached the wolf’s face, and raked across his eyes. He howled in agony, and Sev swore he could feel the pain, too. He lunged at Elizar, shifting as he did, and sinking claws into Jake’s tender areas. The shriek from Elizar was nearly as loud as the wolf’s had been, and that satisfied Sev and his skunk. Just because he couldn’t spray did not mean he was without weapons.

The wolf shook off the blow and though it had blood streaming down its face, continued advancing toward Elizar. The shift was slower than Jake could accomplish, but Elizar was fast enough that he fled down the hall, the wolf hot on his heels. Sev began to waddle after them, but Casey snatched him up.

“I know you want to help, but we have to find that item. The wolf might keep him busy enough to let us do that.”

“But he’ll kill him,” Sev implored as he shifted back.

“Remember what Elizar said? In a fair fight, the wolf could give Jake a hard time. Elizar has no idea how to properly use Jake’s abilities. If anything, he’s doing it on instinct, and he’s running scared.”

Regretfully Sev turned and headed in the other direction with his mate. Casey was right. Stopping Elizar was paramount. Even if someone was going to die, it wouldn’t matter if Elizar went with them.

They searched the fortress for nearly an hour, using Sev’s senses to access areas where the smell of the other animals was weak, indicating they hadn’t been there for a time. They finally came upon a door that was bolted shut. Large locks, ancient in their construction, kept the door anchored closed.

“I can feel it,” Casey exclaimed. “It’s beyond this door.”

“Then that’s where we need to go as well.”

“Yes, give me your set of lock picks.”

“What are they?”

“It was a joke, Sev. We need to find something to open these doors.”

“You can do it.”

“No materials.”

“For this, you shouldn’t need them. As I explained, the power over nature resides within you. This door is wood, and you can command it. Feel it, channel it, and let it go.”

“I don’t have time. We need to find it now.”

A yowl echoed down the halls. A cry of an animal in great pain that caused Sev to shudder.

“Do it, Casey. There is no time. You
must
.”

***

Casey placed his hands on the door and tried to concentrate. Sev said it was in him, and Sev wouldn’t make something like this up. He couldn’t focus. He could hear the fight raging somewhere nearby, and all he could think about was Jake’s safety.

“Concentrate, damn you,” Sev snapped.

“On what? I have no idea what the hell I’m supposed to do.”

You cannot command the wood, Casey.

The voice, so weak, tickled Casey’s mind. “Hakiim? Oh, god, please tell me that’s you.”

The battle that Elizar wages is now on several fronts. What is happening in the enclave, what you are doing here, and he’s still attempting to keep control of the spirit realm. His focus is split, and he can’t maintain everything. The Alpha is attempting to strengthen the wards while keeping the others occupied, the Protector is battling for control as well, forcing Elizar to expend more energy as he attempts to keep Jake under his will, and you are front and center in the battle for all. It’s taking everything I can muster to talk to you, but you, my son, need me.

Hope blossomed in Casey’s chest. He’d thought of Hakiim as a father figure, and knowing the feelings were returned meant a great deal.

You can’t force nature to do what you want. Nature will always win in a battle. You have to direct it. Work with it. It’s a skill that can take a lifetime to master, but what you’re trying to do should be relatively simple. Place your hands on the door.

Without hesitation, Casey did as Hakiim bade him.

Even though someone carved the wood to make the door, it is alive. Call to it. Ask it for entry. Elizar was right about one thing. Within you resides a great power, far greater than I realized. I don’t know what’s changed, but take advantage of it. Use it to fight for the lives of your friends, family, and mate.

A tingle at the base of Casey’s skull signaled something was happening. He could feel the shard of life force that remained within the door, and he coaxed it into allowing him ingress. For a long moment, nothing happened, and Casey was certain he’d failed. Then he heard a small crack, which grew louder with each passing second. He watched slack-jawed as the door split asunder, opening wide for him.

