This Curse - By Alisha Basso Page 0,39

children.”

I felt my mouth drop open in surprise as murmurs broke out through the room. I was in total shock at his last statement. It was like a punch in the stomach.

Patrick turned to face his pack and then threw his fist into the air. “Mighty wolves,” he shouted, “blessed with the magic of their mother, a full Madea.” The shouts and howls of approval from Patrick’s pack made my stomach turn. “You will rule at my side,” he continued and I just shook my head. He was off his rocker! “You will spend your days caring for your young, our young, while feeding our pack your powerful blood.” He spun in a circle, his wolves hollering and cheering him along.

He was a madman.

“All I need to do is fill you with my seed,” he smiled. “One child, Grace, your child,” he chuckled. “And that melting Madea heart will be mine.”

His words spun in my mind twisting around to dance with the memory of my visions. The infant! Oh my God!

“You arrogant son of a bitch.” I spoke low and even, the smallest shard of true fear cracking through my confidence. “Do you think that for one second I would allow you to touch me? Really?” I felt my power build. “What makes you think you can hold me? Voltaire may be able to block my power, but he has no power over me.”

“Oh, we don’t need him for that,” he stated vaguely. “We have been working on a way to hold you very still. Voltaire will block your ability to work your magic while I get you with child.” He spoke casually, as if raping me repeatedly were just another check on his to do list.

“You are a fool, Patrick,” I sneered. “An arrogant fool. What are you planning to do? I don’t see Voltaire?” I closed the distance between us and poked him in the chest. “You can threaten me all you want,” I laughed. “But you’re not doing anything to me, not tonight, not ever.”

“Voltaire has a plan.” For a moment, Patrick looked unsure. I sneered at his look of doubt. “He will reveal his intentions in time.” he thundered.

I shook my head. “Trouble in the ranks? Guess you won’t be running your grubby little hands all over me after all. Hmmm?” I mocked.

“Oh, Grace, you are so wrong. In fact, I think you’ll be eating those words very soon.” He glanced behind me, a small smile played over his lips, “Remember when I told you that the rope we used was spelled?”

I shrugged. “What of it?”

“Do you know who we got to spell that rope?” his eyebrows rose.

I watched him for a moment, knowing I wasn’t going to like what was coming.

“Grace.” The voice chilled me, killing something inside my soul.

Lucian?

I slowly turned, tears rapidly blurring my vision. Stunned, I watched as the beautiful, golden man that I had once called my friend held up his right hand. My eyes widened in shock as I stared at the sizzling ball of energy popping and spitting, spreading out from his palm to lick his fingertips. The spell they had used to freeze Voltaire.

I reached out, “Lucian, no!” I screamed.

The energy hit me square in the chest, freezing my feet to the ground. I could feel the tears sliding down my cheeks. Shock and betrayal rolled in my stomach. Fear at what Patrick had planned turned my blood to ice.

“She really is a tender thing, isn’t she?” Lucian stood beside Patrick as I struggled to move. “Females really shouldn’t be gifted with so much power, which is why Lydia was such a poor choice to spell that rope.” Lucian stepped closer to me, allowing the length of his body to touch mine. “Weakness is a predictable folly for you, Grace; so afraid of hurting others, even when they are clearly posing a threat to you. The Madea may have been the ultimate when it came to power but they were ultimately pathetic for their lack of spine.” He grasped the back of my head and fisted a handful of my hair in a tight grip. I winced and I sucked in my breath. “You really are a beautiful creature, Grace.” He looked into my eyes and I saw nothing there. He was vacant as if his soul had been removed.

A cold chill raced up my spine. Smoke and ash filled my senses as his lips smashed cruelly into mine. He shoved his tongue deep inside my mouth and