And then I hear it – the familiar cooing of spirits. One by one, the voices return and whisper in my ear. They warn me, urge me, cry for me. I swallow at it and try not to let my relief show on my face. At least their voices are soft enough that I can still sort out my own thoughts and still feel Aaron’s spirit tethered to me like a ship to a dock. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to give the signal.
I mentally thank Eliza, knowing she had something to do with this.
Aaron leads me forward as I wrestle with a question as to why Wice has all of his captives lined up around him. It’s a clear threat. It’s his insurance, I realize. If I don’t do what he asks . . .
Wice stands with both book and pendant. His fine leather shoes click against the floor while he takes one slow step after another down the platform.
I keep my spine straight as he approaches me and whispers, “I have waited two decades to feel my wolf again. Two decades. Are you ready to make good on your bargain, Jinx Whitethorn?” He’s so close his minty breath fans against my forehead.
“And if I don’t?”
“Then I have sufficient leverage, don’t you think?” He thrusts both book and pendant to my abdomen. Aaron releases my elbow so I can take the offered items. “Complete the task, and I’ll let you all go. Refuse, and you’ll get to watch each one of them die before I kill you last.”
I snort softly. “You’ll kill me either way.”
His grin returns. “Is my word not trustworthy?” I grind my teeth. “I suppose it doesn’t matter what happens to you, does it? You came here to trick me. You came here to free those people. As long as they’re free, it doesn’t matter what happens to you, daughter of the man who damned us. You’re lucky your heart still beats in your chest, but I have plans for you, Jinx Whitethorn, and they don’t end here. My desires will be heeded, and you, skinwalker, are going to grant them.”
Realization dawns on me. Realization of what he truly wants, once his wolf has returned to him. Once his pack is satisfied. I’m the key to two different problems.
Jacob Trent
Darker clouds contain the moon as if someone powerful and unseen is watching us and knew we’d need more coverage. My pack may be skilled – my friends and their pack may be skilled – but nothing compares to these beasts whose sole purpose of living is to kill and be good at it.
There are three packs and two covens with me. We’re waiting on a gravel road that leads to the Bane’s territory. One of the covens was invited by Evo – The Demi Lune coven led by an old woman named Astrid. The other coven, the Lotus coven, is led by Marian, who refused to stay behind. The two high priestesses chat quietly with one another while my pack, Evo’s pack, and a pack unknown to me linger about the road. I’ve only heard of this other pack through Evo. It’s the pack who’s taking over the rogue and vampire problem in the city. They’re a newly formed pack and have yet to pick a name for themselves, but their chosen alpha’s name is Ravyn.
While half of the wolves are in their wolf form, Ravyn had snuffed off the idea to shift. According to her, she prefers to fight in human form. Damien had grinned at that idea but quickly schooled his face and walked away when I glared at him.
Ravyn’s long hair is dark pink and curled at the ends. Her stunning irises, almost violet, stare down the hill and survey the building the Bane call home. Her arms are crossed, radiating nervousness and confidence at the same time. It spells trouble in my opinion, but none of us fought her over remaining in her human form, even her own pack.
On the drive over here, Evo told me all about her pack on the phone. Every one of these men and women used to be rogue. At first, this made me nervous. Rogues, whether they’re rehabilitated ones or not, can be unpredictable. They can have a hard time taking orders. They can have a sadistic side that would conflict with a normal person’s morals. But since I’ve met them all, I’ve received nothing but respect. Nothing but obeyed orders and commands. Most of them had returned from the Realms War packless.
If only Jinx could see this – see how many have arrived to ensure her safety. How many are loyal to her. She’d never again question her worth.
Everyone’s waiting for the command I’m supposed to give once we get the signal. Jinx’s signal. The signal Sara promised Jinx would give, anyway.
We are silent, the cold breeze biting at our cheeks. My fingers curl into my palms as I study every inch of the territory, count the men and women outside who are marching the perimeter. They look like ants from as far away as we are. It takes everything in my wolf not to prance inside me – to not demand I shift as the others had, and then plunder the territory, signal be damned.
“I don’t want to kill everyone,” Ravyn whispers. I glance at her, study her face. She doesn’t return my gaze.
“Oh?”
She shakes her head. “I know you don’t know me, but there’s one thing I’ve learned since taking on this responsibility you left me.” I bristle at the slightly hostile blame in her tone. “Not every rogue is as wrecked beyond repair. Everyone has good inside them, and I have faith that some of these people can be saved.”
I blink down at her. Didn’t Kaya tell Jinx the same thing? Maybe not word for word, but the meaning was just the same. Didn’t Jinx also question if there were good people inside this pack?
I place my hand on Ravyn’s shoulder. “Okay.”
She glances up at me. “Okay?”
I nod. “Okay.” The stress leaves her body, and she visibly deflates. The thought of killing everyone must have been a heavy weight, a burden she didn’t want to bear. “But you need to get comfortable with the idea that some of these people were born, raised, and trained to only kill. To do exactly what Wice says, no matter their own personal cost. Those people won’t give up without a fight. If it comes to us or them . . .”
“I know.” She scratches her chin. “But at least we won’t be slaughtering those who don’t deserve death.”
But, once we barge in, we won’t know who is innocent and who is guilty. We won’t know how black the hearts of some of them are. I suppose we will have to go on faith. Those who fight back will die. Those who don’t . . . well, they’ll be Ravyn’s problem.
I open my mouth to tell her just that, but a shiver creeps up my spine, over the back of my head, and a voice murmurs in my ear. A spirit. A spirit with a message. A message from Jinx.
I blink at the Bane’s territory then turn to the group and whistle low. “It’s time.”
Quickly, I undress and start the shift, leaving my clothes abandoned on the gravel road. Many others follow my lead, and the witches who are grouped furthest away press closer to the shifters faintly snarling.
I note right away that both covens’ witches aren’t afraid of the shifters. I had worried about it, and relief settles in my wolf’s bones. What we’ve accomplished so far today would have been unheard of a year ago. It would be considered unthinkable. Witches and shifters had never worked together for a common cause. But here we are, prepared to rid this realm of a mutual problem, united by one person.
I urge my wolf, and he obeys. He sneaks off the road, creeping through ditches and unkempt brush. Ravyn, the queen of all things rogue and sympathizer of the abandoned, follows close behind, crouched low to the ground with a knife grasped in her hand.