by Amanda Carol
“Holy…sh—”
“Don’t you finish that sentence,” Mom scolds, narrowing her eyes at him, then looking at Maggie.
“Yes ma’am,” Declan chuckles.
Hunter clears his throat, standing up. “I’m so sorry that I have to leave, but I told my pack to meet for training now. It was nice meeting you, and if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
I glance at the clock and realize that an hour has passed by way too quickly.
My mom smiles. “Thank you. I’m quite all right for now.”
“Okay, good.” Hunter leans over to kiss my cheek, but I quickly turn my head and catch his lips.
I feel the tug and open the link.
Stay here for a while longer and come out to the clearing whenever you’re ready.
He stands up taller. “Bye, Mrs. Matthews.”
He waves to Declan and Ciera, then leaves.
I turn back to my mom and we catch up a little more. But after another hour, my mom starts to get tired, so Declan and Ciera take Maggie home and get to work on pulling another vision, and I go down to the clearing to help my pack train for the battle of a lifetime.
We’ve just finished training for the day when I look up and see Declan approaching us. I thought he was going to come down and train with us, but when Aria checked her phone on a water break, Declan had said that Maggie’s parents still weren’t back, and he was going to stay with them.
That was a few hours ago.
“Hey. What’s up?” I say, using my shirt to wipe the sweat off my face.
Aria guzzles a bottle of water next to me as she waves to her brother.
“Not much. I actually came down here to ask a favor,” Declan says quietly.
“Everything okay?” Aria lifts a brow, putting the cap back on her water bottle.
Declan shakes his head. “Maybe? I don’t know.” He scrubs a hand down his face. “Maggie’s parents told us that they were going to check in on their shop in the Quarter and then do some other shopping. It’s been a few hours now, and we can’t get a hold of them. Maggie’s been asking when her parents will be back, and I’ve got a bad feeling that I just can’t shake.”
I’ve known the Devereauxs for years now, and I know how much Maggie means to them. When they aren’t at their shop, they’re with her. So it’s not like them to not check in, especially if they know they’re going to be running late.
“Aria and I are patrolling together tonight, but our focus will be to look for them.” I clap a hand on Declan’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ll find them.”
Declan’s eyes dart from me to Aria. “I know you will, but it’s how you’ll find them that I’m worried about.”
“Don’t think like that, big brother,” Aria walks over to her brother and wraps her arms tightly around him.
He hugs her back, then kisses the top of her head. “We’ll be at our cabin. We told Maggie it’ll be a little sleepover, and that got her all excited.”
Declan gives us a small smile, then walks off, his shoulders tense with worry as he grips the back of his neck.
“Should we let the rest of the patrol team that’s going with us tonight know?” Aria asks, coming over to me and handing me a bottle of water.
“Thanks.” I open the cap and drink half the bottle before I continue. “Yeah, we’ll let them know what’s up and to keep their eyes open for them in case they’re not at the shop, but the Devereauxs will be our priority tonight. The others need to make sure the city is safe from any vampires. It’s weird that none of the vampires that attacked us here have killed anyone within the city, or even in the state of Louisiana.”
“I agree, but there really isn’t anything we can do about it now. Just keep patrolling and protecting everyone until we have to leave,” Aria offers as we make our way back to our cabin to shower and change.
She’s right. As much as I want to protect my city, I have the weight of the world on my shoulders, and I’ve come to accept that there will be casualties in this war.
Jazz music in the streets draws Aria’s attention, and we stop and watch for a minute. Seeing all the people dancing around, drinking, and having a good time without a care in the world is a little surreal. I’ve never stopped and appreciated all the musicians playing around the city before, and now I’m kicking myself in the ass for not slowing down for just a moment to listen.
