A Child's Wish Read online

Moving from a hot arid desert to the wintery wind of western Oklahoma was a shock to my system. The chilled shudder working up my spine caused me to grunt in pain. At least one of my ribs had been broken during the last level of the trials. The bruised and sore muscles covering a good portion of my body demanded I find a dark place to lay down and rest. If only I had that luxury. I'd made a promise and I was determined to keep my word, even if I felt I was stumbling around in the dark when it came to pups.

  The sky was overcast with low gray clouds bringing with them the scent of snow. It seemed like I'd been gone an age when in reality only six weeks had passed. I'd accomplished what I set out to do: no one would influence me with magic again.

  The testing and the training had been grueling and more than once I'd thought I would fail. Especially when I walked through the Archway of Morrow. Over and over my mind was tested with every possibly until I emerged on the other side. If I had failed I would've been forever lost within one of the realities the passage created. As a symbol of the trials I'd overcome, when I stepped from the gateway the cheek under my left eye bore the caduceus, the emblem of Enki.

  But even after that ordeal a reprieve in the testing didn't come. As soon as I emerged, the first of the fighters attacked. I didn't know how many Ophidians I fought or how many rounds I passed before the testing concluded. The stone in the center of the fighting ring glowed with many colors but never once did it turn red, which would have meant my immediate death.

  When I finally fell to my opponents, the stone shone a steady green. Seeing the acceptance of the Earth, I gratefully allowed unconsciousness to overcome me.

  After three days' rest, I was escorted back to the gate that would carry me home. I hadn't live on the ranch for long but this was where my friends—my family—resided so therefore would I. Here was where I'd found a new purpose, and where I wanted to build my future.

  As I walked to the ranch house, I eyed the tent city pitched in the northwest pasture. The canary yellow tent tops stood out against the dreary landscape. The banner of the Ophidians flew from the tallest poles. There was a buzz of activity in the ranch yard between the main house and the outbuildings. Cowboys riding out to the field as if hell was on their heels.

  I lowered the wrap that covered all of my face but for my eyes when I approached the Ophidian Kenwards. They bowed low to me, the red cowl declaring my high status. With the completion of the trials, the green of the standing stone told the others that my expertise was that of an Adon, making me a leader if I chose to take up that mantle.

  "What's going on here?" I asked watching another set of cowboys gallop off to the pastures.

  "The news says a blizzard is coming in fast. They're going out to get the cowboys pushing the cattle into the arroyos toward the river."

  They gave another low bow when I grunted and walked away. Snow. I was spoiled. I spent several years in southern California and hadn't had to deal with such cold temperatures or with snow. I moved stiffly up the steps to the back door of the main house. Where was everyone?

  Before I reached the screen door, it flew open and three wide-eyed pups stared up at me. "Atash! Close that door!" The small dark haired boy jumped, moving out of the doorway, pushing Justus and Neoma back. I stepped through, closing both doors, letting the delicious smells of the kitchen wash over me. Marjan, Atash's mother if I remembered correctly, turned from where she worked at the stove. Her eyes were filled with a sadness that didn't abate when she glanced me over, taking in the red cowl.

  "Are you looking for Bixx? You can find him in the conference room." And just like that she dismissed me.

  A heavy pall hung over the household; even the pups were quiet and subdued. Dropping my bag in the hallway I went in search of Bixx to find out what had happen. He was indeed in the conference room, but instead of working he sat at the table with his head in his hands.

  "Bixx?" His head snapped up but he didn't smile at me. "What's going on?"

  Bixx sat up as if a great weight pressed down on him and he motioned to the seat across of him. "Please sit, my friend. We have must to discuss."

  I ignored the invitation and crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes at him. This was not the man I knew, the one who befriended me long before I decided to go through the trails to become an Ophidian. But as he began to talk, I slipped into the seat he'd offered, my legs suddenly unwilling to hold my weight under the news he delivered. The reason I had decided to become an Ophidian was twofold. I wanted to be of service to Tristan but feared I'd be compromised again. But now…

  "Are you're sure he's gone?" My voice didn't sound like my own.

