Juniper Santiago - Book 2 of The Santiago Series

Two sides.

One powerful.

The other confused.

Mateo, Juniper, Khal, Draex, Max, Aerie, Zak, Avan, and the twins were in Rome before their family and friends. The brothers were seated next to each other, serving to confuse their audience.

None of them knew where to begin.

“Where’s Boris?” Juniper took charge.

“We have no idea. We woke up to find him and Auriela gone,” Mark responded.

Juniper nodded before they were enveloped with silence once more. Everyone important to Mateo and Juniper was there, save for Mama Deo, Draxlon, Rose and King Tristan, and Boris and Merlin, who were with their respective mates – but the people in that entire house didn’t know about the latter.

“You people are being so awkward. Just come out with whatever you want to say,” Aerie broke the silence.

“There’s three of you,” Orion blurted at the chance.

“Correct,” Draex confirmed.

“So, he really is your brother?” Mark asked Mateo.

“Yeah,” Mateo agreed.

“You don’t have a brother,” Maya and Orion argued.

“I actually have three. Mateo has none,” Mateo corrected.

“Because talking about yourself in the third person isn’t weird or anything,” Avan commented.

Aerie smacked him upside the head. “Behave.”

“You attacked the Werewolf Castle and took over, and given the fact that the Vampire Kingdom was attacked just before that, I’m going to assume that was you as well?” Domitius questioned.

“There’s a reason for everything we did,” Khal stated.

“Please, don’t overwhelm us with the truth,” Balthazar mocked.

“Dad,” Juniper warned.

“Don’t dad me. The past few weeks have been hell and none of us have been able to get any answers, much less reach you. Now you’re back, except when you said you were bringing some people with you, I didn’t think you meant you were about to complicate our lives further,” Balthazar snapped.

Juniper scowled, while Gail touched her mate’s hand. “What your father is trying to ask is what’s going on? Why are there three people who look like Mateo? Where’s Roman?”

“Roman is back in the Underworld, hopefully not regaining his memories. The Underworld has slowly but surely been infiltrated by evil, and thanks to Zak and Avan over here, Juniper and my brother’s children made it out just before they were trapped with it,” Khal explained.

“What do you mean when you say hopefully Roman isn’t regaining his memories?” Dante questioned.

“Exactly that – Roman is Roman, but he also isn’t – just like Mateo is Mateo, but also isn’t,” Draex said vaguely.

“Could you not speak in riddles?” Rixon snapped.

Mateo shot him a look before taking charge of the story. He shared with them as much as he figured he was allowed to, making the necessary introductions. While they were his family and friends, he knew that he couldn’t let them in on absolutely everything.

Only his siblings and their mates could truly know everything.

Shock settled on the faces of those who didn’t know the truth as they listened to the true Werewolf King bestow the truth upon them. None of them had expected what he’d told them, and he and his siblings and mate understood that they needed to give them the time to fully digest what they’d just been told.

“What’s going on?” Auriela’s voice pierced the silence as she and Boris entered the room.

When their eyes landed on the three brothers, they were even more mystified. Their experience into the past, an experience they hadn’t yet had the chance to truly discuss, hit them once more as they realized the gravity of the situation.

Something major was brewing, and what they’d seen was only the tip of the iceberg.

“Wait, wait, wait! So, Khal isn’t actually your imposter?” Jacob asked.

“I already said this,” Mateo reminded.

“Well excuse us for not believing it. We’ve grown up with you our whole lives and we knew for a fact that you don’t have a brother. What were we supposed to think in the midst of all this madness?” Maya attacked.

Juniper growled lowly. “Watch how you talk to my mate.”

With Zak and Avan holding the twins, Mateo took his mate’s hand in his and squeezed it gently. “Look, I know it’s confusing, but it also isn’t.”

“Max, you’re in possession of the Book of Originals. Does it say anything about this?” Balthazar asked him.

“If you’re asking if it confirms this, then the answer is no. The Book of Originals was originally written by Odessa and her sister Odezzia, but as the years went, other creatures added to it. However, its guardian has remained Odessa over the years, until June, Roman and I found it where she’d hidden it in Scandinavia. The Vaulsino led us there,” Max started off.

“But that doesn’t explain anything about this,” Maya pointed out.

He glared at her. “Let me finish! Now, the book is spelled in such a way that it picks and chooses what it thinks the reader is allowed to know. I’ve managed to get a whole lot of information from it, but I’ve lied to everyone who’s ever asked me about it and its contents.”

“So, you’re lying even now?” Gail questioned.

He shook his head. “The book doesn’t say anything about The Originals, or the first royals rather. It gives basic information on how each of the beings came to be, but that’s it.”

