by Jayne Hawke
Rowan nodded, still stiff and unconvinced.
“I can see why you fight with them.”
We came to a stop at a set of traffic lights, and I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel. This was a far bigger fight than we had ever expected. I hoped I wasn’t taking my people into something we couldn’t win.
“We will need magic of our own to defeat this witch,” Rowan said.
“I’m sure Amy and Sky will help us with that.”
They were more than my friends. The idea that they wouldn’t join our fight didn’t even enter into my mind. Just as I would offer my teeth and claws to aid in any fight they might have.
“You understand that this is far more than a fight against the Apophis witch...? You’re stirring up the entire supernatural community.”
I swallowed and pressed the gas a little harder than I intended. My focus had been almost entirely on Cole; I hadn’t allowed myself to think about the larger picture.
“There are delicate and dangerous politics in play here. You will need to rebuild the council once you’re done.”
Well, that sounded like a heap of fun right there. I didn’t want to get dragged into politics. I was a dumb merc. I wanted to protect my people without the hassle of paperwork.
“I’m sure Cole will be happy to help with that. As a guardian, you will need to deal with the witches and fae, though. There will be the coven who’ll be destroyed during this fight, and the fact of the Fenris witches existing.”
I frowned at Rowan.
He gave me a gentle smile.
“Fenris witches are a point of contention. The witches believe that they can form around any god. There is a lot of argument over Fenris’ status as a god, and the fact that he is a wolf. Many garou, my pack included, feel that, as he’s a wolf, the witches have no right to him and what he offers.”
I could feel a headache coming on. It had seemed like a simple hack-and-slash job, and instead I was getting into something huge and complicated. I could feel the paperwork piling up as we spoke.
“I’m sure Cole will help you with these things.”
I looked at him through the corner of my eye.
“And, of course, you and your pack would be very happy to help, too. I’m sure it would elevate your standing,” I said with a smile.
Rowan spread his hands.
“Of course. The packs leading our people have been stagnant for too long. This is an ideal opportunity for a guardian to step in and set that right.”
I cursed Valentin out. The more I learned about this guardian thing, the more I hated him.
“We can discuss that once the witch has been killed.”
“I wouldn’t dare push you into anything.”
I made a non-committal noise.
He seemed like a nice guy, but he clearly had everything figured out. I was going to need Cole to guide me through this ridiculous minefield I was getting into.
20
Amy’s eyes lit up when she looked Rowan up and down.
“And who is this?” she asked.
Rowan bowed low and extended his hand with a cheeky grin on his face.
“Rowan, ma’am.”
“He’s the beta of the Blue Dagger pack here to help us fight the Apophis witch. Do we have any other allies?”
“No.”
“None?”
“No one would talk to me.”
“Or me,” Sky added.
“Don’t worry. We’re preparing some weapons to help us kick ass,” Amy said with a big fake smile.
“We don’t need more than we have. My pack is removing the problem of the council and the Fenris witches,” Rowan said, unable to take his eyes off Amy.
“Where are my manners?” Amy extended her hand to Rowan. “Amy. Resident Ma’at witch.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Rowan said as he took her hand.
So much for garou and witches not supposed to work together.
“You have your guardian dagger, which we know can harm the Apophis witch. Keep that on you. We’re working on enchanting some more pointy objects for the rest of us, and Amy has a few bombs we can take along too. This is not going to be easy, but we can do it,” Sky said.
“Of course we can. We’re going to show the world that garou are beings to be feared, not worthless pets,” I said with far more confidence than I felt.
The others cheered. It felt fake, but we were all trying.
“So, what do you need me to do?”
“I need some of your blood,” Amy said brightly.
“How much?”
I’d do whatever it took.
“Half a cup or so. Your guardian magic works differently to witch magic; we can bend it to help us harm the Apophis witch. I don’t know if it’ll make these blades as effective as your guardian blade, but it’ll give us something.”
I held my forearm out for Amy.
She pierced my skin with a sharp knife, and I looked away, unable to watch my blood drip into a cup below. It was over in a minute or so, and my body healed without any apparent issue.
Briar had run out of the room. I wasn’t sure if she was suddenly squeamish or if there was some other reason.
“How can I help?” Rowan asked as he sat down at the kitchen table.
“You can help Rosalyn plan the tactics for our approach to this barn,” Sky said.
I wrinkled my nose. Tactics weren’t taught in baking school.
“My pack is focusing on the councilmen, which will give us a lot of breathing room. The last I heard, Erin had sent out two enforcers to keep councilman Koda busy. I believe they’re just meant to badger him with questions he has to answer as a representative. We don’t want to draw in a war. He’s the head of the bears, so we shouldn’t need to worry about bears getting in our way. The garou are at your disposal, and they’re working on the witch contingent. We’re free to focus entirely on the actual ritual.”
I nodded as though that made any of this any easier.
“So, Liam will be in the barn ready to do his ritual. He’ll have Natasha and Cole nearby,” I said.
