Savannah had expected the water to be cold and sharp, but despite the sun’s failing rays, the water was warm and soft. It rushed at her from all sides and draped itself around her like a caress. For the first time in what seemed like forever, Savannah felt the stress that had been gripping her for the last few days slip away. She turned into Xander and kissed him passionately, thrilled to find her mind released of worry, no matter how short the reprieve would be.
“This feels amazing,” Savannah whispered, her lips pressed against Xander’s neck.
She clung to him as Xander’s hands wrapped around her, and they turned together in the melding mists of color. There was a slight chill of magic in the air, surrounding both of them, tickling their skin lovingly.
They kissed in the water, long and slow, and then they moved out onto the bank, unwilling to put their clothes on just yet. Xander pushed Savannah back onto the soft grass gently and then he moved on top of her. The chill clinging to her body died instantly as Xander’s body came over hers, his skin filling her with new heat.
They kissed under the fading light of day and as Xander entered her gently, Savannah looked up at the bright stars twinkling in the faded midnight-blue sky. There were still edges of color clinging stubbornly to the clouds, but a few rabid rays of moonlight were quickly extinguishing them.
Afterwards, Xander rested his head against Savannah’s chest and they lay entwined and completely content in the comfortable silence.
“I wish it could always be like this,” Savannah said quietly.
“It will be,” Xander assured her, and he kissed her breasts. “Once this is all over, all we’ll have left to do is swim, eat, and make love under the sky.”
“That sounds perfect.” Savannah sighed. “But what about the pack?”
She felt Xander tense instantly. “I thought we agreed not to talk about the pack today.”
“You’re right,” Savannah said slowly. “Forget the question.”
Xander propped himself up on one elbow and gazed down at Savannah as his fingers traced the contours of her face. Every so often he would bend down and place a kiss on her cheek, brow, or forehead. They lay there until they were both completely dry, and then they dressed slowly, as though they had all the time in the world and no place to go.
Savannah had just put on her shirt when a flash of light coursed through her field of vision, and she knew a vision was imminent.
“Savannah?” Xander’s voice sounded worried.
Savannah ripped her hearing aid off quickly, and closed her eyes. “Something is coming,” she said, concentrating on the wave that was about to hit.
Savannah gasped when the vision finally came over her, the clearest one she'd ever had. She froze into place, willing herself to ignore everything else and pay attention. She was only mildly aware that Xander was standing next to her, but the moment the next flash of light came, she forgot where she was and whom she was with.
She saw herself standing in the clearing close to the lake, but the lake was cast in bright sunshine. Savannah could tell the sun she was seeing in her vision was a few days older than the one that had just set. Then she saw Marissa. Her face was contorted in a scowl, and her eyes were ablaze with fury. She was running towards Savannah, a stick in her hand raised in attack.
Savannah watched in shock as Marissa ran toward her, double-time, and plunged a fiery blue dagger straight into Savannah’s heart.
“Savannah?”
Savannah shook herself out of the last remnants of her vision. Even though she was currently herself gazing into Xander’s sad, grey eyes, she could still see Marissa’s fierce beauty as she ran ahead.
“What did you see?” Xander said.
Savannah read the words on his lips. Even though she couldn’t hear him, she could sense the concern that was virtually dripping from his aura.
“I saw what I always suspected would happen,” Savannah said at last.
“What did you see?” Xander said. Savannah slipped her hearing aid back in.
“I saw my future,” Savannah said, “clear as day.”
Xander fell silent and waited for her to continue.
“I saw my death,” Savannah went on slowly. She glanced at Xander’s eyes, willing him to believe her, fearing that he wouldn’t. “I saw Marissa plunging a knife into my heart.”
Chapter Eight
“What?” Xander said blinking at her in shock.
“Marissa,” Savannah said, her voice colored with anger and bitterness. “I saw her run toward me with a dagger in hand…she plunged it into my heart!”
Xander stood before her as though he were carved in stone. His eyes turbulent and filled with disbelief. “Say something.” Savannah begged. “Say something.”
Xander looked her head on, and Savannah knew he was choosing his words carefully. The magic that had engulfed them only moments before seemed to have abandoned them, and Savannah could feel only fear and unease and anger.
“Savannah--”
“I saw it!”
“I know you did,” Xander said calmly as he took a step forward. “I know you think you saw it–"
“Think?” Savannah repeated as she cringed away from Xander. “Think?”
“You’re pregnant, and sometimes, that can influence your visions,” Xander said trying to calm her.
“Don’t do that,” Savannah said angrily. “Don’t treat me as though I was some jealous idiot who can’t control my raging hormones. This has nothing to do with my pregnancy. It’s what I saw and it's what's going to happen soon.”
“Marissa would never hurt you,” Xander said adamantly.
Savannah turned and started walking away from him.
“Savannah,” Xander cried as he ran after her. “Wait! Please stop and talk to me.”
“You don’t believe me?” Savannah demanded and she turned around to face him again. “And yet you trust her?”
“I’ve known her my whole life--”
“And you’ve known me for a fraction of a second in comparison,” Savannah interrupted him. “I know that as well as you do, but it doesn't change what I saw.”
“What if what you saw was a mistake?” Xander demanded.
“A mistake?” Savannah asked incredulously. “How can you think that?”
“Because you yourself have told me that your visions are rare, and when they do come to you they aren’t clear. What if you simply saw what you wanted to see as opposed to what actually is?”
Savannah stopped short and stared at Xander. “Which is it?” She asked in a thick voice. “You don’t believe me, or you don’t trust me.” For a split second Savannah found herself thinking of Abel and the fact that he would have believed her vision without second thought.
Xander sighed in frustration. “I do believe you and I do trust you--I just think that, in this instance, I have more information than you do.”
“And what information do I have?” Savannah demanded.
“I think you're scared and that fear's clouding your judgement,” Xander said, trying to reach for Savannah’s hand.
Savannah shook him off and started to walk away from him. Xander followed close behind, imploring her to stay and talk to him. “Savannah please,” he said, “I’m on your side.”
“Really?” Savannah said, coming to another stop. “Are you really on my side? Because it doesn’t feel that way to me. In fact, it feels like you’re on Marissa’s side.”
“You don’t understand,” Xander said desperately. “I know Marissa.”