“Why would Odessa not write about her older brothers and sisters?” Faith asked as she rubbed her now bulging belly.

“Because Odessa felt that we treated her more as an outsider than anything else. She wanted to have as much power as we did, and she felt that it was unfair that we were the way we were, and that she, Odezzia and Oden weren’t like us. It makes sense that she wouldn’t want history to know anything about us,” Juniper explained.

“Her pettiness knows no boundaries,” Gail scoffed.

“But what about Odezzia? Why wouldn’t she mention you in the book?” Ophelia asked.

Khal shrugged. “The only person who can answer that is Dez herself.”

“Alright, I hear you, I really do, but I still don’t understand what we’re dealing with here exactly,” Mark commented.

“Tero and I have to take back our kingdoms and prepare for war,” Khal stated.

“War? War against who?” Orion asked.

Before anyone could say anything else, Deondrameda appeared before them, frantic. “She’s gone.”

“Who is?” they asked.

“Odessa – she’s been freed from the Land of Lost Souls,” Deondrameda informed.

“He actually did it,” Boris whispered.

All heads turned to him while Balthazar put the pieces together. “How would he have been able to?”

“Who? Merlin?” Gail asked.

“It would appear my father has lost his mind if he thinks freeing my mother from the Land of Lost Souls is a good idea, much less at this time,” Balthazar said.

“Shit! This isn’t good at all,” Khal cursed.

“Balthazar just said that,” Zak pointed out.

“No, you don’t understand. With Dess gone just as the evil settled in the Underworld, it causes trouble for us in that there’s not only a higher chance that Romaen will get his memories back, but he will come looking for Dess, and he won’t stop until he finds her. He will kill anything and everything that stands in his way,” Khal elaborated.

“But why go after Odessa?” Mark asked.

“Odessa works with the evil, so it only makes sense that it would look for her,” Khal said.

“Are you saying that Roman is evil? Isn’t he like the most righteous king the demons have ever had?” Jacob asked.

“Marissa told us that before we disappeared from the timeline, the evil had found a new host. We believe that Roman is that new host, and with Avan and Zak confirming the presence of darkness in the Underworld, it only means it’s a matter of time before the danger finds its way here,” Juniper elucidated.

Aerie looked grim. “I just remembered something. What about Roman coming for his mate? Shouldn’t we be worried about that?”

“We are, or rather it’s something we’re aware of. While he still doesn’t have his memories, we’re waiting to see what he does to get her back. Roman is a lot calmer than Romaen, hence us crossing our fingers for him not regaining his memories,” Mateo enlightened.

It looked like the people in the room at least understood that much.

“Speaking of Marissa, does she have her own body?” Maya queried.

“She does, and we need to get her back into it,” Juniper confirmed.

Mateo sighed as he rubbed his face. “Except Dessa is missing, and she’s apparently the only one who can perform the spell to make this happen.”

Juniper’s brows furrowed at the realization. “And there’s no way my grandfather is going to give up their location that easily. He’ll probably be under the impression that we want to harm her again.”

“And we don’t?” Mark asked confusedly.

“No, we don’t. We ourselves don’t understand it, but my brother’s mate insists that there’s more to Dessa than we know,” Khal replied.

“Well, this is one hell of a situation that we have found ourselves in, but I’d like to believe that you guys have a plan. So, what’s the way forward?” Dante asked.

“All roads lead to Vistas.”

***

I could feel the uncertainty amongst everyone as they continued to ask their questions, and I could only do so much to just sit there and calmly answer what I could without getting annoyed. My beast was constantly reminding me that we needed to leave.

Luckily for us, our mate hadn’t lost her touch.

Watching her take charge of the situation had us not only proud, but very much aroused. We hadn’t been properly reunited, and it was getting on our nerves, but we had more pressing matters to deal with.

As much as we would’ve preferred to be otherwise preoccupied.

When everyone felt that they were satisfied with the answers they’d received so far, we laid out the plan before everyone went out to play their part. It was obvious that there was still scepticism in the air, but if there’s one thing that this group of people know more than anyone else, it’s that anything is possible.

And right now, they were facing the impossible right in the very eyes.

Deondrameda left with Balthazar and Gail in search of Merlin and Odessa – a quest that I personally felt was a waste of time. I may have forgotten my original life, but I was sure of one thing – the Odessa I knew back then, and the Odessa I know now, are two different people.

At least where power is concerned.

She may have received the short end of the stick where power is concerned, but she was one person who should never be underestimated under any circumstance; something I understood long ago, and something I damn well understand now.

