ENCHANTED WORLD SERIES BOOK 4: MOON CHILD'S WAR

You are all going to die down here....going to die down here....going to die down here.

The words echoed around Alli as she found herself standing in the park close to the pond where Conrad’s body was found. The world looked dark and bleak and there was a very uncomfortable feeling creeping on her skin and coaxing her fear to flare out.

She wasn’t alone. She could feel it. Apart from the disembodied voice, there was something else there, something stalking her.

Alli felt as if she was about to have an anxiety attack but the worst thing was that she couldn’t move to save her life. She was horrified but her feet were glued in place.

“This is just a dream, it’s just a terrible dream.” She whispered to herself and as sweat trickled down her neck and back, something caught her attention to the side.

Get out while you can. The voice begged for her to leave that place but Alli was frozen in place. She watched in helplessness as a tall shadow circled her on the line of trees just in the shadows where she couldn’t tell what it was.

The hairs at the back of her neck raised in alert and her stomach heaved and rolled with revulsion. She felt sick with fear. The burst of air beside her made her breath and her body go stiff. She practically rattled all the way to her bones with fear like no other. She had never been that scared in her life before. Now, she understood the saying, terrified to death.

She slowly turned to the person standing next to her dreading if that thing in the woods had managed to find its way to her but was surprised to see Conrad standing beside her. He was as scared as she was and he was holding the leash of his dog so tightly.

So, he did have a dog that night. He let out another burst of air and pushed his glasses back up with a trembling hand. It had nothing to do with the evening chill but the fear that Alli could taste in the air around her and him.

“Conrad, let’s get out of here,” Alli whispered softly.

The dog whined and took a step back as the shadow circled them, getting closer.

“Stay still, Middy. We are alright. He will not harm us. He promised.”

Don’t make a deal with the devil himself. The female voice came once again, fear in her voice evident as well. Don’t trust him!

“Conrad!” Alli cried frantically but it looked as if Conrad could not hear her because he started making his way towards the shadow in the trees that had stopped moving. Middy let out a small bark that made the shadow freeze in place. Alli’s entire body crawled with fear that was tangible when suddenly the creature let out a hiss echoing around them.

Middy whined and bolted the other direction leaving Conrad alone.

“Middy! Middy!” Conrad called but the dog was long gone. It was only him and the creature in the dark.

“Don’t go in there!” Alli exclaimed, hating the feeling of helplessness because she couldn’t even move from where she was. She was surprised that she was able to discover that she was standing precisely where Conrad’s body was found. Was this a dream or was it finally the slowed version of the vision she had the night she went to the park alone?

That night she could barely make out the images nor could she hear what was being said. She was positive that she was going to find something and....maybe this was what really happened on that night.

“Conrad!” She called to him, feeling her throat scratch because she was using all her might to call to him. “Stop!”

“You have to stop him from getting to any others!” The female voice sounded so close to her ear and when she turned, she saw the fleeing woman disappearing in the black shadows. Her black hair fell around her like a curtain of silk strands on her back.

“No! No! No! You promised! You promised--” The last words chilled Alli to the bone because suddenly Conrad was gurgling in the darkness and making sounds to show that whatever was happening to him was painful.

Alli didn’t know for how long it went on because all Alli wanted to do was to wake up! Her wish was soon granted when she felt someone lift her from her bed and into warm arms.

“Alli...” She heard the calling of her name from so far away. “Open your eyes, Alli...” The voice told her. “It’s just a bad dream. It’s not real. Wake up!”

Alli’s eyes suddenly snapped open when she realized that she was gaining consciousness. She sniffed and discovered tears were running down her face and her throat felt painful and scratchy. She sniffed again, fighting against the strong tight arms that were almost cutting off her oxygen supply...well she wasn’t being held that tightly but she felt as if she was suffocating.

“Alli!” The voice sounded deeper and more familiar as arms grabbed her shoulders and shook her lightly.

Alli turned her blurry gaze to the man in front of her. The images slowly started making sense and she found herself staring at the man who closely resembled an angel. Oh, he was beautiful and he was holding her. Alli sighed in contentment and wanted to drift back to sleep until she realized that it was Ruvin.