I glance down at Aria, and her eyes are closed as she listens to the music. One of the many things I love about her is her love for music, and I’m not talking about the kind with the techno beats that plays all the time on the radio now. I’m talking about the kind with real instruments. The kind where, when a person plays, you can feel their emotions pass through you with the notes and see how their facial expressions give away the meaning and feel of the song. With each new night Aria and I patrol, we never hear the same song twice. It’s always something new and different and it always touches the soul in a different way.
Aria opens her eyes and looks up at me. I was expecting to see her eyes glowing, but they aren’t.
“You seem to be getting better at controlling how your emotions affect you,” I say, grabbing her waist and pulling her out of the growing crowd.
“I hope so.” She laughs. “Although now I’m starting to get kind of used to the idea. I just don’t know how I’m going to explain it away if they glow in front of humans.”
“Trick of light,” I answer.
She shoots me a look as we walk down the sidewalk leading to the Devereauxs’ shop.
“What? I’m serious. People here are always so drunk that they’ll believe anything you say. But we also never really let the young shifters out on patrol until they can control that.”
She stops walking. “Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack. But don’t worry; you’re doing great. I promise.” I tug her to me and brush my lips against hers for a quick kiss. Then I lace my fingers with hers as we approach the shop.
“You know, I’m pretty sure that when we met, you lost control of those glowing blue eyes of yours,” she says with a smirk.
“That’s because a hot chick almost took me out with a blade, and not to mention, she had on some really tight leggings. Showed off all the right curves.” I sigh playfully, putting a hand over my heart.
Aria laughs, and man, I don’t think I can ever get enough of hearing that sound.
“But really, something about you just captivated me that night. I couldn’t control myself around you, and to be honest, sometimes I still can’t.”
Aria squeezes my hand as she looks up at me, her green eyes glowing softly. “I love you.”
I smile down at her, flashing her my dimples, and her eyes flash a little brighter.
“I know,” I reply.
We walk another block and finally make it to the shop, but the inside is dark. I go to open the door, only to find it’s locked.
“Maybe they already left for the night?” I question.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out, glancing down at Declan’s name on the caller ID.
“Hey,” I answer.
“Anything?” he asks, concern lacing his tone.
“We just got to the shop, but I don’t—” I start to say, but Aria waves her arm at me.
“Hunter…we need to get in there,” she whispers, pressing her hands against the window and peeking inside. “Something doesn’t feel right.”
“Declan, let me call you back,” I tell him, then hit the end call button. I tug her arm. “C’mon. I think there’s a way in behind the shop.”
I take off on a quick jog with Aria right behind me and I cut down the alley between two sets of buildings. Each building leads to entrances behind the shops for employees to enter.
I get to the door that says Devereaux’s Crystals and try the knob.
“It’s locked,” I hiss. “I don’t want to kick the door in and draw attention.”
“I’ve got it.” Aria steps forward, placing her hand
on the doorknob.
It starts to glow a bright orange as she melts it away, then she pushes the door open and we walk in. I sniff the air, and dread filters through my veins. The metallic smell of blood hits my nostrils, and it’s strong. The only time it’s this strong is when the body hasn’t been dead for long.
Aria gasps, and a second later I hear a thump on the ground.
“Baby, are you okay?” I ask, my voice pitched low.
“I’m okay, but I landed in something wet,” she answers and before I can even get a chance to warn her about the bodies, she summons the fire element to get a better look, and it lights up the area around her.
She tripped over Mrs. Devereaux’s body, and Mr. Devereaux’s body is lying several feet away.
Aria first notices her hands covered in blood, then she glances over and jumps.
“Oh, my God!” she screams, backing away from the body as quickly as she can.
I rush over and hold her tightly so she can gather herself. I know she’s seen dead bodies before, but I don’t think she was prepared for the surprise that we found here.
After a few moments, she calms down and starts to pull away from me, careful not to touch me because she has blood all over her hands.
“I need to wash my hands,” she tells me.
