RISE OF THE LYCANS - Mates and Bonds

Lukas

The moment I stepped out of that hotel room, I regretted leaving my mate. Unsure of the real reason my father wanted me present, I picked up the pace. The sooner I met with him, the sooner I could return to her.

With his elemental gifts, my father could easily kill a room full of Alphas. That was the real power of an elemental shifter. The ability to open a sinkhole beneath someone and bury them alive or extract the air from their lungs and watch them suffocate was the unseen danger they always underestimated. My father had inherited all four elements from his mother, and I had inherited them from him.

Most elemental shifters had the gift to control only one element, but they mastered it. Storm controlled air and could easily deprive someone of oxygen or strike them with a bolt of lightning. Rex manipulated fire and could send someone straight to hell. I pushed open the door to the conference room, expecting to find it full, only to find my father alone.

“Aren’t you meeting with the other Alphas again?” Rex asked.

“Not for another hour,” he replied.

“Where’s everyone?”

“Ranger and Zane are locked away with their mates. Wylder and Tymber are with your mother. Balthazar and Demeter will be down shortly for the meeting. Zander is running the security team at the hotel right now, and Caspian is doing a little research for me at the moment,” my father explained.

“And the graduation tonight?” I didn’t like the idea of telling Selena she’d have to miss the graduation ceremony she had worked so hard for, but if there was a threat to her safety, I’d keep her locked away.

“Mateo is at the institute now ensuring proper security. We’ll all be in attendance tonight,” he said.

“Xena and Killian are here?”

My father nodded. “Yes, but they’re meeting with the Prime Minister of France this afternoon.”

“And Kairo is with the others in Italy?”

“One can never be too careful,” he confirmed.

My father had always been extra careful with the lycan pups, worried someone might try to take one. Lycan venom in the wrong hands could be a disaster to the balance of the shifter world... Not that things had been very balanced because the Moon Goddess had left shifters mateless.

“So you don’t need us for the meeting?”

“I needed to have a word alone with you two,” he replied. “Without your sister.”

“Without Storm?” Somehow, I felt like I was missing something.

“She had another vision when we were upstairs,” Rex told him.

“Wait, what do you mean another? How long has she been having visions?”

“I’ve only seen it once before. It was just before she moved out of the mansion to the secluded cottage,” Rex explained. “But it happened on the flight here and twice in the last two days.”

“And you didn’t tell me?”

“You’ve been a little preoccupied the last week,” Rex smirked. “It happens when she’s awake, and her eyes turn white.”

“Rex’s visions happen when he’s asleep,” my father said. “When I’ve tried to wake him—”

“His eyes are black,” I nodded. “Her gift is from the light side of the moon…”

“And mine is from the dark side of the moon,” Rex added.

“There’s nothing wrong with the dark side of the moon,” my father insisted. “Lycans are born from the dark side of the moon. You and your sister were created together, so I think your visions might be two halves of a whole.”

“Yin and Yang,” Rex whispered.

“I don’t mean to sound impatient, but why is this important right now?” My beast was just as anxious as I was to get back to our mate.

“There are Paris monuments in my dreams,” Rex said. “I see the Louvre and Notre-Dame, and I’m sure I saw the mist at the Palace of Versailles.”

“And you think Storm is also seeing something connected to Paris?”

“Something is happening here,” my father replied. “I don’t know if the French packs are involved or why the mate bonds have been silent for over a decade, but something is wrong. We need answers before we go home.”

“You think Storm might know something?”

“If she does, she probably doesn’t know, or she’s in denial,” Rex said. “Every time I try to talk to her about visions, she shuts down.”

“She just slipped out of the hotel to visit Père Lachaise Cemetery,” my father told us. “Grandma convinced her to visit the grave of a seer who supposedly helps channel visions.”

“How do you know?”

“Flaym linked me,” he grinned. “They just got into a taxi, so you should get going. Follow them, but don’t interrupt them until after they’ve visited the seer’s grave.”

“But my mate—”

“Is with them,” he added. “You should get going so you’re not too far behind. See if you can work more out of your sister.”

I rushed past the warrior standing outside the Parisian Grand Hotel who was trying to look like hotel staff. He hailed a taxi before I could say a word.

“Père Lachaise,” Rex told the driver as he slipped into the taxi with me.

We arrived twenty minutes later and saw them walking into a flower shop on the corner. Rex and I slipped into a café to avoid being seen. I would have ordered a coffee to go, but this was Paris, and cafés were meant to be social spaces where one lingers. I placed an order for two espressos and some Madeleine cookies. We had just enough time to shoot the espresso at the bar and walk out with cookies in hand.

