For another half hour, they discussed the finer points of the day. No matter how many scenarios they discussed, and tried to plan for, she had an uneasy feeling. Whoever the traitor was, he’d been working against them for a while, possibly since the beginning. Could a couple of days of planning put an end to it?
Finally back at the cave, they shook out their limbs and stretched before heading inside. Madeleine had her list of people to give coordinates to as did Reagan. First up, her mom.
After checking her bedroom, the cafeteria, and the library, Reagan decided to knock off some other names on her list, including Sam, Aunt Sarah, and Jessica. Each one swore they hadn’t seen either of Reagan’s parents all morning. She decided to check in with Papa before looking further. To her surprise, both her parents were in the command center with him.
“There you are. I’ve been looking for you.”
“I wanted to talk to Papa and have him and your father discourage you, Madeleine, and Winona from training today, especially in the woods,” Mom said.
That wasn’t what Reagan expected. Before she could ask for an explanation, Madeleine walked in.
“Good, I’m hoping to talk some sense into you and Reagan,” Mom said.
Who is this woman, Reagan wondered, and what has she done with my mom?
“We’re running out of time to train. In the next day or so, all of us should actually head out and try some of the magical elements we’ve discussed for the final battle. But before that, I need to make sure Winona and Reagan are ready. You don’t want them facing Rafe ill-prepared, do you?”
Mom fidgeted, wringing her hands and rocking back and forth on her heels. Dad placed a hand on her shoulder, which seemed to calm her movements.
“Plus, Lucent agreed to have some of his men join us. Training to fight vampires will be key as well. I have a feeling we’ll be facing more of them than ever in the final battle,” Madeleine continued.
“Okay, but could Steve and Jed join you? Maybe Rowan and Ricardo?”
Her insistence seemed odd, and Reagan wanted to put her mom’s mind at rest. “We’ve got everything covered. We wouldn’t go out there alone.” Still seeing concern on her face, Reagan added, “I promise.”
Reagan wondered if she’d made her mother feel better as her parents filed out of the command center. Papa placed a hand on Reagan’s arm and then motioned to a back corner. Once she and Madeleine joined him, he leaned in close.
“I talked to Lucent. Don’t get me wrong, I trust him, but I have a bad feeling about this.”
“You have a better idea?” Madeleine asked. “Because we can’t afford to go another day with someone who’s reporting our every tactic to Rafe. We won’t stand a chance.”
He looked from her to Reagan and back. “Okay, but you pull the plug if it’s not working. Do you understand? I don’t want you out at night for long. And if this thing goes south, get back to the cave as quickly as possible.”
As Reagan nodded, she could see the same agreement from Madeleine.
“How much does Winona know?” he asked.
“Only that we are training.” Reagan felt guilty about not cluing her sister in on the details, but there were enough eventualities to consider without Winona’s input.
“That’s for the best. Please, let me know the minute you leave. If you ladies aren’t back by six thirty, I’m coming for you with a team. Got it?”
“Got it,” they said in unison.
Walking away, Reagan realized she’d put her life in the hands of Papa, Lucent, and Madeleine. Doubt never entered her brain about them, but guilt permeated every pore of her being. And not just because of Winona.
As if on cue, Rowan came into sight. “How’s my girl?”
Worst girlfriend ever. “Okay. Got to go get ready to head out with Madeleine and Winona.”
“Yeah, Madeleine told me your location. If you guys aren’t back soon after dark, I’m heading there.” He leaned in closer. “I’m going to be worried until you get back.”
It took everything she had not to tell him the plan. Looking into his eyes, she knew she could trust him. After all, she loved him. “I love you. We’re going to be okay.”
“I love you, too, Tala.” He whispered his name for her just as his lips took hers. With his hand on the small of her back, he pressed her into him as the kiss deepened.
When he pulled back, she closed her eyes and leaned her forehead into his chin. She couldn’t bear to look him in the eyes again. After the day played out, he’d know about the different locations. Would he be angry she didn’t come to him? Ask for his help? Trust him?
