by M H Soars
“You never lost me, Tristan. Not even when I renounced our bond. You know I was only trying to get Valerius to trust me, right?”
“Yeah, I know.”
What I can’t tell Red is I wasn’t referring to losing her in the present time. I brought back with me some of Robert’s guilt. More than ever, I want to learn what the witches’ grimoire says. Had Robert redeemed himself in the end? Was he able to save Natalia from the demon?
A soft knock comes on the door, followed by Dante’s voice. “May I come in?”
“Yeah.” I sit up on the bed, covering my boner with the sheets. Not that Dante can’t sense I’m aroused, because I’m sure he could smell the bond scent from the entry hall downstairs.
Red follows my movement, also using the sheet to cover her naked torso. Dante smiles at her action, which makes her pout.
“What? I need time,” she says.
“Time for what?” Sam barges in, holding a half-eaten donut in his hand. He glances at us in bed, then a huge grin appears on his stupid face.
“All right. Are we having a four-way today?”
Red gasps. “No, we are not.”
Dante hits Sam upside his head. “Can’t you stop thinking about sex for one minute?”
Rubbing the store spot, he sidesteps away from Dante. “I was joking. God, when did you become so uptight, brother?”
Red saunters off the bed, still wrapped in the sheet, and veers toward Sam to steal the donut from his hand.
“Hey!” he complains when she stuffs the whole thing in her mouth.
After she swallows the treat, she gives Sam a haughty glance. “Payback for making me blush.”
His arms immediately go around her waist, bring her flush against his body. “But you love when I make you blush—among other things I do to you.”
The scent of the mating bond becomes unbearable. If we don’t stop this banter, we might have a four-way after all. Clearing my throat, I turn to Dante.
“Any news?’
It takes a few seconds for Dante to pull his gaze away from Sam and Red to focus on me. “Yes, Mrs. Redford is here, but she won’t say anything until Red is present.”
Red tenses visibly, frowning as she moves away from Sam’s embrace.
“I know you don’t want to hear this, but even if you never forgive your grandmother, you’ll have to learn to work with her.”
Dante and I gape at Sam because for once, he’s serious. Red lets out a heavy sigh, glancing at the floor. “I know. It’s just too soon, and the wound is still fresh.”
“It will get better. Time heals everything,” Sam continues, playing the wise man. Fucking surreal.
Red lifts her face, smirking at him. “Did you hit your head or something?”
Curling his lips, Sam rubs his nape. “Well, Dante did hit me on the head.”
“I need a shower. I’ll be down in ten minutes,” Red announces. Sam opens his mouth, but she cuts him off. “And no, I don’t want any company.”
His smile wanes, face downcast. Dante grabs his arm, dragging him out of the room. “Come on. Let’s wait for Red downstairs. Are you coming, Tristan?”
I throw him a glare. “This is my room in case you’ve forgotten.”
“Ouch, message received,” Red replies. “I’ll go to my room.”
“I’m not kicking you out.” I get out of bed, and Red’s eyes drop to my crotch. My cock that had been standing at half-mast springs back to life. Luckily, Dante and Sam are already out of the room. “I’ll leave to give you privacy.”
Our gazes lock, heat and lust flowing freely between us. Desire surges in my veins, and only pure willpower keeps me rooted to the spot.
“You know, maybe I could use some company,” Red says in the huskiest of voices, and I’m a goner. Reaching her in two wide strides, I pick her up and head for the bathroom. I don’t think we’ll be down in ten minutes.
Chapter 43
Red
The moment I enter Antony Wolfe’s former office with Tristan by my side, I know Sam and Dante are aware Tristan and I had another round of delicious, make-up-for-what-we-lost sex. Watching me through heated eyes, Sam shakes his head. In his gaze, I read the message loud and clear. He’ll ask for compensation later. My toes curl inside my shoes in anticipation. I wonder if I’ll always be this turned on when I’m around my mates.