“I don’t usually have a sweet tooth, but these scallop-shaped cookies are good,” Rex muttered, shoving a second cookie in his mouth.

We entered the cemetery, followed our nose, and found them fairly easily. The wind was calm and gently blowing in our direction, which meant that I didn’t need to alter the wind to keep Storm from scenting us. The large mausoleum tombs and trees made it easy for us to remain unnoticed.

“Is that Chopin?” Rex asked, hearing the classical piano melody ringing in the distance.

“I think he’s buried here.”

We watched as Grandma fanned out cards and Storm kneeled at the grave of a seer who may have been gone, but not forgotten. Storm joined the others, and Flaym still held a second flower arrangement as they moved down the little cobbled path. I wondered who the flowers were for and if there was another clairvoyant we didn’t know about buried here. We slowly continued behind them until they came to a second stop.

“I can’t hear them,” Rex said through the mind link. “Should we get closer?”Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

I nodded in agreement, and we silently made our way closer to them. I wasn’t sure who Allen Kardec was, but this guy seemed to have a lot of visitors. Some wanted to rest in peace, but the Parisians buried at this cemetery had become immortal.

“Wow! Will you look at that!” Grandma told them. “If Jim Morrison’s grave is the most visited, this must be the most flowered!”

“Kardec was a spiritualist. He once said, after my death, if you come to see me, put your hand on the neck of the statue overlooking my grave, then make a wish. If your wish is granted, come back with flowers.” Selena explained, and she took the remaining flowers from Flaym.

“Flaym, help me up,” Grandma called to him. “I need to make a wish or two!”

“It’s not some kind of magic lamp.” My sister didn’t sound impressed or convinced despite the mass of flowers.

“We’ll see about that,” Grandma replied. Flaym walked around the tomb to help her reach the bust of Kardec sitting atop his grave. Knowing Grandma, she was probably wishing for a lottery jackpot or big casino win.

Selena knelt down and placed her purple and white flowers among the others. When she stood back up, I couldn’t help wrapping my arms around her and feeling her back pressed to me. I should be angry that she slipped out of the hotel without telling me, but all I wanted to do was kiss her everywhere.

“And what was your wish, Princess?”

She turned around to face me. “You followed me?”

“You snuck out.”

“You snitched,” Storm accused Flaym.

“What? No!” Flaym denied her accusation.

“Our taxi wasn’t followed, so how else would he know?” Storm fired back.

“Now, wait just a minute,” Grandma bellowed. “Do not argue in front of Mister Kardec’s grave. I just made my wish, and I don’t want him to feel disrespected. Let’s move it along,” she motioned for everyone to start walking. “Now I’ll have to bring back extra flowers when my wish is granted on account of all your jabbering.”

We looped around and moved in the direction of the main gate.

“Imagine living over there,” Rex said, pointing to the apartment buildings overlooking the cemetery. “It’s a beautiful cemetery. I’m just not sure I’d want to look out my window and see the immortal city every day.”

“At least your neighbors are quiet at night,” Flaym replied with a chuckle. “Hey, Grandma, what did you wish for?”

“Honey, If I tell you, it might not come true,” she said and stopped mid-step. Her head turned and she seemed to be looking for something. “Do you feel that?”

“Feel what?” Selena asked and came to a stop beside Grandma.

“The shift in energy,” she replied just as a crow started cawing.

“Check that out!” Flaym stretched his hand out. “You’re not the only Crow’s here today!” He laughed as another crow swooped down and joined the first.

“I’m getting a bad feeling,” Grandma said, lifting her arm and holding it up. “The hair on my arms is standing on end. It’s a bad sign, and I’ve got the willies. We need to go.”

“What the hell is that?” Storm said, looking out into the distance.

A cloaked figure floating on black mist stood beside a tree, watching us. The mist snaked out like tentacles along the grass and around the tombs. I wasn’t sure if it was male or female, but I knew it wasn’t friendly. We could all sense the dark energy emitting from it.

The temperature in the air suddenly dropped and then shot up as the air became charged. Storm was ready to zap the unwelcomed guest. I tucked Selena and Grandma behind me, preparing for an attack. Flaym flipped his zippo lighter open, and I heard it strike fire. He wasn’t elemental, but he was fireproof, which made him a great moving weapon. Rex drew a fireball from the lighter and hurled it off at the figure just as a crack of lightning struck the hallowed ground.

The mist remained, but the cloaked figure evaporated before the fireball or bolt made contact. Whatever it was, it was fast. People started moving closer, and the mist disappeared. The temperature shifted again, and the only thing left was a charred patch of grass and a smoldering tree.

