Page 8 of Only You, No One Else

Edie reached for his hand. “We can wait for Caster. You might need him…”

Mark shook his head too fast. “No.”

Edie jumped at the forceful denial, the single word reverberating through the spacious room.

He squeezed her hand, trying to find his composure in the mess of jumbled-up emotions he’d lost control of. “I want to know before I go to him. I owe him an explanation… at least.”

The world of sadness contorting Edie’s face did not come close to the burden his heart shouldered. He needed Caster. Whatever he found here, that would always remain true. He didn’t know he could survive any of it without him.

“OK.” She squeezed his hand and released it before re-taking the seat she had abandoned earlier, the large book now in her lap. The full tremendous force of her power filled the room as her eyes skimmed the words on the page. She glanced at him. “It would be easier if we had something he’d touched.” She shook her head, her focus back on the page. “But…”

“He touched my wolf.”

Her head snapped up so fast, Mark stopped mid-thought. “What?” She placed the book on the table and sat straighter, the full extent of her power now so palpable, its effect warmed his skin.

He frowned.

“Tell me everything.”

Mark’s wolf retreated to its hiding space as his description of Zeke’s influence on him brought unwanted images of the threat they’d both faced. When he was done, Edie’s green eyes were filled with tears, her exhale audible.

The full extent of her considerable Power of the Fire didn’t diminish. “She enhanced him?” The awe in her voice didn’t bode well for him. She leaned back into the couch, the spell book she’d brought a forgotten memory. “I think we need to find Amelia.”

“Why?”

Her breath was sharp. “If he can infiltrate your mind and control your wolf, it is safe to assume he can do the same with other wolves.”

“Yes. Dean and James are trying to find out how many wolves may be on his side. On the witch’s side.”

“No.” She sighed, shaking her head. “I mean, yes… that’s a problem. But I am more worried about you, my dear.”

He frowned, his wolf whining its disapproval.

“Your brother had to practice to get good at controlling other wolves, right?”

He nodded. Dean said it was never easy, especially when he needed to exert his control on more than one wolf at the same time.

“Zeke may be doing the same thing right now. If he gets very good at it, you won’t be able to resist him.”

“I didn’t. I woke up. That’s why he was…”

Edie’s shaking head stopped him. “No, honey. You resisted him.”

He frowned.

“Has your brother ever controlled your wolf?”

It was a long time ago, and Dean had promised he’d only do it when necessary. The need for it had never arisen. “Yes…”

“Were you able to resist?”

Mark searched his memory for the single instance when his brother had exerted total control over his wolf. It had been right after their mother’s death, and Mark had refused to attend her funeral. Having tried and failed to convince him he would regret the decision, Dean had taken control, forcing Mark to sit through the somber ceremony and confront his confused feelings for the woman he loved more than life, but who never seemed to return that love. He’d refused to speak to his brother for months, only forgiving Dean when he promised never to do it again.

Edie’s indulgent smile met him as he sailed past the pain of that memory to float back to the present. He shook his head to answer her question, an answer she’d already deduced.

“If we don’t do something fast, he will get stronger, and soon you and all other wolves will be unable to resist him.”

The implication of her words burdened his soul, breaking his heart. Yet, his mind did not search for solutions; it reached for Caster. Where was he? Mark was unsure why, but he was certain he needed Caster’s strength if he had any hope of fighting this.