The deaths are coming th.., p.1
The Deaths are Coming (The Fortuna Pack Book 6), page 1
THE DEATHS ARE COMING
THE FORTUNA PACK
E. BROOM
Copyright © 2024 by E. Broom
Cover by: Nicole Wells
All rights reserved.
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CONTENTS
The Deaths are Coming
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Epilogue
About the Author
Also by E. Broom
THE DEATHS ARE COMING
If Blake Hayes thought his life was busy before Zeus crowned him Alpha King, it was nothing to the chaos that now surrounded him.
With pack mates on a rescue mission to find Ares. Hades and Zeus finding mates and putting together defence teams, Blake longs for a quiet life.
That quiet life will have to wait. Barnabus has upped his campaign against the three Kings and the pack and death comes to the Fortuna Pack.
With new friends, new mates and building the defence teams, will the pack ever have a normal day?
PROLOGUE
Ares was sitting in his office with Jason, both hard at work, when Ares suddenly stopped.
Noticing, Jason looked up. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t ...” Ares started to say and suddenly vanished.
Jason jumped up. “Ares?” he called.
Not getting a reply, he ran out of the office towards the kitchen where he heard voices. As he ran in, he saw Alex, Tudor, Baylan, Blake, Dask, Demi, Ashton and Paris all sitting chatting.
Ash saw him first and jumped up. “Jas, what’s wrong?”
“Something’s happened to Ares, he just suddenly stopped what he was doing, started to talk and then vanished. I can’t feel him.”
“He’s not answering,” Baylan said.
“I can’t feel him either,” Dask said.
“What can we do?” Jason asked.
Blake jumped up and pulled Jason into his arms. “We find him.”
Ares found himself in a dark cave. He tried to use his powers, but nothing worked – he couldn’t access them. Suddenly, what felt like ropes wrapped around his arms and pulled them above his head. He felt ropes wrap around his ankles, anchoring him to the floor.
“Whoever you are, I will get out of here and when I do you better pray for death!” Ares shouted out.
Barnabus stepped out of the darkness. “Oh, my dear Ares, it’s not me that will be praying for death.”
CHAPTER 1
“How do we find him when no one can feel or sense him?” Jason asked, leaning into Blake, needing the comfort of one of his best friends and his Alpha.
“We have amazing powers in this pack. If anyone can find your mate, we can,” Ash told him.
“Ares is missing?” Kieran asked, sounding distressed as he walked into the kitchen with the other children.
“Come here,” Jason said, pulling away from Blake and holding his arms open for Kieran.
Kieran rushed into them.
Jason wrapped his arms around his son. “We'll find him,” he said, trying to reassure Kieran.
“Gramps, I need you, it’s urgent,” Kieran called out, pulling back from Jason.
The next moment Zeus appeared in the kitchen looking concerned. “What’s happened?” he asked, looking at the assembled group.
“Ares is missing. He started to talk and then suddenly vanished; I can’t feel him,” Jason told him.
“And none of us can find him,” Demi added.
Zeus stood still and closed his eyes, before opening them. “I can’t feel or find him either.”
“Does that mean he’s dead?” Kieran asked him softly, as if afraid to say it too loud.
Zeus shook his head. “No, it just means he’s somewhere probably in the underworld. There are places there where you can’t sense or use magic. Hold on a second.”
The next moment Hades arrived. “Ares is missing?”
Zeus nodded. “None of us can sense or feel him. I think he might be in the underworld somewhere.”
“The only place he could be would be Tartarus. There are levels there that block god powers and would leave him magicless. Remember, brother, back in the old days, if gods needed punishment we would send them there.”
“But how would he have got there?” Baylan asked. “No one knows the way in or out.”
“I do,” Tatum said from the doorway, standing with his mates. “And so does Barnabus. He probably remembered it from when I broke him out via the back door. I can go and have a look if you want.”
“It’s too dangerous,” Alex said.
Tatum shook his head. “Not for me, it’s one of my powers, getting in and out of anywhere. It’s my fault Barnabus is free. Please let me help?”
Zeus and Hades looked at each other for a moment, before Hades nodded. “We accept your offer of help, Tatum. Thank you.”
“We'll be going with him, my lord,” Wynter said. No way was his mate going alone. He looked at Saxon who nodded.
“I’m going as well, Ares is my mate,” Jason said.
“I can come as well I have my super gargoyle strength if it’s needed to rescue Ares,” Tudor said.
Alex touched his arm to stop him talking.
Suddenly Puff, Mateo, and Atticus rushed into the kitchen. “I’m coming as well, you might need dragon magic.”