Ruvin was in her room, holding her!

Alli jumped almost knocking both of them to the floor.

“Heavens, she’s feisty!” Someone said at the door and when she turned to saw the whole goof troop was out for the hunt! Lukas was leaning on the door frame dressed in lots of black and leather. He looked dangerous and ready for the hunt that night.

“Reminds me of someone when they get poisoned or injured.” Briar turned to him knowingly and Izzy snorted inelegantly.

“She’s just a drama queen, she’s alright.” Vixen rolled her eyes already turning away from the scene while pulling her hair up in a tight pony, also dressed up to go out hunting.

“Then explain the all-white eyes to me. She reminded me so much of the merpeople when they got gravely injured and had to be placed in water bodies to recuperate.” Edon muttered narrowing his eyes at her as if he quite couldn’t figure her out.

“Yeah, that was a cool trick--how did you do it?” Izzy asked. She was the only one in her PJs which meant she was not going anywhere. Did it mean that she had not yet transformed as well?

What was everyone talking about? “What happened?” Alli asked puzzled.

“Oh! You don’t remember?” Izzy jumped up. “You pulled the Exorcist stunt with your eyes and all.” She rolled her eyes back to show her and said. “But you didn’t roll your eyes, your pupils turned completely white and you started screaming.”

Alli pushed away from Ruvin in order to try and make sense of what was happening around her. “What are you talking about?”

“You were screaming for Conrad to stop from where he was going.” Ruvin finally said something and when she looked up at him, he looked quite grim and a little apprehensive. “What were you dreaming about?”

“Oh...that...” She felt a little embarrassed to share it with so many people watching her.

Ruvin must have noticed the sudden change in her because he turned to his team and told them to get back downstairs and wait for him.

“Good night, Alli.” Tessa peeped behind her brother.

Alli had never met a woman who always had her heart lurched on her throat. She was forever looking worried. It was not healthy.

Alli gave a little nod and as she was about to push her thick hair from her face, she came into contact with the dampness that had gathered on her forehead and was now running down her back. A chill stole on her skin making her shiver yet all the windows were securely closed. She pushed further away from Ruvin so that she could have her brain remember how the breathing process worked again.

“Are you feeling better now? Do you need anything?” He asked her, his eyes so intense she felt as if he was seeing her all the way to her soul.

“I’m fine.” She took a deep breath, still having the taste of fear down her throat as if someone had practically ladled it into her mouth. “I just....” She stopped. She didn’t even know how to explain what she saw or what she felt. She didn’t know whether it would have helped. What she was positive about was that she had just witnessed Conrad’s last moments alive and it came with the full effects package that included his fear, his regret, and his bitter disappointment that he was lied to.

Conrad knew who he was meeting that night. The whole thing was organized and Middy--.

“Conrad had his dog the night he died. Middy ran away when--” again she stopped trying to will her body to override the fear that was still creeping on her skin like a thousand ants.

“You saw what happened to Conrad? Through your ability?” He asked her, sitting so still it felt as if she were talking to a statue. He didn’t want to spook her and she was glad he was able to read that from her.

Alli didn’t call what she had an ability. She called it a curse because it brought her nothing short of misery. If she could get rid of it, she wouldn’t hesitate even though her sister always told her that she should have been grateful to have such a gift in order to give the dead justice. “I saw him a few minutes before he died. I felt exactly what he felt...I was standing right where his body was found, where he took his last breath.” Alli wiped away and tear and said. "He was terrified out of his mind."

“Did you see who killed him?” Ruvin asked.

Alli shook her head vigorously. “No, it was in the shadows.”

"It?” Ruvin echoed.

Alli looked at him and the sudden promise of pain in his eyes made her realize she must have looked terrible in front of him that he was ready to kill whatever made her look like that but why should he care how she appeared?

It’s not like she was going to be in his presence for long. As soon as Corleen got better, they were going to leave.

“It was not human. It was something entirely evil, something that was living and breathing pure evil. Oh, it felt terrible.”

