Love and Deception

Chapter Ten

Noah

He hoped he hadn’t gotten her in trouble. Not that he felt anything besides a faint glimmer of fear then it was eclipsed by a healthy level of satisfaction. One he couldn’t help but smirk at. Seeing the cause of his mate’s distress had mollified his wolf somewhat. For a sorcerer he was unimpressive. Even Wade had more innate dominance than that pompous ass. Not that Noah would ever tell Wade of course. He did have some sort of hold on Carlie however. One that extended beyond a debt. He had resolved to discover the nature of it and dissolve it once he’d gotten his lust fogged brain under control. Damn woman. She’d done it on purpose. Maybe not to distract him from tearing out her boss’ throat but to make him want her. Didn’t she know she didn’t have to try? She could put on a damned potato sack for all he cared and he’d still want her with the same intensity he always had. He shifted in his seat slightly and heard a loud sigh. “Are you even listening to me?” Noah turned his head to gaze at a very frustrated sorcerer.

“No.” Another loud sigh and a barely stifled giggle from Elizabeth.

“This is important Noah. I understand there are other things you would rather be doing and I am going as quickly as I can.” This time the sigh was Noah’s.

“Fine.”

“As I was saying there is no doubt that Lucius is heavily involved in the black arts.”

“Isn’t that applicable to all sorcerers?” Wade stiffened at Noah’s remark which was at least 80% honest curiosity. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then continued in the patient tones one often hears used on children.

“No. While we are all connected on a certain level to the darker impulses we do not all give in to them. And there are varying degrees of falling prey to that temptation. Lucius, from what I have seen, has been almost completely swallowed by the dark.”

“I’m sure that is something even my tactless brother can understand.” Elizabeth chimed in. While her tone was dry there was…something else. Something that made Noah clench his jaw against another unwise retort before he offended Wade even more. He was helping after all. Not that Noah couldn’t have done it on his own, but he would concede that for the moment Wade’s way was better. Even Noah’s father had a moment of unease about sorcerers. Noah decided that a nod would be well placed and attempted to make it less regal than he wanted. Wade understood who was alpha here, there really wasn’t cause to rub his face in it.

“As I was saying, Lucuis’ dark magic is hard to predict and even harder to fully gauge the strength of.” He resumed his lecture with the same tone and expression he had started with. The ability was admirable even to a wolf. “Now, you’re not going to like this. But try to keep in mind I’m on your side and not the cause of the problem.” Noah felt his eyes narrow as all of his attention zeroed in on the sorcerer seated across from him. In his peripheral he caught sight of Elizabeth moving to place herself between them. With careful eyes glued to Noah’s face Wade started speaking again. “I can’t be certain but I’m pretty sure that whatever tie that binds Lucius to Carlie is metaphysical, not unlike your mate bond.”

“Excuse me?” The wolf ascended in the blink of an eye and put some serious consideration into eating Wade.

“Wade isn’t saying that Lucius is mated to Carlie. He’s just saying the link is similar.” Elizabeth used her best coaxing voice on Noah while simultaneously glaring at Wade. “Really? There was no other way to say that?”

“That was the other way.” The sorcerer responded with a sigh. “A mating bond is something that cannot be duplicated, no matter how much one might wish to. It is a phenomenon applicable only to shifters and vampires. However,” he raised a hand before the wolf got too relaxed, “some of the symptoms can be.”

“Such as?” Symptoms. Like being mated was a disease of some kind. Perhaps mating was only capable by shifters and vampires because they were able to commit to an eternity and humans weren’t.

“Mind you I only know about these things because your sister was gracious enough to explain some of the mating process to me but I believe that with enough power a link could be forged that would simulate the telepathic connection. And I know for sure that a link can be created between two beings that bind their life spans together.” Noah pursed his lips as the wolf bristled.

“So if I kill him it’ll kill her?”

“It’s possible. Again, I can’t be sure but if it were me…” He let the sentence trail off suggestively. Noah ground his teeth and fumed. Well there went that plan. He’d lived through Carlie’s death once. And once had been more than enough for him.