Everyone stared at him.
Puff huffed out a breath. “Morgan told Bob, Bob told me.”
“He did,” Paris acknowledged. “I thought Bob might be able to help.”
“I’m not sure having two of our kings going to the underworld is a wise idea,” Ashton pointed out.
Zeus nodded. “That’s true. Thank you for the offer, Tudor, but I think Puff and Bob would be the better option.”
Puff looked at Tudor. “But I’ll totally fill you in when we get back.”
“Okay, so we have Jason, Puff and Mateo, Tatum, Wynter, Saxon, and me. That should be enough,” Hades said.
“We want to come as well” Alex said, pointing to him and Baylan, Demi and Dask.
“No, we can’t take too many with us. It’s risky enough as it is,” Hades answered. “The part of Tartarus we're going to won’t be easy, taking too many people on a rescue mission would be to risk death for all of us.”
Puff looked at Mateo. “You’re staying here.”
“Now wait a minute,” Mateo started to say angrily. What was Puff even thinking of leaving him behind? He felt Atticus touch his back, and suddenly his anger calmed.
“I need you to stay safe,” Puff told him.
Mateo blew out a breath. “I understand that, but being your guardian, I have to be there with you.” Mateo internally sighed. It looked like Atticus might be a grounding force for him as well. That was good to know.
Puff went to say something but Hades got in first. “He really does, Puff. When we go to Tartarus the gap between you two will be too big. Mateo would literally die from the pain that large a separation would cause.”
“Okay, you can come,” Puff said quickly, touching his arm.
Mateo smiled at him.
“Can I come?” Kieran asked, looking at Zeus.
Zeus shook his head. “Tartarus is no place for a child. I’m sorry Kieran but no.”
Kieran looked up at Jason. “Come back safely and bring Ares with you.”
“Yes, please bring my father back,” Demi asked softly.
“I will do my very best,” Jason promised. He couldn’t lie and say he would be successful, but he would try everything he could to bring his mate back for himself and his family.
&n
CHAPTER 2
No one in the kitchen said a word for a moment. Atticus sank down into one of the kitchen chairs.
“Your mates will come back to you,” Zeus consoled, offering comfort as best he could for the moment.
Atticus nodded. “I know, I just worry about how being down there will affect them, especially Puff.”
“We'll all look after Puff and make sure he’s okay, and if he comes back traumatised Demi can help him like he did with the kidnapped children,” Baylan said looking at Demi.
Demi touched Atticus’s arm and gave him a gentle smile. “I will indeed and anyone else that needs my help.”
“I’ll be going now, there is more I can do, but not from here,” Zeus said.
“Do you need help?” Dask asked him.
Zeus shook his head. “No, stay here for the time being. Blake, if I’m not mistaken you have a car coming down the drive. I’ll let you get them settled. Be safe, everyone.” And with that Zeus vanished.
Kieran sniffed and wiped his face. Nancy, Maddy, and Tobin rushed over and hugged him. Forrest and Willow rushed to Demi's side and hugged him, much to his surprise.
“I think what we need is really unhealthy snacks and to watch some films,” Nancy suggested, glancing at Baylan.
“I think just this once we can let you off lessons,” Dask said before Baylan could say anything. “In fact, we can call this film studies.”
Tobin looked at Dask. “That’s sneaky.”
Dask grinned. “Whatever works. Come along, let’s go to the family room.” And with that, he ushered the children out of the kitchen.
Forrest and Willow stayed behind, still hugging Demi.
Just then Frederick walked into the kitchen. “Someone new has just arrived. I’ll go and talk to them.” He paused and looked round. “What’s wrong?”
“Ares is missing. Hades and some of the pack have gone to look for him in the underworld,” Blake explained.
“I’m guessing that’s the cliff notes version. Fill me in later after I’ve seen who has arrived,” Frederick said, without waiting for a reply.
Hades and the others appeared in what looked like a desert landscape - at least there was sand everywhere, boulders here and there, and a large stone structure in front of them. It was so high and long that you couldn’t see the top or the corners.
Hades looked at Tatum. “Where’s the entrance?”
“This way,” Tatum said, leading them further along the grey stone wall. All the stones seemed to be covered in different types of engravings.
After a few minutes, Tatum stopped and pointed. “The entrance is just here.”
Wynter squinted, looking hard. “I still don’t see the entrance.” All he saw was more engraved grey stones.
Tatum smiled at him and moved forward. “Watch and be amazed.” He then raised his hand and started pushing and turning stones in a strange manner. Finally, after about a minute, a section of the stone structure moved backwards and rolled away, opening the back door into Tartarus.
