Cypher didn’t realize how long he had been pacing and thinking until he realized the light was beginning to fade from the forest and night made its appearance. He backed up to lean against a tree and listened to the sounds of the forest. Humans never bothered to listen to the sounds around them and didn’t realize that they could learn so much without ever seeing anything. Suddenly a hush fell over the forest and Cypher knew she was approaching.

“You rang,” Desdemona’s voice carried.

He waited until he could see her before he responded. Once again, she was mounted on her black steed and the evil that poured off of the witch equally poured off her horse. She dismounted and walked slowly towards him.

“I did,” he finally answered.

“You are ready to uphold your end of the bargain?”

“I will be.”

Her eyes narrowed, dangerously. “What do you mean, you will be?”

“I’ve requested my warriors come to protect my mate. You have to know that I will not leave her to fend for herself against the demons you are unleashing.”

“Technically you are unleashing, but then who’s getting technical?” Mona laughed.

“I need two days,” Cypher told her.

“Your warriors will be here in two days’ time?”

“Yes.”

“And, they are only here to protect your woman?”

“Yes.”

“Would you take a blood oath on it?” Mona watched the King carefully, looking for any sign of weakness.

“No, I’ve shed the only blood I ever will for you. It is enough to take my word.”

Cypher waited for her response. His eyes never left hers. He would not allow her to think she was more dominant than he. Though they were not wolves, there was still a struggle for power, because in any race, weakness made you prey, and prey was eaten for dinner.

“Fine, you have two days. But, then you will…”

“You don’t need to remind me of my obligation witch. I will be there,” Cypher barked at her.

She stared daggers at him as she mounted her horse and flew by him, nearly knocking him over; another power play. The move did not trouble Cypher because her time was coming and the power she flaunted so stridently now, would soon be stripped from her, along with her dignity, her pride, and then her life.

Q

“I think the best way to go about this, since it’s our first time, is to do Alina alone.” Peri stood in Vasile’s room, with the six other Fae council members gathered around her.

Vasile stood between the bed where his mate lay and the others in the room.

Peri had asked for Cynthia to be present just in case Vasile lost his cool.

“And what exactly do you expect me to do?” Cynthia had asked Peri.

“Help,” she told her.

“How? Have you ever seen an enraged wolf? There is nothing that I could do to stop him.”

“I know,” Peri patted Cynthia, “but you being in the way would give me time to get away.”

That hadn’t gone over very well with the doctor, but for some reason she had come anyway.

“What exactly are you going to do?” Vasile asked.

“We are going to use the stones and try a cleansing spell. It’s a spell meant to clean out the spirit, to push out any darkness that has gotten in, but I don’t know if it will work to break a spell.”

“There’s only one way to find out.” Peri took a step towards the bed and when Vasile did not move she gave him a pointed look. Finally, after lifting his lip in a snarl, he stepped aside so that she and the others could get closer to his Alpha female.

Peri took the stones of the Fae and laid them around Alina in a circle on the bed. The Fae gathered in a circle around the bed as well and clasped hands. Peri sat down next to Alina and laid her hands on the female’s head. She closed her eyes and she began to chant.

“Alina, Alpha, precious to your mate,

Hear my voice, this is not to be your fate.

The darkness binding, twisting inside

Seeking shadowed places in an attempt to hide.

I call you now from the evil you came,

You are not strong; you have no power I can’t tame.

Alina, mother, precious to your pack,

You fight this evil so we can bring you back.

There is a light in you that is alive in your heart,

No curse or spell can ever touch that part.

I am Perizada. I call on the power of my race,

You are finished; you will leave without a trace.

I will pull you from this body wrap you up tight,

Then cast you far from this place with all my might.

Alina! Hear my voice I command it of you,

Open your eyes to everything that’s true,

Fight the horror fight the fear and lies.

Fight and you will win as darkness dies.

Open your eyes Alina. Open your eyes

Open your eyes.”

Peri’s voice filled with anger as she watched the spell wrapping itself around Alina’s mind. The Alpha was tired and worn out. Her mind was weak and no longer able to pick fact from lie.

“OPEN YOUR DAMN EYES ALINA! YOU WILL NOT LET HER WIN!”

The stones around the she-wolf began to glow so bright they were nearly blinding and still Peri persisted. She yelled as tears streaked her face. This woman she had grown to love, considered a friend, and respected so much, was letting the evil win and that was not acceptable to Peri.

Vasile walked over behind Peri and placed his hand on the Fae’s shoulder. He pulled power into him, wolf magic, and pushed it into Peri along with his thoughts.