Ruvin’s hand moved up and settled on her cool skin. She wanted to move away, she willed her body to move back but at that moment she needed comfort and she couldn’t deny that Ruvin’s warm fingers brought some measure of comfort to her.

“It is still late at night....try and get some sleep.” Ruvin suddenly got up, his body rigid and his fists straining on either side of him. “We’ll talk tomorrow morning.”

“Don’t--” she called to him as he was about to switch off the lights. “Don’t switch them off.” She whispered pulling her knees below her chin and hugging her legs together.

Ruvin gave her a side glance and nodded then silently went out.

Don’t leave her like that, Keeper. We have to take care of her, to comfort her. Shadow’s voice rang through.

Alli’s image of her sitting in the middle of that big bed looking so small and frighten engraved itself in Ruvin’s head. His entire body shuddered and protested as he went out because all he could think of was to comfort her but he was very sure he was not only going to stop there. The Moon was still very much full outside and his hormones were running high. He regretted bringing her there because now Shadow could smell her everywhere in the house and that scent was teasing him to the edge of his control.

She has not fully transformed, the last thing she needed was a pureblood Lycan male barely controlling his hormones in there with her.

The team was already moving out for that night’s scouting and monitoring and because he was their leader, he had to go out with them. Ruvin knew leaving that place for the night and letting the beast free in the woods was the best idea but every time he thought to leave Alli in the state that she was made him a little edgy.

As he turned towards the corridor, he almost bulldozed into Zach who was eyeing him suspiciously with his arms crossed on his broad chest. They almost stood at the same size but Zach was a little shorter. Ruvin always teased him that it was because of his shifter side that he was short.

“Zach.” Ruvin greeted him warily and he was about to walk past him when suddenly Zach grabbed his hand and stopped him.

“Is there something you want to share with me, mutt?” Zach quirked an eyebrow at him.

Zach knew something....or maybe suspected it, Ruvin was sure of it but he wasn’t going to make it easy for him. It was bad enough that it occurred to him like this. He wasn’t planning on getting a mate in that lifetime but he saw what happened when King Rhol tried to avoid his mate at all cost.

The mating bond couldn’t be outrun nor could it be broken even by the strongest living Mage. It was the will of the Heavens and not even they could break it, not even in the afterlife.

A slice of heaven--he thought bitterly because his slice of heaven was proving stubborn.

“Actually, I do. I am heading out for the night and you get to babysit the weakbloods, Tessa and Izzy. See, just like back in Agore, right?” Ruvin smirked.

“You know that’s not what I meant,” Zach growled. “You and Alli....are you two....”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Zach. Alli is a child. She hasn’t even gone through her first transformation. Now, I know I had very twisted and messed up sex rendezvous in the past but never with a child.” Ruvin gritted his teeth.

“Alright, alright, I hear you...but there is something here, Ruvin. I don’t know whether it is you and Corleen or Alli but you pup out at their presence.

I will skin this boy! Shadow growled and snapped in Ruvin’s head.

“I don’t pup out and Shadow doesn’t like the direction of your jokes. Pipe down, Harry Potter.” Ruvin warned him.

Zach sighed and raised up his hands in defeat. “That beast should be put down in my opinion. I have heard the stories of him maiming the weakbloods in the woods. He thinks he is the king of the woods.”

I am! I am a pureblood beast. It’s in my nature, you shameful clown! Shadow was going crazy in Ruvin’s head, his anger causing Ruvin’s head to feel like it was about to explode.

“Stop agitating my beast, Zach.” He flinched and turned to the overbearing male smirking in front of him. “I will not be held responsible for any irreversible damage he might do to you.”

“I have finally perfected the shrinking spell so if he knows what is good for him, he would keep his canines away from me,” Zach warned then turned and walked away.

Zach is a dickhead. I thought you knew that by now. Ruvin snapped at his beast.

Let’s get out of here before I decide to follow him, Keeper. Shadow suggested.

Ruvin wasn’t staying in that house for a moment longer. It already got dangerous with Shadow running high on hormones. He needed an outlet and that meant hunting for the human fanatics.

