The Almost One Night Stand

Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Raven's POV

"Where the fuck is she," Victor roared, pulling me from my sleep. Axel groaned next to me and our eyes met, confusion filling us.

"What happened," Sean said, wincing. His back still dripped blood from Owen's punishment. "Why do I feel like I've been on a week-long bender?"

"Oilliphéist venom," Luke said somberly. "Corey spiked our drinks with it, then he vanished with Nimue."

"How long ago," Brandon asked, his voice cracking.

Kota looked out the windows and at the room around us, "Best guess is almost twenty-four hours ago, maybe a bit less."

"Son of a bitch!" North roared. "It was him. The vision - it was Corey all along." He threw the chair in front of him across the room, shattering it. "Why? Why the fuck would he do this to her, to us?"

I cleared my throat, "When he toasted, he said something about visions, about protecting her. North what was in your vision?"

He frowned and closed his eyes for a moment, then spoke, "I saw him grab her, but it didn't really look like him. This guy was taller with stringy hair. He held her in front of a ring of toadstools and there was a cabin with strange writing on the door. The writing lights up after she goes inside and then disappears."

Kota waved his hand in that air, a man's image appearing before him, "Did the guy look like this?"

"Yeah, that's the fucker," North grimaced.

Kota swore under his breath along with Marc. "Well, that might explain why Corey did it." He pointed at the image just as it broke apart, "That's Addanc. If he has Nimue, her aunt is involved and Corey may not even know what he did or who he is anymore."

Brandon looked at me, his eyes pleading, "Can you find him? I know you two have a strong connection, please, Raven, find my brother."

I grabbed him in a fierce hug, "I'll find him, I promise. I'll bring him back and see if he can help us find her." He nodded, then I teleported, following the pull in my soul to my love. I opened my eyes to find myself in a reed marsh and remembered Luke's words in the grove that day- Corey was Reed-claimed.

I could feel his pain calling out to my soul as I frantically searched the marsh. He sat at the water's edge, his body shaking with sobs. "Moya lyubov'," I said cautiously, afraid he may not recognize me, "Corey, please."

His head raised and I saw the flat reflection of Dark Fae fully engulfing his eyes. "Stay away, Raven. I don't want to hurt you." He turned back to the water, running his hand across the surface. "Just leave. After tonight none of you will have to worry about me ever again."

My body tensed, what did he do? "I don't want to leave, and I want to worry about you, moya lyubov'. I love you," I said as I carefully inched closer. I sat on the edge of the water just out of arm's reach. I gently pushed my magic toward him, searching for his claim, his power. If I could find something to latch onto, I might be able to influence him - if not as his lover, then as his King. I would take anything at this point, even if he hated me for it later.

"You don't understand, Rav," he cried, "I let her use me, touch me. I can't get her touch off of me!" He held out his arms. It looked like he'd scratched them raw, trying to remove some unseen substance. "She twisted my mind, made me think..."

"It's not your fault, love," I said gently, scooting a bit closer until his eyes locked on mine.

He growled. "Like fuck it isn't!" I saw his eyes flash a deep amber color then back to his blue, yet still, the flat gleam covered them. He was struggling with his new power.

"What did she do to you? Have you been bitten, poisoned, or spelled? Tell me and we will figure out a way to stop it, to fix it," I begged.

He gave a dry laugh, "Can you stop this, Holly King?" I watched in shock as his body shifted, bones cracking, skin falling off and fur sprouting as he stood before me an enormous wolf with light blonde/brown fur.

"Corey," I breathed, my hand reaching out to him as he growled and snapped at me. It didn't matter, I couldn't help but touch him. He was magnificent. "You're beautiful, moya lyubov'." He whined as my hand skimmed over his fur. "This is nothing to be ashamed of, love. You are a rare Dark Fae and I am proud to call you mine." His whole body seemed to sag as he dropped to the ground, his head in my lap. I sat, stroking his fur, watching his body move as he breathed. Then it hit me. He was planning to let go of his humanity - to become a wolf. "Don't do it, please don't give up, Corey. I can't bear this life without you. Don't you see? This is a blessing for us."

I felt his body shift and looked down into those beautiful blue eyes once again. "How can this be a blessing, Raven? I'm a fucking werewolf, I betrayed Nimue and my entire family."

"With your help, we can find her. As for the blessing, you're immortal now. Ossory wolves aren't regular werewolves, they're Dark Fae. Don't you see - we have eternity together now. I've spent years afraid of losing you to old age, but that won't happen now." I watched as his eyes went wide at my explanation. I lifted his mouth to mine, "Stay with me, Corey. Be mine forever," I whispered as I pressed our lips together. His body responded immediately and I pulled him across my lap, his cock rubbing against me as our bodies moved. I groaned as I pulled away, "Fuck, for as much as I want to fuck you, love, we need to get to the others. You are the only one who knows where Nimue is. We need you, she needs you."

"She doesn't know who we are anymore," Corey said as tears rolled down his cheek. "Addanc and her aunt erased her mind along with Laurent's."

I tried to reign in my anger, "Don't give up hope. For now, we need to find them. Then we can worry about the damn spells." I pulled him up and snapped my fingers, putting clothes on him. Pulling him close to me, I whispered in his ear, "We are definitely going to talk about the whole wolf thing and what it means between us." He blushed and I teleported us back to the group.

They all stared as we suddenly appeared. "What the fuck," North grumbled. "Hasn't he done enough?" I felt Corey cringe and try to step behind me.

"Cor, hey," Brandon said, stepping towards him, "I know you thought you were doing the right thing, brother. I forgive you."

Corey sputtered, "You, you what?" Brandon pulled him against his chest and hugged him. Sobs broke free from him, "I'm so sorry. She drugged me and then she...she." His words cut off in more cries.

"Who is she?" Luke asked gently. "Who drugged you, Corey?"

"Mara. She's a Dearg Due and working with Nimue's aunt," he choked as Brandon continued to hug him.

"Fuck! I should have known," Victor swore. "That's why she was avoiding me and Jax after we returned. She knew if she came too close I'd recognize her scent."

"That's not all," Corey said, pulling away from Brandon. "Addanc was there. He erased her memories as well as Laurent's. They think they're farmers and married, living in a small cabin in the woods." He gave a mournful look toward Gabe and Luke, "Delilah gave her more of the potion. She said the babies will come soon. I'm so sorry. I had no idea what was really happening until she took me to the marshes. That's when she lifted Mara's spell." His eyes met mine, "I think she thought I would kill myself out of guilt and shame...and I would have if Raven hadn't found me." His voice was just barely a whisper in his last sentence and my heart clutched. I'd almost lost my soulmate, my love.  

Author's Notes:  Brandon kept his oath to Lugh - he forgave Corey.  Do you think the rest of them will?

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