I rein in my supercharged libido, steeling myself as I do so. But all it takes is one look at my grandmother to get my mind out of the gutter. It’s only the five of us in the room and when the door shuts close, I feel an odd humming above my skin.
“I cast a protective spell in this room. No one will be able to eavesdrop,” she says.
“I’m here so let’s get this over with. What news do you have?” I cross my arms.
“Demetria Montgomery has agreed to let us look into the grimoire.”
“That’s great news,” Dante begins to say.
“With a condition.” Grandma raises her hand.
“Of course there had to be one,” Tristan grumbles next to me, exuding frustration and anger from his frame. It’s crazy how I can sense his mood now as if it’s a tangible thing.
“What is the condition?” I turn my attention back to Grandma.
“She didn’t give me details. But only you and I are allowed to come to the Montgomery mansion, no one else.”
“That’s bullshit. I won’t let Red go to that house of horrors alone. Mayor Montgomery is not to be trusted, and I’m extending my opinion to her mother as well.” Tristan takes a step in front of me, using himself as a human shield.
“Demetria is not like her daughter.”
“Then why did you leave the coven if she was so great?” Sam raises an arrogant eyebrow.
“We did not agree on certain traditions, so I left. She won’t betray us.”
“You sound certain. What makes you believe that? Years have passed since you had any relationship with the woman.” Dante is the one staring hard at my grandmother now, but true to herself, she doesn’t seem intimidated, which is a feat in itself. Not everyone can withstand the glare of three pissed-off alphas. Wait. Alphas? Why did I think that?
“Because I have leverage,” she replies.
“What kind of leverage?” Tristan’s voice sounds dangerously low.
“Let’s just say I know a secret Demetria doesn’t want aired out.”
Sam curses under his breath, then turns to Tristan. “You were right all along about witches. They’re all conniving bit—er, people.”
I hit Sam’s chest with the back of my hand. “Don’t be a turd.”
“It’s true. I haven’t met one yet who wasn’t hiding something.”
I bite my tongue. Now is not the time to remind Sam that I have witch blood, and I was also a full-fledged one in my previous life.
“Okay, can we go now?” I say, knowing we’re on borrowed time. Who knows when Valerius will decide to strike again.
“Yes, she’s waiting for us.”
I swing around, finding all three brothers blocking the exit. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“We can’t go inside the Montgomery’s mansion, but Demetria never said we couldn’t wait in the car.” Sam smiles in a cheeky way.
Rolling my eyes, I push them out of my way, carving a path for me and Grandma. “Fine. You can all come.”
“Like she had any say in the matter,” Sam whispers to his brothers.
“I can hear you,” I try to snap, but my reply has no bite. I can’t blame them for acting so protectively of me. To be honest, I feel better knowing they’ll be there. I don’t trust the Montgomery matriarch, either.
Sam wasn’t joking when he called the Montgomery mansion a house of horrors. The dark brick building with its lancet windows and turreted towers looks like it came straight out of a horror movie indeed. A wrought-iron gate with the family emblem festooned on it keeps strangers from entering the property unannounced. It swings open when Dante’s car approaches, but no magic is i
nvolved. I spy two security cameras mounted on each side of the gate. A Renaissance-style fountain depicting an angel battling a demon is in front of the house. It looks completely out of place, as if it was an afterthought or the person who decided on it wanted to piss off the house’s architect.
A young man is standing in front of the door, and something tells me he’s not the family’s butler. He could be a bodyguard—he’s definitely dressed like he’s ready for battle with his dark pants and black muscle shirt underneath his leather jacket—but why would the Montgomery family need bodyguards here in Crimson Hollow? Before this whole madness with Valerius started, it seemed there were no dangers lurking in dark corners.
“Who is that guy?” I ask.
Grandma makes a distressed sound in the back of her throat, but doesn’t answer right away.
“He looks like he came straight out of the set of the Underworld movie. What’s with the leather jacket in the summer?” Sam replies from next to me, which earns a snort from both Dante and Tristan. “What?”