He made his way out and everyone was already packed in their cars or bikes, including Briar who mostly preferred staying behind watching over everyone else. That night, Quentin decided to stay behind and Ruvin would have loved it if Jake did too but the boy was already inside his black Mustang with Lukas at the passenger side.

Lately, Jake and Lukas were extremely close and while Lukas forever tormented Izzy, Jake was there to make peace between the two. Ruvin didn’t know exactly when the bonds started but he was a little relieved that Izzy had a savior from Lukas’ wrath.

Ruvin had tried talking to Lukas on why he was always on Izzy’s case but his answer wasn’t satisfactory. Lukas pushed her at every chance he got and Ruvin feared it was going to reach a point where Izzy was going to snap.

Were they hooking up? Ruvin didn’t know. Though they all lived under one roof, it wasn’t easy to know exactly who was hooking up with who.

It was only Briar and Tron that was evident and Tron’s absence could be the reason why Briar was going hunting.

Each one paired with someone they were good to work with. Raul had Vixen wrapping her arms around his lean waist on his bike, Jake had Lukas in his car tampering with the radio.

“Hey, paws off my stereo.” Jake slapped Lukas’ hands away.

Briar was sitting at the back seat of Ruvin’s Range with Edon at the passenger seat. Briar could work with anyone. She was more of a follower than a leader but you couldn’t pair her up with Vixen. The Duma was explosive and kitties sometimes didn’t play well with pups.

As they were about to drive out, Ruvin noticed Zach standing at the doorway watching them...watching him actually. His mind was churning and Ruvin knew the High Mage would not let it go until he found out what was distracting Ruvin. Though he missed the male, it was proving a little cumbersome to have him there at such a time.

We best watch out for Titus and his hunters as well tonight. They will be searching for Corleen and Alli at every corner of this town. The last thing we need is to lead them back here. Ruvin used the general connection to communicate with his team.

Let’s move out.

Alli moved away from the window sill where she stood watching as the two cars and bike left the premises. She sighed and made her way out of her room. There was no more sleeping that night after what she saw. She didn’t want to fall asleep again and she was going to chug down coke and coffee if that was what it took to keep her awake.

That night she was a little happy because Ruvin allowed her to see her sister. Although Corleen was asleep, she looked promising with color returning to her face, her breathing steady and her eyes moving under her eyelids as she dreamt the night away.

It was quite disturbing to see the one person she always thought was invincible, vulnerable on a hospital bed. It proved that she too, was mortal and that she could die.

When she was younger, when her sister practiced being a hunter--before Xavier, before her being the HOS, Alli always thought that it was awesome and that she looked like a superhero to her.

Alli wanted to be just like her one day but along the journey of growing up, so much changed. Alli didn’t want Corleen’s life anymore. She saw how brutal and unforgiving such a life was and she didn’t want that for herself. Instead of concentrating her energy on that, she concentrated on books and college--anything to escape that damned life her sister was leading.

Seeing her on that bed told her that that was always the end of a hunter--dead or fighting for their lives. What made it even worse was that Corleen was the only one she had. If she died...

Alli shook her head not wanting her thoughts to lead her to places she didn’t want to be. She made her way downstairs and didn’t see the man following her until she made it into the kitchen where Tessa was putting away the dishes from the washing machine. It was past midnight yet here she was sitting and telling by the frown on her face, it looked like she was deep in thought.

“Don’t you ever sleep?” Alli asked her, making her jump and touch her chest.

“God, you scared me.” She sighed softly then her eyes jumped to the back of Alli and when Alli turned she noticed Zach, Ruvin’s apparent older brother.

They didn’t resemble each other at all. Where Ruvin had blond hair, Zach had black. Where Ruvin’s eyes were gold, Zach’s were charcoal grey. But they were both a force to reckon with because Zach was emanating power that scared even Alli. She found herself taking a step away from him.

He saw the action and smirked. “I don’t bite.”

“I’ll fix you both something,” Tessa stated as she turned to the modern double door fridge. It was huge! But then again, she had a pack of enchanted beings to feed.

Alli still couldn’t believe she was sitting around with the enchanted beings she always read about in the books. The books described them as immensely powerful, indescribably beautiful but purely predatory. They didn’t know how to co-exist with a race that didn’t know about them. Alli saw that when she almost died in the hands of Izzy and Lukas.

