Karizma: Reborn

Lukas inhaled sharply as he walked to Ryleigh’s house. He had changed into a pair of jeans and a white T-shirt for his meeting with her and Kristopher. He had sensed her return to the pack about an hour ago, but he needed space from her. The panic that possessed him when her magic disappeared, the terror that coursed through his veins, it shattered him. The only way that he had been able to find her was through the mating link, and he was thankful for that. The mating link allowed him to feel her emotions, but cloaking herself like that had cut him off from everything completely; the only good that came of the mating link in that moment was her location. I did not even know if she was alive. He was enraged when he discovered her alive, and that she was hiding from her enemies. Once again, his beautiful mate had to hide herself from the world, when all that he wanted from her was to flourish. She had spent her entire life hiding, and she did it again like it was nothing.

Lukas understood why she hid herself while she located Naomi. Ryleigh was brilliant and strong, and he never doubted her, but his fear birthed doubt in that moment. What if her magic failed, and she was found? I cannot fight this war without her. Mates are tied together eternally when the bond is complete. In extreme cases, mates can die from heartbreak and shock because they feel each other experience everything. While the mating bond granted Lukas the best orgasms that he had ever felt because he experienced Ryleigh’s with his, the mating bond would promise him the experience of her death. The mating bond was not only beautiful, but terrifying and deadly. Lycans can mark each other, but only true mates can experience the bond, which was why Lukas did not worry about marking her for her resurrection; never in his lifetime would he have considered a born-again Lycan as his mate. He felt her birth, and the knowledge that he could feel her death petrified him.

Lukas knocked on Ryleigh’s door gently. Her house was a few houses away from his own, but close enough that he could reach her if something went wrong. He still intended on training her to control her wolf when she was afraid or angry, but that was not what tonight was for. He needed to talk to Kristopher. Ryleigh could not put herself in another compromising position. Her magic protected her tonight, but what if it had not? Lukas had heard how strong Naomi was against Ryleigh. For all that any of them knew, she already found out that Ryleigh was alive, and she was just waiting for Ryleigh to reveal herself and claim the prized cow. Lukas growled deeply at the thought of his mate captive for eternity; now that she was immortal, Naomi could keep Ryleigh until the end of time.

Ryleigh opened the door and tensed slightly. Ryleigh’s crimson hair had been tossed into a bun, and she was wearing a black crop top with a pair of jeans. Lukas watched her eyes study his face, then trail down his body. He cocked an eyebrow at her curiously. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that she is checking me out. Her eyes returned to his, and a hint of gold flashed through her emerald ones. So, she was. Her taunting him in the woods had been one thing, but her actions revealing that she was interested in him was another. He felt his wolf purr quietly, a soft whisper that only Ryleigh could hear. Her emerald eyes flashed bright suddenly, and she stepped backwards. Lukas restrained the smirk that teased his lips and nodded at her; she had forced her wolf away and ended her reaction to him. For now.

Kristopher approached Lukas and shook his hand. The vampire’s blonde hair was messed over his head, his brown eyes full of curiosity. Kristopher was wearing a black muscle shirt and a pair of jeans. A light glow emitted from his pale skin with the contrast. Lukas felt his free hand twitch at his side at the urge to brandish his claws. His wolf despised this vampire because this vampire continued to please his mate. Lukas nodded at Kristopher and shook his hand in response. Despite the circumstances, Kristopher was one of the good vampires. That was the entire reason that Lukas had sought him out in the first place; Lukas had a feeling that the infamous Karizma Killer had grown a heart with the most recent target, and he was right. Kristopher’s heart is the only reason that Ryleigh did not remain dead, and, for that, Lukas would be ever thankful.

“Ryleigh said that we needed to talk,” Kristopher said. He motioned for Lukas to sit down, but Lukas shook his head. Kristopher sat on the couch and Ryleigh sat beside him. Ryleigh instantly took Kristopher’s hand in hers, her eyes locked on to Lukas. Lukas forced his jealousy down and nodded. He leaned against the wall near the couch and crossed his arms over his chest. “Your witch almost exposed herself today.”

“No, I didn’t,” Ryleigh said as Kristopher’s head swiveled toward her. “I knew what I was doing.”

“What is he talking about?”

“While you slept, I left the pack. I had to try to find Naomi, Kristopher. I have to know what she’s planning,” Ryleigh said as she squeezed his hand.

Kristopher yanked his hand from hers with a snarl and rose to his feet. “Are you fucking kidding me? Ryleigh, the last time that you wandered off while I slept, you got yourself killed. You can’t do that to me.”

“I was safe!” Ryleigh snapped. “I cloaked my magic while I tracked her.”

“You thought you were safe before when you were cloaked and she found you,” Lukas added slowly.

“You stay out of this,” Ryleigh warned as her gold eyes burned into his blue ones.

“He’s not wrong, Ryleigh,” Kristopher said through gritted teeth. “What did you expect me to do if she found you again? How many times do you think we can bring you back to life?”

“Bailey is still unconscious because of it,” Lukas added quickly. He could tell by the rage that radiated off Kristopher that Kristopher was not far from saying the same thing. But she cannot be mad at him. She needs him right now.

