by R L Medina
“Water. Got it.” Leo turned to leave, muttering under his breath.
I bit back a smirk, knowing full well, he didn’t like playing host, but would never disobey Rafael.
Taking it upon herself to break the tension, Miss Weatherstone sat down on the leather couch first. Though maybe she had done it more out of necessity to get away from Rafael’s lengthy stare.
Creep.
Tío and the other GRIMM exchanged looks and dispersed around the room. They were sitting now, but I didn’t doubt for a second that they weren’t on high alert. Javi, Shiloh, Brady and I took the last couch, all squishing close together.
So many questions raced through my mind. All the scenarios playing out in slow motion. I pushed the thoughts away, trying to stay positive.
Brady was safe. There could still be a chance to save Grayson.
11
A door down the hall opened and we turned to see a woman approach. Not woman—wolf. Nadia. I recognized her from before. She froze, instantly alerted to our presence.
Behind her, a head peeked out of the room. Michael? Matteo? He was too far to see clearly, and he disappeared as quickly as he had appeared.
Leo returned with a cup of water for Miss Weatherstone at the same time as the Nadia walked over to us.
Her eyes skipped over the others and narrowed on me.
I flashed her a smile. “Nice to see you again, too.”
Rafael glanced from me to her, eyebrow raised. “You two friends now?”
She grunted, shaking her head. I fought the urge to roll my eyes at the alpha’s oblivious stare.
“Yeah, best friends,” I muttered.
Ignoring me, she turned to Rafael. “What’s going on, Alpha?”
“Nothing. You can leave now.” His words were clipped and harsh.
Her lip curled, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she glared at us and turned back to the room. Leo stood in her way.
He shook his head. “The door is that way.”
Her eyes narrowed to slits. “I forgot my phone.”
Leo folded his arms across his chest, not budging. I watched the exchange curiously. What the Hell was his problem? I’d never seen Leo so serious before. Only when it came to his brother…
“Step aside, Leo.” She wasn’t backing down.
“Leo,” Rafael interjected.
The wolf’s face hardened, but he moved, only inches to let her pass by. She stormed down the hall, clearly pissed at being left out. Angry voices caught my ear and I turned to find the GRIMM and Miss Weatherstone talking over each other as Rafael scowled at them.
His eyes met mine and I turned away. What were we doing there? Where was Michael? I wanted answers and we were just sitting there wasting time. Time that Grayson didn’t have.
A door slammed, startling me. I glanced up as the wolf girl marched out and past us to the front door, head high as she left. Seconds after, a sheepish looking Matteo emerged from the room and came to stand with Lucian and Leo, who was shooting him daggers with his eyes.
Clearly, we had walked into something. But I wasn’t interested in their personal lives. I didn’t come to catch up on their drama.
“As I was saying, we have a common enemy. It would benefit all of us to join forces. We have resources for you—”
Miss Weatherstone was cut off by Lucian’s snort of derision. I turned to find her on her feet, staring down Rafael. Though her face had reddened again, there was a determined, deadly serious look in her eyes.
“I have no interest in these resources. My pack doesn’t need anything from you or the GRIMM.” Rafael shook his head at her.
The council member grunted. “I don’t understand why we’re sitting here talking about helping them when they should be helping us. We are at war here. There is no time for playing nice with these monsters.”
Lucian and the others edged closer to him, eyes narrowed. Rafael held up his hand to them in a silent command to stand down.
Miss Weatherstone turned to him. “This war is a direct result of years of restrictive policy and excessive force. The inhumane treatment of extra—”
“Inhumane? They are not humans! They don’t deserve the same rights. It’s because our policy and force has grown too lax in dealing with them that we are in this mess. Luna Negra should have been destroyed at their first offense.”
Tío held up his hand to silence both of them. “What should have been done is irrelevant right now. We must focus on the task at hand first. Only after all this is over can we begin investigation and determine any changes necessary.”
“After this is over, we could all be dead.” Miss Weatherstone shook her head.
Everyone grew silent. Her words rang in my ears. The severity of our situation struck me like a brick. I fought the urge to squirm in my chair.
My eyes caught the others. Brady was mouthing something I couldn’t make out. I frowned at him. Did he think we would be able to sneak away from the adults while they argued? I glanced at Tío. His eyes were narrowed on us.
Yeah. Definitely no sneaking off now.
“With the witches in hiding and their army growing, the GRIMMs need your help. I don’t think I have to tell you of all people what Luna Negra is capable of.” Miss Weatherstone continued with her pointless appeal.
Rafael stiffened. He inched closer to her. “Why me of all people?”
Her eyes danced around the room, face growing flustered under his glare. “I mean. Because of… well, what happened to your father.”
Silence filled the room.
It was a mistake to bring up the alpha’s past. Even I knew that.
“Never talk about my father again.” His words were laced with warning.
I had a déjà vu moment of myself with the headmaster. Had Rafael been as close to his father as I had been with Papi?
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. I just thought—”
“Enough of this. I’m prepared to make you a deal.” Agent Young cut her off.