They looked human...well mystical beings actually, like angels because even as they stood, they had power thrumming around them. They walked on two legs so there was nothing weird there. They ate their food with forks and knives, they dressed up in the latest fashions.....

Alli’s face scrunched. She really didn’t know what she expected. "I do bite.” She warned him off.

Zach was a High Mage. She really didn’t know what the High Mage did. Were they related to the human witches? Did they go around killing cats and using their blood for rituals or something?

Zach slipped onto the stool on the long and large breakfast bar. It looked like the enchanted beings spent a lot of time in there. He placed his hands on the marbled top, his arms bulging up from underneath his shirt.

“I noticed. How did you come to know Ruvin?” Zach asked turning to Tessa who had containers of several leftovers and was piling up the leftovers on the soft-looking and mouthwatering bread.

“He is a Ghost Runner. My sister and Titus are hunting for them.” Alli answered easily.

“Are you his mate?” Zach suddenly asked and Alli felt as if her backbone had suddenly turned into steel--stiff and immovable.

“I’m not his mate!” She exclaimed wondering why Ruvin would tell anyone about that load of shit! “Don’t listen to the stuff he says. I think the air here is too light and has messed his mind up somehow.”

Zach’s eyebrows snapped up to his forehead. He looked utterly shocked and Alli didn’t understand why. He was the one who started it in the first place.

“Who else knows about this? Does Faelen or Titus? Does your sister know?” Zach asked, suddenly the teasing tone was gone and replaced by the serious, police officer kind of tone.

Alli frowned and shook her head. “None of them know. Why should they? It is not true...” Alli turned to Tessa who suddenly placed a plate in front of her. Her face was as white as a ghost. There was a slight tremble on her body.

She looked like she was about to get sick!

“Tessa, are you alright?” Alli asked.

She pursed her lips and nodded vigorously. “I’m fine.”

Before they could continue with anything, Quentin came charging in.

“The weakbloods have crossed the first line of defense.” He announced to Zach.

Zach got up abruptly and followed Quentin to the monitoring room where Izzy was frantically typing something on her big screen.

“The security system is up.” She turned to them, her eyes glowing slightly.

Alli didn’t understand why she didn’t go hunting with the rest of them when it was obvious she was on the edge.

“How many are we looking at?” Zach asked when he got to the monitor and watched as the weakbloods discreetly moved around the premises a few meters from the mansion.

Alli’s heart jumped to her throat when she saw a face she recognized. Oz, that motherfucker! Her eyes narrowed as she watched him urge his team to move forward.

“Six of them but...no one knows of this place,” Quentin assured them.

“These guys know where they are going. Someone must have tipped them off.” Izzy turned accusingly at Alli.

“I don’t even have my phone, Vixen took it away the moment I arrived.” Alli raised her hands up to show it wasn’t her.

“Do you have anything else electronic with you?” Izzy asked as the weakbloods passed yet another line of defense triggering the security alarm. “If they continue moving like that, they will surely die in less than ten minutes!” Izzy growled. It looked like she didn’t want them to die.

“I don’t!” Alli exclaimed feeling as if her heart was choking its way up her throat.

“Quentin.” Izzy turned to the older man, her eyes getting worse.

Quentin moved towards a gadget area and got a scanner before making his way out while Zach moved closer to the monitor.

“I will hold them off. You get those boobie traps offline. The last thing we need is more weakbloods disappearing.” He said then Alli saw something that almost made her heart stop. She had seen such things on Tv. No one was allowed to have such powers and it was no wonder why the humans wanted to kill them all.

Zach’s eyes flashed pale blue and veins of energy began working their way up to his arms and neck. In a low, hair-raising hiss he said, "Fear.”

A burst of a thick balmy force escaped from him and as it spread around Alli muffled a scream behind her hand as the hairs on her neck rippled and her entire body quaked with the intensity of the feeling Zach released.

Izzy jumped up from her chair and rolled her neck, growling as her wolf started taking over because of the feeling. Alli knew the wolf was coming out to protect Izzy from the fear she was experiencing.