“Maybe you’re the one who’s blind,” Savannah said hotly as she continued on the winding path down the hill. It was harder to move in the darkness and walking downhill was always more treacherous than walking uphill. Savannah slipped a few times. The last time Xander grabbed her just in time.
“Slow down Savannah,” Xander cautioned. “You’re going to hurt yourself.”
“I’m fine,” Savannah snapped, pulling from herself from his grip and resuming her pace.
When they reached the bottom of the hill, Savannah stood beside Xander’s bike and fixed him with a cold stare.“Just take me home,” she said.
“Savannah--”
“Please,” Savannah begged tiredly. “I don’t want to talk anymore. I just want to get home.”
Xander stared at her a moment longer and then shook his head in defeat. “All right, I’ll take you home,” he said.
The ride back to the house was filled with a dark silence and Savannah felt every beautiful moment she'd experienced in the last few hours melt away. She felt as though she were alone again, which only served to strengthen her resolve. She was right to have taken matters into her own hands. She was right to have sought help.
When Xander stopped the bike in front of her house, Savannah got down without saying a word, and started toward the house.
“Savannah,” Xander called out before she reached the door, “please.”
Savannah turned around to face him. “Give me some time,” she said. “I need a break.”
Xander looked at her forlornly for a long moment, and then he nodded once. “If that’s what you need.”
Savannah turned her back on him and walked into the house. She closed the door on Xander, and for some unfathomable reason, Savannah found herself thinking about Abel as she climbed the stairs to her room.
Chapter Nine
Savannah woke early the next day, after a night of shapeless dreams and hidden monsters. She felt the dark circles under her eyes before she saw them, and longed for the soft, cushy pillows of her bed, wishing that she could have just a few more hours of dreamless sleep.
She put on her oldest and most favorite pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and her most comfortable hoodie, grabbed her backpack, and headed down the stairs.
“Savannah?” her mother called from the kitchen.
“Hi, Mom,” Savannah said as she stuck her head in the door. “I’m going out for a bit.”
“It’s early,” her mother pointed out.
“It’s not too early for hiking,” Savannah said with a small smile.
“Wow! You're really into this hiking thing, aren’t you?” her mother said.
“I know--it’s surprising to me, too,” Savannah replied.
“Maybe I’ll join you one day and see what all the fuss is about,” her mother said.
“That would be nice.” Savannah nodded and attempted to leave the kitchen.
“Hey,” her mother called, “what about breakfast?”
Savannah stuck her head back in. “What are we having?”
“Waffles.”
Savannah went to the table and took a waffle from the plate. She crunched into it and gave her mother a smile. “That should do it,” she said, and then she waved goodbye as she left the kitchen.
She drove the car to the foot of Grey Mountain and stared up at the steep hill. It looked familiar to her now, despite the fact that she'd only made one journey there before. All of the smells that had been foreign to her the day before were starting to make sense now. She began to climb, glad that her pregnancy still allowed her to be active and limber.
She was half way to the cabin when she heard a voice behind her. “Hello Savannah,” it said.
Savannah rushed around and found herself face to face with Abel. His brown-gold eyes were on her and his expression was unreadable.
“Abel,” Savannah gasped, feeling a shiver jerk through her body. She was uncertain why Abel’s presence affected her so much. Maybe it was because it made her feel as though she had no control. “I didn’t sense you there.”
He smiled a slow smile, which opened up his face and accentuatd his good looks. “That's the point of being protected--no one is supposed to sense me.”
“Whom exactly are you protecting yourself against?” Savannah asked as she fell into step beside Abel.
“The wolves, of course,” Abel replied. “If they could sense us then it would be easier to track us down in order to destroy us.”
Savannah felt discomfort flood through her. “I don’t think Xander would want to harm anyone…not even someone he considered his enemy.”
“Then you don’t know your future husband very well,” Abel said without humor. “The wolves hate us, and if we were to set one foot on their territory, they would rip us to shreds.”
“Does that mean there are lands within Grey Mountain that you can’t enter?” Savannah asked.
“The town is neutral ground,” Abel replied, “but the mountains have been cordoned off. The witches get the tiniest portion of it, while the wolves get the lion’s share.”
Savannah hesitated a moment. “Are there many other witches in Grey Mountain?”
Abel glanced at her with his burning gold eyes. “My grandmother and I are the last ones,” he said. Savannah detected an edge of sadness in his tone.
She reached out and placed her hand on Abel’s arm drawing him to a stop. He looked at her in surprise, and she read the question in his eyes. “Abel,” Savannah started, removing her hand from his arm rather quickly, “I can speak to Xander. I can make sure you and your grandmother need never fear the wolves.”
Abel looked at her and smiled. “That’s kind of you.”
“It’s the least I can do,” Savannah said adamantly. “You didn’t have to agree to help me. In fact, you have absolutely no reason to.”
“The reason I had was in your eyes,” Abel said softly. “I saw the fear there. I saw the worry. How could I turn you away when you were desperate? When desperate people do desperate things, chaos is sure to ensue.”
Savannah nodded. They kept walking toward the cabin. She was more grateful than she could say to have Abel by her side, giving her the hope she needed.
“You have something to tell me?” Abel said.
Savannah glanced up at him in shock. “How did you know?"
“I sense these things,” Abel said with a small smile. “And I am a witch, and there's magic all around us.”
“Have you been to the clearing?” Savannah asked abruptly, remembering the magic she'd thought she'd felt yesterday, when she and Xander had been in the lake.
“We can't go there,” Abel said. Savannah detected an edge to his voice. “That's the wolves' territory.”
“I'll take you there, one day,” Savannah said. “When all this is over and things are peaceful again.”
Abel laughed, but it was without humor. “You are very naïve.”
“I’m not. I just choose to believe in the best possible outcome.”
“That's a nice way of saying you're naïve,” Abel said as they approached the cabin. “Now, tell me what you came here to say.”
“I had a vision yesterday,” Savannah admitted. “It was the clearest vision I've ever had.”
“Which leads you to believe what, exactly?”
“I’m not sure,” Savannah said. “I think it means the threat is real and imminent.”
Abel nodded and then opened the door of the cabin to let Savannah pass through. The moment she entered she was hit with several different scents, each of them were pleasant in their own way, but Savannah’s senses spun with the onslaught of olfactory signals she was receiving.
“Hello, Savannah,” Elena said from her chair by the covered window. “You have come to see us again.”