The alpha spun toward him. “A deal? You come to my home, demand my help, and now you think I’ll accept a deal from you?”
Agent Young met the wolf’s stare. “We drop any and all outstanding charges and you tell us what we want to know.”
Rafael grunted and looked to his pack members. “Am I speaking English here? Haven’t I already told this idiot that I don’t know anything about the witches?”
They nodded in unison.
“See, they understand it.” He eyed me and my friends. “You kids understand, right?”
Javi scowled at him while Shiloh shot a worried look from the wolves to the GRIMM.
I snorted.
“Something funny?” Rafael’s voice lowered.
Tío was the first to stand. “This was a waste of time. While we’re sitting here, there could be another attack already happening.”
He looked to Agent Young. “They obviously don’t know anything. I suggest you move on to another method.” He gave him a pointed look.
My stomach filled with lead. He didn’t mean what I thought he did, did he?
Agent Young frowned. “We have looked into everything. If the wolves won’t help us, it’s time to call in the vampires.”
Leo scoffed. “The vampires?”
“I’m sure they want to see their queen back safely.”
He laughed. “Maybe some of them, but you forget Queen Damaris isn’t exactly known as a benevolent monarch. Why do you think so many of her own people turned on her?”
Agent Young grimaced. “Well, we can’t just ignore this problem and hope it goes away. Time is running out. I’m sure some of the vampires can be swayed to help.”
Miss Weatherstone frowned at him.
I shivered, remembering my last encounter with the bloodsuckers. Their faces still haunted my dreams.
“There’s a viceroy in the prison.” One of the GRIMM spoke up.
Agent Young shook his head. “They’ve already been interrogating him. He claims he does
n’t know where she is.”
Was it the same vampire who’d tried to save me from the shifters? One good deed didn’t outdo a lifetime of draining humans, but I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.
“The fairy elf that took her. Shouldn’t that be where you are looking? I told the GRIMM in my report that she is the one who captured the vampire queen. Aren’t they looking into her?” I piped in.
They stared at me.
An idea sprang in my mind. If they tracked down the fairy princess, then maybe I’d get my answers about her and the shadow magic. If she had Grayson, then it would help to have the GRIMM looking for her.
“Princess Maloret? Yes, I saw the report. We’ve looked in all the regular places. And that elf always evades capture. She’s been giving us the slip for well,” Agent Young shrugged, “centuries.”
“We could talk to her sister,” the other guy suggested.
My eyes widened. “Sister? There’s more like her?”
They ignored my question.
“We’d have to send a team there. They were forbidden to return.” Tío spoke up.
Rafael sniffed. “As fascinating as it is to watch your human intelligence at work, I have other things to attend to. I’ll have to ask you all to leave. Except Rose, of course.”
I turned to find him, and all the wolves spread out, eyeing the others. It was clear the GRIMMs had outstayed Rafael’s hospitality. My body tensed as I looked to my friends.
Before anyone could make any moves, the sound of the front door opening drew our attention. It slammed shut and we waited for the newcomer.
“Michael!” I shot to my feet.
He flashed me a smile before glancing around the crowded room with an arched brow. His eyes snapped to Rafael’s.
“Our guests were just leaving,” the alpha drawled.
Michael shook his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Raf.”
His superior frowned.
“Didn’t you get my call? You need to call the pack. Now. Something is coming.”
His words rattled me. Everyone talked at once, confusion spreading.
Rafael held his hand up for silence. He turned to Michael. “What are you talking about?”
Michael stood tall. “I can sense it. I think wolves. Not our wolves. Heading this way.”
Immediately, Rafael stormed to the front door, his wolves trailing him. The rest of us followed weapons drawn. Even Miss Weatherstone had a gun in her hands. My eyebrow arched at her. So much for diplomacy.
“It’s a stun gun,” she explained, catching my stare.
I didn’t have time to ask more questions as we all filtered out of the mansion. The sun shone overhead, but there was a chill in the air. Just the November weather or something else? Goosebumps dotted my arms.
“See?” Michael broke the silence.
I glance at Rafael and the others. See? What were we supposed to be seeing? From what I saw, everything looked normal. Quiet, empty cul-de-sac with giant ass, gated mansions, and palm trees.
“It’s the Blood Brothers.” Rafael’s words were like steel.
“Who?” I whispered to Shiloh.
“A rival pack from LA,” Javi answered instead. His eyes were narrowed, scanning the street.
“Call the pack,” Rafael bit out.
Tío turned to GRIMM council member. “Call headquarters. Tell them to send backup.”
The guy scoffed. “We’re going to help the wolves when they refused to help us?”
“There are ordinaire on this street,” Tío snapped back.
The other GRIMM moved with him, weapons out. I stood, numb at the sight. Werewolves coming in broad daylight? In front of the ordinaire?
Howls filled the air. An icy rush of fear went up my spine.
How many wolves were coming?
Rafael stood, transformed into his werewolf form, rage radiating from him. I shuddered at the sight. I’d never seen him so angry, and I never wanted to again.
Lune Negra had gone too far this time—attacking him in his own home?
His voice was low as he addressed his pack brothers. “Kill them. Kill them all.”
