The Lost Ones (Here Witchy Witchy Book 12)

by A. L. Kessler

  I growled and shot him in the leg. He buckled to the ground, howling. Luckily for me, they seemed to be younger vampires, and since they were blood-starved, they weren’t moving at supernatural speeds or thinking straight. The second one hesitated.

  “That’s right,” I said and slowly started backing up to the Hummer. “You’re going to let us get on our way.”

  Another one rushed me from the left, taking me down. I held on to my gun as my shoulder hit the pavement. I elbowed them off of me and scrambled up to my feet.

  Fuck. There were at least ten of them now. A howl brought my attention behind me. I saw Simon’s wolf standing next to Liz in all his glory. Maybe he was planning on eating all of them. I shook my head, trying to get that image out of my mind. I needed to focus.

  I holstered my gun and kneeled down, touching the ground. I pushed my magic out, trapping the ten vampires in purple circles, stopping them in their tracks. “In the Hummer, everyone.”

  Liz opened the back hatch, and Simon jumped in. Zayne appeared next to me and then transported us to the Hummer. I heard a strange creaking noise. I turned to see my purple circles cracking. Right before they shattered, I knew that someone was forcing my magic back.

  What should have been a gentle flow of magic was like someone shoving my head under magical water. It crashed over me, physically taking me to the ground. I heard shouting around me. Zayne caught me before I hit the ground. I felt like I was going to throw up as my body tried to deal with the sudden backlash.

  One moment, Zayne cradled me against him. The next, I was in the passenger seat of the Hummer and Zayne was in the driver’s side. I wasn’t sure if I had blacked out or what, but I didn’t remember getting to the Hummer or in it.

  He started the engine. “Hold on,” he muttered and gunned it down the road.

  I closed my eyes as I heard a couple of suspicious thunks against the hood of the car. I focused on my breathing and pulling the magic back into me calmly instead of in one short, violent burst. I opened my eyes and felt better until Liz spoke.

  “Fuck, Simon’s bleeding all over the back.”

  They hurt Simon.

  And Levi was going to kill me for getting blood on the Hummer.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Liz called Travis on the way home to have him meet us back at the house to help with Simon. I crawled into the back with Simon and tried to assess the damage through his thick fur. He should have been healing, especially as a werewolf in his animal form, but the blood kept coating his fur.

  Simon’s head was in my lap with his eyes closed, unconscious. He still breathed slowly as he laid there, but with the amount of blood he was losing, I wasn’t sure if he was going to survive.

  What the hell had gotten him. I swallowed when we pulled up to my house, and Travis was already waiting there with their doctor. I’d met Doctor Elise Welch a few times on pack grounds. I knew she was good, and she’d take care of Simon. Zayne got out and opened the hatch, and Travis was there in an instant.

  “What the hell, Abby?” Travis snarled at me. He was built like a football player, wide shoulders, tall, and intimidating, but he didn’t scare me. Not anymore. Travis picked up Simon, who remained in his wolf form, and Simon didn’t even flinch. He opened his yellow eyes at me, looking almost like someone drugged him.

  “I need a place I can work on him,” Dr. Welch said.

  “Basement, back room,” I muttered. It was a room I didn’t use often, so it was empty, and I didn’t care if anything got stained.

  I climbed out of the Hummer and shut the hatch. I led Travis and the doctor into the house, unarmed the system, and then Travis took Simon downstairs. I sat at the breakfast bar trying to figure out what exactly had happened.

  Zayne walked in on the phone. “Yes, I understand, Princess Abigail handled it well, but there was someone else there using magic. The wolf is injured.”

  Liz sat next to me. “That was a magical blast that broke all your circles. Are you okay?”

  I nodded. “Once I had a moment to sort through the magical blow back, yeah.” I looked at my hands and saw Simon’s blood there. “How did Simon get hurt?”

  “I don’t know.” She jerked her head to the sink. “Go wash your hands and get some clean clothes on. When Simon’s back up, we’ll ask him.”

