Rise of the Phoenix (Return To Avalore #2) (14 page)

“You’ve no idea.”
She fought to keep from grinning. “Now your turn, Drake.”

The muscle in his jaw ticked. For a moment, she didn’t think he would give in, but then he glanced at Evan, shrugged and released the energy back into the tunnel.

She would bet that not one of the men was even aware that they had released the dark power they’d held away from the cave where mother and babe rested. All three more protective of the infant than they would ever admit.

Three times, she had to try before Evan and Drake allowed her past. “Come, Argram. Miga was wonderful, and your son is perfect. Come meet him.”

Walking past the men, she entered the cave, not waiting for any of them to follow. To her surprise, Evan and Drake stayed behind, allowing the new family some time together.

The large Erritrol fell to his knees next to his mate. Miga wore the smile of a mother already smitten as she reached for Argram’s hand. The infant stared up at its father, deep intelligence shining from its dark brown eyes.

Argram’s gaze snapped to Brienne, wonder shining bright. “His eyes. They’re brown.”

She nodded, blinking back tears at the tender sight. “Yes, I’d noticed. He’s more than four hours old already, and his eyes are still brown.”

“How is that possible?” He looked at his son, reaching a finger toward him, stopping short as though afraid to hurt the little bundle snuggled against its mother.

“I think it has to do with me being so close. Being so young, he may be more susceptible to my energy.”

“Have you tried infusing him with light?” Argram’s gravelly tone hinted at emotions so close to the surface, yet unable to break free.

“No. What if it hurts him?” She bit at her bottom lip. She really didn’t want to try. Not on an infant after she’d seen the pain Wesken had been in when he had partially shifted.

He looked at his mate then down to his son again. “Until we know more, it’s best to wait.” He stood, turning his full attention back to Brienne. “Bring your men in. There is much we need to discuss.”

Evan waited until the two women had left the cave for the bathing chamber with the babe and were out of earshot. “I understand you were concerned for your mate and child, but be warned, if you threaten my mate again, even unwittingly, I will not hesitate to defend her.”

Argram released his clenched fists and nodded. “Understood. I would never harm Brienne. You can be certain of that.
He
is to be trusted?” He nodded toward Drake. “We have every reason not to trust your people.”

The moment the words were spoken, a low growl rumbled from Drake. “Have you forgotten the past? Our last queen’s death was at the hands of
your
people. Our current queen,
my mate
, has been hunted since birth.”

Drake took a menacing step toward Argram, and Evan moved to stand between them. There was no point in waging war with Brienne’s pack until they knew what they were dealing with. “We all know what happened. Rehashing it now is fruitless. There’s more going on than we have suspected, Drake. I have seen things with my own eyes to raise questions we hadn’t before considered. If we want long-term safety for Rhiannon, we may need to join forces with the New Order of Erritrols.”

“How can we trust that these creatures aren’t trying a new ploy to get to her?” Drake’s eyes narrowed as he watched the beast for a reaction. “They still have the scymin. For all we know, they’re marching on Avalore as we stand here arguing their merits.”

“Brienne trusts them.” The more time Evan spent with her, the less he believed her a traitor. Nothing in her energy warned of ill intent. The pack had not only worked together, but had fought to protect the women, including Brienne, which was why he hadn’t acted upon the phoenix’s desire to eliminate the threat to its mate in the tunnel. The evil creatures he had thought them for so long wouldn’t have cared one way or the other for anything but themselves.

A muscle in Drake’s jaw ticked before he said, “I don’t wish to disrespect your mate, but—”

“Then don’t,” Evan snapped. “She’s not a fool. Let’s hear what they have to say and make our decision once we have all the facts.”

His desire to help his mate was driving him, but it was more than that. Evan needed answers. The legends he had heard as a child did not tell the story of monsters, but of a peaceful coexistence between their people and the shape shifters. The Elders could prove to be a good source of information, as long as their version of history wasn’t jaded by the past and their need to protect Avalore.

Drake sighed. “Okay, tell me what you know.”

“I’d rather get your unbiased opinion.” He turned toward the big Erritrol. “Argram, we’d like to hear about your history and the curse.” It would take more than a few words for Drake to trust the beast, but Evan had been in battle with it and seen the honor with which it lived and protected its pack. Not to mention the fact that he had saved Evan’s life just before he was captured. In the end, they had both suffered the same fate in order to keep Brienne out of the hands of the monsters that day.

Argram looked at Drake, and then with the firm set of his jaw gave a curt nod. “I’ll share what I know, but it’s been a long-held belief that not all information has been handed down to the younger generations, to the New Order.” His gaze slipped past Evan to the empty cavern entrance.

“I’ll call them back once we’ve talked. Brienne wants us to trust you and listen to what you have to say without interruption. I haven’t had the opportunity to thank you for saving my life, Argram. I’d like to do so now.”

Drake didn’t join him at the center of the cave, but rather positioned himself closer to the entrance, ready to intercept the beast should it make a move toward the women. For someone who thought Brienne suspect, Evan found it amusing to see the protective spot Drake had chosen.

“Argram saved me from a lethal blast on the day I was captured. Brienne was in danger and we both came to her aid.” When Drake opened his mouth to ask questions, Evan raised his hand. “For now, let’s get the information we seek and formulate a plan. The rest will wait.”