“Yes,” Savannah replied as she moved closer. “I know what’s going to happen, but I’m not sure when it’s going to happen.”
“Is that so?” Elena said. Her filmy, silver eyes turned to her grandson. “Sit down, both of you, and we shall talk.”
Savannah and Abel sat down in front of her and beside one another, and Savannah told them about the vision she'd had just after swimming in the lake.
“You are sure it is this girl?” Elena asked. “Her name is…Marissa?”
“It is,” Savannah nodded. “I'm a hundred percent sure she was the one who tried to kill me, or at least, she's the one who will try to kill me.”
“Did you tell your mate what you saw?” Elena asked pointedly.
“Yes,” Savannah said trying to keep the hurt from her voice. “He didn’t believe me.”
Elena’s eyebrows rose. “He didn’t believe you?”
“Or maybe he did and he just thought I was mistaken,” Savannah said trying to justify Xander’s reaction. “He’s blinded by…oyalty.”
Elena nodded and stretched out her hands, palms up, towards Savannah. “Place your hands over mine,” she instructed. “Close your eyes and think of the vision again.”
“I can’t bring it back,” Savannah said. “I can’t control my visions.”
“You don’t have to,” Elena said easily. “You just need to give me a helping hand so I can bring back the vision.”
“Can you really do that?” Savannah asked in amazement.
“I am a witch,” was all Elena said.
Savannah extended her hands and placed them over Elena’s palms, wishing for a short, irrational moment that they were Abel’s, instead. The older woman’s hands were soft as silk, though Savannah could feel the clawing of age wrapped around them. She closed her eyes and thought about that moment in the clearing, when the vision had taken over, and the world had faded away around her.
Suddenly, Savannah felt a grasping pull from deep inside her. She was vaguely aware of Elena’s presence on the periphery and then a flash of light overcame her as the vision came forward. This time Savannah realized she was not watching the future alone. Elena was standing next to her, watching silently as well. Both watched intently as Marissa ran toward future Savannah, her arm raised in the air just before she plunged the knife into future Savannah’s chest.
When the vision faded into blackness and Savannah blinked her eyes open she knew that Elena had all the information she needed.
“That vision was very clear,” Elena said softly.
“Do you think it will happen?” Savannah asked.
“The future is unpredictable and ever-changing,” Elena replied. “What you see today could change tomorrow, based on the choices and actions of yourself and others. You cannot hope to predict or alter the future because you might end up bringing about the very future you fear.”
“So you’re saying there is nothing I can do about it?” Savannah asked.
“I did not say that,” Elena said. “What this vision has told you is that Marissa is a threat to you and to the pack that you have aligned yourself with. She wishes to destroy you so that she and her mate can take over. Your vision has given you a clear warning, and now you have the means to protect yourself against it.”
“How can I protect myself?” Savannah asked.
“You can’t,” Elena turned to Abel, “but we can.”
Chapter Ten
.
“Will you help me?” Savannah asked
“I gave you my word, and I will stick to it,” Elena replied. “Abel wants to help you and I have decided to support him in this choice, but you must follow our instructions to the letter.”
“I will.” Savannah nodded. “Of course, I will. What could you tell from the vision?”
Elena’s silver eyes seemed to cloud over with a layer of film. When they focused again, they were gazing straight at Savannah. “The future event you saw will take place three days from now, in the clearing that is forbidden to us, which means we cannot be there to help you physically.”
Savannah felt her body tense, but then Abel’s hand fell on her shoulder. “Don’t worry,” he said calmly. “We can help you in other ways.”
“How?”
“By doing what witches do best.”
Savannah raised her eyebrows and thought about all the things that witches could do. “By casting spells?”
“Precisely.” Abel nodded. “We cast spells and make potions. Those are the gifts granted to us, and we shall use them today to protect you.”
Abel turned to his grandmother, who turned to look at a table of strange objects and even stranger ingredients. “We will brew together a potion that you must drink in seven sips. It is a protection potion.”
“Will it protect my child?” Savannah asked. “Will it prevent Marissa from hurting me?”
“It will do both,” Elena said as she rose from her seat and walked to the long, narrow table at the center of the cabin.
Savannah eyes zigzagged across the table as she tried to distinguish between all of the ingredients was seeing. There were jars filled with small moving beetles, jars of liquids in a range of colors, a rope that seemed to glow gold, and daggers with adorned hilts. There were also books in strange handwriting, and boxes filled with the entrails of dead animals.
Savannah pushed back her nausea and glanced at Abel. “This is quite a collection,” she said, trying to appear as if this wasn’t all new to her.
Abel smiled. “We need ingredients for potions and spells,” he said, “some of which are easy to come by, while others are not.” He picked up a little tin can, overflowing with green herbs. “We call these mountain herbs. They're very common, growing all over the forest, but these,” Abel pointed to a bottle with what looked like round bluish dead eyes inside, “are the eyes of a very rare fish. They're harder to come by.”
“You need fish eyes for potions and spells?” Savannah asked.
“It depends on the kind of potion or spell,” Abel explained, “but yes, sometimes we do.”
Savannah walked the length of the table, wondering if she were allowed to touch the strange collection of objects that sat before her. At the end of the table was a dagger with a clear blade and a beautifully ornate hilt. The hilt seemed to be encased in stone that glittered and shone even under the muted light of the cabin.
“This is beautiful,” Savannah said gesturing toward it.
“You can touch it if you want,” Abel said. “Do you notice the difference in the blade?”
Savannah nodded. “It seems to be colorless, but then--”
“It changes color,” Abel said. “It’s an imbibing blade.”
“A what?”
“An imbibing blade,” Abel repeated. “The blade has been enchanted so that it can be infused.”
“With what?” Savannah asked.
“With whatever you choose,” Abel replied. “Witches have carried imbibing blades as protection for years.”
“How are they used?” Savannah asked.
“If I were to take a vial of poison and drench the blade in it, the blade would be imbibed with that poison,” Abel explained. “If someone were to attack me and I used the blade on him, he would not be cut--he would be poisoned.”
Savannah stared down at the dagger in amazement. “I could use one of those daggers, then.”
Abel smiled. “Maybe one day you'll have one of your own.”
Savannah looked at Abel in surprise. “Don’t you have to be a witch to own one?” she asked.