  "The pups were saved but the God Ashur buried Tristan in the forest outside the entrance to the caves. There were many witnesses and I was told Ushna went mad with grief." How could I blame him? Who stayed sane when they watched their mate die?

  I swallowed thickly around the lump lodged in my throat. "How is Ushna?"

  "Corey tells me he only sees his inner circle and few are allowed to visit the pups. He says Daniel knows of the pups' existence and their main worry is there will be a kidnapping attempt."

  "Then why doesn't he return home? Wouldn't they be safer on the ranch than in the city?" Ushna staying didn't make any sense but without being able to talk to him, the only answer given to me was a shrug of Bixx's shoulders.

  "We don't know when he'll bring the pups home but we are working to fortify the property." Bixx tapped a finger on the map laid out in front of him. "The Magi have created and erected loadstones. They are similar to the ones hiding our cities but with an added precaution. Unless someone is escorted by one of the sentries, they cannot find the king's home. Even with the Xenres… we still have to think about the pups. If we control who can enter this domain then the likelihood of someone crossing the borders without us knowing is very small. The stones will run the border of the entire ranch. They're almost finished."

  I stared at the map, not really seeing the layout because I still reeled from the news of Tristan's death. He couldn't be dead, something in me rebelled at the knowledge. Bixx spoke again and I shook off my thoughts, determined I'd call Jory or Gregori before the end of the day.

  "I'm sorry, say again?"

  "I asked were Randy was." Bixx rolled up the map and placed it in a cardboard sheath. When I didn't answer he shot me a hard look.

  "A week after we arrived at the Hall of Gates, he crossed over into Irkalla." I told him of Randy's self-appointed mission.

  Bixx cussed in three languages. "The fool. The chances she'll let him return are so small he might as well as be dead."

  The small gasp that came from the door made my stomach dropped into my feet. There in the doorway stood Justus, his innocent blue eyes staring at Bixx and me as if he waited for us to take back our words. Before I could explain or apologize, Justus was running down the hall. Without a word to Bixx I gave chase. Randy had asked one thing of me and I was already screwing it up. At least I was on familiar ground.

  I stopped in the living room scanning the area for Justus until an exterior door slammed. There were a million places he could hide outside. With a blizzard coming in fast, I didn't have much time to find him. Going out the front door I was greeted with a mostly empty parking lot and not many places for a boy to hide. The snow fell quickly, swirling in the wind. I called Justus's name as I ran round the side of the house but he didn't reply. The earlier activity had died down, the returning cowboys riding into the yard and heading to the horse barn. Nowhere did I see his blond head. He couldn't be that fast.

  Then I had a terrible feeling and ran toward the Anunnaki Gates, praying I was wrong. He was a pup, he wouldn't know how to activate the gates. But fear had taken up residence in my gut. The snow thickened and cutting the visibility in half with the wind blowing so hard I couldn't scent the air for him.

  A brief window opened up in the snow and I clearly saw Justus standing next to the squat pillars in only his shirt sleeves. "Justus, stop!" The snow swallowed him a
gain, and I ran harder. The energy of the open gateway zipping across my skin. If I wasn't fast enough, Justus would be lost.

  How had he opened the gateway? I snagged him and jerked him back as he stuck his arm through the barrier. Screaming, he fought me. Even when he transformed into his little wolf I held onto him. Grasping him by the scruff of the neck, I surveyed his handy work. He'd done the impossible. The energy coming off the pillars was exactly the same as the set Randy activated to go to Irkalla. How had he opened an earth gate to the Land of the Dead?

  Justus snapped angrily at me with his sharp little teeth and I growled back low, allowing a hint of alpha to infuse the rumble. He was strong for a pup but I was stronger and I reminded him with a chuff he answered to me.

  Watching over Justus just became inherently harder.

  "Sir, the two of you need to get back to the house now." I turned to the trio of cowboys who came out of nowhere. Where in the hell had they been hiding?

  I tucked the shivering, whining pup into the crook of my arm and followed Randy's men back to the ranch house. By the time we reached the back door, the wind was blowing so hard I had to lean into to it to walk. At least the weather would keep Justus in the house long enough for me to talk to some since into him.

  Chapter Three