  I took a shaky breath and went to the sink to wash my hands. I finished scrubbing off the blood and was drying my hands when Travis came storming back into the kitchen.

  His eyes were amber as he stalked me into a corner. Zayne tried to intervene, but Liz put a hand out to stop him.

  “Just let it happen. Abby can handle it.”

  Travis glanced back at the two and then at me. He slammed me up against the wall, his hand on my throat. Not squeezing, just pinning me there. It was a familiar position with him, because this was how he reacted when we first met.

  “What the fuck happened out there?”

  I looked at him, trying to decide what the source of his anger was. “Let go of me, and we’ll talk.”

  “My alpha is down there dying, and you want to have a chat?” His hand tightened a little, but I didn’t feel it. I felt a squeeze on my heart. Simon was dying? I tried to sort through what I knew happened in the fight. It didn’t seem like he’d gotten hurt. None of the vampires seemed to have weapons, but I had focused on not being killed, trusting that he and Liz could take care of themselves.

  Simon was dying.

  I choked on a lump in my throat and Zayne was suddenly next to Travis. “Let her go.”

  Travis snarled at him, and I swallowed. “It’s okay, Zayne. Werewolf games. I don’t know what happened, Travis. Blood-starved vampires attacked us. As far as I know, he was okay during the fight.”

  Travis let go of me and I slid down the wall. “What’s wrong with him?” My voice shook.

  “Come speak with Elise.” Travis shook his head. “You need to hear it from her.”

  I stood up and walked past him. The surrounding area seemed to narrow to just the path to the basement. I deserved every ounce of Travis’ anger and probably more if Simon died.

  I could feel Travis at my back. Not calm and collected like normal, but a menacing force that could kill me in anger at any moment. I tried to keep control of my own emotions as I went down the stairs and into the back room of the basement.

  The doctor was looking over Simon. When she noticed I was there, she pulled a sheet over Simon’s naked body. “Abby,” She said in way of greeting. “The wound Simon sustained is small, and I was able to get the bleeding to stop. However, whatever made the wound was laced with wolf’s bane.”

  “That’s a very archaic way of poisoning a werewolf,” I muttered and kneeled by the bedside. “How do you know it was wolf’s bane?”

  “It’s the only thing that keeps us in our wolf form while it kills us.”

  “He’s in human form now,” I whispered as if I’d wake him up. I ran my fingers through his hair and studied him.

  “That’s because I forced him to change back.” Travis’ voice was low and still full of anger.

  I knew he was strong enough to be alpha, but I didn’t know that he could force others to shift.

  “Simon’s too weak right now to fight it. Abigail, this is the second time in less than a year you’ve almost gotten my alpha killed.”

  My heart pounded. He was right, and by pack justice, they could slaughter me right here and now. “Simon chose to come with me tonight.” Kind of, he expressed concern about us going. I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. Any of this.”

  Travis came up next to me and squatted down so he was on eye level with me. “Abigail Collins, I will take my alpha home tonight, and he will not be returning to serve as your bodyguard or for any of the King’s duties or requests. Is that understood?”

  I swallowed. I had to play politics right now and put my fear of losing Simon aside. “Simon has an alliance with Levi and the king.”

&nbs
p; “Yes, he does. When he heals, he can decide how to proceed. Assuming he lives. But let me tell you this, if he dies, the alliance is off. I’ll find a witch to strip your magic from our pack lands, and you will not be welcomed any longer. As the second in command, I am placing a hold on the alliance until our alpha can speak to it.”

  I was in charge right now. I was acting ruler of the vampires. Mario should have been acting territory leader, but he was gone right now too. “Understood.” I tried to keep any emotions out of my voice. “Leave,” I growled at Travis.

  It tried to think through the anger and fear. Travis was doing what was right for his alpha, for Simon. I had put Simon at risk far too often, considering he had a pack to lead.

  But the non-logical part of me wanted to fight and argue against Travis. Travis stood. “You have ten minutes to say your goodbyes.”

  He walked out, but the doctor stayed in the room.

  I bowed my head at the bed and tried not to cry. “Do you have an antidote?”