Another thing that I believed made it a waste of time, was that Merlin had clearly chosen love over all else. The man is powerful, and combined with Odessa, they wouldn’t be easy to find. I strongly believed that they would reveal themselves whenever they decided it was time to.

Domitius and Crystal left with Khal, as untrusting of the entire situation as they were. Dom brought up the covens that attacked Anastasia’s coven, and of course my brother offered his help. Finding out which covens were still around was pivotal to our grand plan since we needed to know who was on our side and who was against us.

Something only Khal would be able to figure out.

I could also tell that he needed the distraction. Finding out that Odessa was missing couldn’t have been easy to hear, considering that only meant he’d be away from Saelone that much longer. I would just have to do my part in ensuring that the box is always safe.

Ophelia and Rixon asked to stay behind in Rome, while everyone else headed to Vistas. We were teleported there by Draex and my mate, which made me wonder if she had powers of her own.

I know she hosts Marionessa for the time being, but she’s biologically the child of a half sorcerer half Naturalist witch, and a sorceress turned werewolf. It had me curious about whether or not she’d have her own powers of that variety once Marionessa was out of her.

Only time would tell.

I didn’t know what I was expecting to find when we made it onto Vistas, but a smoothly functioning pack was definitely not it. I expected some dysfunction, but the moment my eyes landed on Alexa, she beamed my way.

“Hey best friend,” she taunted, a knowing look gleaming in her eyes.

“Lexi, what’s going on?” I asked her.

“What? You expected us to crumble without you? Shame on you for not knowing better!” she mock scolded.

“I knew I could always count on you,” my mate said happily before hugging her.

Lexi hugged her back tightly. “Oh my word June! You’re back?”

“I guess you could say so. Where’s Val?” my mate asked.

Lexi shrugged. “No clue.”

“What do you mean you have no clue?” Anastasia asked her.

“She just disappeared,” Lexi retorted.

I frowned. “How long ago was this?”

She looked thoughtful. “That would be the same day you left for Rome when you got your memories back.”

“That was way before everything went down. She just disappeared and no one said anything?” Maya asked suspiciously.

“Well, yeah. We figured that Orion would know, so we didn’t think that it was that big of a deal,” Alexa agreed.

June and I seemed to have the same thought as we both turned to Orion. “What?”

“Where’s your mate Ryan?” I asked him.

“Why do you think I know?” he countered.

“Because she’s your mate?” Aerie pointed out in confusion.

He rubbed the back of his neck, an edgy laugh escaping him. “Uh, you see…”

“Ryan,” I growled.

“I don’t feel the mate bond anymore,” he confessed.

I didn’t think that I could still be astounded by anything at this point, but apparently, I was wrong. “What do you mean?”

“I am not mated to Valentine. I am an unmated wolf. Merlin confirmed this for me,” he admitted.

“How and when? Also, Merlin confirmed this for you but you didn’t see fit to share with the class?” Max questioned him.

“Oh? And which point in time was convenient for me to bring it up?” Orion attacked.

“Oi! Stop it! Ok, so you’re no longer mated to Val, which is a mystery that we are adding to the already long list of things we need to figure out, but right now, we need to have a pack meeting after talking to Luca,” my wife instructed.

“Luca? As in Mama Deo’s grandson?” Maya asked.

I shook my head. “Luca as in Marionessa and Tagoromaen’s son, the Prince of Demons.”

That was enough to leave them dumbfounded once more as I let Zeus take the reins on scenting Luca out. We shifted and followed his scent all the way to the lake. He was just standing there, looking out at the water, and I shifted back, before getting dressed in a pair of shorts.

“It’s time, isn’t it?” he asked me once I was standing beside him.

“You knew the truth this whole time?” I asked him.

He sighed heavily. “Not really. I guess my mother planned for things to play out like this, but only found out when Luna June shifted. I’ve been confused since, especially since I haven’t had anyone to guide me. The box had a very specific message, but not too many answers. I didn’t know what to do, so I figured I’d leave fate to lead the answers to me.”

“Your mother’s body is in the box, and we need to set her free because she seems to be the only one aside from Odessa who has any kind of answers,” I retorted.

He dug into his pocket before pulling the box out. It looked exactly like the one that I had with Saelone’s body in it. He handed it over to me, a gloomy look on his face, and I couldn’t get a read on him – something he very quickly realized.

“I’m bound to you still, but not as a werewolf. I can’t submit to you,” he informed.

“How come?” I asked.

“I shifted into my demon when Roman marked my mother, well Marissa,” he stated.

I shot him a look. “And you know about this how?”

“I don’t know, but it’s like I have a link to the Underworld. I can’t explain it,” he said, making me realize something.

“Luca, what exactly did your mother tell you?” I questioned.

