The Warlock Who Hungered for a Demon (14 page)

blocked the tunnels.”

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87

Even as Soren spoke, two wolves ran toward Tucker from the

forest. As they reached Tucker, they shifted into his brothers,

Hamilton and Knox. “We tried to follow Alexis Cunningham’s

instructions, but as far as we can tell, it’s impossible to access the

tunnels from outside. Either that, or there’s some sort of force

blocking the way.”

Tucker shared a glum look with the rest of his companions. At this

rate, their presence here would be useless since the demons had

enough time at their disposal to kill the prisoners inside.

“What do we do?” Hamilton inquired.

“There’s nothing for it. We have to try to sneak inside,” Alpha

Soren answered. “A small group of us might be able to move past

their defenses.”

“Father, it’s suicide. You heard what Alexis said about their

security systems. Besides, it’s impossible to even approach the house

too much because the ghouls have cast some sort of strange spell

knocking our people out. There’s no way—”

“What choice do we have?” Soren cut him off. “Leave those

people there to die?”

Tucker wiped his face of sweat, trying to come up with a solution

to their predicament. “When are other reinforcements arriving?”

“We have vampires coming in, but they’re not very strong against

this type of foe. Byron Cunningham’s men might be able to help us,

and our elder is sending additional troops as well. But by their arrival,

it could be too late,” Soren said.

“You know, the same way we have reinforcements, the demons

might be bringing other people as well,” Jace pointed out. “I very

much doubt the ones in there are the only soldiers available for the

demons’ cause.”

“Christ.” Tucker rubbed his eyes tiredly. “How did this happen?”

One moment, he’d been in Alpha Wade’s home, there to visit his

brother, Paris. He’d gotten quite attached to Paris’s adoptive son,

Daire. His younger siblings, Alyssa and Giles, loved to play with

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Daire, aiming to get the little warlock out of his shell. The

relationship between all the Marrow siblings, Tucker included, and

Paris had gradually improved, something that pleased Tucker

immensely, more so given the tensions that still existed in the Wade

pack. And now, this whole mess had exploded on their heads. But

Tucker was not a quitter. From what Soren had told him, this battle

was only the beginning to a larger conflict, one more serious than the

one his mother had been involved in. Tucker was done staying aside

and allowing others to make decisions for him. He would help and

make things right for his brothers, if it was the last thing he did.

“Let’s give it everything we’ve got,” he told the other wolves.

“Perhaps if we attack the mansion from several sides, we’ll distract

them enough to buy time. I don’t know much about magic, but

wouldn’t an elaborate setup like this be hard to maintain for the

ghouls?”

“You have a point. All right. We’re going in again.” Soren

grinned at Tucker. “We can do this.”

Tucker nodded. He would not die today. He still had too much to

live for, brothers to protect, and, perhaps, a mate to find.

* * * *

“Oh, dear gods.” When their plane finally reached the Whitaker

mansion, Noah couldn’t suppress a gasp of shock. Even from the

distance, Noah spotted smoke rising, so he forced himself to be

prepared for the worst, but as they landed, he was still shocked upon

realizing that Rhys’s luxurious home had basically been transformed

into a war zone. The house itself was surrounded from every angle by

shifters. It was nearly dusk, so vampires had come out as well, and

they seemed to be attempting to work around a spell cast by the

ghouls. There was no sign that anyone from Rhys’s friends or family

had gotten out.

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It was a testament to Rhys’s true strength that the incubus didn’t

come undone right then and there. Instead, he held on to Noah’s hand

so tightly Noah’s fingers started to ache. Even so, Noah didn’t even

think of letting go. He had to make Rhys believe that they’d all get

out of this okay.

Bracing himself for the worst and hoping for the best, Noah

headed toward the house. They were stopped by Jace, who intercepted

them before they got too close. “It’s hell in there,” the werewolf

warned them. “We already have a lot of people down, struck by their

spells.”

“This has to stop.” Noah gritted his teeth, Rhys’s pain and sorrow

nearly crushing him. “I’ve resisted these spells before. I’m going in

there.”

“No!” Rhys screamed out loud, but his words echoed both through

his mind bond with Noah. “I won’t allow it. I won’t lose you as well,

not now that I finally have you back.”

“Just trust me a little, baby,” Noah murmured, brushing his thumb

over Rhys’s lips. “I won’t fail you. I won’t allow you to lose

Romaine. Have a little faith.”

“Then I’m coming with you,” Rhys decided. Noah wasn’t really

surprised, but he’d have much preferred it if Rhys stayed outside, in

reasonable safety. He didn’t say it, though, knowing his mate would

never agree to being left behind.

“Mr. Cunningham, do you think you can neutralize the people

guarding the entrance area?” he asked Byron instead. He knew the

shark-shifter’s abilities were enormous, and having him here might be

the edge they needed to burst into the house.

Byron scrutinized the area with narrowed eyes. “It’s difficult to

say,” he concluded. “I would probably not have trouble with up to ten

men, but these are not humans we’re dealing with. Their magic might

make them resistant to my power.”

“What of the tunnels?” Rhys’s father asked. “Are they still

blocked?”

