Shadow of the Wolf

“I have a very bad feeling, Chris. Give me the amulet.”

Lana’s eyes widened. “Give him the amulet.” If Zach’s instincts were screaming at him that loudly then she knew she’d need whatever it was he was planning on doing.

Chris held out the amulet. “If he goes after her, he’ll be expecting wizard’s magic.”

“And witch’s, for that matter.” Daniel propped his butt on the edge of Chris’s desk.

Zach smiled. It was feral, cold, and nothing Lana would have thought him capable of. From the looks on his brothers’ faces, they never would have either. “But he won’t be expecting me.”

Chris stared at his brother for the longest moment before an identical smile crossed his face. Lana shivered. “Good.”

Zach turned, dragging Lana out of the room behind him. “Zach?”

“Trust me.”

She blew her hair out of her eyes. What are you planning, Zach? She watched him frantically lay out items on the kitchen counter, his expression hard and his movements precise and controlled. He knew exactly what he wanted and where to find it. The more she watched, the more it made sense. And the more it made sense, the more frightened she became. He needed to get to court and he needed to get there soon.

If Zach is capable of this, what else is he capable of?

* * *

The chamber door clanged shut with an ominous sound. How Cole had managed to obtain a dueling chamber on such short notice Christopher didn’t know. He had the feeling he’d used his family connections to cut through the red tape.

The Godwins sat on Cole’s side of the chamber, glaring at the Becketts through cold eyes. In particular Lana and Annabelle Evans seemed to be garnering the most attention.

Arthur Godwin’s expression was particularly vile when he saw the mark on Lana’s neck, the unmistakable stamp of a Beckett mate.

It was a typical dueling ring, a simple white ring like you’d see in a circus, perhaps.

But where the circle of a circus ring would be plain white bags or pavers, this white ring was etched with arcane symbols in all sorts of colors, the markings necessary not only for the shielding spell that would encase them once the duel started but full of protection spells designed to make sure that those outside the ring would suffer no ill effects from whatever magic the duelists utilized. Instead of grandstands there were comfortable padded chairs opposite one another, enough to hold the members of each family plus a few extras. Since neither Cole nor Christopher had called anyone but family, some of those chairs on each side remained empty. The floor of the circle itself was simple dirt, earth necessary to ground certain spells or to be used against your opponent in whatever way you could. A water fountain gurgled nearby. A chimenea already had a fire burning merrily inside. Incense scented the air directly above the dueling ring, the burner hanging by a golden chain. These items allowed elemental magic to be used once the shields snapped into place.

Christopher stared at his opponent, mentally checking each and every one of his preparations. Two amulets, a piece of paper with a specific rune in gold lettering, a silver lighter, a stick figure, black ribbon, three round silver links attached to each other, and his Athame. Not much on the surface, but each one had a purpose. He couldn’t, wouldn’t turn and look at his family or his mate until after this little fight was over. He needed to concentrate solely on kicking Cole’s ass so hard he’d feel it in the afterlife. This stupid rivalry had to end.

He planned on ending it tonight.

He’d already hashed all of the details out with Gareth, who had agreed to be his second. Together they’d found a way a man could take the power of another being and bind it in such a way that the person could never again do harm to others. It was an old spell, rarely used by any but the council’s Enforcers, and could wind up costing Christopher more than it cost Cole. But if it meant keeping Lana safe, Christopher would risk it. Cole was a menace. He needed to be dealt with. Cole’s willingness to harm innocents in his little war with Christopher just cemented Chris’s resolve.

He risked one quick glance at Cole’s second, the man’s father, and wondered what he thought of the duel. Did he know why Cole was fighting Christopher? Did he approve of it? Did he know what his son had become? The cold gleam in the man’s eyes, the pure satisfaction and vindictiveness there, told him that Cole’s father was just as deeply into this madness as Cole was. He wished now that he’d looked the entire Godwin family up, just to see who else in this room was a warlock.

The Arbiter, the wizard responsible for ensuring a fair duel, paced off the length of the dueling area, surrounding them in a shimmering, barely visible shield that would effectively prevent either the Becketts or the Godwins from assisting their relatives. No outside interference would be allowed. Inside that shield, however, a wizard could use any means at his disposal to defeat his opponent. Only the seconds would be able to enter the ring, and only under specific circumstances. Zachary had made sure before anyone else had entered the arena that the Arbiter was informed that Chris was not dealing with a wizard, but with a warlock. The Arbiter had made the appropriate adjustments to the circle. Or so Chris hoped.

“Mr. Beckett. Mr. Godwin. Are you both intent on this duel?” The deep voice of the Arbiter startled him, breaking his thoughts.

“Yes,” Cole hissed.

“Yes.” Christopher shook his head. He had to be one hundred percent on his guard.

He couldn’t afford to be distracted, not even by his thoughts.

The shield closed, sealing them inside. Only the wizard who’d cast it, or that wizard’s death, could break it.

Now. Christopher pulled out his Athame and began his chant, fingering his protection charm. Cole, not surprisingly, mirrored his actions.

Yet something was off about the other man’s magic. Christopher could sense the forces coalescing but there was a taint to it that hadn’t been there the last time he’d faced Cole. He began his chant, hoping for the best.

“Lord and Lady, come to me.

Protect me from adversity.”

He pointed the Athame at Cole.

“Any ill you send to me

Will return to you times three.

As I will so mote it be!”

He finished his protection spell and felt it settle into his skin. It would be harder to hurt him now, but not impossible. Every protection spell had a weakness. All it would take would be for Cole to figure his weakness out and he’d be able to harm Christopher.

But it did buy him time. Christopher pulled out the second amulet, watching Cole closely. Cole pulled out a wand of dark wood, his gaze full of hate.

The tainted magic struck before Christopher could even start his chant. It struck him in the middle of his chest, pulling at the core of his being. He could feel it burning into him with icy-hot talons. He gasped, desperately trying to get his breath. He tossed the three silver links to the ground.

“Circle three I conjure thee.

Ground his spell so mote it be!”

He drew in a desperate breath, grateful when Cole’s spell was jerked into the rings, rings that expanded, digging into the earth of the dueling circle, grounding both Christopher and Cole’s spell. He touched the edge of the burn on his chest and hissed. He knew the throbbing pain would only grow worse, a distraction he didn’t need.

He needed to end this duel quickly, before the pain made him mess up one of his spells. If that happened, he would lose everything he was fighting for.

Cole ground his teeth and put his wand, now useless, away. “Clever, Christopher.

Try this one on for size.” He tossed a reddish gold circlet on the ground and leveled his Athame at it. The blade danced with a sickly green light.

“By Lucifer’s might and Lilith’s hate

I conjure thee, come through the gate.”

Christopher didn’t wait to hear more. He moved to counteract the spell. He took out the second amulet. He had intended to use it to hold off whatever elemental forces Cole had chosen to conjure. Instead, the man had