“Is there a way to break the link that doesn’t involve her dying?” Wade leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest.

“I’m not sure. A spell like that would require each party to have an object of each other’s in their belongings. Something deeply personal to provide a physical manifestation for the essence to anchor to.” Noah tried to look like he understood but even Elizabeth’s eyes had glazed over. Wade looked from one of them to the other and then smothered the quirk of his lips. “Basically if we find whatever it is of hers that he has I might be able to work on it.”

“Well she works for him. I’m sure he has a lot of her things.”

“This isn’t like a sock or a piece of jewelry. To bind someone’s life to yours you have to have something of theirs that contains enough of their life to sustain the bond.”

“Like what?”

“Well…the darker the sorcerer the darker the object.” Noah raised a brow at Wade’s evasiveness.

“Tell me what I’m looking for so I can find it. I promise not to take it out on you.” Noah even raised a hand in the scout’s honor salute. Wade looked pretty doubtful and the smirk on Elizabeth’s face was downright smug.

“Elizabeth mentioned Carlie had spent some time in the hospital before she was aware of being a werewolf?” Noah nodded. Wade’s lips thinned and he visibly backed away. “Then I would look for skin, bone, or blood. Or any combination of the three.” Noah’s muscles immediately clamped onto his bones to keep the wolf from surging across the table. The idea of someone in possession of his mate’s flesh and bone was beyond unacceptable. It took him several moments to get the raging beast back under control and it felt like coming out of a deep sleep. Wade had disappeared and Elizabeth was standing against the far wall. The table and chairs had been moved and he was standing. He looked down, confused by the change, when he noticed the kindling around his feet. Whoops.

“Noah?” Elizabeth asked.

“Sorry.” She smiled and waved it off.

“So when do we leave?”

“You aren’t coming.” She glared at him.

“Carlie is just a much a part of my life….” He was beside in her in a moment with his hand over her mouth. Sometimes it was the only way to stop the tirade.

“And that is why I need you to watch over her and Luca at the hospital. If something happens and I get caught who do you think he’s going to come for?” She stilled and looked contemplative. When he was sure she wasn’t going to launch into another rant he removed his hand and straightened.

“You can’t go alone.”

“I’m not.” He turned to look in the entryway where Wade was trying to be unobtrusive. “Feel like doing some recon?”

Carlie

There was an unmistakable spring in her step this morning. Despite being in a hospital and despite knowing that she was there to visit her son. Somehow Noah would fix it. She smiled at the nurses as she walked past to Luca’ room. Her faith in her mate was unshakable. Soon she would be free of Lucius. Then Noah, Luca, and she would all move to a house somewhere. Maybe the suburbs. She smiled even broader at the idea of Noah in a suburban home with a picket fence and a swing in the yard. Growling at the neighbors and maybe even the postman. Her reverie came to an abrupt halt as she entered Luca’ room and nearly collided with the tall white coat that was taking up most of the extra space. “Oh I’m sorry I didn’t see….” He turned around at her voice and his bright blue eyes lightened to a pale ice color.

“Hello Caroline.” His voice was steady and soft. He was obviously the uncle but he didn’t share that much of a resemblance. Sure his hair was brown and he was certainly tall. But his face had smoother lines and softer cheekbones. And he displayed none of the overt dominance that seemed to run rampant through the rest of the family. Crap…what had Noah said his name was?

“It’s Alex. And I’m adopted, hence the lack of familial similarities.” Her eyes nearly popped out of her head. “Yes I’m also telepathic. I didn’t mean to intrude. I’ve been trying to use my gift to reach the boy and subsequently wasn’t prepared for an interruption.”

“Oh.” Not entirely a graceful response sure but that was a lot of information all at once. He was definitely a wolf. Her nose told her that much. But how was he so calm?

“I see that your current specialist is theorizing some genetic mutation affecting metabolic rates?”

“That’s what they said though I have no idea what that really means.”