I nod and carefully help her up and walk her back to the employee bathroom, where she cleans all the blood off her hands, and I help her wipe off her clothes. The reason we wear black is because it hides the blood stains, so if we ever get into a fight and get blood all over us, the only thing we have to wash is our skin. However, I’ve always kept a backpack with spare clothes in my car just in case.
Just as Aria is finished cleaning herself off, we hear a phone ring. Our gazes lock, eyes wide, as I pull my phone out of my pocket to check it.
“Not mine,” I announce.
Aria quickly reaches into her pocket and pulls hers out. She glances up at me as she shows me the black screen.
I exit the bathroom, listening as the ringing guides me over to Mr. Devereaux’s body. The phone is inside his pocket, so I pull it out, glancing down at the caller ID.
“It’s Mrs. Devereaux,” I whisper.
Aria turns around to look at Mrs. Devereaux’s body, and then turns back to me.
“I don’t think this is a collect call from the Elysian Fields,” she mumbles.
I hit the answer button, bringing the phone up to my ear.
“How do you like my welcome back gift?” Isabella asks on the phone.
I clench my jaw, feeling my blood start to boil with rage.
“I knew that blade wouldn’t keep you down for long,” she continues.
“What do you want?” I growl, hitting the speaker button so Aria can listen. “You’ve already taken Declan’s blood. What else do you want?”
She chuckles menacingly. “Tell me, that red-headed friend of yours. Bennett is it? Did you know that he’s crossing North Peters Street heading toward Crescent Park? I’ll wait and let you ask him yourself.”
Aria’s face drains of color as our eyes meet.
I open the link to Bennett. Benny, where are you?
I’m headed to Crescent Park. Why. What’s up? he answers.
From North Peters street? I ask, hoping to the gods that he says no.
Um, yes. Dude, what is up with you?
Benny, listen to me. I need you to run. Whatever wolf is near you, I want you to meet up with them. Do not leave each other’s sides, and meet me at the Devereauxs’ shop. Now, I command, nodding to Aria that he’s okay.
“Listen, you—”
“No, you listen.” Isabella cuts me off. “Do you see how easy it is for me to hurt the people you love? Those witches? Your precious pack? I will pick them off one by one if you continue your attempts to stop me. Consider this your one and only warning.”
Click.
My breathing starts to accelerate with each passing second after she hangs up. My body vibrates with rage and I just can’t hold it in any longer.
“Damn it!” I roar, throwing the cell phone across the room.
Aria flinches as it shatters against the far wall. I yell again, this time knocking a bunch of baskets full of crystals off the table in front me before I flip the table over. I’m imagining ripping into her and pulling her throat out with my teeth as I knock a column full of magic books over. Anything that I can get my hands on, I destroy.
“Hunter,” I hear Aria say.
But the anger keeps getting the best of me, and the only thing left that I can see is the wall. Before I can even register what I’m doing, my hand punctures the drywall and sharp pain shoots up my arm.
“Fuck!” I yell, breathing heavily.
After a few moments, I get control of my anger with my arm elbow-deep in plaster. I press my palm against the wall and push off, freeing my hand. I’m panting as I stare down at my bruised and bloody knuckles. I hear footsteps behind me, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Aria’s face, but what stands out is the soft glow of her eyes.
“Did that make you feel better?” she asks softly, reaching up and taking my hand in hers.
“No,” I whisper, looking her in the eyes. “She doesn’t get to win.”
“We won’t let her.” Aria grabs the back of my neck and pulls me down so I’m resting my forehead against hers. “But no one wins tonight.”
She doesn’t have to elaborate. Tonight, we have to tell a five-year-old girl that her parents are dead. And that thought terrifies me, because this is Maggie we’re talking about here. She’s just a little girl who isn’t even supposed to involved in any of this. My job is to protect my pack, including the witches, and I feel like I let her down. Maggie doesn’t deserve this, and this news will devastate her. This may not be the first time that I’ve had to inform a family that their loved one is dead, but it is the first time I will need to explain it to a child. How do you prepare for that?