Questioning the plan at that point didn’t make sense, so she shook off her concerns and took his hand. “Why don’t we get some lunch before I have to head out?”
Once in the cafeteria, they grabbed some food and ran into just about everyone. Tension filled the air. Usually, lunch was a time for relaxing conversation and a break from war talk and battle planning. Instead, everyone kept quiet and picked at their food.
Madeleine pushed her chair back, causing a loud screech that made everyone’s heads pop up. “Okay, ladies,” she said, looking at Reagan and Winona. “We should go.”
“Be safe,” Rowan whispered as he kissed just behind Reagan’s ear.
She told him she would, and noticed Ricardo whisper something to Winona at about the same time. Reagan couldn’t help but smile, knowing someone cared about her sister. At the same time, Reagan realized Madeleine didn’t have somebody holding her and offering support. The thought left Reagan more determined than ever to make Madeleine feel like family, to ensure she never felt alone.
After gathering the gear—Reagan, as always, had the sword strapped to her—they headed into the woods. For several hours they trained. No reason to waste an opportunity. Plus, the distraction of maneuvers and strategy, not to mention he physical demands of fighting, kept Reagan from thinking about anything else.
As dusk settled, Madeleine came over. “Guess we should pack it in soon. I don’t know whether to feel relief or frustration that this didn’t work.”
“I—”
A rustling sound close by had her jerking her head to the right. Madeleine crouched a bit, clearly in a defensive posture, as Reagan slid her hand toward her back, grasping the hilt of the sword. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Winona moving in to tighten their group.
Behind them, Reagan heard footsteps crunching through the snow.
“Back to back,” Madeleine said, making sure they re-positioned to form a circle where they all faced out in different directions.
A figure stepped into the clearing a few feet from Reagan.
No, no, no.
Terrified Madeleine would react first and ask questions later, Reagan spoke up.
“Sam, why are you here?”
Neither Madeleine nor Reagan relaxed their guard, although Winona seemed to.
Before he could answer, a figure flashed before her. Sam was on the ground, being held down by a vampire. Reagan hadn’t seen him before, but she knew Lucent had his men watching each location.
“Because I told him it was a good idea.”
Reagan tensed. She didn’t need to turn toward the sound to know the voice. Ricardo.
Winona ran up and embraced him. Reagan wanted to yell for her sister to move away, at least until they could talk to him. But she didn’t have any reason to be suspicious since she didn’t know about the plan.
He made a tsking noise as began to move forward, clutching Winona to him. Reagan followed his steps, her hand still clutching the hilt.
“Really. Madeleine, I would’ve expected more of you,” Ricardo said.
“And I of you,” she replied.
“What’s going on?” Sam yelled, still on the ground.
“Did you really think this game of cat and mouse would work?” Ricardo’s voice had taken on a guttural tone. Reagan almost didn’t recognize it.
“Clearly it did,” Madeleine said.
A laugh seemed to start at his toes and work its way up his entire body before the sound escaped his mouth. “You think I came alone. That’s hilarious.”
Streaks of movement began all around Reagan, leaving her looking from one direction to another, and even up into the trees. Vampires. Reagan had no doubt, except to wonder whose side they were on.
“And do you think they are alone?” Lucent came into view.
Reagan breathed out but didn’t fully relax.
“Lucent, it’s been a long time,” a female voice said.
Reagan couldn’t make out the shadowy figure, but felt a strong reaction, similar to how she felt with Lucent, but not quite as intense. Still, darkness flooded her sense. When the woman stepped into the fading light, Reagan heard Madeleine gasp.
“Hello, daughter,” the woman said.
Daughter? Reagan searched her mind for a possible answer. Daughter? Madeleine?
“Camille, I thought you were dead,” Lucent said.
As the woman closed the gap between herself and Madeleine, a small pack of demon wolves moved out of the shadows to flank her, as if they were her personal guards. Hearing more movement around the area, Reagan took a quick, one-eighty look. At least another twenty demon wolves moved in.
“Mom?” Madeleine’s voice cracked.