Howls erupted from them. I froze as they transformed all at once. Human faces morphing into wolf. In my mind, I knew they were on my side and wouldn’t hurt me, but my body instinctively shrunk back in fear.
These were supernatural beings. Animals. Not human. Who knew what they were capable of?
“Not just wolves,” Michael growled.
“Vampires,” Agent Young added.
“Vampires and wolves working together?” Leo shook his head.
“I bet Luna Negra isn’t far either.” Javi swung his sword through the air.
His eyebrows were knitted together. Our eyes met and the angry words we’d exchanged rang through my head. He’d been right about the war coming to us. I just hadn’t expected it so soon. Maybe I had been hoping foolishly for more time.
But it didn’t matter now. Our time was up.
“You should go back inside.” Javi motioned me to the door.
I bristled. “And hide while everyone fights for their lives? I don’t think so.”
Though hiding or running is exactly what my mind was screaming for me to do. I swallowed down my fear. I wasn’t going to spend my whole life doing either—the time for that was already over.
Luna Negra wasn’t going to stop coming. They wanted a fight and now they had one.
The GRIMMs shouted orders to each other, already setting up runes along the sidewalk. I watched as Shiloh and Brady pitched in.
“Rose, if they’re after you, we have to protect you. Please.” My cousin faced me with his dark pleading eyes.
His concern warmed me, especially after the hurtful words I’d launched at him, but I couldn’t let him risk himself for me anymore.
“This is my fight too, Javi. I’ve been practicing for this. We both knew this was coming. I can help.”
Surprise flickered in his gaze before he gave me a nod of confirmation. Though we hadn’t said the words yet, I knew that we were both sorry for the things we’d said before.
Movement caught my eye and I turned back to find someone in the house. A familiar someone I hadn’t expected to see ever again. I reeled back.
“James?”
Michael noticed my surprise and came to my side. “You know him? The witch?”
I gaped at the wolf and glanced back at the house as James disappeared inside, the door shutting behind him.
“How do you know him?”
Michael shrugged. “He came with your friend. Brady.”
My eyes snapped to the GRIMM. Oblivious to the exchange, he was still helping Shiloh and Javi with setting up runes.
Gloria’s words came to me. Luna Negra. Had the seal she’d seen used to hide Brady been from James? He was Luna Negra after all, but that didn’t explain his presence now or what he was doing with Brady.
Before I could question him, a loud howl filled the air echoed by dozens of others. I looked at Michael.
His face hardened. “They’re here.”
Fear rushed through me at his announcement. I summoned my sword and held it aloft, trying to calm my chaotic nerves. People—but not people—appeared on the road.
Vampires and werewolves. So many of them too. My eyes snagged on one of the houses closest to them. A woman stood on the porch peering out.
Oh, no. Go back inside, lady.
I looked for Tío to alert him, but Miss Weatherstone was already halfway there. She spoke to the woman, arms waving in indication for her to stay inside. My heart raced.
Either with her magic or skill of persuasion, she was able to convince the ordinaire to return to her house. My eyes scanned the rest of the street.
Most of the homeowners, apart from the wolves, were probably not even home. In Malibu, the beach homes were usually only lived in for part of the year. Which meant all the ordinaire there were probably maids and house sitters. And completely unaware of the exist
ence of werewolves and vampires.
Another howl echoed. My blood turned to ice. More vampires and werewolves streamed in, filling the street. I looked at the houses. There was no way the GRIMM could hide this from the ordinaire. There were too many of the creatures. Were they there for me or to destroy Rafael’s pack? Would his other pack members make it in time?
“How are we going to…”
“Survive this?” Michael supplied.
I glanced at him in his werewolf form and nodded.
“I don’t know.” His words chilled me.
12
A tremor ran through me as the first wave of vampires and werewolves approached. The runes the GRIMM had set up kept them from getting any closer. I bit my lip.
Would they hold them back long enough for backup to come? How would Rafael’s pack and the other GRIMM get through the invisible barrier?
“Michael, what about the others? Your pack?” I looked to him.
He glanced at me. “They should be coming.”
“But how are they going to get past the vampires and werewolves?”
His lips pulled back into a snarl. Though I knew he was on our side, the sight of him in his werewolf form was still startling.
“I don’t know about the GRIMM, but Rafael isn’t going to stay behind this little barricade. They launched an attack on us. In our territory. We’re going after them. Rafael wants them all dead.”
Dead. The word sent an icy shiver down my back. But how many could the wolves handle? The GRIMM would help, wouldn’t they? This was just as much their fight as it was Rafael’s.
“The wizard. Rose,” Michael whipped toward me his eyes flickering from me to his alpha, “I know somebody who can help you find the wizard.”
My heart skipped. The wizard.
“She’s an extraordinaire and very powerful, but I think she can help. I would take you there to find her, but…” His words trailed off as Rafael glanced back at him.
“Michael, please. It’s my only chance to save Grayson.” I stepped in front of Michael.
“If I don’t make it out of this fight. Go to Los Angeles. Find a fairy. Any fairy. They’ll tell you how to find her.”