  “I do on pack lands. It’s not something we see often. Like you said, it’s archaic, so I don’t carry it with me.”

  “So he’ll live?”

  “Yes…”

  I felt like there was a but coming and I waited for it.

  “I can’t tell you any more, Abigail. Travis made it clear that you only get limited information.”

  I took a deep breath. “As long as Simon will live,” I whispered. “You have to live, please. I can’t let Samuel take someone else away from me.”

  Simon took a deep breath and opened his eyes. He looked at me slowly. “Abby, I love you.” He took another shuttering breath, and my heart broke at the sound.

  “I love you too. Travis is going to take you home. You’ll heal.” I kissed his head. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. This last year has been a mess, and I’ve fucked over you and the pack.”

  His eyes closed, and I stood. “Thank you, Dr. Welch, for taking care of him.”

  “Of course, Abigail.”

  I walked out and passed Travis where he stood. I didn’t want to face him. I didn’t look at him, I didn’t speak to him, I kept my anger inside me for the time being, because I knew Travis was right.

  Travis helped the doctor get Simon out and into his truck. I sat on the couch holding a cup of coffee. I wasn’t sure if I had actually taken a sip or not. At this point, the warm mug felt good in my hands as I tried to focus on something other than possibly not seeing Simon again.

  Liz locked the door behind the wolves and then came and sat next to me. “You need to focus.”

  I nodded. “I know. I’m trying, I really am.”

  Zayne stood silently by the doorframe, not saying anything. I sighed and took a sip of my coffee. “The doctor said he’d live, so I’m clinging to that right now.”

  “Okay, good. Let’s focus on the case?” She asked, almost as if unsure of what I was going to say.

  “Yeah, I want to call Agent Torrid. Ross tried to tell me he was dead and that he was the victim in her case.”

  “I know Agent Torrid,” Zayne interrupted. “He’s a good vampire, worked with Grayson before you, well… you know.”

  Before I shot him. “Right, which is why Ross was trying to peg Torrid’s death on me, because that case file has been unsealed and that was in there.”

  “Torrid is alive and well. I saw him just the other night at Catalina’s.”

  I raised a brow. “I didn’t know that the council had another vampire in PIB.”

  “They don’t. Torrid isn’t part of the council. He and Catalina are friends.”

  “Good to know. I’d still like to talk to him about Agent Ross.” I glanced at Liz. “Unless you want to go down to PIB and talk to him.”

  She shook her head. “Call him, see what he has to say. And then, I think we should call it a night. It’s almost midnight, and I’m exhausted. I know you are too.”

  And I could use a good shower after the mess in the woods. “Yeah, okay.”

  Zayne smirked. “Bed? It’s still at least five hours from dawn.”

  I didn’t rise to his smart-ass remark. I assumed he was trying to break the tension in the room, so I let it go. “Can I have Torrid’s number please?”

  Zayne pulled his phone out and sent me a text with the number.

  Liz’s phone rang as I dialed Torrid’s number, so she stepped out of the room.

  “Agent Torrid speaking.”

  “Hello, Agent Torrid, this is Special Agent Collins speaking. Could I have a moment of your time?”

  “Depends, are you planning on shooting me like you did Agent Yorkingson?” He let out a small laugh.

  “Depends, do you plan on abandoning me in enemy territory?”

  “No way would I let someone face that monster alone.” All joking left Agent Torrid’s voice. “What can I do for you, Abigail?”

  “Are you familiar with Valerie Ross?”

  “Not personally. I know she’s an Agent in Arizona. A lot of local vampires aren’t fans of her, but that’s all I know. Why do you ask?”

  “Because she showed me a victim that she identified as you, using it as evidence to bring me in because of your partnership with Agent Yorkingson.”

  “Well, Abigail, as you can tell, I’m alive. I’m sorry there’s not much I can tell you other than that, but if I can help in any other way, let me know.” He disconnected the call, and I leaned back. “That was a dead end.”

  “It’s possible that she just pulled the name from the database to use it against you?” Zayne offered.

