The Mating Rite (Big, Beautiful Werewolf) (Werewolves of Montana) (35 page)

Ryder dropped to the other side of Darius and looked at Sam. “His wounds are too grievous.” The alpha looked at her solemnly. “I’m an alpha, but even my powers can’t help him because of the wolfsbane. None of us can.”

But I can
. Sam began to sing and felt power seep into her hands, soar into her body. She placed her hands on her mate and watched the blue light flicker along his body, healing the torn flesh. A lump clogged her throat as he did not respond.

“The internal injuries are too much,” Aiden said thickly, his eyes growing moist. “He’s dying.”

Sam glanced at the tall Elf staring down at the blackened earth that held the remains of Terithen. “I need your help!
Please,
help me heal him.”

But the Elf did not turn. He raised the staff over his head and chanted. A great rustling and rumbling sounded in the forest. A cloud of mist suddenly appeared in the glade, and then exploded into droplets.

The mist faded and Sienna stood in the clearing, clad in a green, long-sleeved tunic and black leather trousers. A sword was strapped to her belt. She looked more beautiful than ever, her long blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. Her ears were slightly pointed, and her deep green eyes were filled with sympathy and compassion.

“I am sorry I am late. I would have arrived sooner, had I known Terithen had found you.”

“Darius needs help. I can’t heal him.” A teardrop fell from her cheek, splashed onto Darius’ bloodied face.

“You cannot do it alone. You need me. I have the power to heal and destroy.” Sienna’s expression softened and she glanced at the tall Elf, still staring in morose grief at the darkened ground. “To heal Darius, I must give my true name. It is forbidden to do this among others.”

Sam’s hope faded.

Then Sienna shrugged and she gave a small smile. “But I’ve never been known to follow the rules.” She looked at Sam and placed her hand over her heart. “I am Ninianne.”

Kneeling beside him, Sienna/Ninianne placed her hands on Darius’ pale forehead. “Put your hands over his heart and sing with me.”

“What do I sing?”

“It will come to you.”

And then Sam heard the same harmonious music she’d heard in the glade before Terithen had destroyed the Sprites. Air stirred in a gentle breeze.

Sam looked up.

Dozens of Sprites and Fairies hovered in the air, their song sweet and pure. The music echoed through the glade. Sam looked at Ninianne. “You called them?”

She nodded.

“You did this for Darius?”

“For you.” The Elf’s expression softened. “You are my sister, not of blood, but of spirit. I came to Comairise Energy because I was ordered to watch over you and protect you. It was an assignment I was happy to fulfill.”

A bluish-white glow surrounded Ninianne. When Ninianne touched her wrist, Sam felt a powerful surge of love and light. Renewed by magick, Sam sang with Ninianne and poured all her energy into Darius. His body began to glow with the same brilliant light. Then the Elf stopped singing, the light fading from her features as she sank back to her haunches, her head drooping.

Sam cupped Darius’ face. “Please wake. Please.”

And then the glow faded from his body. He opened his eyes and saw her.

“Hey, beautiful,” he whispered.

“You left me again,” she told him. Another tear splashed onto his cheek.

Moonlight glinted his hair, and made his blue eyes luminous. “Just for a minute. It was beautiful on the other side, peaceful and pure. But I came back because of you. I want to be with you for the rest of my life, and the rest of my life starts now.”

She helped him sit and hugged him, hard. Darius tenderly touched her cheek. “I love you, Sam. I’ve always loved you and always will, in this life and the next.”

“I love you, too. No matter what happens to us, Darius, I’ll always love you.

He waved a hand, clothed himself by magick, and she helped him to stand.

Ninianne stood as well and glanced at the tall Elf. “I think it is time for you to meet your true father, Samantha.”

Her pulse skittered, and she gripped Darius’ hand. “My father is dead.” But she knew in her heart it was not true.

The tall Elf turned. His features were craggy and sharp. And familiar. Shock pummeled Sam.

“
Cornelius?
” Sam stepped back, utterly confused.