Rowan nodded distractedly and watched as Amy began mixing some of my blood with some dried herbs.
“What happened to garou and witches don’t work together?” I teased.
“A wolf knows when they’ve found their match,” Rowan said with a smile.
I wondered if Amy knew what she was getting herself into.
“What would Sam and Dean do?” I asked myself.
Rowan looked at me with a smirk.
“You’re referring to Supernatural for tactical advice?”
I shrugged.
“It’s the best I have.”
“Sam and Dean would scope the place out then set mines or other traps around the perimeter so there was only one entrance and exit that they could control,” Rowan said.
“I’m not sure if we have time to scope the place out. We can check the maps online.”
“I think you’re right, and that’ll have to do. What are the strengths and weaknesses of your pack?”
“Sky’s a Morrigan witch. Amy’s a Ma’at witch. Adam and Briar are young, but they have experience. They’re scrappers.”
Rowan nodded.
“So Sky is good with swords and curse breaking. Amy can screw with people’s life force, and the younger ones are good distractions?”
“Sure, that sounds good,” I said.
“Amy and I will control the second entrance and exit. I’m a strong and experienced fighter. We can keep that point blocked. Keep Adam and Briar to watch your flanks and catch any who get around you. You focus on the Apophis witch; your guardian magic will give you an advantage over the rest of us. Then let Amy deal with the rest of them.”
It sounded so simple when he put it like that.
“We’re making mines we can lay down too,” Amy said.
Rowan beamed at her.
“Do wolves normally fall as hard and fast as you?”
“Not every one, no. Some are jad
ed and hide from the bond. I’m far more open to the potential. A life bond is your other half, you’re stronger and happier together.”
“I am not jaded.”
He made a non-committal noise.
“Cole might be a bit, though.”
“Of course. It’s all on Cole,” Rowan said with a smirk.
I poked him in the ribs.
“Anything I should know about this witch or fighting tactics, as you’re apparently the expert?”
“If you can take his head off, do it. Otherwise you need to slit him from navel to sternum and hack him into small bits before you burn him.”
“How delightful,” I said sarcastically.
Rowan shrugged.
“We have the tactics pinned down. I’m going to help Amy.”
I rolled my eyes.
IT WASN’T LONG BEFORE we were all crowded around the kitchen table helping the witches put together their potions and bombs. Amy had me grinding up herbs with a distinct smell of death to them. Briar was carefully mixing a bright purple potion in an honest-to-the-gods cauldron. I didn’t think they really existed these days. Rowan had been put to good use helping Sky engrave some symbols onto every sharp object we’d been able to lay our hands on.
There was a growing feeling of confidence spreading through the group. It had been a long few days, but we were really doing this. Our weapons were almost prepared; we had a location. Soon this would all be over, and we could return to normal pack life.
21
I PLACED THE LAST OF my knives into its sheath and double-checked everything. The guardian dagger was in my favourite hip sheath. I had four more knives on my legs, two on my thighs, two in my boots. Sky had handed me more knives for my lower back, and Amy had loaded me down with bright purple orbs that fluttered in the light.
“Aim for their heads when you throw them,” Amy reminded me for the fifth time.
“Got it. Head.”
Adam and Briar had insisted on shifting. They felt far more confident fighting in their wolf forms. Amy had given them a pair of knives that would shift with them should their fangs and claws fail them.
I looked around the small pack and felt as though I was supposed to give a rousing speech or something.
“This is our chance to show the world what the garou are capable of. Maybe it will even forge a new era of alliance between witches and garou,” I said.
“Screw the fae!” Briar added.
Everyone laughed and turned towards the door. Amy triple-checked that everyone had all of the weapons and bombs they were supposed to.
“I’ll ride with Amy,” Rowan said firmly.
“Of course you will,” Sky said sweetly.
I bit back a laugh and headed out to the Mustang. We were going into battle. I wasn’t going to do that but in my old warhorse.
Sky dug her heels in and looked pointedly between my Mustang and her far more modern, reliable car. I got into the Mustang and started the deep growly engine before I petted the dash.
“Don’t worry old girl. I know you’re my warhorse,” I said in soothing tones.
Adam and Briar had climbed into the back. They knew better than to try and argue at a time like this.
Sky finally huffed and relented. She buckled up her seatbelt and held onto the door as though it was her only salvation. I turned some rousing rock up nice and loud and followed Amy’s car down the driveway. This was it. We were going to get Cole back and save the day.
22
“DO NOT TRY AND BE THE heroes and rush forward,” Sky reminded the siblings.
“We know,” Briar said grumpily.
“We need you to watch our backs,” I reminded them.
“It’s the most important job,” Adam said as he elbowed Briar in the ribs.
“Exactly. We need to be able to focus on the Apophis witch. It’ll all be over if someone gets us from behind,” I said.
That wasn’t entirely true. Sky had a good chance at taking the witch out by herself, but that wouldn’t reassure Briar any.