  I nodded. “Possibly.” I stood and went to the kitchen to find Liz standing there, still on the phone.

  “Yeah, thanks for letting me know.” She disconnected the call. “Mason said he’s sending us the footage from the trail cam.”

  “Oh good, did he see if there was footage of the vampires?” I put my mug in the sink.

  “No, he didn’t say. So we’ll look, and if need be, we’ll have our tech team also look.” She leaned against the breakfast nook. “Travis manhandled you pretty hard.”

  “I’m fine. He’s angry and scared, and I honestly don’t blame him.” I didn’t mention what he had said while we were in the basement. “Simon came back extremely injured, and we don’t have answers why.”

  Liz nodded. “I didn’t see the vampires carrying anything silver, and we didn’t notice the wound until he’d bled on the floor of the Hummer.”

  Oh yeah, I was going to have to figure out how to get that stain out. “The doctor assured me he’d pull through. He was conscious for a moment while I was down there.”

  “Good.” She pushed off the breakfast bar. “I’m going to head home for the night. Zayne’s here, so I’m not worried about you. I’ll see you in the office tomorrow?”

  “Yeah, we need to go to The Underground and see what the contact there has to say.”

  “Okay.” She patted my arm and then let herself out. I stood in the kitchen for a moment, debating on what I wanted to do.

  “You should let the council know Travis is putting a hold on the alliance,” Zayne said from the doorway.

  I closed my eyes. “I didn’t realize you’d heard our talk.”

  “I was at the top of the stairs. I didn’t trust him with you alone,” he said easily. “When Simon pulls through, it’ll be his choice, but we can’t call on the wolves if we need their help with Samuel, which is what we were hoping for.”

  I pressed my lips together for a moment and opened my eyes. “So what do I do? Call a meeting at midnight? No one’s told me how to communicate with them. No one’s explained what Levi’s obligations are. I was not prepared for this shit.”

  “You send a group text message.”

  I stared at him to see if he was making a joke and he didn’t smile. “Seriously, that’s how I do it? That easy?”

  He nodded. “Just tell them what happened over text and they’ll decide if they need to have a meeting over it.”

  I looked at my phone and scr
olled through, gathering the contacts of the council members. After a deep breath, I sent them a message explaining what happened, Simon’s condition, and Travis’ words. I ended it with ‘I’m going to bed’.

  “There we go, easy as pie.”

  I rolled my eyes at him. “Okay, I’m off to bed.”

  Zayne nodded. “Once dawn comes, I’ll go home and Merick should be on duty.”

  “Yeah, he should be. I’m sure he’ll be here before dawn.” If he wasn’t already upstairs sleeping, but I had a hard time imagining him sleeping through the chaos that was our night. “Good night, Zayne. Thanks for having my back tonight.”

  “Of course, Princess. I couldn’t let them make a snack out of you.”

  I walked out of the kitchen and up the stairs. I was going to try to get some sleep without worrying about Simon. Or missing him in my bed.

  I woke up the next morning to the smell of coffee and found Merick in the kitchen. “Hey.”

  “Good morning.” He pushed a travel mug across the breakfast bar. “I found blood leading to the basement. I cleaned it up, but I have questions.”

  I hadn’t even thought about cleaning the blood up. “Um, thanks, you didn’t have to do that.”

  “Was it your blood?”

  “No, it was Simon’s he was wounded in an ambush last night.” I sighed. “I didn’t think of even looking to see if they tracked blood.”

  Merick sipped his coffee. “You’re going to be late to the office.”

  I glanced at my watch. “Ugh, I am. Thanks for the coffee.” I grabbed it and headed out to the Hummer.

  Merick followed me. “It had a rough night last night, I see?”

  I noted the dents and dings on it, and the fact that the driver’s side door handle looked like someone molded their handprint into it. “Yeah, seatbelt’s busted too, but at least it’s in one piece.”

  Merick snorted. “Let’s get going.”

  “You don’t have to go with me.”

  “Yes, I do. I’m in charge of daytime guards, and after last night and what happened with the press conference, I’m not taking chances.”