The silver-haired man stepped forward and embraced her, and she felt pure love radiating from him. “Caewellen. My beloved daughter.”

He stepped back, his expression solemn. “I was Cornelius. But he vanished from the Skin world, for it was time for me to return to ruling the Fae.”

And then his features shimmered and sharpened and his ears became pointed once more, his eyes no longer dark brown but violet, like hers. “I am Cael Eledhwen. Rightful King and ruler of the Fae of the Northern Light.” Cael/Cornelius smiled gently at her. “You are my beloved daughter, born of my great love for your Lupine mother, Ellen. She chose the name for you. In Elven, it means most joyous daughter born of love, for you were conceived in love and your birth gave us both great joy.”

“You and my mother were lovers?” Sam felt more confused than ever. Darius clasped her hand.

Grief shadowed Cael’s face. “Your mother and I fell in love when she came to work for me in my corporation. I formed many Skin companies to promote clean energy to renew the earth. But she left to return to the Lupine world.” He glanced at Darius. “To your father’s pack, where she would feel safe.”

“Because both she and Marcia had been poisoned by wolfsbane.” Darius rubbed his cheek against Sam’s hair. “I felt the effects and guessed as much. It weakens a Lupine’s heart and lungs and enough can eventually kill.”

Sam’s stomach knotted. Darius held her hand, thumbing the back, his touch soothing and centering her.

“A small amount causes enough damage so the Lupine cannot heal himself. I thought your mother wished to return to the Lupine life.” Cael drew his dark brows together. “I did not realize my own son had poisoned the ham I had sent to your house as a treat for Christmas. You refused to eat the ham, so you were safe, Samantha. Ellen and Marcia fell ill and your mother did not have enough faith in me to tell me of my son’s treachery. She mistakenly thought I was loyal more to my blood than her. I only recently discovered Terithen’s plans to murder you, and the truth of what he had done to Ellen.”

Cael glanced at the dark patch of ground where Terithen had vanished. “Terithen was my rightful son and heir. He grew jealous over my love affair with your mother, and resentful I had bred a daughter of mixed blood. When he learned you were to inherit part of my fortune, his rage turned him toward darkness. All Fae ride the edge between darkness and light. When we allow our negative emotions to best us, we can become evil.”

“James came to Comairise Energy not to work, but to kill me.” Sam grew cold all over.

“Comairise Energy is a company I formed. In Elven it means “Reclaiming our world.” I had HG watch over you, but suspected he was growing corrupt so I sent Terithen to investigate. He also volunteered to check on you and ensure you were all right.”

She shook her head. All this time she’d been so proud of her independence and forging a new career for herself, and her own father had been steering her career from the sidelines. “It was a ruse,” she whispered. “You manipulated my career all along?”

Cael sighed. “Never, daughter. I gave you the opportunity when I had HG hire you, but your work spoke for itself. I was never more proud of you. I grew suspicious when Terithen insisted on remaining close to you, so I sent Ninianne to investigate further. She is my Shadow Guard. A dark Elf who fights for me, but always remains in the shadows and hovers on the line between darkness and evil.”

Cael looked at Ninianne. “Have you cleansed the earth yet?”

Ninianne knelt by the darkened circle. She removed her sword and plunged it into the soil and softly chanted in a lyrical, strange language. But these words were dark. Sam’s heart dropped to her stomach as blackness covered the sword, the Elf’s hands, crept up her arms in long, twisting streaks, then raced up her neck and covered her face and long blonde hair until only Ninianne’s green eyes showed amid the blackness. She stopped singing and fell back onto her haunches, panting hard. The blackness gradually retreated, then vanished altogether.

When she staggered to her feet, Sam rushed over.

“Do not touch her,” Cael warned. “She carries inside her the evil of my son. He is forever gone now.”

Torment flickered in Ninianne’s eyes. She looked utterly lost. Sam knew what it felt like to be all alone. The hell with it. She went to her sister Elf and hugged her tight. Cael made a disapproving sound, but Sam ignored it.