The young garou sat a little taller and ran her fingers over the slender blade Amy had given her. The red symbols glistened in the darkness. They would help Briar and the blade strip the life force from whomever she attacked. Amy had described it as a lesser version of what the blood witches had used.
I licked my lips and envisioned swooping in to save Cole. We were doing this for him. It would be over soon.
Butterflies exploded in my stomach as we got closer to the barn in question. I was a baker. I’d never been into battle before. This was completely different to when I took on the blood witches. I’d only put my life on the line, but now my entire pack was going to be right there. As Rowan insisted on reminding me, there was a lot more than that at stake. The outcome of this battle would dictate relations between garou and witches in the future, and potentially the future of the country.
No pressure.
23
WE SLOWED AS WE DROVE deeper into the old forest and approached the barn. According to the maps, there was pastureland behind the barns and lots of trails running through the forests. Meaning there were many directions and paths potential enemies could approach us from.
I turned off the music and kept my ears pricked, trying to pick out any weird footsteps. Sky was bouncing her leg next to me and, with each passing second, the desire to sink my claws into her knee grew.
“Sky. Stop,” I growled.
“I can’t feel my swords,” she whispered.
“What do you mean you can’t feel your swords?”
“I can’t summon them.”
I let out a string of curses.
“Amy gave you other blades, right? And bombs?”
Sky nodded.
“Then we’re fine.”
“I don’t have access to my Morrigan magic, Rosalyn. The gods are pushing me to choose.”
“Use your blades. You’re still a skilled warrior. We’ll worry about the rest later,” I said reassuringly.
Sky swallowed hard. She was pale in the moonlight. Her nerves were palpable, and it was beginning to show on Briar.
“Sky is a skilled warrior. She doesn’t need her Morrigan magic for that to be true,” I said firmly.
“And you’re a guardian. You’ve already injured Liam once,” Adam said.
“Exactly.”
Cole was nearby. I could feel it. I stopped the car some twenty feet away from the barn in a spot where I could do a fast turn if I needed to without worrying about hitting a tree. The dirt was soft beneath my feet, far more sand and give than I was used to.
Everything about the place felt a little bit wrong. We piled out of the old Mustang and looked towards the barn. Cole wasn’t in there. He was somewhere in the forest.
My instincts kicked in, and I began heading into the forest towards him. We were here to get Cole and make the pack whole again.
“Rosalyn!” Sky hissed.
“Her other half is nearby,” Rowan said.
I heard someone exhale through gritted teeth as the plan went out of the window.
They spread out behind me. Adam and Briar remained closest, watching my flank while the others slipped between the trees on either side of me. The forest was entirely still as though holding its breath, waiting. Cole’s scent filled my nostrils, and I fought against the need to run towards him.
This had to be a trap. I couldn’t hear or smell the attackers yet, but they would be here. We approached a small shed with caution. There was a distinct smell of old leather and hay coming from the space.
“It’s an old tack room,” Sky said.
I could see the stable block not far behind it. The wood was rotten and the rooves sagged. Doors hung open; weeds had sprouted through the gravel and concrete in front of the old stables. This place hadn’t been used in a good while. It was perfect for Liam.
The tack room was in a better state of repair than the stables. The door was solid and new, the walls were well maintained and entirely without wind
ows. There was only one entrance and exit. It looked to be made of solid stone forming thick strong walls, with a shingle roof that had stood up to time better than I would have expected. The area around it looked to be well walked and clearer than the main stables. Amy crouched down and pressed her hand to the ground, closing her eyes.
“I don’t feel any mines or magical traps in the area.”
That was all I needed. With my knives in my hands, I marched up to the door and kicked it. To my surprise, it was unlocked.
It was definitely a trap.
The room inside was almost as big as the entire ground floor of the house, despite the outside being some twenty feet by twenty feet. That meant fae magic was involved. I really hated fae magic.
Gritting my teeth, I stepped inside and braced for the worst.
24
THE OTHERS WERE CROWDED in close behind me as we crossed the cracked concrete floor and listened to the soft dripping of water from holes in the roof. Holes that hadn’t been present in the building we’d seen in the forest. Damp filled the air and gave everything a dirty grey tone. The light was dull, and I couldn’t pinpoint where it was coming from. Concrete walls stretched up around us and led to a plain concrete roof. There wasn’t a light or window anywhere to be seen.
Cole sat at the far end of the big empty room. His hands and feet were bound, his mouth stuffed with a gag. It wasn’t a bad look for him. He narrowed his eyes at us and snarled something. I ducked as an arrow shot out of the wall to my left. A glance over at the wall showed it to be entirely smooth and devoid of a gap for an arrow to have come from. That didn’t change the fact that it would have struck me in the temple had I not have seen the warning written on Cole’s face.
More arrows quickly followed the first. They seemed to come from the walls, but I couldn’t see any holes. It was as though they appeared from thin air. Not that I had much chance to look, given I was dancing around trying to avoid them, long slender wooden shafts with small silver heads. Large enough to cause plenty of damage.
“They’re poisoned!” Sky shouted.