“You are so beautiful. Always were.” Camille reached a hand toward Madeleine, stroking her face once before she pulled back.
“It can’t be.”
“Oh, it very much can be. Didn’t your father tell you?”
Complicated scenarios raced through Reagan’s mind. She only knew some of Madeleine’s story. Vampires had ambushed her, her sister, and her mom when their dad was out of town, back when Madeleine was only about Reagan’s age. Then, Rafe and Rowan had rescued Madeleine and Amélie from the assault. Both their mom and dad were assumed to be dead. But just a couple of months before, Madeleine’s father had shown up, only to die shortly after.
“Guess your father didn’t tell you how he left me to die. As if he and his hunters didn’t know. They hunted me for years.” Camille moved around Madeleine, who pivoted to keep eye contact. “Nothing about how I was turned that night? I was sorry to hear about Amélie. I’d kept a close eye on her over the years, although Rafe didn’t want us to meet. Never understood it. Anyway, good thing I found Rafe and a new family, since mine so quickly abandoned me.”
“Don’t forget about me. I’ve always been there for you. In many ways,” Ricardo said, sidling up to her with Winona in tow.
“Oh, I could never forget you, my dear.” She pulled him to her mouth, and their hungry kiss lasted way too long; Winona struggling against him the whole time.
Sick and reeling from everything happening, Reagan tried to focus. She had to get Winona away from Ricardo. Better yet, Winona should have the honor of doing that herself.
“Fire.” Reagan pushed the word toward her sister.
After a couple of rapid-fire attempts at communicating, Winona found Reagan’s gaze and latched on.
“Your hands. Fire.”
Reagan kept her instructions simple and hoped it would work. Although she seemed to have a good handle on producing fire, her sister had only just begun to work at it. If she could only cause Ricardo to let go, Reagan would do the rest.
Camille still spoke with Madeleine, but Reagan didn’t register the words, too determined to focus on freeing her sister. As Reagan was about to consider another tactic, Ricardo screamed, dropping Winona’s hand. She scurried to get away from him, spun around, shifted, leaned back as though ready to pounce, and snarled as the hair along the ridge of her back stood on end.
When she did, Reagan saw Papa step into the area. A slight relief settled in her gut, knowing he’d stop at nothing to even the odds. Just after him, her mom came into view. An equal but opposite reaction occurred then. Why hadn’t she stayed in the safety of the cave? Instead, she’d left Reagan with one more thing to worry about. Every part of her body tingled with the beast inside, the wolf that begged to be unleashed, but Reagan needed access to the sword and the dexterity of her human hands.
Ricardo, still shaking his hand, addressed Papa. “Never considered it could be me, did you?”
“I never wanted to consider it could be anyone.” Papa took slow but exaggerated steps toward Ricardo. “I have to ask. Why?”
“This was set in motion long ago. Rafe knew Madeleine and Rowan—”
Like a white knight showing up in the nick of time to save the damsel in distress, Rowan materialized from the darkness, his glare fixed on Ricardo. Rowan never faltered as he fell into step with Papa.
“Ah, you’ve joined us. Good timing. As I was saying, Rafe knew his own brother would betray him. And I knew Rafe would come out the victor. I’m no fool. I made sure to join the winning team. He sent me off with you guys when you left.”
“How could you?” Madeleine said. “You’ve seen the lives he can destroy. Oh my God! Sasha! You killed her. You son of a…” With a guttural growl, almost as intense as her wolf version, she threw her body at Ricardo but was ripped backward by Camille.
“Let him finish.” She spit out the words.
Ricardo paced. “Sasha was regrettable, but she figured it out. Smarter cookie than most of you.”
Drawing in her fingers into her palm and squeezing, it took all of Reagan’s willpower to not punch him in the face. But she refused to give him any advantage by reacting to his taunts.
“Stop talking, lover. We aren’t here to chat with them,” Camille said.
“You’re right. We’re here to detain you until Rafe can get here,” he said.
Hearing that must’ve been the last straw for Papa, because he transformed and charged at Ricardo, who did the same. Fur met fur as their bodies collided in the air.
