Chapter 85

(**Rayne**)

Parker meets her halfway down the stairs. His eyes are full of anger, but worry for her is pulsing through their link. Declan, Andre, and Kostas are right behind him. Confusion is written all over the founder’s faces. This is a threat that they don’t know about.

What a way to let welcome them to Bodega Bay.

“What is Nathaniel doing out there?” Parker asks.

“He is standing at the very edge of the back parking lot, just staring at the door. Someone left it open. I saw he when I went to close the door. Parker he is using a compulsion spell aimed at me. He tried to draw me outside with it.”

Parker frowns at what she tells him. “I thought they stripped him of his magic?”

“He must have gone to his friends for help. He really wants to bring Olivia back.”

“That won’t happen. I have an idea. He doesn’t know there are four shifters in here. We can use that to our advantage,” he says. He turns to look up at his father, Kostas, and Andre. “Are you three up for a fight?”

Kostas stands up straight, squares his shoulders, then nods his head. Andre smiles, cracks his knuckles like a fighter preparing to punch someone, then nods his head like his brother did. Declan merely smiles at Parker.

“Wait, Parker, he may have other Dark Witches out there with him. Do you really think he would be stupid enough to come here alone after we ruined his plan last time?”

This makes him look back at her with a look of contemplation on his face. She can tell the thought of Nathaniel having back-up out there hadn’t crossed his mind. The last thing she wants is for them to go out there unprepared.

Kostas steps back up a stair, then looks at his brother briefly. Andre nods at him then makes a gesture with his hand as if to tell him to speak. “I am trained in the art of white magic. My aunt was a White Witch and taught me everything she could before her death. I can use my gifts to reveal anyone outside who is using magic to hide themselves.”

“Then let’s go up on the roof to get a better view of the warlock. If he is alone, then I will tell you all about my plan.” Parker says. He turns to look up at the three shifters behind him, then back at Rayne. “Go alerts all our staff. Tell them to be ready when I give you the signal. This fucker doesn’t leave here tonight.”

Parker leans down to kiss her, then turns around to go back up the stairs. Rayne rushes into the taproom, gives Argyle a signal to come to her, then waits. When he gets to her, she tells him to grab pull Spencer off the front door then let all the staff know to prepare for a fight.

“Once that is done, you and Spencer meet me in the back entranceway.”

He nods then goes to do as she asked. Turning on her heels, she heads to the back door to wait for Parker’s signal to open the door. A few minutes later, she can feel Argyle and Spencer at her back as they wait with her.

The waiting is killing her, so she has Argyle open the door. His body blocks her from being seen by anyone waiting outside. This allows them both to hear and see if anyone approaches the back door.

“There are more people in this bar that will fight with us if we let them know what is going on, boss.” Spencer says.

“I know, but I can’t ask any of them to fight for me. They came here for sanctuary, not a battle. Shadow’s Retreat is a neutral zone. That is why we need to get rid of this damn Warlock fast and quiet.”

Argyle stiffens for a moment, then looks back at her. “Parker and the others are doing a circle around the building. I can hear their wings flapping.”

That means they are doing a pass of the area to see if Kostas can sense anyone else out there with Nathaniel. Smart plan. All she can do now is wait and hope Nathaniel is a crazy as she thinks he is. Let him be so overconfident in the spell used to lure her out that he came alone.

A few tense moments later, she hears Parker’s voice in her head telling her what she hoped was true. Nathaniel had come alone. Kostas can’t sense anyone using magic other that the spell Nataniel used. From what Kostas can tell, the spell is coming from an amulet around Nathaniel’s neck.

That must have been an expensive trinket to buy. One that he will not get to keep for much longer. What a pity.

*What is your plan, Parker?*

*You will see in just a few minutes.*

Great, another waiting game. Patience isn’t a game she likes to play in situations like this. With all the horrible things in her life falling like dominoes, this situation needs to be resolved soon. A bit of breathing room for her and all those she loves would be fantastic right now.

Is that too much to ask for Moon Goddess? Hm? Please?

A shrill scream cuts through the night shortly followed but the sound of soft but angry sounds of hissing snakes. Argyle laughs, then he steps outside and to the left of the door so she can see what is happening outside. Spencer laughs from behind her, making Rayne look at him briefly before following his gaze.

Surrounding Nathaniel are three large python snakes. They are the type that most humans would describe as man-eaters. From the way they are situated, she can tell he didn’t see them as a threat until the one currently wrapped around his feet started to constrict. Rayne has a feeling that one is Declan.

The other hiss at Nathaniel each time he tries to wiggle free. Suddenly an eagle swoops down from the roof straight at him. Before he can block it, Parker latches onto the amulet around Nathaniel’s neck, then rips it free with his talons.

Parker then flies towards the back door, dropping the amulet into Argyle’s palms before he circles back to the warlock. He shifts to his human form after he lands on the pavement. Rayne’s eyes flick to his naked ass briefly, because she can’t help herself.

Argyle drops the amulet onto the ground at his feet then stomps on it. The sound of glass breaking and stone crunching under his boot let her know he destroyed the amulet. Rayne looks up at Nathaniel to see if she still feels that magical pull.

She smiles when it doesn’t work, then steps outside with Spencer right behind her. The three of them step up behind Parker as he approaches the warlock. The scent of fear is ripe in the night air.

“You were a fool to come here alone.”

“Give Olivia to me and I won’t call for my friends.”

Parker looks all around the parking lot. He lifts both of his arms out wide as slowly spins around to look all over the area. He looks up at the rooftops of the surrounding buildings before he looks back at Nataniel.

“Where are they? Are they hiding in plain sight right here in this parking lot?”

