Before he’d done more thandecideto lean forward and stick his head between the gap in the front seats, Regulus tensed like he’d expected the motion. “When Victoria enchanted the ring...do you remember the words she used?”
Regulus rolled his eyes. “I am a vampire. I remembereverything.”
“There ya’ go again,” Farren muttered, and her exasperation brought a smile to curve Eli’s lips. His mate was always so controlled, even when her temper got the better of her. But with him, there was softness, tenderness...affection. If they got out of this alive, he’d never stop telling her how much he loved every part of her.
“Tell me the words she used,” Eli said as he returned his focus to the gold bauble in the vampire’s palm. “If there’s a chance I can restore the ring to its full power, then you’ll be able to fight with us no matter how long it takes.”
* * *
The old castleloomed against the starry sky. Lights blazed from several of the windows, and next to Farren, Eli shuddered. “Something about this place feels very...wrong,” he said.
“You are sensing the Thirteen’s collective power.” Regulus pulled off the road and maneuvered the car between clumps of thick bushes and small trees. The other two cars—one with Ewan, Tierney, and Peter and the last with Cade, Liam, and Caitlin—followed, and the group huddled together next to a large cedar tree.
Eli broke away from the group, the ring in his hand, and closed his eyes, reciting the words Regulus had relayed to him. At first, nothing happened. Not even a tingle against his skin or a slight warmth in his fingers.
But as he chanted, a part of his mind started to wander. A sudden tug in the center of his chest shocked him, and he opened his eyes to see a beautiful garden surrounding him.
A woman, deathly pale, sad, and with eyes as red as blood stared at him. “You do not belong here.”
“I seek only to protect the one who made you.” Eli didn’t know how he recognized Victoria, given that he’d never seen her before, but her connection to the ring was unmistakable.
“He still walks the night?” she asked.
“He does. He is a good man.” Eli held out his hand. “Lend me some of your power, and I will do my best to ensure he sees another moon.”
Victoria’s small fingers brushed the ring, and as quickly as he’d been tugged into the past, he found himself back in Scotland, the gold pulsing with energy.
Approaching the rest of the group, he passed it to Regulus. “She cared for you. Deeply. And I believe she was sad to leave you.”
The vampire stared at the ring, his eyes wide and an expression of deep longing and remorse crossing his features for a blink. “Thank you for bringing her back to me, even if only as a memory.”
Farren wrapped an arm around Eli’s waist. “Ya’ did it?”
“I think so,” he said. “I didsomething.I just hope it’s enough.”
Regulus tucked the ring into a pocket deep inside his coat and when he turned back to the group, all trace of emotion had vanished from his face. “As I explained on the flight,” he began, “the dungeons are underground. If Mara is here, that is where you will find her. Eliziam, if your father lives, he could be on one of the other levels. He is a prisoner, yes, but the Thirteen know he will not try to escape, and I believe they keep him close to be able to serve them at their pleasure.”
Farren stepped forward. “Cade, Liam, Peter, and Tierney will shift. As will I. Ewan, I want ya’ to stay in yer human form as long as ya’ can in case one of us needs to communicate somethin’ to Eli, Caitlin, or Regulus. Take as many of these bastards out as ya’ can.”
The wolves nodded in turn and started stripping out of their clothing. Regulus buttoned his long leather coat, then rolled up the sleeves. Steel daggers were strapped to both of his arms, and he tested each of them, jerking his hand to release some sort of spring mechanism that drove the blade forward. “I am ready. We are agreed on our two groups?”
“Cade, Liam, Peter, and Caitlin will head for the dungeons,” Farren said. “You, Eli, Tierney, and I will find the Thirteen. Ewan is to keep watch and move between the two groups as he can, but he’ll stick with us unless he’s called underground.”
Eli took Farren’s hand and drew her away from the rest of the group. He had to tell her now. “This is the most inappropriate conversation in the history of inappropriate conversations,” he said as he gathered her in his arms. “I love you, Farren. When the moon rises, no matter where we are, no matter if we’re still battling those bastards, whether we succeed or get our arses handed to us, I am your mate.”
“Are ya’ sure,mo ghra?”she asked. “I’m not a good bet. I’m a shite alpha. What if I’m rubbish at bein’ yer mate as well?”
“You’re not any of those things.” He skimmed her cheek with a knuckle and cupped the back of her neck. “You are the most amazing, powerful, and brave person I have ever met. You have two packs that love you. One you lead and one who’s chosen you to protect them knowing youwon’tfail.”
Tears shone in Farren’s gray eyes, and she pulled him down until she could brush her lips to his neck. A growl started in her throat, and she bit down, hard enough Eli had to stifle his yelp of surprise. The pain faded in an instant, replaced by pure, almost overwhelming pleasure.
“I just marked ya’, Eli. Not the matin’ bite. Not yet. We’ve a short time left. But a promise. If we live through this, ye’re mine.”
“Then let’s make sure we survive. Because I won’t lose you.”
With one hard, passionate kiss, Eli released her and stepped back so his mate could shift into her wolf. He lost his breath when he caught sight of her eyes. They glowed, and in their depths he found more than determination. More than bravery. More than the raw power her gaze always held.
Now, they also held a confidence that had not been there before.