I turned to find Grandma shoving something back into her purse and was thankful it wasn’t the pistol. Or, at least, I hoped it wasn’t the pistol. The last thing I needed was to be accidentally shot in the back by Grandma.

“I think she’s gone,” Rex said. “We should go… there are too many people gathering around.”

“How do you know it was a she?” Selena asked. “I thought I saw horns.”

“Just because you see horns doesn’t mean it’s male,” Storm replied. “Her lips were a deep shade of red and she was smiling.”

“Bacon,” Grandma said. “I need some lardoons or whatever they call it here. I need something greasy with extra fries and a chilled Chardonnay.”

“Grandma, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I just need something to calm myself,” she said.

“We’re still going to that chocolate soufflé place, aren’t we?” Flaym asked hopefully.

“That thing…” Storm started to say.

“Oh, I know. I’ve seen it before,” Grandma said as we exited the cemetery’s gates.

“Are you going to tell us about it?” Storm asked.

“No,” Grandma replied, turning to glare at Storm. “You’re not telling us about your visions, so it’s only fair I keep this to myself.”

“Grandma?” Rex tried.

“I don’t want to talk right now,” she shook her head and continued walking. “Come on, Flaym, let’s go find some food.”

“There’s a place near my apartment that has the best soufflés and delicious steak and fries,” Selena said. “I need to stop at the apartment after and get a few things.”

“We’ll need to take two taxis,” Rex replied.

Selena gave my brother the address and name of the restaurant, and Flaym hailed two taxis. Grandma took the first cab with Selena and me, and Flaym joined Rex and Storm. I had rarely seen my great-grandmother upset, but something was worrying her.Her hand rested inside her purse, and she sat quietly while the taxi traveled fifteen minutes to the Latin Quarter.

We arrived at the restaurant and requested a table for six. Since it was a midday meal, a reservation wasn’t required. It was a beautiful day in Paris, which meant most people were seated outside. Selena requested the quiet corner at the back of the restaurant to give us some privacy, and we were seated immediately. I pulled her chair closer to mine and wrapped an arm around her, needing to feel her close. Selena casually placed her hand on my thigh, but I knew there was nothing casual about it. She was letting all the females know that I was hers, and my beast was pleased.

“It’s interesting how the seats are set up outside,” Flaym said as he took a seat. “Both chairs are side-by-side instead of facing each other.”

“People-watching is a favorite pastime here as you relax at a café,” Selena explained. “Having the seats side-by-side also leaves a little room on the sidewalk for people to walk past.”

We placed our drink order, and Grandma was first to get her glass of chilled Chardonnay. She didn’t shift anymore, and I wondered if alcohol had any impact on elders. The waitress asked for our order, and everyone selected the steak frites. Flaym ordered a few classic Parisian extras, which included olive tapenade, frog legs, beef marrow, asparagus, and chocolate soufflés for dessert.

“Storm?” I gave my sister an expectant look.

“I started seeing the same black mist that Rex had been seeing for years and dismissed it. I thought it was a figment of my imagination, or a twin connection… or something,” she said and reached for her glass of water. “A few months ago, I started seeing monuments in Paris, just as Rex has. Sometimes I feel like I’ve seen something important, but I can’t remember it.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Rex asked.

“Because I don’t want this,” she said. “It leaves me exhausted and weak. Your visions happen when you’re asleep, but mine drain me in the middle of the day, and I have no control over them.”

It suddenly hit me. “This is why you moved to the cottage!”

“You know how dad gets,” she replied. “I knew Hazel had cast a powerful spell around the territory, so the cottage was safe. He wasn’t going to say no if I was still in pack territory, and I didn’t want anyone to see me after a vision and think I was weak. I’ve been working on trying to control it.”

“Control it or block it out?” Grandma asked.

“Both,” Storm reluctantly admitted as the food started arriving. The server placed all of the starters Flaym had ordered in the center of the table.

“Is that a fried chicken wing?” Grandma asked and reached for a frog leg.

“Which tarot card did you get?” Flaym asked.

“Do they have buffalo sauce for these fancy little wings?” Grandma continued as she bit into a leg.

Storm took a deep breath and sighed. “I got the moon card. I saw the mist, dead bodies, a painting of a naked man, a fancy chandelier, and a full moon… except the full moon was melting like wax,” Storm shook her head.

“And now we have that creature in the cemetery,” Selena said.

“You think it will stay in the cemetery?” Flaym asked. “Could that have been the Russian Heiress?”

“Nothing makes sense,” Storm shook her head in frustration.

“It makes sense to me,” Grandma said. “I’ve seen demons before.”