“We’ll go tell Ciera and Declan as soon as we get back,” Aria offers. “We’re in this together.”
She wraps her arms around me, and I kiss the top of her head.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “Let’s go meet them out back.”
When Bennett and the others arrive, I explain what happened, and they help me get the Devereauxs’ bodies from their shop into the SUV. I’m glad we brought that as well as my Impala.
The drive back to the Compound is a quiet one, similar to how it was when we brought Axton home. This time, it’s a little different. Declan hasn’t tried to call us back, and I think it’s because, deep down, he already knows the answer. I’m not sure if he was able to pull a vision, but one thing I do know is that Maggie will not grow up without a family.
The coven and the pack will take care of her.
I will make sure of it.
We arrive back at the lot and I park next to the SUV. Bennett, Caleb, and Oliver step out of the vehicle.
“What do you want us to do with…” Caleb trails off, running a hand through his short brown hair.
His gray eyes have a faint glow. I guess he feels this death just as hard as the rest of us.
“Go and get my mom and Kora. Let them know what happened. Aria and I are going to see Ciera and Declan. Maggie is with them right now,” I explain.
Aria loops her arm through mine. The others make their way into the barn, while Aria and I walk toward Declan’s cabin. I take in a deep breath and knock on the door.
Declan opens it, and his face falls as he takes in the looks on ours.
He steps aside and we walk into the house. Maggie is sound asleep on the couch with her teddy bear. Cartoons are on the TV and she’s got her pink mermaid blanket draped over her, her brown curls spread out over the pillow.
“Is that Hunter and Aria?” I hear Ciera’s voice before I see her come out from the kitchen. “Did you guys find—”
She trails off, covering her mouth with her hand as she takes in the solemn looks on our faces. Her eyes start to fill up with tears a
s Declan pulls her into an embrace.
“They never even left the shop,” I tell them softly, careful not to wake Maggie. “Do you want me to tell her?”
Ciera shakes her head and glances over at Maggie. “No, I’ll do it.”
Declan turns to face Ciera. “We’ll do it.”
He grabs her hands and brushes a kiss on her fingers. She looks up at him and gives him a small smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
She nods. “Okay. We’ll tell her in the morning. Let’s just let her sleep.”
“If you two need anything, let me know,” I offer.
They nod. Aria steps up to her brother and squeezes him tightly, then kisses his cheek before coming back over to me, wiping a tear from her eye.
We wave goodbye and leave. I still think that I should stay, but Ciera is great with Maggie—with all the kids, actually—so I know she’ll be there to love Maggie through all of this, as will Declan.
When we get back to our cabin, Aria hops in the shower while I grab a beer from the fridge. I pick up a pick and grab my guitar and start to strum the chords to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Tuesday’s Gone.”
I may not be the best singer in the world, but I start singing anyway. I glance up and see Aria coming down the steps wearing short sleep shorts and an off-the-shoulder sweatshirt. She comes over and sits down on the couch next to me, starting to sing along with me. I feel like we haven’t done this in such a long time, and it makes me feel whole again. When I finish the song, I set my guitar down, and she leads me upstairs. I quickly change out of my uniform and clean myself off a bit, then crawl into the bed and pull her close.
She is just what I need right now.
She kisses me softy before resting her head back down on my chest. After a few minutes, I give in to sleep, just holding my girl in my arms.
“You’re one evil bitch,” Athena smirks after I hit the end call button with that baby Alpha wolf and his girlfriend. She holds up her martini, then takes a sip.
I tip my glass to hers. “Takes one to know one.”
I didn’t have to kill those witches, but what can I say? Like she said, I’m an evil bitch. Athena and I knew the Soul Blade would only stop them for so long, but it bought me some time not having to worry about them getting in my way. Plus, it helps that Athena took the dagger that they need to kill me. Of course, she didn’t tell me where she hid it, but honestly, I don’t care. I don’t even care if they somehow manage to get it back.