He looked worried but told me anyway. “She told me that my name is Luca Daemon and that I’m a demon and not a werewolf. She told me that she wasn’t sure where she is, but that I had to guard the box with my life.”

“Wait, when did she tell you this?” I asked.

“I’ve had the box with me my whole life. Mama Deo gave it to me when I was younger and she told me to guard it with my life. I have, but I only recently got the message from my mother. Why? What’s going on?” he panicked.

Marionessa and her never-ending mysteries. “Luca, does your mother mention who your father is?”

He shook his head. “Like I said, I have a million questions.”

“Luca, you are the Prince of the Underworld. Your father is the King of the Underworld,” I told him.

Eyebrows furrowed. “Roman De la Tore is my father?”

Judging from how clueless he was, I thought it fair to let him in on things, especially since we weren’t too sure how long it would be before we’d be able to unite him with his mother. Marionessa had always been the most mysterious of the sisters, and there were times where Khal and I wondered about her relationship with our brother.

Especially given how mysterious Romaen himself could be.

Luca looked like he could barely digest what I was telling him, and I couldn’t blame him in the least bit. Only once we’d gone back to everyone else and he saw Draexylon, was he convinced.

“My son.”

The whisper came from my mate, but she’d let Marionessa through. I was about to lose it, but she linked me, telling me that it was ok and that my sister in law wasn’t taking over full time.

She just wanted to hold her son.

“Hi mom,” Luca whispered, visibly emotional.

The two of them embraced, and you could see the moment affecting everyone. This entire situation had come into our lives and shaken things up. While I remembered my old life, I also remembered my current life.

So, I was aware of just how affected we all were by everything.

We had to make things right, without a doubt, and it was moments like watching Luca with Marionessa that made me realize that we would never be able to do it alone. We were all in this together, and if the past had taught me anything, it’s that my siblings, our mates, and I, were never going to defeat the evil alone.

We needed a team, and fate led us right to it.

Luca excused himself, giving my mate the opportunity to return to her self. I was reminded of how much I’d missed her when she started giving out orders for the pack meeting. Our pack members weren’t aware of our return, and she wanted to make it a fun reunion, even if it wasn’t going to be some grand party.

She squealed when I grabbed her by the waist and threw her over my shoulder, giggling and demanding that I put her down as I led us to our room. Everyone else would just have to understand that I just needed to be alone with her.

I put her down once we got to our room, and she had the brightest smile on her face. I could spot the negative emotions in her eyes, but she didn’t hide her love from me. I caressed her cheek and she leaned into my hand.

“I missed you baby doll. It took everything in me not to tear the world apart to make my way back to you, especially once I remembered our previous life,” I confessed.

She kissed my palm before looking back into my eyes. “I can imagine how horrible it must’ve been. I only missed you as Juniper, so you definitely had it worse.”

“I was going crazy, but I had to keep calm because I knew you’d kill me if I acted on any killer instincts,” I joked.

Humour danced in her azure orbs. “Smart man.”

“But I won’t lie and say I wasn’t worried that you’d ever make it back to me. I didn’t understand so much, and had it not been for Khal finding me, I would’ve definitely lost my way,” I admitted.

She cupped my cheek, a mischievous look on her face. “But babe, you had to know that I would definitely come back to you.”

“Mhmm? And how do you get to that conclusion?” I asked amusedly.

She stood on her toes, trailing kisses up my neck until she reached my ear. “Haven’t you heard? My mate is none other than Mateo Santiago.”

A rumble left my chest as my arousal kicked up a couple of notches. “Baby doll.”

She only continued her torture on the other side. “But you know what else?”

“What?” I grunted.

She pulled back to smirk at me, fire in her eyes. “I’m Juniper motherfucking Santiago. No one keeps me away from my mate or messes with my friends and family.”

I had to kiss her then. There’s nothing in the world that would’ve stopped me. Hell, nothing would’ve stopped me from making love to her, especially when I remembered that my mark on her had disappeared.

We were finally reunited.

We were one again.

We were the Santiago’s and we were ready to fight for our family.

***

Roman clutched his head as memories upon memories flashed in his head. He’d locked himself up in the secret room he’d found after Star had torn the castle apart looking for her babies, before disappearing.

Misery was eating at him, but it wasn’t until he felt his shoulder burning that the memories returned. He thrashed everything in the room, his breathing ragged, until finally, they stopped.

And that’s when he looked up.

Staring back at him was supposed to be his reflection, but it only looked like him – it wasn’t him. The man in the mirror didn’t have his red eyes or white hair. The man in the mirror had his face, but atop his head was scarlet hair, and the darkest eyes gazed back at him.

“Hello brother.”

“Vordark.”