Juniper Santiago - Book 2 of The Santiago Series

*NINETY-THREE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY-EIGHT YEARS AGO*

“I’d like to think that we’re running things just fine by now. Do we really need to keep meeting like this?” Khalel asked.

“My, my, brother, aren’t we impatient?” Tagoromaen teased.

Khalel rolled his eyes. “I have better things to do with my time.”

“You seem to forget that we actually have a situation, even if you’re so hell bent on believing that it has nothing to do with you just because it doesn’t affect the vampires, but this affects all of us,” Zeumatero pointed out.

“And where are your esteemed Elders? Shouldn’t they also be here?” Khalel questioned.

“This doesn’t concern them, or at least the Creator would like for us to handle this alone without them,” Draexylon responded.

That had Khalel standing up straight. “Wait a minute. He’s letting us work as just the four of us again?”

“That’s what we’re trying to tell you. This is a huge situation Khal,” Zeumatero said.

“I thought we were here because of the oracles. How big could any situation really be for us where the oracles are involved?” Khalel asked.

“It is about the oracles, but we’ve made a discovery that we can’t believe we missed in the first place,” Tagoromaen said.

“Well don’t hold back,” Khalel said impatiently.

“Khal, he’s alive,” Zeumatero said lowly, knowing that his brother had heard him just fine.

The three brothers watched as Khalel took in the news. They knew that the news affected him most, which is why they had waited until this moment to tell him. He was undoubtedly shaking with rage.

“Where is he?” he mumbled.

“That’s the part we don’t know. We believe that he’s alive, but he keeps switching hosts because he hasn’t found a host strong enough to hold him,” Tagoromaen explained.

“And none of you can sense him?” Khalel questioned.

Zeumatero sighed. “You know that isn’t how it works Khal. We can’t sense each other.”

“I have to find him,” Khalel said, moving towards the door.

“Khal wait. You can’t jus-”

“HE PROMISED TO KILL MY MATE AND HE ALMOST SUCCEEDED!”

“That was years ago, and even she’s grown in strength now. We need an actual plan here,” Tagoromaen argued.

“The plan is simple. He must die,” Khalel stated.

“And even that won’t be an easy feat to achieve and you know it. He’s the strongest of us all,” Zeumatero pointed out.

“If you say that he hasn’t settled on a host yet, then that means that he’s at his weakest point. We must find him and strike now. The four of us together can defeat him if we do it now,” Khalel stressed.

Draexylon sighed. “And we will, but we need to think this through.”

Just as Zeumatero was about to speak, his link was nudged. “Your Highness, we’re under attack! The Queen has been injured. We don’t know if she or the twins will live.”

The brothers were confused when their brother released a feral growl that split the very room they were in, shaking the entire building. He shifted into his beast, jumping right out the window, and they knew that they had to follow him.

It didn’t take them long to follow him all the way to the Werewolf Castle, where the wolves were trying to fight off what looked like a mix of demons and vampires. Zeumatero’s beast turned to face his brothers in question.

“This isn’t my doing,” Tagoromaen quickly defended.

“It’s him! Can’t you see that this is him? What reason would Romaen and I have to attack your home?” Khalel asked his brother.

“My mate is injured, and I will rein fury on all if I lose my sons,” Zeumatero linked them before heading into the castle.

Stalaenys was barely breathing when her mate arrived. Her heart was beating slowly, but not because she was dying. It was beating slowly from pain and depression. She already knew that she’d lost her sons, and she didn’t know if she wanted to face her mate.

Zeumatero found her with the pack doctors and he shifted back to his human form before approaching her slowly. He could see the tears in her eyes, and from how bloodied her abdominal area was, he knew the truth.

His sons were dead.

“He’s gone. They’re gone,” Stalaenys whispered when her eyes landed on her mate.

At the sight of her fallen tear, Zeumatero released a long howl, and all who heard it knew then that the princes were dead. The three brothers rushed into the castle to comfort their brother and his mate, but he growled when they entered the room.

“I agree with Khal. We must find him, and we must kill him,” Zeumatero said lowly.

“How easy it was for you to be swayed,” Khalel commented, earning a deadly glare from his brother.

“The two of you can’t just go off and do this without a plan. You will cost us all in the long run,” Tagoromaen warned.

“It’s very easy for you to speak brother. He hasn’t taken anything from you,” Zeumatero growled darkly.

“Romaen is right. If you go into this blindly, he will overpower you, weakened state or not,” Draexylon added.

“You either join us, or you watch us,” Zeumatero said before shifting and leaving.

“You know where I stand,” Khalel said before shifting into his vampire and following his brother.

***

I heard the gate creak, but I didn’t bother to look up. I was annoyed, tired, pissed off and depressed, all in one, and I was still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that my own best friend had put me in this place.