Abel gave her a small, secretive smile that seemed to say a lot, but Savannah could not for the life of her figure out what it meant. She appreciated the fact that he was taking the time to teach her, though, as it made her feel like she wasn’t such an outsider.
“Things are not always what they seem,” Abel said. He went to the other side of the table, putting an end to the conversation.
“Abel,” Elena called. “Bring me my cauldron. It is time we started brewing.”
Abel went to the back of the cabin and through the hidden door at the side of the room. He re-appeared moments later carrying a small black cauldron that looked as if it were made from black lead, and he set it down in front of his grandmother.
“What else do you need?”
“Hollyhocks from the garden, snake tongues, and red nightshades,” Elena replied. “And you, Savannah, bring me some water.”
Savannah rushed to do as she was told. When she returned with the water the pot was already bubbling with smoke, even though nothing seemed to be inside.
Elena’s eyes were closed and she seemed to be muttering something under her breath.
“Elena?” Savannah said softly, unsure if it was okay to interrupt.
“Put the water in and stand back,” Elena said without opening her eyes.
Savannah did as she was told. A plume of hot resembling clouds danced upwards from the little black cauldron. Savannah had to cover her eyes from the smoky haze, but she desperately wanted to see every detail of the potion making.
A few moments later, Abel returned with the ingredients that Elena had asked for. One by one he put them into the cauldron and they disappeared into the smoke wafting out of it. After a while, Savannah realized that the smoke had changed color, turning from a silvery-white to a greyish-blue.
Once the smoke had settled somewhat, Elena opened her eyes and looked from Savannah to Abel.
“Is it done?” Savannah asked.
Elena shook her head. “Not yet. It will take an hour to brew, and then it needs to sit overnight.”
“Overnight?” Savannah said. “I want to drink the potion as soon as I can.”
Elena’s voice was low and clear. “The young are impatient, but anything of quality requires time to work. You will have the potion tomorrow, and once you drink it you will be protected.”
“I don’t know if I can come here tomorrow,” Savannah told her.
“It does not matter,” Elena replied. “Meet Abel in the town tomorrow and he will give it to you.”
Savannah nodded. After a pause she said, “I have another favor to ask.”
Elena’s eyes turned cloudy again and she fixed Savannah with a penetrating stare. “What is it?” she asked in a voice that was anything but friendly.
“I want Xander to be protected, too,” Savannah managed. “I want him to drink the potion, too.”
“You ask us to help our enemies?” Elena asked in a cold voice.
Abel turned to Savannah. “It was one thing to help you as you are not directly involved in the enmity we share with the wolves, but to help a wolf directly? They would do no such thing for us.”
“Xander would,” Savannah said. “Xander would if I explained everything to him. He'd understand why I went to you, and he'd appreciate that you helped me despite everything.”
Elena glanced at Abel. “The girl is naïve.”
“She is young,” Abel said as though he were years older.
“Please,” Savannah said, ignoring both of them. “I love him. He's the father of my child, and the future of his pack.”
“His future spells death for both of us,” Abel said, mimicking his grandmother’s tone.
“What if I can get him to grant you immunity from the wolves and freedom to roam the forests?” Savannah asked desperately. “Would you help him then?”
“We will never trust the wolves,” Elena said.
“Then don’t trust them,” Savannah said. “Trust me.”
Abel and Elena exchanged a glance and Savannah thought they might be were considering it, but then Abel turned his eyes on her, and Savannah had her answer before he could speak the words. “No,” Abel said firmly. “We will not help your mate. The potion is for you alone to drink, and no one else.”
Savannah was disappointed, and she nodded in defeat.
“You have asked much of us Savannah,” Elena said. “Now go home and rest. I shall send Abel to town tomorrow with your protection potion.”
Savannah nodded and left the cabin with Abel’s eyes on her back. As long as her child was inside her she could protect it. Protecting Xander, however, was a completely different task, especially because he didn’t think he needed to be protected at all. Savannah remembered how they'd left things yesterday, and it left a hollow darkness in the pit of her stomach.
She hated that she kept comparing Xander to Abel as it was unfair to both of them. The truth was that she missed Xander and she knew he missed her, but she also knew that it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t enough for him to miss her and love her. He needed to trust her as well. He needed to believe her.
Chapter Eleven
Savannah drove into town early the next day. She had three missed calls from Xander on her phone but she ignored them. All she wanted to do was drink the potion and once she had she would face the storm she knew was on its way.
She found Abel standing outside the bakery, leaning against a lamppost in an absurdly casual way. Savannah was struck by how handsome he looked, framed against the backdrop of the quaint little town, even though it was extremely obvious that he did not belong there. She approached him and he nodded to her and started walking down the lane toward the forests.
“Where are we going?” Savannah asked.
“Somewhere private,” Abel replied. “The potion has an aftertaste and its best people don’t see you gagging in public.”
They found an alcove by the trees, far from watchful eyes, and Abel took out a small, clear vial filled with purple liquid that shone brightly in the noon-day sun. He unstoppered it and passed it to her.
“Drink it in seven sips,” he told her. “Whatever you do, don’t stop until you’ve finished the seventh sip.”
Savannah took the little vial and stared at it curiously for a moment. There was an aroma wafting from the top of the vial, but she couldn’t figure out what it reminded her of. “How bad is the taste?” she asked.
“Tolerable,” Abel replied. “If you don’t think about it too much.”
“That’s not comforting at all.” She prepared herself to drink it.
“Quickly, now,” Abel urged.
Savannah took a deep breath, and with a silent prayer of hope, took the first sip. The liquid burned her throat as she swallowed, and she had to fight desperately not to throw it up. Tears formed in her eyes as the burning in her throat became almost unbearable, but she kept going, knowing what was at stake.
It felt to her like she had swallowed seventy-seven sips instead of only seven, but finally the little vial was empty, and the burning sensation, along with the acrid smell, had disappeared. Savannah felt a little lightheaded and she felt herself sway where she stood.
“Here,” Abel said, taking her hand and guiding her to a rock so she could sit down for a moment. “Rest for a while.”
“I feel strange,” Savannah admitted.
“Give it a few minutes,” Abel said. “The feeling will pass.”
Slowly, the fog that seemed to surround Savannah disappeared and she was once more able to think and speak clearly. “You said it was bearable,” she said accusingly.