Deciding on the best course of action, Reagan shot a glance at Camille, who yanked Madeleine’s head to the side, baring long teeth. Before Reagan could react, Lucent rammed into Camille, sending her flying backward as Madeleine regrouped and shifted.
Feeling like nothing but a bystander, Reagan scanned the area for her mom and raced over. “What are you doing here? I need to fight. I can’t be looking out for you.”
“I was able to talk to Nana.” Mom said. A beautiful blonde flashed into sight, catching Reagan off guard for only a moment before she ripped the sword from behind her and slashed through the vampire’s neck.
“Sam!” Reagan remembered he was close by and hoped he heard her. He was by her side within seconds. “Get Mom out of here.”
“No! I’ve brought help.”
Opening her mouth to ask who, the subtle smell of lavender wafted to her nose, quickly growing in intensity. A light grew in the distance.
“Trust me,” Mom whispered.
Reagan made eye contact with her brother. “Keep an eye on Mom. That’s your only job.”
He nodded.
Sword drawn and ready to do damage, Reagan headed into the fray. Winona was handling a demon wolf. Spinning one hundred eighty degrees, Reagan assessed the scene, trying to determine where she could help most. Madeleine came into view. As Reagan rushed to her friend, she took her mother’s neck into her jaws and snapped it, ripping her head off and tossing it aside. Madeleine fell to the ground, transforming back to a human; Rowan closed the gap between them and picked her up.
Realization hit Reagan like a semi. Her mom’s vision. Frantic to get to Winona, Reagan jerked back to where her sister had been before. Ricardo stood on his hind legs and pinned her against a tree with his front paws. He seemed to be cutting off her air supply, because her body went slack, and she transformed back into a human at the same time he did. She scrambled to her feet, stumbling as she tried to stand. He yanked her up by her hair, dragging her a few feet before he wrapped his hands around her neck and hoisted her into the air.
As Reagan raced toward them, dazzling light filled the area—not sunlight, but equally as brilliant. Barely able to see, she focused on Ricardo’s f
ace.
“Let her go!” she screamed.
“No. If Rafe can’t get here in time, I’ll make sure he’s still proud of me. Say goodbye to Night.”
Winona’s body was in the way, so Reagan had to be precise. With everything she had, she thrust the sword to Winona’s right, hoping to catch a piece of Ricardo. Instead, the weapon slammed into the tree, sending a jolt up Reagan’s arm, jamming her elbow. She watched in horror as the sword fell to the ground in slow motion. Her eyes darted to Ricardo’s, and he lunged at her as she got low and started crawling toward the sword. He grabbed her by the ankles and jerked her backward as she clawed at the ground.
With the light spreading and becoming brighter, Reagan struggled to see.
A scream pierced the air.
She squeezed her eyes shut and reopened them, hoping the action would clear her vision. Slowly, the light began to fade, like someone dialing down a dimmer switch.
As details came back into focus, Reagan found Winona standing over Ricardo, the sword pierced through his mid-section, her trembling hands still grasping the hilt.
Around her, bodies scrambled to retreat.
“We have to get out of here,” Papa said, suddenly by Reagan’s side.
She went to her sister. “Come on, we need to go.”
Winona didn’t move, her eyes staring into space as tears poured down her cheeks. Figuring she must be in shock, Reagan peeled her sister’s fingers from the sword and went to place it back in its scabbard.
“You think you’ve won something here.” Ricardo strained to push out each word. “You haven’t.”
Without taking a second to think, she whipped the sword around in a huge arc and brought it down into his heart. His body tensed and then went limp. Ripping the blade back out of him, she secured the sword and took her sister’s hand. She seemed frozen in shock, her eyes unblinking and her body rigid. Papa appeared and put an arm around Winona.
“I’ve got her.”
“Where’s Mom?” Reagan asked.
“Sam has her. They’re heading back to camp. Lucent is staying on guard in the area, just in case Rafe is close by. But we have to move. Now!”
Tala Prophecy: The Complete Series Page 58