“I can’t believe there really is a backdoor. Silas and I searched for hours trying to find it,” Wynter said, shaking his head.
“So cool,” Puff said, looking at it in awe.
“We need weapons,” Hades announced and suddenly there were swords and crossbows in front of them. “Pick a weapon.”
Everyone stepped forward and took one or two. Puff picked up a sword and looked at it with a frown.
“The pointy end goes in your enemy,” Tatum joked, grinning at him.
Puff burst out laughing. “You’re going to fit right in with the pack, just think of all the fun we can have.”
“Suddenly, I’m scared,” Wynter said, looking from Tatum to Puff. “Are you scared, Saxon?”
“I think I am. Do we need to be?”
“That would be telling,” Tatum said, standing on his toes and kissing first Wynter’s cheek and then Saxon’s.
“I would be, Wynter, Saxon,” Hades said with a quick grin, before sobering. “Follow me, everyone,” he said, taking the lead, a sword in each hand.
“I have a question,” Puff suddenly voiced. “If where Ares is being held suppresses his powers, then what will it do to ours?”
“Unknown at the moment,” Hades answered. “It could just suppress god powers. We’ll soon see.”
“Should you not wait here then, my lord?” Wynter asked him.
Hades shook his head. “No, you need me with you.”
“Then we will protect you,” Saxon assured him.
Hades looked at them over his shoulder. “Thanks.”
They all walked inside. Just as the last person entered, the stone rolled back into place and the back door closed behind them, sealing them in and plunging them into semidarkness.
The inside of Tartarus was, at the moment, not very impressive. All that could be seen was a dark stone corridor that seemed to go on for miles. There were no doors or cells, nothing but a calm corridor with dull candlelight here and there.
“Don’t let this place fool you. It may seem calm and nondescript at the moment, but that can change in an instant. Every corridor can lead to unimaginable horror and pure terror.”
Puff moved closer to Mateo and made sure Jason was by their side. “Don’t either of you leave my side,” Puff told them, Bob close to the surface.
“Yeah, I’m not going anywhere,” Jason agreed. “I don’t fancy being caught alone somewhere down here.”
“I’m wondering if you should shift, Jason,” Mateo suggested.
Hades, obviously hearing Mateo, turned and looked at Jason. “That might not be a bad idea.”
Jason nodded, handed Mateo the crossbow he was carrying, and then quicker than he ever had before, he shifted into his light brown wolf.
“I know you’re a wolf now, but still stay close,” Puff told him.
Jason nodded and walked along beside them.
They had been walking down the long corridor for a few minutes when cell doors started appearing in the walls and corridors revealed themselves. Suddenly, out of nowhere, loud screams of terror could be heard and pleading voices calling out for help.
“Maggon?” Puff asked out loud, stopping by one of the cells when he recognised one of the voices and peered inside.
“No, your brother’s not here,” Hades said, turning to look at him. “This place will play tricks on you; don’t believe anything you hear or see.”
“Remember your brother is under guard with Lord Woodcot,” Mateo reminded him.
Puff felt Bob come forward. Listen to Hades and our guardian.
Will do, Puff said to him. “I remember,” he said, turning away from the doorway and grabbing Mateo’s hand, carried on walking.
“Puff, you traitor, you always were nothing, and you will always be nothing,” fake Maggon called out from behind them.
“You are not nothing,” Mateo declared to Puff, squeezing his hand. “You are King Puff McDuncan and King Bob of the dragons and all mythical creatures. You have a family, a pack, friends, Atticus and me. You are not nothing.”
Puff looked at him and grinned. “You forgot ‘totally awesome and a bit of a brat.’”
Everyone burst out laughing.
“I’ll remember and add that in next time,” Mateo told him.
As they were talking they walked along the passageway. More screaming could be heard, but no one stopped. As they passed entrances to different chambers, they dodged hands trying to grab them.
Wynter shook his head, those hands looked wrong – like rotting flesh wrong. “We’ve not seen much of this place and it’s already giving me the willies,” Wynter grumbled. “I’ve lived such a sheltered life.”
“Stick with us, we’ll unshelter you,” Saxon told his mate, grinning.
Hades smiled at him. “Rumour has it you were getting bored.”
Wynter nodded. “In heaven I was. Since I left, not so much.”
“Oh Tatum,” a voice called out pleasantly. “Stop for a moment and talk with me. I’m so lonely down here with no one to talk to.”
Tatum snorted. “Nice try, Uncle Drea, but not today.”
Saxon looked at Tatum as they carried on walking, Tatum ignoring the voice. “Was that really your uncle?”