I don’t even know how long I’d been in this place. I just knew that I felt a pain I was sure I never wanted to feel again in my life, knowing that my mate had been marked by someone else.

The part that I didn’t understand, was why I still had a bond with her if she was mated to someone else. I couldn’t link her, much to Zeus’ irritation, and the worst part was not knowing if she’d willingly allowed herself to get marked or not.

My mind kept travelling back to Scandinavia. It’s seemingly my fault that the rock hit her head, though no one is looking at it from my point of view. I had just regained my memories, so of course I wanted to be with my wife as soon as possible.

But the look she gave me in that cave is one I will never forget for as long as I live.

It wasn’t a look of hate, but it wasn’t one of love either. She was baffled, that much was clear, but it’s how quickly she found comfort in Roman that bothered me. Granted I don’t know the extent of their relationship, I’d like to think that as her mate, husband and father to her children, our bond would’ve trumped theirs.

But apparently fate didn’t agree with me on this.

“Isn’t this a sight for sore eyes?”

I looked up, and when I looked into the grey eyes staring at me, something in me stirred, especially when I realized that I was staring at a replica of me with black hair and grey eyes. Zeus finally gave me back control since we were both tired of trying to escape the cage that were trapped in, and I shifted back into our human form.

“Khal?” I said unsurely. The name was swimming in my head at the sight of my imposter, but I wasn’t particularly sure why I knew the name to begin with.

I also couldn’t scent him out.

“You know, I remember a time when you and I basically ruled the supernatural world. We were unstoppable before our kingdoms went to war over something that had nothing to do with either of us,” the man before me commented.

What is he talking about?

“You’re killing in my name. Why?” I instead asked.

“People will say anything that they’re compelled to say,” he replied.

I scowled. “So, what? I’m supposed to believe that you went around compelling that many wolves into believing that I was killing them and their families?”

“You were always too smart, which is why I don’t understand why you’re in the situation that you’re in. No, brother, I didn’t compel all of them. I compelled some vampires who then did the work for me,” he explained.

But I was stuck on the one word he’d uttered.

“Brother?” I questioned.

He nodded. “Yes, brother.”

Ok, so he wasn’t giving anything away.

“Only a pure blooded royal can compel other vampires,” I commented, trying another tactic.

“Correct,” he confirmed.

Not that I was looking for confirmation.

“I know all the pure blooded vampire royals,” I hinted.

“Also correct,” he said.

I growled a little. “You are not one of them.”

“Now that’s incorrect. I’m the very original pure blooded vampire. I am the King, much like you’re the King of werewolves,” he stated.

“I’m the strongest werewolf there is, but I am no King,” I denied.

“And you think you’re just magically stronger than the royals for the fun of it? You think that fate just decided that for the first time in never, there would be a wolf stronger than the royals, that wasn’t a royal?” he asked sarcastically.

“What are you saying exactly?” I snapped.

He chuckled. “Why do you know my name?”

I shrugged. “It just came to me.”

“And you don’t know who I am?” he asked.

“No, I do not,” I responded.

He harrumphed. “Interesting. When my name just magically popped into your head, what else did?”

I thought about what he was asking because it was clear that he was asking me to think hard about who he is. I clearly know him from somewhere, and the fact that we share a face must mean something.

And so, I thought.

I stood there for the longest time, trying to dig through my past to find the answer, and he was surprisingly patient as he stood there, hands in his pocket. I was about to give up when I was struck with a memory.

“Your name is Khalel, and you’re the first vampire ever created, and the first ever King of the Vampire Kingdom” I said in realization.

He nodded. “And you’re Zeumatero, the very first werewolf ever created, and first ever King of the Werewolf Kingdom.”

“How?” I questioned.

“That’s the bit that I’m hoping we can figure out together. The last thing I remember is you and I going after him, and that’s it. Given the fact that your name now is Mateo and your wolf is Zeus, I’m guessing this is fate’s way of bringing us back into the game because that’s just too close of a play on our names,” he told me.

“Wait, where have you been the past twenty-four years?” I asked.

He frowned. “I grew up human and oblivious up until a couple of months back when I woke up my true self. I quickly grasped onto the fact that there was a whole other world of supernatural things, until eventually my life came back to me. It was around the same time I found out that the world-renowned Mateo Santiago had mated with his fated mate. I knew that I had to get to you somehow, but I couldn’t get to you directly. There’s obviously magic at play here, but I felt a tug at our bond two days ago, and I knew that I could finally come and see you directly.”

“I don’t understand. There are wolves that are actually dying and it’s supposedly linked to you,” I pointed out.

“The wolves being attacked thing has been going on for a while. I just jumped on it to steer things in my direction, but I’m in no way involved in the killings. You know I wouldn’t harm your people like that,” he said.