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“There’s no way in or out through there,” Jace replied. “Alexis

already had us investigate, but it’s no use.”

“The only hope that our family survived lies in those tunnels,”

Abbott answered. “After the attack on Yamamoto-sama’s coven, I had

a small panic room built in secret. Its systems are meant to be

independent from the rest of the house, and the only one who knew

about it was Olympia. But the problem is that we didn’t have time to

finish it properly, and if we don’t hurry, not even that will be able to

keep them safe.”

Those words cemented Noah’s decision. He was well aware of the

close relationship between Rhys and Romaine Arceneau and would

not allow his mate to suffer through the pain of losing his father,

especially not now, after Rhys had learned of Elden’s betrayal.

“Is there another way in, Mr. Whitaker?” he asked.

Abbott shook his head. “Nothing Elden doesn’t already know

about. I just…I don’t understand. Why would he do something like

this?”

It was a very good question, one Noah had asked himself as well.

He didn’t know Elden that well, but the incubus had given him the

impression of a good person, one who loved his family and was

concerned about them, even if he showed it in stranger ways. How

and why had Elden deceived them all?

But staying here wouldn’t give Noah the answers he sought.

“We’ll just go in through the front them,” he said. “I can cast a spell

to protect myself and a few others.”

“Are you strong enough, Noah?”
Rhys inquired through their

bond.
“You were sick just a little while ago.”

“I know, baby,”
Noah answered,
“but I’m stronger than ever,

because of you. And you must know I’d never jeopardize your safety.”

Besides, as far as he could tell, these spells had been crafted for some

species in particular, which was why Noah’s warlock nature granted

him a measure of immunity.

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For the first time, Rhys smiled a little. “Right,” he said. “Let’s go.

There’s no time to waste.”

Jace led them toward the mansion, now surrounded by various

trashed vehicles the werewolves used to take cover. Noah and his

companions ducked behind a truck that must have once brought more

troops. Predictably, Kaname Yamamoto, Byron Cunningham, Corbin,

and Abbott Whitaker offered to go with Noah and Rhys. The small

group would have to do because Noah didn’t want to take any

chances. He had no illusions that this would be easy. Undoubtedly,

the barrage of spells that would come at him might be the strongest

challenge Noah had faced so far. But Noah had also fought his father

once, and now, he had the backing of his mate. Above all else, he

trusted the strength his bond with Rhys gave him.

Once the other five men gathered around Noah, Noah shot into

action. He rushed out of his hiding spot, already casting a spell as he

ran. His mate was right by his side, with the others following behind

them. His precaution proved to be fortunate, as the demons inside

seemed to be watching the entrance. Fire exploded over Noah’s

shielded, nearly propelling him back.

Even so, Noah’s shield held. His magic pulsed with power,

siphoning through him from his bond with Rhys. It was incredible,

almost as if the spell that had cured his tumor had also opened the

floodgates to a source of energy Noah had never tapped into before. It

was his love for Rhys, finally acknowledged at its true extent, and his

determination to make Rhys happy, no matter what he had to do.

Holding on to that emotion and that determination, Noah

withstood all the magic coming his way. At first, only the fiends shot

at him. Their attacks were brutal fire bolts that collided with his shield

in an attempt to crack it. When that didn’t work, Noah’s enemies

brought in the cavalry. The toxic fumes of the ghouls’ magic extended

toward Noah, attempting to choke him. It was something Noah had

feared, not so much for himself, but for Rhys and Abbott, who were

vulnerable to it. He wasn’t sure how the damn thing was designed in

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the first place, or what type of paranormal creature it targeted, but

incubi and, likely, vampires might be affected.

Gritting his teeth, Noah cast another spell, isolating himself and

his group from the gas. A while back, he might not have been able to

sustain both enchantments at the same time, but now, he had no

problem with it. The systematic assault of the demons strained him,

though, and Noah knew it was only a matter of time until his power

faltered.

Thankfully, they reached the house before that happened. Byron

Cunningham and Kaname Yamamoto attacked. In spite of Byron’s

comments from earlier, the shark-shifter’s powers worked on the

demon guards as well, and he managed to immobilize them with a

mere thought. It might have been more of a strain for him than

dealing with humans, but he didn’t show it.

Just as Noah thought the tides were finally turning in their favor,

he suddenly experienced a clear feeling a doom. He stole a look back,

toward the area they’d just left. Their reinforcements were now

overcome by a new wave of demons.

“It looks like they decided to make a stand here,” he said darkly.

“Fuck,” Byron cursed under his breath. “You go on without me.

I’ll stay here and hold these guys off.”

“I’ll help,” Kaname offered. “Go. You have to find the security

room and stop the systems.”

Noah was torn. It seemed that this was no longer just about the

Whitakers. With the involvement of Soren Wade and everyone that

had come to the incubi’s aid, this had become the first battle of the

war Noah would have liked to avoid.

Even so, things were clearly out of Noah’s hands, and the best

thing he could do was to proceed with the plan. The prisoners were

still in there, and they had to take advantage of the chance Kaname

and Byron gave them.

With a nod, Noah started to move forward once again. They had

no time for fancy words or sentimentality. The others followed after

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him, while behind them, Kaname and Byron returned to fight back the