“Well to them it means they don’t know. To me it means the fact that he was conceived while you were still human could possibly explain a metabolic inconsistency.”

“There have never been any other cases of this happening before?” He shrugged absently while still reading the small novel worth of papers attached to Luca’ chart.

“I’m sure there have however modern medical science has advanced in leaps and bounds within the last twenty or so years. It’s possible that this situation arose and it either worked itself out or the child in question died.” Carlie’s heart constricted in a painful spasm and she felt her teeth peeling back off her lips in preparation for a growl. “But with all of this new technology we finally have a chance to actually study our own kind on a genetic level. Perhaps even prevent situations like this from arising again.”

“Luca may have been conceived while I was human but I was a wolf when he was born. And nothing was ever wrong with him beforehand. Don’t you think something that serious would have presented symptoms earlier?” Alex pursed his lips as he thought.

“Generally speaking yes I would be inclined to agree with you. Werewolf genetics are something that very little is known about however so it’s possible something wasn’t triggered until he reached a certain age or hit a certain growth marker. Still… it does seem unlikely that nothing would have presented itself. He was never sick before this?”

“Not even a cough. I worried in the beginning but Lucius assured me that werewolves don’t get sick.” Now it was her turn to shrug though hers felt more helpless.

“Ah, yes. This Lucius is a sorcerer yes?” She nodded. “I understand my niece and nephew are also consorting with one?” Another nod. “Has he been to this room yet?”

“No. Why?”

“If Luca’ affliction is magical in nature I may not be able to smell it. I admit my only experience with the spell caster community comes in the form of a shaman. That is most definitely not any of the scents here.”

“Lucius wouldn’t do that.” The look he turned on her was steady and patient. And downright irritating. “He wouldn’t. Look he may not be the best guy in the world but there are lines you don’t cross. That is one of them. If I ever found out about it happening I’d kill him and he knows it. Whatever the reason it wouldn’t be worth the risk.”

“Unless he has a back up plan in place for that eventuality. Or perhaps this is back up plan.” He waved a hand gesturing to her comatose four year old.

“Back up plan for what?”

“Your rebellion. Most of the supernatural community would covet a prize like a werewolf under their command and control. Yet, as a species, we are inherently difficult to entice or subvert into such a lifestyle. We are pack and family oriented. If Lucius was somehow able to convince you to work for him, by regular means or magic, then if he was intelligent he would create a back up plan to ensure your continued service. Having the only means to cure your infirm child is very potent incentive.” Carlie swallowed hard and sat down on Luca’ bed. Could Lucius do something like that? Absolutely. But would he? She had never given him any indication that she wasn’t loyal. Sure she’d thought about murdering him many, many times but she’d never even moved a hair towards that direction. Unless he knew about Noah. It was the only reason she could think of that might prompt that level of dramatic action.

“It sounds like it makes sense. But I don’t see why he would think he needed to resort to such an extreme.” Alex offered a slight shrug as his eyes ran over the tests and results on Luca’ charts. “Is there any way to know for sure if that’s the case?”

“I’m not positive. However, the fact that I can’t reach him telepathically is a strong indicator that something much more serious is involved.” At Carlie’s puzzled look he turned his full attention to her. “Luca is family. Even if his body were unconscious his mind should still be active. Mind you it's much different and not aware of what is occurring. The mind of the sick will often create a dream like state where the mind can escape to. He would still be able to hear my telepathy. I would possibly be able to project into his dream state. Yet I cannot reach him. It’s as if he is...suppressed somehow.” He reached out a comforting hand and covered her shoulder. “In all my years as a doctor, I have never seen something like it.”

Carlie’s jaw clenched and she felt tears sting her eyes as she gazed at Luca. Someone had forced him into this. He wasn’t sick at all. She wanted to cry and scream and then move straight to the retribution. But it gave her hope. If there was nothing medically wrong then Noah would definitely be able to fix it. He was working with a sorcerer now. His entire family would slaughter every sorcerer on the planet until one of them agreed to fix it. Luca was coming back to her. And Lucius was now on her watch list. She needed to be sure.