I didn’t know if he meant Lyric or me, but I did as he said. “Where are you guys?”
Kellen entered his address into the GPS, watching the dashboard screen. “We’re sitting outside your place. Y’all just sort of disappeared on us. We thought maybe you were taking her around the back of the property and would meet us around the front. What’s going on?” Rowan kept his tone level.
“We were about a half a mile from my turn off when some heavy fog came in. I had my eyes peeled for the road. I couldn’t see shit. I’m at a crawl, man, but my wolf is itching to get out. The only reason I ain’t is cause this rig is the safest place for Laikyn with me in it.” Kellen reached for my hand.
“I’m going to call up her doctor friends. This doesn’t sound natural. What did he say about that vamp across the hall?” Rowan asked.
My body threatened to shake apart. Could vampires control the weather? “I don’t know who he was. To my knowledge, I never even met him,” I swore.
“Calm down, Lake. We will figure this out. I’m going to call the twins on my phone while I keep you on this line.” Kellen squeezed my hand.
I rattled off Damien’s number, praying he’d answer an unknown call. The seconds that passed seemed like hours.
“Hello, Wolfie. What’s going on?” Damien’s smug voice rang loud and clear.
“I will shove my wolf paw up your ass, spikey,” Rowan growled.
Damien laughed. “Not my thing. How about you tell me why you’re calling me?”
“Damien, it’s me, Laikyn. Kellen and I were driving when fog rolled in so thick that we couldn’t see. It separated us from Rowan and Lyric, and it’s not normal fog, that much I can tell you.” I hurried to say before Rowan and Damien got into a pissing contest.
The sound of my ex-partner’s voice whispering had me on edge. Kellen continued driving, although I wasn’t sure where we were going. According to the GPS, we were about three miles from the road we should have taken.
“I know this is going to sound strange, and your mate is not going to like it, but you will need to listen and allow me to take over, Lake. Kellen, if you can hear me, which I’m sure you can, I am going to follow the path that is open through this call and find you and Laikyn. I would use you, but I fear you are too strong, and the struggle too great. What I’m saying is I can be there through Laikyn. She will still be there, but I can help. I will be able to see what is creating the fog and possibly counteract the spell. Once it is done, I will retreat and leave your mate unharmed.”
I looked at Kellen, the automatic no written on his gorgeous face. I put my fingers over his mouth, then motioned to the fog that kept getting thicker by the moment. “If we continue, we could drive off a cliff.”
“Do it, Damien. However, if you harm one hair on her, I will hunt you down, and you’ll pray for death before I’m done with you.”
“I don’t doubt that for a moment, Alpha. Now, Laikyn, I need you to open your mind and relax as best you can,” Damien murmured.
I closed my eyes, concentrating on breathing in and out. I even brought up a mental picture of Damien and his smirking face. A flood of power filled me, making me shrink into a ball at the back of my mind.
“Kellen, I think Damien is in my mind or whatever.”
“Yes, Mon Chaton. You’re very brave. Stay calm, and we will get out of here.” I felt a ghost touch, like his fingers stroking down my cheek.
“Damn, I hate taking over a woman’s body. Alright, let’s see what we’ve got here. P.S. Keep the line open cause baby bro is watching my body and listening in, in case I need assistance.” Damien spoke through my body, sounding like himself.
Chapter Six
Iwasn’t normally one to freak out. When I heard a man’s voice come out of my mate, it nearly did it for me. “Alright, do your thing and make it quick.” I didn’t care that I sounded ungrateful. The fact that Laikyn was not present in the front of her mind was not something my wolf or I liked.
“This is definitely the work of a vamp, and not a young one either. I can’t sense his presence, which means he is doing this from afar. Damn! Let me focus. You need to stop the vehicle, though. There is a drop-off around the corner, and I’m pretty sure you’re not seeing it on the GPS thing properly, but I can see it.” Damien shoved the image into my mind. The invasion was another thing I wasn’t happy with. I pulled to a stop, immediately noticing the swirling mass of smoke surrounding us.
“Do your magic quick.”
Laikyn’s hands came up, moving in a fast pattern. I looked back at the road, then at her hands. Minutes ticked by as silence reigned over us. My wolf rose to the front of my mind, needing to protect our mate. I wanted to reach out on our path and connect with her, wishing I’d claimed her properly, but promised myself we’d correct that oversight when this was over.
The grey, smoke-like fog began to recede. Almost looking like tendrils of ropes, or ghostly fingers reaching for us, until finally the road was clearly visible. Laikyn’s hands dropped, but the eyes staring out were the black orbs of Damien.
“It is done. Lucas and I will search for him in Kansas City, but I fear he is on the hunt for you and Laikyn. Somehow, he has caught her scent, the same as my brother and me. The big difference is that we have honor. This being doesn’t. He was testing you both. I can arm you, so you will be able to sense when he is near, but you will need to trust me.” Damien turned to stare at me through Laikyn.
Knowing the immediate threat was gone, I reached for my mate in the back of her mind, wanting to reassure us both that we were indeed fine. She appeared calm, but I sensed she wasn’t at all. I nodded. “What do you need to do?” I wasn’t going to agree to anything without being informed.
An image was thrust into my mind. I allowed the invasion. The powerful hybrid filled me with more knowledge, which I knew Laikyn was gaining as well. Being able to sense an enemy was a must. We were the predator. He created a link with Damien, the thin tie back to the other being, one only I would know about, until the time came that I’d need it. I had a feeling we would need it in the coming battle.
“Magic such as we use is passed from generation to generation. My family is old, and from what I just undid within you, I can attest that we are far older than he is. However, that doesn’t make him less dangerous. Actually, it makes him unstable. For a vampire to be so focused on a female to such an extent is very dangerous. Had she been marked, I’m sure he’d have left her alone. But that is no longer something he cares about. Even if you marked her as yours, he would think she was open game. Meaning, he will take what he felt was his first.”