“So, the imposter thing was just to get my attention?” I asked.

“Yep! You were taking too long to look into it though, but that’s when I found out the whole thing with you and Roman,” he said.

I narrowed my eyes. “Tell me that this isn’t a part of fate’s plan and that Roman isn’t actually Romaen.”

“I wish I could brother, but he’s the very same one. Why do you think he’s a King?” he asked.

“Are you fucking kidding me? You’re telling me that Stalaenys and Marionessa are one? How? And why the hell is he the only one who’s a King right now?” I questioned.

He shrugged. “Again, I have no idea. The only thing I know is that this is all his doing in one way or the other. We disappeared from the timeline almost five hundred years ago, and now we’re back somehow. I don’t know if Romaen has his memories, though judging from the current situation, I’m going to go with not.”

It all came rushing back to me- the pain, the anger, the grief, all of it. On top of everything I was feeling from my new life, everything from my old life was added onto that. I had lost my sons in my old life, and now I had lost both my children and my mate.

Granted they’re all still alive.

“History is fucking repeating itself. Can someone please tell me what I did to deserve this?” I asked.

“History isn’t repeating itself brother. I won’t let it. You will get her and your children back,” Khal said strongly.

“This is all Romaen’s fault,” I murmured.

“What? That we’re in this situation?” he asked.

I nodded. “I remember now. Our plan was flawless until Romaen decided to intervene at the last minute. We would’ve succeeded had he not interfered. Now the three of us are in this mess, and who knows where he is by now.”

“You’re speaking in riddles, but there’s something important I need to ask you. Can you feel Draex?” he questioned.

When we realized that not being able to sense each other as brothers was working against us, we asked the Creator to link us so that we would always know if we needed each other. Given how I hadn’t felt the link all my life as Mateo, I’m guessing whatever magic was used on us stalled our link, or at least tampered with it so that we couldn’t reach out to each other.

All of this was confusing, but it also made sense, except the more I tried to find the link to my brother, the more I realized I couldn’t feel it. “I feel nothing.”

“I thought as much. Tero, I’m pretty sure Draexylon was murdered,” he said grimly.

I sighed. “And we all know that only he could kill him. We need to find out how long ago this happened.”

“Oh, we will, but we first need to reclaim our kingdoms. Something tells me we’re going to be going to war soon.”

***

Naturalist Witch.

Noun.

A witch that has all the powers and capabilities of a common witch, as well as the powers of the elements.

The first breed of witches.

They possess the power of teleportation.

They possess the power of telepathy.

They possess the power of telekinesis.

They possess the power of controlling time.

They possess the power of shape shifting.

They possess the power of magnetism.

They possess the power of mind control.

They are the most powerful witches in existence.

Max had always known that his parents back at Vista were not his biological parents, try as they may to convince him otherwise. He just knew that there was something about them that just didn’t connect with him.

When Rose connected with him, showing him who he really was, he knew he’d have a journey trying to find answers about where he really came from, and how part of him came to be.

After seeing his mate, sensing what she was, he knew what he had to do, and he didn’t think twice about it. While he knew that Juniper, Marissa and Roman would never agree, they didn’t know what he knew.

He hadn’t told Roman everything that he’d seen in the Book of Originals.

While the Demon King could read some of the words, most of them were in Naturalist tongue, which naturally meant that only Max understood the words. He told him what he felt was relevant, while keeping some things to himself.

Especially after realizing that the Book of Originals had a hell of a lot more information than just origination details.

He looked around at the garden before him, unsure of what it is he was looking for exactly, until his attention was brought to a sound to his left. There, he watched as a beautiful woman with blonde long hair and hazel eyes laughed as she ran out of the house.

He didn’t miss the fact that she was pregnant.

A low growl followed before a big and built man ran out after her. She squealed as he chased her, before finally catching her. He picked her up gently and spun her around, smiling as she laughed in his arms.

“That wasn’t very nice of you my love,” he told her.

“I told you that you needed a break, but as usual, you don’t listen to me,” she giggled.

“If you were feeling that neglected, you could’ve just told me. I would’ve stopped working,” he said.

She caressed his cheek. “Oh, but I did tell you, multiple times. You were really deep in it Ramsey.”

He felt guilty. “I’m sorry my love. You know I don’t mean to ignore you.”

“I know, which is why I took matters into my own hands,” she said slyly.

He chuckled. “Well, you have my full attention now. What would you like to do?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t think this through,” she scowled, making him laugh some more.

“How about we have a picnic in the garden while bonding with our son?” he suggested.

“I love that idea very much,” she smiled.

Max watched on as she created the picnic before them, having cast a spell that he wasn’t familiar with, but in a language he understood fully well. He watched as the couple sat down on the blanket and got comfortable.

