The Light Inside

HOLLY

The compound was abuzz with energy as Ela and Max prepared for their departure. It was hard not to get caught up in the moment—they were risking a lot to try and make peace with the humans.

If something went wrong…

I couldn’t bear to think of anything else going wrong. We were all back in Alaska for the first time in months. It didn’t seem right for people to be leaving so soon.

But I wasn’t part of the group leaving for Washington. And I couldn’t keep my mind focused enough to help them prepare.

Ever since the resurrection ceremony, my feelings had been conflicted and often confused.

I’d raised a spirit from the dead. Rose was back and connecting with Ekon after so many years.

It was a happy and unexpected surprise.

~Then why do I feel so damn worried?~ It was as if I’d just opened up Pandora’s box and was patiently awaiting the doom that would soon follow…

The west wing of the mansion was peaceful. Ekon had designated it as his mother’s new quarters, and there was ~no one~ else around.

I walked through the vast halls, looking into spacious, uninhabited rooms.

Finally, I heard the crackle of a fire and eventually found an open door. I peeked inside to see Rose sitting on a sofa in the drawing room.

The room was impressive, filled with white furniture, tables made of black glass and a fireplace roaring with life. Gold chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling curtains completed the look.

“Please, come in,” Rose said. “Even though this room is gaudy by my standards, it’s nice to have visitors.”

Rose patted the cushion next to her on the sofa.

I sat beside her but tried to focus my attention on anything else in the room.

“You’re her,” she said. “The one who brought me back.”

“My name’s Holly,” I said. “Holly Stone.”

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Holly Stone.”

I forced myself to look at Tyler’s body, knowing full well I was talking with someone else inside…

I swallowed hard and smiled, accepting her handshake. The feel of her touch was strangely neutral—neither cold nor warm.

I wanted to say more, but the words I’d prepared on my walk over had somehow disappeared, lost in a haze.

“It’s okay if you feel odd,” Rose continued. “Hell, I do too.”

Rose laughed, and it filled the large room with more warmth than the fire ever could.

I felt myself ease into the couch as my worries slowly melted away.

~Yeah, this is definitely odd.~

But not because of Rose—she seemed like a beautiful old soul.

~Then why?~

I took a breath and decided to finally open up.

“I don’t know what brought me here,” I said.

“Yes, you do, darling,” Rose responded.

~Damn. She isn’t letting me get away that easily.~

“Okay,” I admitted. “I feel conflicted by the outcome of the…ritual.”

Rose nodded along in understanding but said nothing.

“I guess I’m worried about the repercussions of using dark magic.”

Rose remained silent. Her hands were intertwined, and her thumbs circled one another as if fueling her thoughts.

“Holly,” she said, “I understand why you’re worried. And you have every right to be cautious. But I can sense it inside you.”

I looked into her eyes, sparkling with intense life, and couldn’t turn away.

“What’s inside me?” I asked, fearing her answer.

“The light,” she replied. “A witch should never be afraid of the darkness when there’s a light inside. And believe me, I know you have it.”

Hearing Rose say that nearly took my breath away. I couldn’t control my actions.

I shot forward and hugged her tightly against my body, enjoying the proximity to another witch.

Rose laughed and squeezed me just as hard, surprising me with her strength.

“Thank you,” I said, not entirely understanding why.

“No, thank you,” Rose replied. “It’s because of your abilities that I’m here.”

I closed my eyes and listened to the fire crackle as Rose held me in her embrace.

HUNTER

The suitcases were packed.

The chauffeur and SUV were ready to head to the private hanger.

I stood in the driveway outside Ekon’s mansion, leaning on a rather regal looking cane.

Ela, Max, and Kalindi had gone over their checklist several times, too many for me to count.

I had even helped Ela prepare for the summit by separating the important documents into folders…

But I was not ready to see her go. Not so soon…

We’d only arrived in Alaska a handful of days ago. And she was already heading out of my life.

Before we had gone on the run, I’d have been jealous of the fact that she was going with another man.

Even if it was Maximus Woodard…

But things had changed, that much I knew for sure.

I’d nearly died. If it weren’t for Max and Bambi’s help, Ela might have died as well—lost deep in the jungles of South America.

“You doing okay, Hunter?” Max asked, tearing me from my thoughts.

I looked at him with a sideways glance and shrugged.

