Page 59 of Only You, No One Else

“Ethel is not as powerful as Riley; even I can feel that.” He scoffed. “Without the darkness she’s somehow gathered from the Underworld, she would be an insignificant threat.” He leaned forward, buoyed by Caster’s complete attention. “It is clear that the source of her dark power is finite, or she wouldn’t need me.”

Caster nodded, but his patience remained unbroken.

“Then it follows that our first step would be to cut her off from her source of power.”

“How do we do that?”

“I didn’t have a plan until Amara said she can send me back to those three days. Zeke seemed too confident in their plan, and he may have let it slip when I was with him.” He shrugged, the casual action a cover for his deep desire to get Caster to understand.

Caster nodded. “I do. You’re hoping that Zeke will let his guard down enough to tell you what he wants and from that information we can learn the source of Ethel’s power?”

Mark nodded. “I just hope I was smart enough to ask him.”

Caster laughed.

Mark refused to be distracted by him again, instead choosing to remain on strategy. “Then I want to find a way to sever his connection to me. I don’t want him in my head. Only then can I be confident enough to face Ethel.”

Caster nodded and then stood. “We need Riley.” He walked towards the door, and it opened as he approached, Kyle poking his head in. Caster turned to Mark. “Unless you want Amara to…”

Mark shook his head. He didn’t know that new witch. Her power seemed more potent than a Fire Witch’s, which made her more powerful, but she was a stranger. Caster trusted Riley with his life.

Caster nodded at the answer he didn’t need to speak out loud and turned to Kyle.

“Actually, can we just get everyone? Or at least Riley, your brother, and Dean?”

“And Damien.”

Kyle’s curt nod, dependable as always, was the only response from him. He looked better than he had before, a testament to the remarkable healing ability of Born-Vampires. The calming effect Caster had on him intensified under the promise of the new, more secure position his proposed plan would bring. It was half-baked at best, and the others would enhance it, but it was a significant step if they would settle this problem with the witch once and for all.

CHAPTER 38

The speed at which everyone had gathered should not have surprised Caster. Given the latest display of Ethel’s power, the renewed urgency to get this over and done with was one he welcomed with open arms. But even the impatience he could sense from Cy, who wouldn’t sit, and in the ever-present calm façade that Marcus wore as he watched them listen to Mark’s plan would not compare to his. Caster needed to be done with this. He wanted Mark free of both Ethel and Zeke, and he would do whatever it took to get it.

“Isn’t it dangerous to go back to that darkness?” Cy asked, his full attention on Riley. “You said last time Caster only got out because of his connection to Mark.”

Riley nodded, but it was clear he was on board with Mark’s plan. “Yes. But I don’t think that they’re the same.”

“What do you mean?” Marcus asked.

Riley stepped closer to Mark, his hand pausing a beat before Mark granted him permission. He grabbed hold of Mark’s hand and, in a rare outward display of his power, a blue flame burst from the connection to spread through his entire body. Mark gasped but didn’t try to disengage from Riley. Seconds passed; the blue flame changed colors from red to yellow and then back to blue, the full extent of Riley’s power singeing the hairs on Caster’s arm. But he wasn’t afraid for Mark. He’d seen this before, been on the receiving end of it. Riley rarely used his power in this way, but even he seemed ready for this whole mess to be gone.

Eerie silence followed the display, the magnificence of the awesome moment indescribable. When Riley relented, there was the whisper of something, a foreign entity in the room. Caster caught Mark’s eye and offered his support the only way he could. Mark nodded at him, the barrier remaining intact, but he didn’t need to enter his mind to know his thoughts.

The flame covering Riley’s body morphed to a brilliant white before he released his hold on Mark’s arm and took a step back. He grabbed hold of Marcus’s desk and Caster frowned. Had that been a stumble? But Riley righted himself before Caster could question him.

“It was a spell that placed Zeke in your mind,” Riley said, his breaths shallow enough to worry Caster. But then he cleared his throat, glancing at Caster. “Much like how the protection spell pulled you into his mind.” He nodded. “I suspected that’s what the attack at the Prime Alpha’s residence had been, but I wasn’t sure until you told me Zeke had been in his mind.”

“You’re saying that the spell that granted Zeke access to my brother’s mind tore my house apart? She hadn’t been there to attack us?” Dean asked.

Riley shook his head and stood straighter, though Caster still noticed his death grip on the edge of the desk. He filed that bit of information away, vowing to question his friend later.

“That’s the thing.” Mark moved to the couch and Cy followed him, sighing when his body found the comfort it needed. Riley’s power could drain all energy from even the strongest of them. “We keep underestimating her.” He glanced at Dean. “That’s why I need to see into those three days. I am sure Zeke said something that would shed light on the rest of her plan. Then we take the fight to her.”

Caster’s heart swelled with equal parts love and equal parts pride. How had he not seen this side of Mark? It would come in handy when all of this was over, and he needed help ruling. He stifled the laugh bubbling out of his chest. Until Mark, he’d always assumed his rule would be a lonely affair. His mother had been convinced the Goddess would grant him the perfect partner. But even in moments when he’d been inclined to believe her, he never would have imagined that that perfect partner would be a werewolf.

He half listened as Mark continued to argue his case to the one person whose protective instincts would not permit him to see the wisdom in it. He looked at Marcus to find the same pride he felt.

He’s brilliant.