He smiled sardonically. “If I had said otherwise you wouldn’t have drank it.”
“I would have still drank it,” Savannah said, “but it would have been harder.”
“Exactly.” Abel nodded. “You’re welcome.”
Savannah shot him an annoyed look and shook her head. “You’re right, there's an aftertaste.”
“That’ll last a few hours.”
“Can I eat or drink anything?”
“You can do both, but it won’t help,” Abel said. “That aftertaste won’t go away until it's good and ready.”
“Joy,” Savannah said.
“How are you feeling, though?”
“I don’t know,” Savannah said. “There’s this burning feeling…in my gut. Is that normal?”
“It’ll settle, don’t worry,” Abel said. “Until then you just need to get some rest.”
“Okay.” Savannah nodded. “Thank Elena for me.”
Abel gave her a small smile, and Savannah started walking back to her car. Within fifteen minutes she was back home, but her senses told her that something wasn't quite right. She was able to sense Xander’s powerfully bright aura and it was brimming with fear and anger.
Savannah looked around for him, but he was out of her line of sight. “I know you’re there, Xander,” she said out loud. “Just come out here and say what you need to say.”
After a moment she heard the rustle of leaves and then Xander stepped out from behind the aged trees that ran up the hill next to her home. His face was surly and unhappy, but Savannah could tell he was doing his best to stay calm. She sensed what was coming and she prepared herself.
“Are your parents at home?” he asked in a subdued voice.
“Not at the moment.”
He nodded and Savannah saw his jaw clench. His good looks were more pronounced as a result, but it also made him look severe and foreboding.
“Xander?” Savannah said.
“Gordy saw you in town, today” Xander practically spat.
Savannah felt her body tense. “I didn’t see him.”
“Apparently you were otherwise occupied,” Xander said through clenched teeth.
“Abel is my friend,” Savannah said—there was no point denying it. It was one thing to keep things from Xander, it was another thing entirely to lie straight to his face, and she'd made the decision to tell him the truth if he ever asked the question.
“Your friend?” Xander said incredulously. “Your friend?”
“That’s what I said,” Savannah said, standing her ground.
“He is a witch,” Xander's eyes seemed to contain fire at their centers. “I thought the rules were clear.”
“They’re your rules, not mine.”
Xander took a step back, as though Savannah had slapped him. “You’re my life partner, you’re carrying my child, and one day, when I'm alpha, you will stand beside me.”
“That doesn't mean I'll agree with every decision you make,” Savannah said calmly. “Nor does it mean I'm bound by the same rules as the pack. You’ve made it very clear that I'm not a shifter, which means I’m not really a part of the pack, and that the only thing that connects me to it is the child I’m carrying.”
“And what happens after you’ve had the baby?” Xander demanded. “Are you trying to tell me you want out of this relationship?”
“I never said that,” Savannah said angrily. “Don’t put words in my mouth.”
Xander was seething, but Savannah knew he was struggling to keep his temper under control. She still felt the intensity of his aura, however. It was burning hot and fierce, but Savannah could tell that it was just his way of masking his fear.
“Savannah,” Xander said in a calmer tone. “What were you doing with him? What have you told him about us?”
“The truth,” Savannah said after a small pause.
“Which is what?”
“Which is that we’re being threatened by a rival pack that’s headed by your half-brother,” Savannah told him. “I told him that a battle was on the horizon and that I needed to protect my child.”
“Is that it?” Xander asked. “You wanted to protect the baby?”
“Of course.”
“I don’t understand: why on earth would you go to the witches? Why wouldn’t you come to me? I can protect you and the baby.”
“How can you protect me when you’re blinded by loyalty?” Savannah demanded. “You’re still convinced Marissa isn't a threat to me, even after I told you what I saw. When I told them about my vision, Elena and Abel believed me right away.”
“Elena and Abel?”
“Elena is Abel’s grandmother,” Savannah said, “and they were willing to help me, even though they mistrust the wolves.”
“They mistrust us?” Xander said incredulously. Then he shook his head. “You’ve put your trust in the wrong people and now? Now I don’t know what they've done.”
“They’ve done nothing but help me,” Savannah said emphatically. “They helped me.”
“Tell me how. How they helped you?”
“They brewed me a potion,” Savannah said, “so that no harm will come to me, should my vision prove to be true.”
“They said this potion would protect you?”
“Me and the baby,” Savannah nodded. “You’re wrong to hate them. They're not what you think. They just want to live their lives, the same as you.”
Xander looked at her as though he were at a loss for words. “What they gave you was not a protection spell Savannah. They tricked you.”
“What are you talking about?” Savannah said. “How can you possibly know that? Your hate for them is blinding you.”
“Maybe you’re the one who’s been blinded, did you ever think of that?” Xander shot at her.
There was the sound of a howl, and Xander and Savannah broke off their conversation and looked up toward the trees. “What was that?” Savannah asked, feeling a new pain creep through her body.
“An alert call,” Xander replied. “Dominic and Marissa are coming, and they’re not alone. I have to go.”
“I’m coming with you,” Savannah said.
“It’s too dangerous for you to be in the clearing,” Xander said. “Stay here.”
He turned his back on her and ran into the trees without another word. Savannah bit back the burnt taste in her mouth and waited until he had disappeared before she started to follow behind him. There was no way she could just sit idly by while all hell broke loose. She thought back to her vision and pictured the moment when Marissa had stabbed her in the chest with the flaming blue dagger. She wasn’t sure if she was about to walk to her death, but she knew she could not stay behind.
She and Xander might not be in agreement at the moment, but that was completely immaterial, because even when he'd been screaming at her, even when he'd been angry and frustrated, Savannah still sensed the love beneath the emotion. Xander loved her purely and nothing was going to change that.
Savannah knew she couldn't let him enter that clearing without her.
Chapter Twelve
Savannah peeked through the trees and out into the clearing. The whole pack was gathered there, including Marissa’s friends, and the elders. Savannah was surprised to see Principal Harris standing among them. She looked a little worse for the wear with dark circles beneath her eyes, and the stain of worry etched across her face. The pack had not shifted into their wolf forms yet, and Savannah wondered why that was.
“What are you doing here?” Johnny demanded from behind her.
Savannah whirled around to face him. "Did all of you think I was just going to stay home?"
“You should have,” Johnny said in a hard voice. “You won’t be able to help us.”
