Chapter 77 (Crossover Event #5)

(**Rayne**) 

The shocks she receives at Nathaniel’s comments reverberate through her mind. He aims to kill Sebastion. It all makes sense now. Sebastion’s soul is still linked to hers. Even if it is just a microscopic thread. That thread is enough to create complications with the ritual that will bring Olivia’s soul back from the Underworld. 

He wouldn’t tolerate her to be joined to anyone other than him.  

Does that mean he plans to kill Parker too? His soul is now joined to Rayne’s more than Sebastion’s. Since they are a fully mated pair, their bond is deeper than anything she ever shared with Sebastion. Nathaniel will have to kill both of her mates before he would have a safe chance to resurrect Olivia. 

Unless he isn’t aware that Parker is her mate? 

“Then, let me have this straight. You hired someone to snatch me from my home, beat the crap out of me, simply to bring me here to murder me?” Sebastion asks.

“The beating was for Rayne. I require you to look weak, broken, and at death’s door. The image of her former lover being executed because of her was a wonderful one.” 

Rayne laughs. “The joke is on you, Nathaniel.” 

“We were never lovers,” Sebastion answers. 

Nathaniel frowns at this reply. Guess he doesn’t know everything after all. This can go one of two ways. It can buy them time for someone to rescue them, the drugs to wear off, and help them fight him. Or he will determine the knowing why they were never lovers won’t affect to him and he will just go on with his plans. 

Either way, this goes, time is not on their side. 

With a tilt of his head, Nathaniel studies them. Rayne can feel his magic trying to slither inside her head. He is trying to delve into her memories. He is in for another revelation. Only one person has ever gotten into her memories like this.  

Her father.

Rage fills Nathaniel’s eyes as he strikes that barrier her mind always has around itself. Only her father and Parker have access to it. Arabella has occasionally, but it was when Rayne was weak or allowed her to. Edmund has a natural magic ability. Parker is her mate. Neither has to apply force like Nathaniel is now. 

“What’s wrong? Not getting what you are seeking for in there?” Rayne asks. She angles her head to the side as she observes him clench his fists. 

“How are you able to block me? There is no… wait… there it is. You are a natural witch. How is that possible with you being a werewolf?” 

“So, the big bad Warlock doesn’t know all. That is a surprise.” 

Rayne can’t help taunting him. She can feel Ruby stirring in the back of her mind. If she can stall long enough, it could give Sebastion time to reconnect with his wolf too. 

“My father’s family.” 

“That doesn’t answer my query. How do you have magic in your lineage?” 

“This wall is growing very uncomfortable. Let us both down, and I will explain.” 

Sebastion shoots her a look, then goes back to glaring at Nathaniel. 

Nathaniel looks at her, then tilts his head to the side as if he is weighing his options. Then, with a flick of his wrist, both of them fall to the floor in a heap. “Now, tell me how you have magic in your bloodline.” 

After Sebastion helps her to sit up, she looks up at Nathaniel. “If I am going to tell you this story, then I think it would be nice if you were down here on the floor with us. Looking up at you for this story will give me a stiff neck. We wouldn’t want to injure this body for your precious Olivia.” 

Rage fills Nathaniel’s eyes. She knows she is pushing his buttons, but she can’t help it. She will use is anger to distract him. The longer that she can drag this conversation out, the better it will be for her and Sebastion.

**Take caution, Rayne.** Ruby whispers. **I am here but there isn’t much I can do. We can’t shift or we risk losing the baby.** 

Hearing Ruby’s voice gave her hope. With her wolf back, she is stronger physically than she was before. This will help a lot. She can now take the Warlock’s attacks and heal. 

“I can easily put you back up on the wall. Just get to the point. Tell me how you have magic in your bloodline!”  

Heaving a sigh, she informs him about her Great-great-grandmother. “She appeared human at first when my ancestor found her as his mate. It wasn’t until after their first child was born that her secret came out. Their daughter started showing signs of powers that no werewolf had ever exhibited.” 

“Your magic is very low level. That is why I didn’t sense it in you before. This complicates things more than I want.” 

Nathaniel moved away from them and paced around the room. His movements sluggish but agitated at the same time. Will her bloodline complicate the ritual he will perform to bring Olivia back? If that is the case, then maybe he won’t kill her or Sebastion after all. 

“This means I will have to do two rituals instead of one now. I will need to go back to my library to get more supplies. Killian will be here to make sure neither of you does anything stupid.” 

“What will the second ritual be?”  

Fear causes her heart to feel like ice is encircling it. Even as she asks, the answer is obvious to her. One ritual will strip her of her magic, while the other one will send her soul to the afterlife. Freeing up her body for the soul of a woman who has been dead for centuries. 

What about the soul of her unborn child? The innocent victim in all this. Rayne will do anything she can to save her baby. 

“The natural magic in your blood will cause complications with the spell. It can warp it and cause unknown things to happen. My Olivia had no magic in her. Her soul was pure and sweet. I only need your body. Everything else will be destroyed.” 

With that statement said, Nathaniel disappeared in a cloud of black smoke. The silence he left behind was thick. The feeling of dread and the lingering threat of their deaths leaves them both staring blankly at the surrounding walls. 

After what felt like an eternity to Rayne, Sebastion finally breaks the silence between them. The sudden sound of his voice causes her to jolt as he startles her. His warm hand on her shoulder makes her look over at him. 

“I didn’t mean to scare you. Are you ok?”

“You look horrible, Sebastion. Did he really have someone beat you?” 

His hand goes up to his face as if he just now realizes what she means. “They were polite thugs, but yes, he did. They took me from my home while Irina was putting my pack in its place. We announced her as their new Luna. All but a few were happy with the news.” 

“Wow. That is good for you and your pack.” 

“We were also in the middle of telling them about Treadstone and the Collectors. However, I was taken aback at how fast my pack bowed to her. She is of alpha blood. Her father was the original Alpha of their pack but turned it over to his younger brother.” 

“Your mate is a female alpha?”  

That news surprised her. Female alphas are rare. Now he has two in his pack. That will make Treadstone want them even more. If not Treadstone, then others of his kind will come for them. 

“Wait, does Treadstone know she is an alpha?” 

“Ironically, not at all. He had her in his control for years, but she hid her powerful nature. Had he known, he would have put her in one of his cells. He also has no clue about Monroe, about who and what he really is.” 

The fact that Sebastion knows who Monroe really is surprises her. Arabella told her about the Alpha King after he helped them take Wilson down. “He told you?” 

Sebastion shoots her a look. “You knew?” 

“Yes, but it wasn’t my secret to tell.” 

Their conversation is interrupted when the door to the room opens. Killian walks in, then stops in his tracks when he spots Sebastion. Anger flares in his eyes at his unexpected guest. “Who the fuck are you and how did you get in here?” 

“Ask your pet Warlock. He has grand plans that don’t involve you.” Rayne answers. 

“I am aware of what that love-struck fool wants to do. He won’t be doing it until I get what I want. So, to ensure that doesn’t happen, this little partnership of ours is now at an end.” 

Rayne stands up off the floor with Sebastion’s help. “There is nowhere you can take me where he won’t find me. He is a Warlock after all.” 

“I am taking you to the once place that he can no longer go. Holy ground. His soul is so dark and corrupted that he can’t step foot on consecrated ground.” 

Well, shit! That benefits her. Once they are no longer in this room, she will have access to her link with Parker. Her stalling worked.