The room was quite Spartan. Inside stood only a pedestal with a clay pot atop it. The vessel appeared quite ordinary save for tiny imperfections that marred the surface. Upon closer examination, Casey realized that they were actually shamanistic symbols of life and afterlife. He’d seen them used extensively in the books on the spirit realm, but never in the configuration that covered the container.

“It’s not shamanic magic he’s using,” Casey said, certainty strengthening his voice. “This is dark and primal. It’s an affront to the natural order. I don’t know where his shaman got this, but I’m guessing the price he paid was quite heavy. I don’t think it’s just Elizar’s soul that’s in here. If I’m right, this is his portal from the spirit realm. It powers him. The deaths he caused when he was in charge of the enclave are what he used to prime it.”

“My parents—” Sev gasped.

“There’s a reason I wasn’t able to find yours and Hakiim’s family in the spirit realm. They’re inside the jar. They give him the power.”

“Shatter it,” Sev demanded.

“If I do that, I could disperse your family’s essence. They might never move on and could be trapped nowhere forever.”

“They would rather be destroyed than help him enslave our people. They could not live with themselves knowing that they were the ones propelling him to power. Smash the jar.”

“But Hakiim’s family—”

Tsvetok is right. My family resisted Elizar in every way they could. For them to move on, knowing they helped him, no matter how inadvertently, would haunt them for eternity
, Hakiim whispered in Casey’s mind.

“Put that down,” Elizar growled. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”

Jake’s body was bloodied. A crisscross of deep gouges, crusted with blood, were on every visible part of his body. He propped himself up on the broken door, casting a wicked glance in Casey’s direction.

“Destroy that and you doom not only their spirits, but those of their progeny. Your mate, his brothers. All will cease to exist if you destroy the vessel. That was the price Tsvetok’s parents agreed on to keep them safe.”

“You lie,” Casey snapped.

***

Sev listened to Elizar argue with Casey, who clutched the vessel close to his chest. He knew his mate would never do it. If there was even the slightest chance Elizar was telling the truth, Casey would refuse, and the love he felt for his mate grew. But he couldn’t allow Elizar to continue. He hurtled forward and snatched the pot from Casey’s grip.

Elizar held up his hands and began pleading. His voice low, as if he was speaking to a child. “Tsvetok, don’t do this. You doom your brothers to nothing. They will never know the joys of life. I swear to you, I will let them go. You can take them and leave the enclave with your mate.”

“You’re mistaken. I have no intention of going. Despite our past, the people of the enclave are my family. I would no more abandon them to you than my brothers. If what you say is true, and we do cease to exist, it’s a price I’m willing to pay to see you destroyed.” He cast his gaze toward his mate, who stood silently pleading with shimmery eyes. “In his arms I found a greater love than I ever thought possible. It will be my only regret leaving this existence, but I know Casey will be proud of me when he has had time to mourn our loss.”

Elizar struggled forward, stumbling as he moved toward Sev, who could see bloody bite marks that ravaged the body Elizar inhabited. Casey turned and launched himself, knocking Elizar to the ground. “Do it, Sev. Do what you have to. And know that no matter what, I will always love you.”

Sev smiled as peace came over him. He lifted the vessel in the air and smashed it onto the floor. Instantly all noise was sucked from the room, then the shrieks of hundreds of tormented souls exploded out, rising to deafening levels. They were angry, and they could sense their tormentor. Elizar struggled, pleading for his life, when the first one struck. His screams were nearly as loud as the spirits when his essence was ripped from Jake’s body. So much anger and pain, their presence was palpable. Casey grabbed Jake and pulled him away, then lay atop his friend to protect him. Sev was so proud of him.

It began as nothing more than a niggle. A deep down feeling that something wasn’t right. Sev glanced at his hands, surprised to find out that what Elizar said was true. He was being tugged out of existence. He should be afraid, but all that he felt was a deep peace. He’d protected his mate, and to die after that would be something worthy of moving on to the next life, if such a thing were possible. He would miss Casey. How much the man had come to mean to him shocked Sev. It hadn’t been that long. Weeks at most, and Casey was already firmly buried in Sev’s heart.