Savannah regarded him stubbornly. “I don’t care,” she said. “I refuse to be treated as though I’m not a part of this pack. I have just as much a stake in what happens here as you, and I’m staying.”
Johnny grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into the clearing. “Xander!” he yelled, and Savannah saw Xander turn toward them from across the clearing. His eyes narrowed slightly, but Savannah sensed he wasn’t surprised.
He approached them quickly, but his eyes were searching the landscape, as though he were looking for something. The pack converged around Savannah, the elders watching her with weary eyes.
“Savannah, why did you come?” Elvira asked in her deep, authoritative voice.
“I had to be here,” Savannah said loudly, so that everyone could hear her. “I'm at least partly to blame for all of this. Marissa wouldn't have betrayed the pack if it hadn’t been for me. I’m not going to sit safely at home while all of you are in danger.”
“And what about your child?” Malick asked pointedly. “It's noble of you to want to share the fight with us, but you’re risking your child in the process.”
“She’s taken measures to protect the baby,” Xander said dryly as he went to stand beside Savannah.
Savannah could tell that Xander was still upset about her involvement with Abel, but she also knew he'd never leave her alone to defend herself against the pack, and his stance beside her proved that no matter their differences, they were going to stick together.
“Taken measures…how?” Principal Harris asked.
Xander glanced at her. He was about to speak but she beat him to the punch. “I went to the witches,” she said.
There was a murmur of fear that ran through the pack as they exchanged wide-eyed glances of horror with one another. Then Malick took a slow step forward. “Did you drink anything they gave you?” he asked, sounding deadly serious.
“Yes,” Savannah said, nodding. She felt panic inexplicably rise within her. “It was a protection potion.”
Malick closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened his eyes, he said, “It was not.”
“What do you mean?” Savannah asked. “How do you know?"
Malick didn’t answer her. Instead his gaze fell onto Xander. “Haven’t you told her…about our past, about our legends and our histories?”
“I have not been able to tell her everything yet,” Xander said, his voice wracked with guilt. “She doesn't know the complete legend of the witches--the history books do not account for them.”
Malick looked around the pack. His green eyes were piercing, and Savannah sensed sorrow rise within him. “Savannah became a part of our pack the day we found out she was pregnant with the next generation of shifters,and yet we have not treated her as such. Xander: you should have taught her what it means to be shifter. You should have educated her in our customs and way of thinking. If that had been done she never would have gone to the witches.”
Savannah looked around in confusion. “You don’t understand,” she pleaded. “They were trying to help me.”
“They were trying to enslave you,” Principal Harris said. “They were trying to enslave us all, and now they might have succeeded.”
She looked into Principal Harris's eyes and realized that she cared little of Savannah's fate. Her thoughts were only of her daughter, and the only worry she was able to muster was for Marissa. Savannah suddenly realized that her pain weighed heavily on the rest of the pack, as if they were somehow connected. Before another word could be exchanged Gordy burst through the trees, his eyes wide, and his stance purposeful.
“They’re coming,” Gordy said, panting hard. “The rival pack is coming! Ten minutes and they’ll have breached the clearing.”
“Marissa?” Principal Harris gasped. “Is she with them?”
“She and Dominic are heading the pack,” Gordy said in a slightly lower voice. “I think… I think she will be fighting with them today.”
“No,” Principal Harris said and her knees buckled.
Malick swung forward and caught her before she could fall. He held onto her and whispered something into her ear. “Stay strong; we may be able to save her still,” he said a little louder to the rest of the group.
“We can save her,” Principal Harris said with a sob in her voice, “but it is not up to you or me to take her back, Will the new alpha allow her back into the fold after this betrayal?”
She glanced at Xander and Savannah realized the weight of Xander’s responsibility. She expected him to assure Principal Harris, she expected him to tell her he'd take Marissa back in a heartbeat if they succeeded in saving her from Dominic’s hold, but he didn’t. He stood there for a moment and then he glanced at Savannah.
“I will make that decision when the time comes,” he said, promising nothing. “With my partner.”
She recognized the apology in Xander’s tone. He was telling her that he was sorry for shutting her out and refusing to listen or believe her. He was telling her that from this day forward, they were going to work together, they were going to act together, and that he was not going to put anyone else’s feelings before hers.
She sensed the enormity of the message from his aura rather than his words, which meant the world to Savannah, and for the first time since the pack had split she didn’t feel as if she were alone in the situation.
“What do we do?” Gordy asked.
“There’s nothing we can do but fight,” Xander said, stepping forward.
“We'll have to fight to kill,” Gordy said.
“No,” Xander said quickly. “Defend yourselves well, but if death can be avoided then avoid it.”
“They will not do the same for us,” Johnny pointed out. “They will kill us all if they win.”
“They have to kill us to take our land,” Xander said, “but aside from that, we are better than they are, and we must prove it. We will defeat them. We’re stronger than they are because our bonds are pure, and our ties to each other are strong.”
“And Marissa?” Principal Harris demanded. “What about my daughter?”
Xander glanced at Savannah and she saw the question in his eyes. He was giving her the choice to decide what was best based on the vision she'd had. If Savannah said that Marissa should be banished with the rival pack, she knew without a doubt that Xander would stand by her decision.
“You have to save Marissa,” Savannah said, her voice a little shaky.
“Are you sure?” Xander asked.
“You’re right: loyalty is important, and from what I’ve sensed about Marissa, she's nothing if not loyal. Her hate for me clouded her loyalty causing her to run to Dominic. Maybe she'll take a second chance if she's given it.”
Savannah felt relief wafting from Principal Harris, and she couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her. She was still a mother, standing opposed to a daughter who had made independent decisions. She momentarily wondered if Principal Harris had ever been tempted to join her daughter.
Xander walked toward Savannah and took her hand. “Thank you,” he whispered to her.
“Don’t thank me yet,” Savannah whispered back.
The burning sensation she'd experienced when she'd taken the potion was beginning to return, clawing at her belly, and making it impossible for her to concentrate. Savannah felt a chill pass over her body.
A moment later, Malick's voice echoed around their loose circle. "They are here," he said, and everyone turned in the direction of the trees opposite the lake.
Dominic and Marissa were the first to enter the clearing, followed by more people. Savannah counted, desperate to determine which pack outnumbered the other.