Argram grunted then dipped his head, acknowledging Evan before turning to Drake. “The dark transformation occurred several centuries ago. Greed and malice plagued our people. Self-destructive behavior shook the very foundations of packs all across our lands.” Argram glanced toward the entrance his mate had gone through before speaking again. “One day, Ragi, a strong pack Alpha, went on a hunt, leaving his den vulnerable. He was strong and led his men in the old ways with honor and integrity. He thought the pack safe. When they returned, a neighboring den had come and pillaged the settlement. The village was in ruins. The few men left to protect the women and cubs were said to have been outnumbered twenty to one and didn’t stand a chance against the dark ones. They murdered the men then attacked the women and children. Ragi’s mate was alive when he found her. They had brutalized her and left her for dead for him to find. She didn’t survive the night, and Ragi lost all control. In his grief, he took his hunters to seek revenge.”

When neither Avalorian spoke, the beast continued. “The Alpha of the neighboring den was still covered in blood when they found him. He gloated and thought to have the other males submit, but he had underestimated their strength and their grief. Ragi showed no mercy. They slaughtered the entire den, including the leader.”

“His pack was destroyed and he exacted vengeance. What does any of that have to do with Avalore?” Evan asked.

“No one was safe from Ragi’s unstoppable grief and fury. After a time, his own remaining packmates would have nothing to do with him. He found himself in the sacred gardens looking to the Goddess to release his pain, but when her priestess came to offer aid, he turned on her and would have killed her had the Goddess not intervened.”

Drake had yet to speak, but he leaned forward, listening to every word.

“I assume this is where the curse comes into play?” Evan urged the beast to continue.

Argram nodded. “The Goddess was enraged and placed the curse upon our people. The stories vary from den to den, from generation to generation, but we are told Ragi’s body underwent a shift. Only instead of taking his natural form, the beast emerged. When he wasn’t able to revert to his un-shifted form, he went to the Ancients for aid. Knowing his past transgressions, they turned him away. From that day on, when one of our people attempted to shift to their animal form, they turned into the beast you see today. They were unable to return to their humanoid selves, incapable of feeling lighter emotions. Most, to this day, do not feel joy, love, or simple happiness. It’s a bleak existence.”

“And what does it have to do with us?” Drake stood and began pacing.

“As I said, most feel nothing but the dark emotions, but some can catch glimpses of joy. It started with the females, but now some of the men experience it as well. We have tried to break the curse for decades, but something was missing. The day I found Brienne alone and afraid in the caves, something inside me unlocked.”

Evan’s fists clenched. She should never have been in the Dark Lands alone or afraid. “Go on.” He wouldn’t lay false guilt on the Erritrol’s shoulders. The blame was his and his alone.

“When I returned to my pack and looked at my mate, I didn’t need to hear her words of love for me. I felt them.
Felt
them. For the first time, I knew in my soul that what we had was real and strong. The moment lasted only seconds, but it was real. I will always be grateful for the gift she has given my mate and I. Though fleeting, that emotion was something to strive for. I want the same for my pack and my people.”

Evan suppressed his urge to growl. “She shared her energy with the pack?”

Something akin to annoyance flashed in the big beast’s eyes. “She’s been nothing but honorable since joining our pack,” Argram said. “None of the changes lasted, but they come more often and stronger each time. I have her to thank for that.”

Evan breathed deeply. “I didn’t mean to insinuate otherwise.” He ran his fingers through his hair.

“So, you were shape shifters prior to the curse?” Drake interrupted, effectively quieting the rising tension.

“Yes.” Argram shifted on his feet, his ears perked up and he whipped his head toward the tunnel.

Evan caught Drake’s gaze. “What is your natural form, Argram?”

“The wolves of the human lands are small and have no shifting ability, but they most resemble our true animal form. Un-shifted, we are said to be much like you are, only with limited energy manipulation abilities.” He took a step closer, not taking his eyes off the darkened tunnel.

“Do you think this is real? Brienne could have told them the legends.”
Drake’s eyes narrowed.

He had to fight the urge to rush to her defense. A short while ago, he himself had doubted her loyalty and motives.
“If you wish to question my mate, do so. Just know I will not tolerate her being abused or disrespected, even by you.”

“So you think Brienne is the key to breaking this curse?” Drake turned his attention back on the Erritrol.

“All I know is that since she’s been with our pack, we’ve seen changes. Wesken started to transform today, but it was too painful even for one as strong as he.” He took another step forward.

“What kind of—”

Argram’s sudden growl had both men turning toward the entrance at once. “Something is not right. Call the women back.”

“Come to the main chamber.”
Evan didn’t question the Erritrol. Its raised hackles were warning enough. He would be a fool not to pay attention.

“We’re already on our way. Miga says there’s trouble.”
Brienne’s tone remained calm.
“I don’t feel anything, do you?”

Before he could respond, both women rushed into the cave. Miga, holding her sleeping son close to her chest, went to stand next to her mate.

“What’s going on?” Evan approached the beast. With the women in their presence again, the deep rumbling in Argram’s chest quieted, but his shoulders squared and he planted his feet further apart as, getting ready for an attack. Dark energy swarmed into the cavern, pooling around him as he waited for the threat to show itself.

“Can you not hear it?” Argram snarled. “It’s the screeching sound of the Grondas as they seek their prey.”

The only sound he heard was Brienne’s soft gasp next to him. Her fair complexion paled, and her fingers trembled when he took her hand.
“I won’t let the Grondas come anywhere near you.”

Drake took the other side. “Evan, stay and protect the women. Argram and I can take care of the threat.”

Argram shook his head. “No. We must leave this place. The Grondas are forest creatures. They dwell in the low-lying areas surrounding the mountain. If they are up at this altitude, they have not come on their own. It is not safe to remain.”

As though only just realizing that she had been holding his hand with a grip rivalling one of his men, Brienne dropped it and went to the beast’s side. “How? How did they find us so quickly?”

Jaw aching with the force of his teeth grinding, Evan released her hand. She should be looking to him for comfort, not her packmate. He couldn’t blame her. He was her mate, but he hadn’t been there for her, and the Erritrol had.