“Pot, meet kettle,” Tristan replies.
“Ha-ha. I ride a motorcycle; I need to wear leather for protection.”
Dante parks the car right in front of the steps leading to the heavy wooden front door. The bodyguard, or whatever he is, approaches the vehicle, staring hard at the front.
“Let’s go before Montgomery’s minion makes a stink about you fellows.” Grandma opens the door, getting out in the next second.
I was sitting sandwiched between her and Sam in the back, so I make a move to scoot on the seat, but Sam wraps his fingers around my wrist, stopping me.
“What is it?” I ask.
He cups my cheek, then leans in to kiss me. It’s a peck on the lips, brief but loaded with meaning. Easing off, he stares into my eyes. “Please, please be careful.”
“I will.”
I face the front of the car, finding both Dante and Tristan staring at me. “Seriously, guys. I’ll be careful. Don’t worry.”
I get out of the car before they decide to take off with me still inside. The man in black glances at me briefly before turning his attention to my grandmother.
“Mrs. Montgomery has asked me to take you to her. Your companions must leave at once.”
“They’re our ride. Why can’t they wait in the car?” I ask, already suspicious this is a trap.
“These are my orders.”
“They’re staying,” Grandma replies, her tone leaving no room for argument.
The bodyguard maintains his stony expression. It’s then I notice his eyes are lackluster, devoid of life. It’s like he doesn’t give a fuck about anything.
After a moment, he tells us to follow him, not inside the house, but around the building.
“Where are we going?” I whisper to Grandma.
“We shall see soon enough.”
I want to ask her about the bodyguard, see if she also noticed the lack of motivation in him. I don’t know why his demeanor caught my attention or bothers me so much. I’ve met other people in my life who also appeared demotivated and joyless, and I never spared them a second thought. What’s different about this guy?
He takes us to the back of the house where a beautiful garden in full bloom greets us. I open my mouth to ask how it’s possible to have flowers in the high of the summer when I sense the burst of magic. Of course. There must be some spell in place here. I should have guessed.
Following the silent man through the garden, we reach a glasshouse bigger than Grandma’s home. From outside, I can see all kinds of flowers and other plants. The door swings open on its own, and the bodyguard steps aside to let us through.
“Mrs. Montgomery is inside.”
Grandma goes first, not bothering to address the man. I follow her, but glance at him to say thank you. I catch a twitch of his eyebrow, the most reaction I’ve seen from him until now. He doesn’t make eye contact with me, though, nor does he reply. Okay, fine. It seems good manners are not in his job duties.
Pushing the slight annoyance aside, I cross the threshold into a botanical maven. The scent of several different flowers hits me at once, almost making me dizzy with the sensorial overload. I can’t find Grandma for a second, then I hear her voice farther down the narrow space between all the pots and plants. Following the sound, I find her near an elderly woman with white hair who is busy trimming some plants. She stops her work, putting the sheers down, then she turns to us.
“So this is the famous Amelia Redford. I’m so glad to finally meet you.” The lady smiles, emphasizing the wrinkles on her face.
“Hello, thanks for agreeing to see us,” I reply.
Mrs. Montgomery shifts her attention to Grandma. “Wendy can be quite persuasive.”
“You do realize we’re on borrowed time here, don’t you, Demetria? Or do you no longer care about the fate of this town?”
The woman’s lips become a thin line. “Don’t you dare question my loyalty to Crimson Hollow. I’ve made more sacrifices to keep this town out of the darkness than you know.”
Things are getting intense here. It’s obvious there’s still some bad blood between my grandmother and Mrs. Montgomery. But I can’t allow things to escalate any further and risk not seeing the grimoire.
“You said we could have access to the grimoire under one condition. What is it?” I ask.
The ire in Mrs. Montgomery’s eyes seems to lessen a fraction. She squares her shoulders. Then, with a swishing movement of her hand, the glasshouse with all its flowers and plants disappears to be replaced by dark stony walls, and no sunlight. Torches mounted on the walls are the only source of illumination. The air is stale, and it smells of mildew. This is a dungeon.