“Eleven,” Malick said, “including Marissa and Dominic.”
“And we have ten,” Xander said under his breath.
“We can win this,” Zanna added.
Dominic walked forward with as if he were welcome by all in the clearing. He was naked to the waist, wearing nothing but a pair of faded trousers. Savannah understood he was ready for the fight, ready to shift at any moment. He was good-looking, but his features were severe and threatening. It was impossible to imagine that he and Xander had shared the same father.
Marissa followed Dominic close behind. She was just as beautiful as Savannah remembered, with her golden hair and bright blue eyes, but Savannah sensed the undercurrent of fear that lay just beneath the surface. Marissa wanted to appear calm, but Savannah knew she was far from it.
“Hello, little brother,” Dominic said in a good imitation of friendliness. “I see you've gathered your pack together to welcome me.”
Xander ignored him completely, turned to Marissa, and said, “Marissa, what have you done? Why did you do this to us, to your friends, to your mother?”
Marissa bristled at his words and Dominic shot her a look. She kept her eyes trained on Xander, and Savannah could tell how painful it was for her to see him again. “What have I done?” she demanded. “You’re the one who betrayed us all.”
“Betrayed you?” Xander asked. “How, by falling in love with Savannah?”
“She was never meant for you,” Marissa said.
“Then why is it our child has shifter blood?” Xander demanded. “If we were not meant to be then the child would be human, and I would never have been allowed to marry Savannah.
"Please, Marissa, you’re letting your personal feelings cloud your judgement. This is not the way.”
Dominic looked amused as he looked between Xander and Marissa. “She’s made her choice, Xander,” Dominic said. “She’s chosen the stronger brother.”
“You realize that in order to take this land he has to kill us all, don’t you, Marissa?” Xander continued to ignore Dominic. “Are you really going to help him kill us?”
“Of course not,” Marissa said immediately. “No one needs to die. As long as you are prepared to move your allegiance moves to Dominic and I, then you will all be welcomed into our pack.”
“And what if no one is willing to change allegiances?” Zanna asked, stepping forward.
“You have to,” Marissa said. Savannah saw wild fear pass through her eyes as she considered the possibility the pack might choose to die fighting than submit to Dominic’s rule.
Principal Harris stepped forward. She looked hard at her daughter. “You have made a mistake, Marissa,” she said, her voice low with pain. “You acted impulsively because you were hurt, but you didn’t stop to think it through. You thought the pack would change loyalties if they were faced with death, but you thought wrong. We would rather die than accept Dominic’s authority here.”
Marissa’s eyes filled with panic as she stared at her mother. Marissa gasped. “Don’t say that.” She took a step forward. Dominic reached out to hold her back. “Please,” Marissa pleaded, “don’t say that!”
“Looks like the decision has been made, Marissa,” Dominic said, a confident smile playing on his face. “Time to say goodbye.”
“No!” Marissa screamed. “I will not hurt any of them.”
Dominic’s eyes narrowed. “Then it was a foolish mistake to partner with me, but it's too late now.”
“No, it’s not,” Xander said, stepping forward. “Marissa can choose to break ties with you.”
Dominic nodded. “She can, but that won’t change much. She's still created the bridge that's allowed us into Grey Mountain, and we can still challenge you for this land.”
“But you won’t win,” Xander said matching his half-brother's confidence.
Dominic laughed. “I beg to differ.” He changed his gaze so that it fell onto the trees a short distance from where the packs stood. “Welcome, Abel.”
Savannah felt her body grow cold when she heard the friendly way Dominic had greeted Abel. She stared at the line of trees as Abel emerged. His brown-gold eyes glittered in the sun as he approached them to stand between the packs.
A hiss went through the root pack, and a few of the boys actually bared their teeth. Xander’s eyes narrowed. When he finally spoke, his tone was cold and quiet.
“This is not your territory,” Xander said, full of venom.
“How is it possible you're even here?” Elvira asked.
Abel smiled politely at her. “I'm here because of my dear friend.”
“Dominic?” Elvira asked, confused.
“No.” Abel shook his head. “Savannah.”
Savannah felt the gaze of everyone in the clearing turn toward her, and she wished for the ground beneath her to open up and swallow her whole.
Chapter Thirteen
“Abel,” Savannah said, her voice shaky with horror. “What did you do?”
“It’s not what I did,” he said calmly. “It’s what you did.”
“I came to you for help,” Savannah said desperately. “I came to you because I didn’t have options.”
Abel turned his calm smile on Xander. “I suppose I have you and your pack to thank for that. Prey is usually caught through isolation and you lot did a great job of pushing Savannah out.”
Savannah felt the burn in the pit of her stomach. “What was that potion you gave me?” she demanded, trying not to clutch her stomach.
“Do you know what the real problem with isolation is?” Abel asked. “It's that you have no one around you to help or advise you, no one there to explain things to you or to teach you.”
“What did you do to me?” Savannah gasped as pain shot through her stomach.
“I took a page from the history books,” Abel said simply.
Savannah looked toward Xander and saw the devastation in his eyes. “You remember the legend of Kato and Alais?” Xander asked softly.
“Yes?”
“The history of their story is incomplete,” Xander explained. “The books detail the part where Kato and Alais employ the witches help Alais take on a wolf’s form, but the price of that help was that they could never leave Grey Mountain.”
“I know the story--”
Xander shook his head. “You know the story that's been written down, but that's not the whole story.
"The witch tricked Alais and Kato. Not only were they tied to Grey Mountain forever, they were also under her control.”
“You mean…”
“The witch had complete power over them,” Xander said in a hushed voice. “She could make them do whatever she wanted.”
Savannah stared at Xander without really seeing him, the words, what have I done? repeating in her mind. When she looked back up her eyes fell onto Abel. “So that means the potion you gave me…”
“It wasn’t a protection spell,” Abel said, calmer than the situation would seem to warrant. “It was a spell that allows me to control you and the rest of your pack.”
“How can it control the rest of the pack?” Savannah demanded scrambling to understand.
“Because a pack is connected by bond,” Abel said. “You are carrying the future alpha in your belly, which means that you are the source.”
“Oh God,” Savannah gasped feeling her knees buckle.
Abel opened his coat and drew out a blade gleaming with the promise of a thousand colors. It shone for a moment and then it turned a nearly colorless silver-white. “Oh, God,” Savannah said, “an imbibing blade.”
