Alister slid from behind him and lowered him back to the bed.
A rattle at the sink echoed in the room and then Alister was back. Fingers wiped at the moisture along his temples.
“You’re growing weaker, Jonas. I don’t know if you’ll last until morning. I need to get you help.”
He knew it, and wasn’t sure where the hell the tears were coming from, but he knew he needed help. He knew his body was dying just like his wolf had already died. Letting this man walk out of his life without telling him how he felt wasn’t happening this time.
“Alister,” he breathed.
Alister bent over him so he didn’t need to turn his head. The man’s long, silky hair shrouded them, but the brilliant green eyes held an otherworldly glow.
“I love you.” He whispered the words that would link him forever to this man. Words that Alister could take with him and keep if he didn’t make it back in time.
“And I you.” Alister’s fingers trembled and brushed over his lips.
Jonas smiled against the soft tips, and then Alister lowered his head and replaced his fingers with his lips. He had enough strength to return the tender kiss before Alister pulled back.
“I will return.”
“I know.”
“Wait for me.”
“I will,” he promised.
But in truth, Jonas wasn’t sure if that was possible.
Alister
Morphing, he soared upward and found a hawk sailing in the wind above him.
“What are you doing here?”
“I got half way to Calgary and realized that Pethious would behead me if I left you unprotected.”
“What about the wolves?”
“Calm down, I called them.”
“Okay, let’s move,” he responded and darted faster across the sky.
He had only to reach the wizard’s nest located in Oregon to get the message to Pethious. Thank the powers that Cornelius’ fortress was not far over the border into Northern California.
“Hold!” A snarling growl met his ears.
“I hold for no one,” he snapped back and changed into human form.
“My Liege!” Both guards dropped to one knee with their heads bowed.
Alister sighed. “Rise and get me—”
“Alister!”
His head whipped around and he smiled.
Percy Fairchild stepped from the gate that allowed passage into the Oregon coven.
With a smile, the wizard bowed low and then extended his hand to them.
“Percy.” Alister smiled and gripped the man’s hand, as did Ian.
“What brings you two here?”
“Is Holden here?”
“Of course, come on.” Percy opened the gates and they both slipped through. “Guard this entrance with your lives,” the wizard told the others just inside the gate.
“Why are you on the gates?”
“Haven’t you heard about the war?”
“I have.” He gently clasped the man’s shoulder. “I just didn’t realize it had reached this far.”
“Holden isn’t taking any chances,” Percy said as they entered the main area of the estate-like home that housed a coven of twenty wizards. “I’m surprised that you are.”
“I’m not taking chances, I’m saving lives,” he murmured, stepping into the luxurious decor of the mansion.
“Alister?”
He spun and found Holden Roslyn descending the wide staircase. The man was poetry in motion. Elegant was one way to describe the way Holden moved, but it was the banked power that emanated from the wizard that drew the eyes. Robes draped over the wizard perfectly as if even the material didn’t dare mess with the creation that was Holden. Gold winked on the man’s gracefully long fingers.
Holden gave a sweeping bow.
“Holden.” Alister advanced, hands held out, and Holden grasped both of them and squeezed tightly for a extended moment.
“What is it?” Amber-colored eyes held his.
“I need your help.”
He explained the situation to Holden as they hurried through the estate.
“I need to get word to my father.”
Reaching the family wing, Holden tossed open the double doors and strode inside. He tugged jeans, boots, and a pullover from the closet and changed his clothing.
Alister stood watching with a smirk.
“What?” Holden frowned and then bent over to tie his dusty work boots.
“You couldn’t have just used magic?”
“No. I enjoy doing some things for myself.”
Alister huffed a laugh.
“You think that’s funny? When it comes down to having enough magic to get the job done, I’m always glad I didn’t use my strength on mundane things.”
Those words drew Alister up short. Holden was right. Not everyone was the son of a powerful wizard and had the strength to accomplish any task many times over without depleting said strength.
“I’m sorry.”
“About what? Forgetting that the rest of us have to work at it?”
“Yeah,” he said and glanced away, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck.
“Don’t worry about it.”
“No. Really, Holden. I’m sorry.”
His friend smirked and stepped closer to clasp him on the shoulder. “And that’s what makes you next in line to lead.”
“Someday maybe,” he murmured.
“When you’re older.”
“How much older do I need to be?”
“That’s for your father to decide.”
“Perhaps.”
Holden’s eyebrow rose. “Feeling your oats, are we?”
“Somewhat, I guess.” Still trying to digest the events of yesterday, Alister said nothing of what had happened in the forest. He’d cleared an eighth of a mile of thick, heavy trees in his anger and he’d done it without thinking. He still hadn’t been able to remove the spell from Jonas, though.
“Let’s go save your mate.”
“He’s not mine yet.”
“But he will be?”
“Yes.”
“Does he know who you are?”
“No. He doesn’t know that Pethious is my father and I’d like to keep it that way until he’s well.”
“My lips are sealed.” Holden grabbed up a backpack. “Ralston said he ran into you.”
Alister glanced around. “Yeah, that’s one word for it.”
“Go easy on him. He’s nursing a broken heart,” Holden said, stepping back out of the room.
“I try, but he stretches my last nerve with his persistence. Is he here?”
Holden frowned and glanced around as they descended the wide staircase. “He was. I don’t know where he’s at.”
“I know he’s your cousin, so I’ll try to be nicer.”
“Percy,” Holden called.
“Sir?”
“I need you to find Pethious. Give this location to him and tell him to come as fast as magically possible,” Holden told Percy and handed the wizard a map.
“Yes, sir.”
They walked outside as a group and stood in the sunshine.
“His last known location was at Cornelius’ fortress.” Alister pointed to the map Percy held.