With a gasp, I ask, “Where are we?”
“In the bowels of the Montgomery Manor. This is a secret chamber only I have access to.”
I turn to Grandma, only to realize she’s not there. Fuck. This is a trap.
“What happened to my grandmother?” I ask, my voice rising shrilly.
“In the glasshouse. She has forfeited her right to the grimoire when she walked out of the coven.”
“But I’m not in the coven. Why are you letting me look at it?”
“Because I need a favor in return.”
With another swish of her hand, a book stand appears between us in. On top of it, there’s a thick, leather-bound book. Powerful magic surges from the inane object, calling to something deep inside of me.
“You feel it, don’t you? The call of all the witches before you.”
“Is that what it is?” I say, my mouth getting dry.
“Yes. Only those with the midnight power in their veins can sense it.”
“But I’m not a witch.”
“Oh, my poor uninformed darling. Wendy did you a disservice not telling you about your legacy. Of course you’re a witch. Now, if you want your answers, go look for them.” She points at the thick tome.
With hesitant steps, I approach the bookstand, but the only thing I can hear is the sound of my heart pounding in my chest. “I don’t know where to start. Is the information recorded in chronological order?”
“Put your hands on the grimoire and ask it what you want to know.”
I do as she says, feeling the crackling of power as my hand hovers over the book cover. The moment I touch it, a current of electricity runs through my body, invading every cell in my being. My wolf howls as it grapples with the power taking over. I can feel the chip inside my head again, stronger than ever, trying to take control of my mind. I lose the feeling of my body, but at the same time, I hear a woman screaming. It’s Natalia’s voice. My head feels like it’s being split in two. If I had a body, I’d be doubling over in pain by now. The frequency from the chip intensifies. When I think I can’t take it anymore, it vanishes as the chips disintegrates.
Reeling from the experience, I try to catch my breath, only to be assaulted by random images, all flashing in front of my eyes at incredible speeds. It’s like I’m watching a
movie in fast forward. Finally, the reel slows, and I can discern the scenes. There’s Natalia in human form surrounded by a pack of wolves. They’re fighting a great demon, at least ten-foot tall, with scaly skin darker than coal cracked in several spots to reveal molten lava underneath. I smell his foul stench of sulfur as if I were there myself, and I immediately know it’s the same demon working with Valerius. The demon is hit by several balls of blue fire, but it does nothing to slow it down. Then Robert appears in the scene, holding a great sword that glows with power. He strikes the demon, piercing his stomach and enraging it more. The demon swats Robert with the back his forearm, sending the man flying across the clearing. Natalia screams and runs toward him, but the demon reaches her first, grabbing her by the waist with his mighty fist.
“You’re mine,” he says.
“Never.” She struggles in his hold.
Then, a dark circle appears behind him, a portal to the demon’s hellish dimension. I’m aware if Natalia lets the demon take her through it, she’ll be doomed forever. She pulls a small dagger from her dress. It has an ember stone encrusted on the handle. She thrusts the dagger with all her strength into the demon’s neck, and blinding light pours from where the blade struck. The demon screams in agony, but he keeps squeezing her. Natalia pours out every ounce of power she has, feeding the magical dagger. The demon begins to disintegrate and finally drops a passed-out Natalia to the ground. He explodes in a burst of light, leaving behind charred ground. The dagger falls next to Natalia’s prone body, burned completely. The stone is black, spent, and Natalia isn’t breathing.
A great force yanks me back, shoving me against the dungeon’s stony wall. Sprawled on the cold ground, it takes me a couple of seconds to get my bearings. Mrs. Montgomery appears in my line of vision with an expectant expression.
“What the hell did you do to me?” I ask, my voice shaken.
“I helped you. You’re welcome.”
“That was an incredibly hellish trip down memory lane. I thought my head was going to explode.” I touch my nape on a whim, noticing I can no longer sense the chip pulsing inside my brain.