When Nathaniel’s eyes look away, Parker smiles as he looks towards the side street next to Shadow’s Retreat, then he gestures with one hand in that direction.

“Perhaps they are lined up in the street over there. Are they hiding under the cover of magic?”

Declan squeezes Nathaniel’s legs, which causes the warlock to let out a loud cry of pain. “Just give her to me and this can all be over.” A heavy breath punctuates each word as he tries to wiggle free from Declan’s vise-like grip around his legs.

Parker smiles, then points to the surrounding rooftops. “Oh, I know where they are. You told them to wait above us so that they can ambush us when you give them a signal. Is that right?”

Nathaniel lets out a scream of pain as Declan squeezes tighter. He is now wrapped around the warlock’s torso, tightening around his ribcage. Parker smiles in a way that Rayne has never seen before. It is frightening in a way that she never thought he could be.

Oddly enough, something else occurs to her, something that she isn’t sure she likes. This version of her mate is very attractive to her. She can feel heat pool in her belly at the thought of angry sex with him like this.

Parker glances at her with a surprised expression, then he smiles wryly before he turns back to Nathaniel.

“What did you plan on doing if the spell on your amulet worked by luring my mate out to you? Rayne is not Olivia. Your mate has been dead for years. I have news for you, you delusional fuck. You made a big mistake coming here tonight.”

Andre and Kostas move back, then they shift back to their human forms. Declan has the warlock well restrained now. What surprises her about their shift is that they are fully clothed when they do. That is a rare ability among shifters and werewolves.

“She is my mate, Olivia; her name isn’t Rayne. Give her to me and no one else will get hurt,” Nathaniel says.

“I am growing tired of your delusions. The mate you are trying to resurrect is gone. I will give you two choices tonight. Admit that the woman next to me is not Olivia. Leave here now with your life and promise to never come for my mate again. You are to not send anyone else for her either.”

“My second choice?”

Rayne steps forward before Parker can answer. Nathaniel must have seen something on her face that he didn’t like because he jerks away. Declan squeezes him again, causing him to scream in pain and anger.

“We can reunite you with Olivia in a way that you won’t like. Death will send you on your way to meet her in the afterlife.”

“Only her soul in your body will please me,” Nathaniel yells. Rage fills his eyes as he fiercely struggles to free himself from Declan’s grip.

Parker forms a tiger paw out of his hand, then swiftly swipes one claw across the warlock’s face. The scent of his blood fills the air as he screams in pain. Rayne can feel Parker growing tired of this entire situation.

Can she live with herself or him if they kill Nathaniel in cold blood? That has never been who they are. They have both taken lives over the last five years, but always in self-defense or to save another person who would have died at the hands of another.

*This isn’t us, Parker. We can’t kill him.*

*If we don’t, he will just keep coming. This all ends here tonight, Rayne. It isn’t cold blooded murder. He wants to kill our baby, send your soul to oblivion, then use your body as a host for his dead mate. If he gets another chance, he will live up to his word. Do you want that?*

No, she doesn’t want any of that to happen.

“I feel sorry for you, Nathaniel. You could have had a good life after Olivia died, but you let your grief turn into something dark. You allowed it to corrupt who you were. All for a dream that one day you would find the perfect host for her return.”

Rayne steps closer to him, then looks into his eyes. For a moment, his eyes clear as he stares at her. It was as if for the first time Nathaniel see her and only her, not Olivia.

“Please release me into death so that I can finally be with her. I miss her so very much.”

The pain in his voice, the tears in his eyes, makes her know what needs to be done. Killing him will be a mercy killing. It will grant him the one thing he has wanted for years. To finally be with his soul mate once again. For death is the only way that can happen now.

Had Olivia been alive today when she was diagnosed with what is now known as breast cancer, she would have had a fighting chance at survival. Rayne can feel tears slip down her cheeks as that brief glimmer of sanity fades from Nathaniel’s eyes. Rage fills those wild depths as he tries to lunge at her.

With his arms pinned at his sides by Declan’s snake form, he isn’t a threat to her. Looking back at Parker, she nods to him, then steps back to where Argyle and Spencer are still standing. Argyle reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a dagger. Parker takes it before he steps up to Nathaniel.

“For the loss you have suffered, I am truly sorry. All those years wandering the earth without her must have been a nightmare. For that, I will grant your wish.”

In a smooth, swift motion, Parker thrusts the knife into Nathaniel’s heart. Declan loosens his grip to allow the man to fall smoothly to the ground. Rayne watches at the life fades from his eyes. Tears stream down her face as she reaches for Parker’s free hand.

He hands the dagger back to Argyle, then pulls her into his embrace. His scent invades her senses, comforting her in a small way. However, the fact that they just killed a man, even at his own request, it still feels wrong.

She knew the moment she saw Nathaniel tonight that he would meet his death at one of their hands. In her heart, she knew it would be Parker that did it. She can even understand why it needed to be him. He would rather have that on his conscience than on hers. He would rather have that stain on his soul that to have her tainted with it.

It will stick with her forever, no matter what she does.

Tara joined them outside with a stack of folded clothes in her hands. Rayne took them from her and gave them to Parker and Declan. With a nod, she motions for Spencer and Argyle to lift Nathaniel from the ground.

“Take him down to the sanctuary. We will let Arabella know he is here so she can cleanse him the way he needs to be before she buries him.”

Nathaniel may have darkened his soul with the magic path he went down, but he was once a White Witch. His soul will be purified, then they will burn his body in white fire to release him into their afterlife. Only then will his soul be free to reunite with Olivia’s.

Parker may have taken his life, but they will honor the man Nathaniel used to be.