“You know, every day I wish that our son doesn’t turn out like you,” she joked.

He mock gasped. “Why would you wish for such a thing?”

“I want him to be free spirited like me Ramsey. If he’s like you, he’ll never find peace because he’ll always be working,” she teased.

He frowned. “Surely, I’m not that bad.”

“It’s an adorable trait on you, but I worry that work is all you’ll ever concern yourself with,” she confessed.

“I could never let work be all I’m concerned with when I have you Dez. You’re the love of my life. You and our son are the most important people to me,” he said passionately.

“I worry Ramsey. I know that you’re mostly working so that you can protect us, but I worry that you won’t be able to. I can feel her. She knows that I’m pregnant and after what happened with her own son, I know she’ll be coming for revenge,” she panicked.

“Except her son left her because of her own doing. That wasn’t in any way your fault and you need to forget about that,” he told her.

She smiled sadly. “I can’t just forget Ramsey. It’s the same day I lost my brother.”

“And I don’t mean that you should forget him, but you should definitely not dwell on what your sister put you through on that day. Her sins will catch up with her one day,” he said, caressing her cheek.

“How did I get so lucky to find you after so many years?” she whispered.

“I’m the lucky one my love. I never imagined that I was anywhere near deserving of a mate, much less one so powerful, and now you’re going to give me a son. I couldn’t be happier than I am now,” he said proudly.

She took his hand and kissed it. “I love you Ramsey.”

He kissed her slowly. “And I love you Odezzia.”

“What will we name our son?” she asked curiously as they proceeded to eat.

“I don’t know, but Maxwell sounds like a good name,” he offered.

She made a face. “You’re on the right track, but I don’t like Maxwell. How about Maximillan instead?”

“That I definitely like. It’s not common, much like our son,” he agreed.

“Do you think he’ll turn out to be a witch or a wolf, or both?” she questioned.

“I think he’ll turn out to be a boy loved very much by both his parents, regardless of what he turns out to be,” he said cheekily.

“Wise answer,” she laughed.

He smirked before kissing her. “I thought so too.”

There were suddenly gunshot sounds everywhere, together with growling as Max watched an ambush happen before his very eyes, knowing that there was nothing he could do. He watched as Ramsey tried his best to protect Odezzia, and he watched as the one person he was sure he hated wholeheartedly appeared amongst the fighting men.

“I knew this was all you,” Odezzia spat, her hands protectively covering her belly.

“Who else would want you dead dearest sister, or is this your way of telling me that you finally turned bad and made some enemies?” Odessa mocked.

“You will never harm my son Dessa. I won’t let you,” Odezzia said protectively.

Odessa shrugged. “Maybe not, but I can harm you while he’s still in there.”

Odessa moved to attack her sister, but Odezzia was prepared. While she wasn’t killing other witches for her powers, her powers had also grown, and she had mastered using them, something that had genuinely surprised Odessa.

“It would seem I underestimated you sister,” she commented.

“That’s always been your problem, on top of being a lazy witch. You just never wanted to perfect your own skills. You’ve always wanted the easy way out,” Odezzia pointed out.

“If what you’re saying is true, which I’m not saying it is, then that means with all my new power, if I were to actually master it as you say, then I could easily be the most powerful being in the world,” Odessa said thoughtfully.

“Not if I have anything to do with it,” Odezzia said before attacking her.

The two were going at it, until a piercing howl tore through the fighting. Odezzia felt the pain in her heart as she watched her mate fall. She threw her sister up against a tree without thinking twice about it, effectively knocking her out, before running over to her mate.

“Ramsey, Ramsey look at me,” she pleaded as he changed into his human form.

“So beautiful,” he whispered, tears in his eyes as he reached out to cup her cheek.

Her own tears were falling down her cheeks as she cradled him. “You can’t leave me Ramsey. You can’t leave us.”

“I will never leave you Dez, but you have to leave. You have to hide and you have to make sure that our son has the best life. He cannot die by Odessa’s hand. Promise me that you will not let that happen,” he pleaded.

“I promise, but only if you promise me that you won’t die,” she begged.

“I’m already healing, but staying together is dangerous. I love you and Maximillan Dez, but you have to get the both of you to safety. Do not worry about me. I will find my way back to you. I promise you that much,” he said before kissing her.

Max didn’t even realize that he was crying until arms wrapped around him. Without thinking twice about it, he hugged the person back, crying into their chest as he was taken back to reality.

“I’m so sorry Max,” she comforted.

“How did you find me?” he asked.

“I had to cast a locator spell, which surprisingly worked, before performing the same spell you did, except I think it took more out of me than it did out of you,” she said, suddenly breathless.

He scowled. “Why do you think that?”

“Because I’m pretty sure I’m going into labour.”