Zach’s pale blue orbs that replaced his eyes turned to Izzy and his hand shot out touching Izzy on her back.

Izzy arched back and howled as power pulsed into her from him until the wolf was submerged back into her. Izzy dropped to her knees and panted, sweat trickling down her beautiful face.

The dreadful feeling was soon gone and Alli found herself flopping on her ass looking at Zach as if she were seeing him for the first time. So, that is what a High Mage could do! She didn’t want to cross him ever again.

“Are you alright?” He helped Izzy up.

“I am but Nala is bloody well pissed.” She chuckled nervously taking her seat back in front of the monitor.

Zach approached Alli but she quickly jumped to her feet and scrambled away from him, tucking her hands behind her. She didn’t want him touching her after what he made her go through even though it was just for but two seconds.

“I am alright!” She assured him.

Zach stopped and hummed with the liar expression on his face.

“It’s working,” Izzy called to them, rubbing her hand over her forehead.

Alli couldn’t imagine what those wolves were going through, out there. She slowly approached the monitor to see Oz moving backward instead of forward. No one seemed to want to move forward anymore. It took them about ten minutes to discuss their options, each one showing terror on their faces before Alli saw the team turn back and go in the opposite direction.

Zach sighed and settled on the closest chair. Now that Alli looked at him, he looked worn out.

“That’s about as much energy as I can spare for the night. Damn, it weighs so heavy on you.” he breathed in hard.

Izzy grinned. “That was awesome.”

“I found the bug!” Quentin returned looking as terrible as everyone else. He must have felt the fear as well.

Alli’s eyes turned to the backpack he was holding. It was hers. “Hey, what are you doing with my bag?”

“Your bag was bugged.” He removed the small transmitter from the side pocket.

Alli frowned. When did someone get so close as to bug her? The only places she had been that day were at Faelen’s fortress and...

She recalled when Titus took her outside to talk to her after she started arguing with Faelen. Could he be the one who placed the bug in her bag? Did he know she was going to get herself in that mess?

She watched as Quentin took the bug and placed it in a glass cube. Within a few seconds, static electricity could be heard like the crackling of popcorn in a pot. It sparked and caught fire. These guys were prepared for anything, Alli realized.

“I didn’t know that was in there. They must have slipped it in my bag without me knowing.” Alli defended herself.

“It must have been one of the weakbloods.” Quentin assured her. No one else was accusing her except for Izzy who looked a little edgy.

Zach, too, didn’t look so good. He looked exhausted and just to prove a point he stretched and sighed.

“I think I will turn in for the night.”

“I will wait for these guys to return,” Quentin assured them then turned to Alli. “You should go up and rest too.”

Alli nodded leaving with Zach. They walked silently up the stairs to the first floor and when Zach got to his room he stopped and turned to her.

“You have to be patient with Ruvin. He has had a rough time growing up. He doesn’t know how to treat a mate. Heck, I don’t even know if he knows how to act civilized with a mate!”

“I will make it clear to you just like the way I made it clear to him, I am not going to be claimed by someone I don’t know.” She said between her teeth.

“They didn’t tell you, did they? You can’t refuse a true mate. The moment you two are in close proximity, the mating bond is established and this will only grow stronger with time to the point that you can’t even think of staying away from each other. You literally get sick when your mate is away for a long time.” Zach explained patiently but the more he talked the more she panicked.

“This is a big world. The chances of us finding our true mates is too low. I don’t believe you can find your mate as simple as this.” She clicked her fingers together. “There is no pull between me and him. It’s just a crazy attraction--I admit, but that’s it!”

“And so it has begun.” Zach’s look was too severe and serious for Alli’s peace of mind. “It will build up until you can’t escape it.”

Alli tried to scoff it away but she couldn’t even recognize her own nervous voice. “You are getting too far ahead of yourself, Zach.”

A small smile appeared on his face. “Maybe I am. Come find me when you have finally accepted your fate. Good night, Alli.”

He ruffled her hair like a kid and disappeared into his room leaving Alli staring at his door with a new cold and slithering feeling covering her body like a second skin:

Dread.