Ninianne put a hand on her shoulder, squeezed lightly. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Please, I don’t want you to become contaminated.”

Not wanting to distress her further, Sam stepped back. Cael’s expression shuttered. “Ninianne, you know what to do. Go now.”

The Elf sheathed her now-blackened sword. She gave a sad glance to Sam, then smiled. “I know what it is to love another and face banishment from your people for such a love. Choose for a lifetime and do not regret your choice, as I have done in the past.”

Then Ninianne’s mouth quirked into a small, knowing smile. “It is not a bad thing, to lie with the beast shifters. In fact, it can feel quite good.”

“Ninianne! Go now!” Cael roared.

The Elf looked stricken, then she dissolved into mist.

Cael went to Sam, resting his long, pale fingers on her shoulders. “You are of my blood, but you straddle two worlds. Ellen knew of your inheritance and wished you to remain oblivious of your true parentage until you were old enough to understand the ramifications. If you choose your Elven heritage…” He glanced at Darius. “You must leave behind the Lupine world forever. You cannot be in both worlds. It would prove too dangerous. But hear me, my beloved daughter. I will give you riches beyond compare. You will inherit lands and forests to rule over, and millions of dollars when you leave our world to live in Skin for short bursts of time. You will never know want. Come with me, my beloved daughter.”

Torn, Sam stared at her father, whose love shone on his face. She thought of the grief he must feel at dispatching his son and heir after discovering Terithen had turned to evil.

And then she faced Darius. His expression blanked, but his eyes filled with sorrow. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “It’s your choice, Sam. I love you. I always will. But I will not force your hand and compel you to live among my people. I want what’s best for you. I want…” Moisture shimmered in his eyes. “Damn,” he said hoarsely. “Losing you will rip my heart out all over. But I’ll survive. Did it before. I can do it again, as long as I know you’re alive and well and happy with your life.”

Her breath hitched as he stroked a thumb tenderly down her cheek. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, Sam. And when someone special like you comes along, it’s a once in a lifetime shot. But I’d be a damn selfish bastard to hold onto you if you want to leave with him.”

He glanced at her father. “As much of an SOB as my dad was, at least I knew him. You never grew up with your dad, and I know how much you felt that absence.”

Leaning forward, he kissed her mouth, his lips soft and warm. Sam closed her eyes and flung her arms around him, needing his closeness, his warmth. But he was Lupine and if she walked away with him, she turned her back on her Eleven heritage. She couldn’t bring herself to reject her father, not when she’d just found him. Her father was essential to learning about her Elven side, a life she’d never known before.

Nor could she turn her back on Darius.

Tension knotted her stomach. Sam pushed a little at Darius’ chest and stepped back. She looked at her father, the Fae King, who studied her with quiet expectation.

“What is it, Sam?” Aiden hooked his thumbs into his jeans pockets. “You know if you choose Darius, you’ll have to endure a mating rite; bond with him to be protected in my pack. You’ll have to be exclusive to him, and us. What’s your decision?”

Sam looked helplessly around her, and everything inside shattered like glass. “I can’t decide now! Please, I need to be alone. I can’t be exclusive right now to Darius
or
you!” She pointed at Cael.

Heart hammering, she walked away. At the entrance of the glade, she spoke over her shoulder, not daring to look at Darius because if she saw his face, she’d break down and run sobbing into his arms.

“If I decide on your pack, Darius, I’ll know where to find you.”

Muscles in her legs cramped as she crashed through the forest. By the time she’d reached the bridge, she could barely breathe for the anxiety crushing her chest. Sam raced over the bridge, heading for the townhouse to pack.

She did not look back.

Chapter 19

Darius stood at the window of his office, staring at the sweep of wide, open plains, the horse corrals and the jagged mountains of Montana. The Mitchell Ranch was nestled in a valley boasting the most beautiful land in the country. Everyone who lived and worked here agreed.

Sam would have loved living here, learning to ride a horse, strolling along the banks of the wild, rushing river, and exploring the thick woods covering Mitchell Mountain.