Abel’s smile went deeper. “You see how much she knows, Xander?” he asked sounding a little too familiar. “It's because she was taught. I was the one to teach her about imbibing blades." He turned to Savannah and said, "Now it's time to finish the lesson, Savannah, with a demonstration of its power.”
He reached into his coat and withdrew a small vial, much like the one he'd handed Savannah when he gave her the potion. He pulled the tiny stopper out with his teeth and raised the bottle in his hand for all to see.
“I didn’t teach you about potions, did I, Savannah?” Abel asked conversationally. “If I had taught you the art of potion-making then you would have known something was not right, and you would have known not to trust me. But then again, you weren't taught, were you?. Do you want to know what this potion does?”
“Yes,” Savannah said breathlessly.
“This potion will kill every elder in your precious pack while retaining their knowledge and their skill, so it may be used at a later date.”
Xander turned to Dominic with fury in his eyes. “You're a fool if you believe he's your ally,” Xander said angrily. “He has aligned himself with you now only because he can use you. Do you really think he won’t betray you once he has power?”
Dominic smirked at Xander. “He cannot control me or my pack--Savannah’s connection is to you and your pack alone."
“He has magic,” Malick spat as he came forward, “and he will use it against you.”
“I am no fool,” Dominic said calmly. “I have made sure my pack and I are protected in all this. The only fool here is my dear brother."
To Xander he said, "You refused to step down and give me my land and my rightful pack, and then you chose a weak and ignorant human who enslaved you all without even realizing it as your mate.”
Savannah heard Xander’s jaw grind together, and the burn in her stomach and the growing feeling of discomfort she sensed from Xander’s pack had her attention.
“What’s happening?” She shivered as she spoke. “Something's happening.”
Abel focused his brown-gold eyes on her. “What you're feeling, Savannah, is the potion spreading. It will infect every part of you, and once it travels to your womb it will infect your child. Once that happens, the whole pack will be under my control.”
Savannah felt the urge to rip the alien substance straight from her veins. She knew Abel had well and truly betrayed her and there was no way out of this.
“How could you do this?” Savannah exclaimed with sorrow. “I trusted you.”
“You were a fool to trust me,” Abel said without feeling.
“I should have listened,” Savannah said weakly. “I should have listened when everyone told me that witches were not to be trusted.”
“Don’t be too hard on yourself,” Abel said. “You should have been taught, but your partner and your pack isolated you. You were desperate and alone, and that makes for easy prey.”
Savannah felt Xander slip his hand into hers and squeeze it slowly a moment later. Savannah didn’t dare look at him because she knew that if she did she would break. She felt the poison spreading and she knew there was nothing she could do about it.
“Now,” Abel said enthusiastically, “I think that’s enough talk for one day—time to set things in motion.”
Abel tipped the contents of the vial onto the silver-white blade of the dagger which instantly turned a rich, fiery red that seemed to exude heat. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Abel said, looking at the imbibing blade with fondness. “Now, it’s time to take what I need.”
“Wait,” Dominic said, stepping forward. "Does it matter who uses the blade?"
Abel cocked his head to the side. “No.”
“Good,” Dominic said with a small smile. “Then I think there's someone here who needs to prove herself.” He slowly turned his gaze on Marissa.
“No,” Marissa said, shaking her head. She took a step back.
Dominic reached out, grabbed her by the arm, and pulled her violently toward him. “You're the one that came to me.”
“You told me you would spare them,” Marissa said.
“If they joined me,” Dominic said. “If they bent to my will--which they did not.”
“No,” Marissa pleaded. “They're my family.”
“No, they’re not,” Dominic replied coldly. “If they truly were your family, you never would have betrayed them in the first place.”
“I only did it because–"
“You wanted to hurt Xander like he hurt you,” Dominic interrupted. “But you didn’t think things through, did you? You made a choice, and now it's time you stand by it.”
Dominic turned to Abel who stretched out his hand and passed the blade to Dominic. Marissa looked at her mother helplessly, as though she were silently begging for help.
It happened all at once. Savannah felt a flash of pain scream through her body. This was followed by Xander and his entire pack screaming in pain, their bodies bent over as though they were being electrocuted. Savannah looked around her helplessly, her eyes meeting Marissa’s for a moment.
“What’s happening?” Savannah gasped, dropping to her knees beside Xander.
“The poison in your body is spreading,” Abel said calmly. “Its hold is extending to the rest of the pack. That's what they're feeling now, the loss of their autonomy, the destruction of their free will.”
“No!” Savannah begged. “This has to stop.”
“There's no stopping this,” Dominic said calmly as the rest of his pack watched on, half horrified, and half amazed.
Dominic held the blade out to Marissa. She stared at it in disgust, shaking her head. “I will never use that on my pack.”
“The only pack you belong to anymore is the one standing behind you,” Dominic reminded her threateningly. “It's time you embraced that and put an end to the pack kneeling in front of you.”
Savannah looked around her in desperation. She could see the nightmare unfolding in front of her, felt Xander's body shivering uncontrollably beside here, and she was powerless to do anything about it. His pack was halfway gone and she was the only one left. Savannah glanced up and her eyes met Marissa’s once more.
There was fear in Marissa’s aura. Savannah sensed nothing there but fear, pain, and sorrow. She was looking for a way out, too, a way to reverse every action she'd made in the past week, as was Savannah.
“Take the damn blade!” Dominic said, his voice rising in anger.
He forced it into Marissa’s hand but she was shaking so hard she dropped it. The blade fell mere feet away from the glistening water of the lake, its bright red sheen disrupted by a bolt of silver-blue streaming across it.
And then it hit Savannah. It was entirely possible that the legends about the lake were as true as the legends about Alais and Kato, which meant the waters were healing, just like Xander had told her. The waters had the ability to save lives and make magic, magic that was good and strong and enabling. Savannah knew the lake was their last hope.
“Pick it up.” Dominic’s voice echoed through the clearing. “Pick it up now, or be the first to die.”
Savannah didn’t know what was driving her instincts, but she knew they were all she had left. She pulled out her hearing aid and the world went instantly silent and still as the night. Though Savannah couldn't hear a sound, the world seemed to open up a little, as if by magic. She closed her eyes in the next breath and her world seemed to expand a little more.