Chapter 77

Persephone shot up in bed, screaming, “NO, Tristan, stop!” She was covered in a cold sweat as she looked around the room. She was in a small room with a minimum about of space. Persephone exited the bed and raced to the door, but an invisible barrier stopped her. She pounded on the door. “Please, I need to talk with Willemina. It’s urgent!”

Persephone’s breathing was erratic, and her heart pounding as she heard the locks on the door. She stepped away from the entrance to give them space.

The older woman slowly entered the doorway, placing her cane before her. “What do you want, Persephone?” Willemina asked.

Persephone was relieved to see the older woman. “I had a dream or a vision. My son has done something terrible, and we must warn the other factions.”

Willemina sighed. She extended her hand out to Persephone to allow her to see what Persephone had dreamed. Persephone slowly laid her hand on top of the older woman’s. They both closed their eyes as she searched through Persephone’s mind. Her brows furrowed, and then sucked in a breath as she saw the image Persephone was talking about.

Willemina opened her eyes and narrowed them at Persephone. “How would he know about this?”

Persephone shook her head. “I don’t know; I didn’t tell him anything. Tristan hasn’t been acting like himself lately. He took supplements to control his rage, but I think he stopped. If the vision is true and he opened Merga’s tomb, then all factions will be doomed.”

“I must warn Madeline and get into contact with the council.”

Persephone reached out and grabbed the woman’s arm. “Please, let me help. I know I’ve made a mess of things. But if my son is truly responsible for waking her, I have to do something to fix this.”

“I’m sorry. You’ve made your bed, and now you must lie in it. The coven council has decided on your punishment. You will be stripped of your powers and live the rest of your days as a normal human,” Willemina confirmed before walking away from her.

“Wait, what about my son?” Persephone yelled out.

***

Deak waited as everyone followed Vita out of the cell room. He slipped the key from one of the guards as he had passed them earlier. He wanted to have a private conversation with Tristan.

Tristan laughed as he watched Deak move across the room toward his cell. “Well, if it isn’t the lovesick little dog.”

Deak shook his head, “I’m only a man protecting the woman he loves. You without your magic, and me in my human form.”

Tristan looked down at the manacles that were bound to his wrists. “You know not all magic is done through the hands,” he explained as he pointed at his head.

Deak nodded in understanding. “So, that’s how you messed with small girl’s dream?”

“I’m only the messenger for what’s coming,” Tristan told him as he laughed with malice.

Deak was done listening to him and was ready to hurt him. Deak walked over and unlocked the cell door. Once he was in, he closed the door behind him.

Tristan started to jump around in excitement. “I hope you told Vita your final goodbyes.”

“Only one person will be walking out of this cell today,” Deak threatened.

“Then let the beating begin.”

Deak smirked as they started to swing.

***

Vita felt a weird pull in her system. Something didn’t feel right. She looked around and didn’t see Deak anywhere. Vita’s heart dropped down into the pit of her stomach.

“Gretchen, take them to Ruby’s and tell her what Tristan told us. I’ve got to go back and get Deak.”

Vita turned to make her way back to the cell. Amanda stopped her. “Be careful,” she told Vita before she pulled her into a hug. Vita hugged her back quickly and then returned, running toward the cell. Vita’s heart raced as she descended the stairs toward the cells. Please let him be okay, she prayed to herself.

She turned the corner and yelled, “Deak!”

***

Madeline pulled open the door before Amanda, and the rest reached it.

“I’ve already heard what Tristan has done. Was there anything else that he said?” she asked with eagerness.

Madeline stepped back as she let everyone into Ruby’s house.

“Tristan thinks I hold the power that Merga once wielded,” Amanda disclosed.

Madeline sucked her lips in a tight line.

“Could that be true?” Hudson asked as he wrapped his arms around his mate.

Madeline shook her head. “I’m not sure. I will say that Amanda is very powerful. Not every day can a witch do what she did during the battle. But Amanda is rare; that’s what makes her special.”

“Deak has a wolf and magic; what makes his situation different from mine?” Amanda asked.

“Deak’s situation is different because he was a Lycan. Quite a few Lycans are born with a special skill or power. Deak’s Lycan was stronger than the magic. His mother died before teaching him how to deal with both.”

“So what do we need to do?” Amanda asked.

“We need to go to the faction council. There we will find the answers that we need,” Madeline answered. “We need to leave as soon as possible.”

“No, we can’t,” Hudson said aloud.

Everyone turned to look at him.

Hudson turned Amanda around. “I’m not going anywhere until we are fully mated and go through the mating ceremony. I don’t want to take the risk and lose you.”

Amanda smiled as she cupped his face with her hand. “I agree. I don’t want us to wait any longer.”

***

Deak was on top of Tristan; his eyes were yellow as his wolf Malakai skirted on the surface. He told his wolf to back off and that this was his fight. But the Lycan wanted another shot at the creep that hurt their mate.

Deak felt a quiver before the scent of his mate hit his nose; he was distracted for just a moment when he looked up and saw Vita running toward the cell. Deak felt something slap against his arm and heard Tristan whisper some chant before feeling a pang in his chest. Deak looked down at the bracelet on his wrist and a laughing Tristan beneath him.

“If I can’t have her, you certainly can’t either.” Tristan threatened.

Deak was filled with rage as he wrapped his hands around Tristan’s head and twisted till he heard a pop. Deak looked up at Vita; her eyes were filled with fear and worry. Deak’s chest hurt; the look on Vita’s face said how she felt toward him. Deak slowly got up from the floor and opened the cell door. Vita’s eyes filled with tears. He wanted to ask her who her tears were for, him or Tristan. Deak started to make his way toward the stairs.

“Deak?” Vita called out to him.

“I need to be alone right now,” he told her before walking up the stairs and leaving her all alone.