Forged Desire (Book 3 of the Avec Series)

Chapter Nine

    There were so many questions to be answered, even though the bond between Chusi and Alev had been restored. The other dragons had gone back to Dracini Island, while Alev and Chusi stayed behind at the coven house. Alev, to check on Freya and Chusi to stay to help the elder council with tieing up the ends of Ailsinn's death. Since she had grown up in the council she knew all the ins and outs. 

    She was lying in her bed deep in thought over everything, and she wished that even with their twin bond restored, Alev would believe she was truly his sister. She sighed, "That will come with time," she said to herself. She was reaching for the book she brought with her, hoping to find a few more answers. 

    **************

    Bardik was down the hall of the coven house he was getting ready to head back to Dragonmoon Pack when there was a knock on his door. Freya was there with a frantic look on her face, "Freya, what's wrong? Are you okay?" he asked taking in her scared expression. 

    "I'm not sure, but Aunt Circe needs you," was all she said as she turned and ran back down the hall. 

    Bardik reached over and threw a shirt over his head, "I wonder what happened now?" he said as he ran after Freya. 

    He entered what was clearly the children's nursery, his heart dropped to his stomach, fearful that something had happened to one of the children. He could see members of the elder council in here as well, which made him just as nervous. 

    He tried to make it light-hearted by grumbling, "It looks like a regular party in here." His large body taking up a lot more space than they all realized. 

    He was trying to listen to Circe, when he could hear the small voice of Raven, hiccuping and crying. 

She was talking about shadow souls and a bad man, this didn't bode well in his mind. His mind was racing at the thought of something dark and sinister falling over them here. Who would want to be here? Just then the vampire elder asked Raven if she saw the man that took Bodhi and Alev. When she described him, his anger grew faster than his dismay. As they all realized that Abigor was back at it. 

    ******

    Chusi could hear the commotion from down the hall, putting down the book, she got up. She made her way down to the children's nursery. She could feel a weird pull in the back of her mind, she wasn't sure what was going on, but she knew it wasn't good. She just hoped that the children were safe.     

    She got to the doorway just as the little silver-haired girl, Raven? She thought, yeah, that's her name, was telling everyone that she had seen her dad and 'a dragon' get taken by a man named Abigor. 

    "Raven, who is the dragon?" she asked afraid of the answer she had a feeling she already knew. 

    "It's, it's aunty Freya's dragon, the one that looks like you. You're his sister, the one he thought wasn't alive anymore," she was still crying but her voice was strong. Everyone in the room still getting shocked over the little one's ability to see what was going on. 

    "But, I'm safe now, he should be happy," she had just gotten her brother back, and some asshole stole him from her? She was angry and scared at the same time, who was going to tell her parents that while one has been returned the other is now missing? What if he actually does die? Her mind was racing and she could feel herself fighting the urge to leave and track down Abigor herself. 

    "I'm coming with you," she said taking a stance crossing her arms, daring anyone in the room to stop her. Her gaze scanned the room, her amber eyes falling on Bardik, almost taunting him to say something. She could see the emotions playing across his face, but didn't know why. "No one will stop me, that's my brother out there," she said as she turned and left the room to pack her bags. 

    Bardik was torn between following Chusi and staying to get as much information as he could from Raven. He decided that he would stay here and allow Chusi her space, for now, Topor was in his mind snapping at him. 

    "What do you think you are you doing that woman needs you right now," his wolf said. 

    "I can feel that Topor, but what do want me to do? We need the information to make sure we can safely rescue her brother and Bodhi," Bardik snapped back at him. "Be patient, we have to be sure she ours first," Bardik said and closed off any more arguments from his wolf. 

    The council was in one of the meeting rooms of the coven house, discussing the problem of Aislinn's replacement when there was a knock on the front door of the coven house. 

    Amelia was startled and she jumped, she was worried about who would be here at this hour. Jakob stood his senses were on high alert. He wasn't happy that there were intruders on his land and that his son had paid that price along with who he was now sure was Freya's mate. 

    Bardik, Cassius, and Hytpu joined Jakob to answer the door the four of them making for quite an imposing sight. While Circe walked in calmly laughing at the men. She shooed the men away from the door, "I called for reinforcements, so go sit down," she said as she calmly pushed past the wall of men. Her short frame moving them with ease said a lot about how much they respected her.

    "Circe, who in the world did you get to come out here at the hour?" Amelia asked puzzled and amazed that her sister in law could get such things to happen so quickly. 

    "Your daughter in law and daughter have many many friends and allies, she said with a twinkle in her eye. 

    The 'backup' filed in quickly and the excitement over all of them, made them miss the last singular person to walk in. His scent gave him away quickly though with Cassius and Hyptu both ready to fight him. 

    Bardik caught his scent before he got much further into the room, "Hello, Justin," Bardik greeted his second in command. 

    The entire room looked at Justin with distrust, hunters were our destroy them, not help them. But after a few words from Bardik, and Jakob giving him a once over they decided to cautiously accept his help. 

    They quickly got their things together with not many noticing the unassuming brown hip bag that Justin was carrying. He didn't want to bring attention to himself, he knew they didn't trust him much. But the stuff in this bag was from his father's safe. Justin knew that many of the items in his father's bag were magical he just didn't know what he possessed or how his father had attained the items. He was going to help his friends and hopefully return the objects to the places they belong to. Justin hadn't opened the bag, so he had no idea what all was in, just that he wanted to return the items. This included a beautifully ornate sword, with a dragon on the hilt.