Ryleigh lunged at Lukas with her canines barred. He allowed her to wrap a hand around his throat and squeeze. He knew that uttering the words would trigger a reaction out of her, and it needed to be directed toward him; depending on how much rage and guilt came out of her, it could kill Kristopher. She cannot kill me. “Fuck. You,” she spat out. “I didn’t ask for this from you, from her, from anyone. You could have left me dead.” Lukas felt her claws brush against his skin as her rage intensified. Lukas saw Kristopher take a step towards them. Not now, Kristopher. She is not in control, and she will hurt you.

Lukas brandished his own canines and quickly broke free of Ryleigh’s grasp. He grabbed both of her wrists in one hand, and his other hand wrapped around her throat and slammed her into the wall. The plaster behind her splintered at the contact. “I offered you life, and she granted it for you. You’re right, we could have left you dead,” Lukas growled darkly. “But we didn’t. And our thanks from you is to try to kill yourself again? Kill yourself in the fucking war protecting those that care about you, not before it even starts and promise our demise.”

“Lukas,” Kristopher said softly.

“You know nothing of me, Alpha,” Ryleigh’s dark voice spat. Lukas cocked his head at her curiously as her wolf glared at him. “I want to end this war before it can even start, and that? That would protect everyone. Kristopher, Bailey, you, our people. If I die to prevent this war from even starting, then it was worth it.”

Lukas’ wolf growled in response. The typical Karizma wants to sacrifice herself for others. He was so fixated on her own safety that he did not realize that she was jeopardizing it to save everyone else. No wonder she is my destined mate. It was the type of heart that a true Luna needed to possess. A dark growl resonated in her throat, and Lukas tightened his grasp on her. She knew that her words affected him, and she wanted to act on them. “The reason that I wanted to talk to you,” Lukas gritted out as he turned his attention to Kristopher, “was because there was another way to get this intel that your witch so desperately seeks.”

“No, there is not!” Ryleigh snapped.

“What is it?” Kristopher asked.

“You told me that your master has asked you to fight in this war with him,” Lukas continued. “You are your master’s right-hand man. His precious Karizma Killer,” Lukas said as his gaze shifted back to Ryleigh. “Centuries of devotion and killing these witches, all because your master told you to. And you succeeded, even with this one.” Lukas released Ryleigh and turned back to Kristopher. “You have his trust.”

Kristopher’s jaw clenched. Lukas heard Ryleigh shuffle behind him, and he watched her walk toward Kristopher. “It’s too dangerous,” Ryleigh said softly. Lukas exhaled in relief; her love for Kristopher had reigned in the anger of her wolf. “There has to be another way.”

“We both know that is not true, pet,” Kristopher said. “Lukas is right. Nathan will begin to wonder why I am not fighting with him.”

“He had you kill your lover.”

“No, he didn’t,” Kristopher corrected Ryleigh. “You had me kill you to protect me. My mourning your death will not make sense to him, because you claimed bewitchment on me; with the spell broken after your death, I should be back to my old self. To him, we never really shared a love, so your death should not affect me.”

Lukas took a step forward, and Ryleigh glared at him. “I am sorry to ask this of you, but you could have stayed with your kind after you killed her. You did not. You brought her to me to save her and gave me intel on your people. To me, you want to protect mankind, and all those supernatural beings that reside with them. Asking this of you is nothing short of what is already being expected of you; you will just be doing it with a different intention.”

“He is right, pet,” Kristopher said softly. Kristopher cupped Ryleigh’s face gently as he studied her. “I’ve been needing to get back to Knight Life anyway. I cannot stay here with you. Nathan will be looking for me as he and Naomi begin to move forward with this war. I will come visit you, but it’s time for me to return home.”

“You can’t go back alone,” Ryleigh whispered. “He will kill you if he finds out.”

“You cannot go back with me. I will be fine,” Kristopher smiled. Kristopher kissed Ryleigh softly. Lukas fought against his wolf’s rage and jealousy. Now is not the time. He shifted his eyes away from them, an act that appeared to grant the couple privacy, instead of an act of pain. His wolf felt some triumph in knowing that Kristopher would finally be off their land, but it worried Lukas himself that much more. This vampire that helped his mate was going to put his life on the line, and there was nothing that Lukas could do. Lukas’ protection of Kristopher in the real world would risk his pack, which could risk the discovery of Ryleigh.

Lukas heard the kiss end and his eyes shifted back to the couple. He saw tears cloud Ryleigh’s emerald eyes, and his heart clenched. “You come back to me,” she whispered to Kristopher.

“Always,” Kristopher said. His gaze shifted to Lukas. “You take care of her, protect her like she’s one of yours.”

“She is one of mine, Kristopher; she has had the protection of my pack from the second that I turned her. There is no place safer for her than with me, you have my word,” Lukas affirmed. “Please, take care of yourself, Kristopher. In this war of blood and power, you are the last vampire that I want to see dead.”

“I’m not that easy to kill,” Kristopher grinned. Lukas smiled at him and nodded. Lukas turned and exited Ryleigh’s house to allow the couple to say their goodbyes. He owed that vampire everything; Kristopher could have revealed Lukas’ pack location to Nathan but did not. His devotion to Ryleigh and his respect for Lukas created a new alliance, one that never would have been fathomable before. The vampire known as the Karizma Killer was working with the Alpha Lycan to save mankind from the vampiric race, and the Karizma that he killed had conquered death and birthed the Alpha’s mate upon awakening. One hell of an alliance.