“I know that look on anyone,” Max said. “Like a lost puppy. But don’t worry. Ela should be back in no time.”

“Thanks for the support,” I said.

Max smacked me on the shoulder and grabbed the last of the bags, shoving them into the SUV.

“Sad as I am to see her go,” I continued, “there’s something about her fighting personality that would be lost if she stayed here.”

I held out my hand, and Max shook it firmly.

“Like I said, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

Ela surprised me by throwing her arms around my neck and flooding me with kisses.

“Missing me already?” she teased.

“I feel like I should make you stay here.”

Ela pouted her enticing red lips, and I was unable to look away from my beautiful mate.

“Then I expect a celebration when I return,” she said.

Leaning on the cane for support, I held Ela close and kissed her passionately.

“Typical ~cuntsniffer~,” Kalindi said, causing Max to smirk. “Can never keep his hands to himself.”

Ela smacked Kalindi on the butt as Kalindi passed by. I shook my head, trying my best not to let her comment ruin the moment.

My mate looked into my eyes one last time, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to kiss her again.

As our tongues met, I felt pride welling up in my chest.

This was my mate. And she was ~perfect~, especially for putting up with all of my unnecessary bullshit.

I could only hope that someday she would feel the same pride when she thought of me…

BAMBI

The group was officially ready for the summit.

Ela, Max, and Kalindi left the compound and headed to Ekon’s private hangar.

In a matter of hours, they would be in Washington, trying to negotiate peace.

And as much as I wanted to worry about Ela and the others, it was pointless.

Ekon sat across from me at the dining table, picking at his plate. We hadn’t really had much time together since his mother’s resurrection, so I had arranged for the two of us to dine privately.

But we mostly sat in silence as we ate vegetables and sipped iced tea.

“How’s everything?” I asked, hoping to jump-start the conversation.

“Huh…oh, good,” Ekon replied. “Pork is perfectly seasoned. Couldn’t ask for a better cut of meat.”

I sighed.

“Ekon,” I said, grabbing his full attention. “I’m glad you’re enjoying your meal. But I was hoping we could talk about your mother.”

I watched as his face drained of all color. He took a sip of tea as he gathered his thoughts.

“Oh, yes, ~her~,” he replied.

But that was it. He refused to say anything more.

“I don’t want this to be awkward,” I said. “I’ve seen how happy you are that she’s back. But I also see the confusion…and uncertainty…”

Ekon groaned.

“I don’t know how I should feel,” he admitted. “There’s no guidebook for this kind of thing…”

I pushed my seat back and stood up, making my way toward Ekon. I sat beside him and placed my hand on his leg as he remained silent.

“You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”

Ekon nodded but said nothing else.

“Then, why don’t you?”

“Because I’m scared!” Ekon blurted out.

I saw the fear in his face as he realized what he’d just admitted. A man of Ekon’s stature never admitted fear, and certainly not to his ~mate~.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of. Rose is your mother, she loves you!”

Ekon scoffed and drained the rest of his tea.

“I know that,” he replied. “I’m not afraid of my mother.”

“Then what is it?”

Ekon sighed.

“I have so many questions,” he said. “Everything I’ve ever wanted to know about my parents, my childhood, my ~siblings~ is finally right in front of me. But every time I want to bring it up…I just can’t.”

Ekon’s head dropped, and his fist pounded the table. For a moment, I worried he might fly into a rage, flinging china and silverware across the room.

But after several deep breaths, he looked to be back under control.

“I know how you feel,” I admitted.

“You do?” he asked, surprised.

“Of course I do. I have so many questions about my own parents. Who they were…how they lived…I’ve even been researching them at the library.”

Ekon’s body turned rigid as he began to comprehend what I’d just said.

“You’ve been doing what!?”

I reached out to try and calm him. Ekon pulled away from my touch and stood up from the table.

His jaw was set, and his teeth were growing into fangs. Ekon wasn’t shifting, but he was so angry that it looked like he ~wanted~ to shift.

And that revelation was ~terrifying~. He never could control his wolf, and I doubted anything had changed.

“Ekon, what’s wrong?”

“I command you to stop looking into your parents’ death,” he snarled, “nothing good can come of it!”

With that, he spun on his heel and was out the door. Servants hurried to the table to take away our plates, but I barely registered their presence.

~Why is Ekon so worried about my parents?~

~What does he have to hide?~