Chapter 40
In a bar, a real bar, full of boisterous werewolves and a few witches, Genevieve felt at home. Never mind the fact she’d lost her magic, and she was a werelynx as opposed to wolf, but that didn’t seem to matter.
They were either left alone, or treated as if they belonged. Nothing like what she’d expected.
“What’s that smile for?” Neil asked.
“Never thought I’d fit in. And now I do.”
Neil shook his head. “You were unapproachable, thanks to your father.”
“You still approached,” she whispered.
“I’ve known all my life you were mine. Even when we were kids, I knew deep down you were meant for me. If I could have taken you from your father ages ago, I would have. As it was, I had to watch and wait, and meet up with you when you were out and about. Never when you were home.”
“I’m sorry,” she murmured and glanced away. She’d been foolish and stupid, and as much as she wished she could right all the wrongs, it was best to move on. And she was.
Genevieve didn’t trust the witches her father tried to convince her were her friends. Not a single one, not anymore. And maybe that wasn’t fair, but in hindsight, they all spent too much time with her father. They were probably spying for him, when he couldn’t be there, which seemed like most of the time.
“At least my father is locked up for good. Let’s hope he stays there for eternity. He can rot in that cell, like he let me rot all these years. The bastard.”
Neil caressed her cheek and leaned closer. “He will never harm you again, either directly or indirectly.”
She hoped he was right. However, her father was crafty. If he couldn’t talk his way out of the cell, he had other means. Or so he told her. And she believed it with the things he kept in the attic. Old relics he warned her to never touch.
Was it to keep power from her? Or to keep her weak?
“Hey, stop that. We’re eating, drinking, and then dancing.”
“I don’t know how,” she whispered.
“Let me show you.” He licked his bottom lip, then bit down.
She couldn’t resist the whimper that escaped. “How did I get so lucky?”
“You finally gave me a chance.” He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Food should be here shortly. Then dancing.”
Leaning her head against his shoulder, she closed her eyes and simply breathed.
Until a voice interrupted that sent a shiver down her spine. “Thought you could get away from me? Haven’t I been good to you, dearest daughter?” the words came out a hiss.
Genevieve sat up straight and glared at her father for the first time in her life. No more being a victim. “You have not. You lied to me, repeatedly. Expected me to do your bidding, no matter the danger to myself. Then, if I had somehow miraculously claimed the dagger, you wanted me to give it to you, no questions asked. I’m glad I wasn’t worthy enough.”
“You ungrateful bitch!” he snarled.
Neil stood up, pushed into his space, and shoved. “You will not talk to my mate that way.”
Father opened his mouth to cast a spell, and Neil punched him so hard, he was knocked on his ass.
Jay appeared the next second. “You’re supposed to be in a cell. I’m sure the Silver Council would be happy to drag you back, if they haven’t followed you.” He nodded to someone at the counter. “Give the Council a call and ask for their nearest enforcer.”
Why not the Magister for the Silver Council? Oh, he was busy with Evangeline, somewhere far away.
Genevieve climbed out of her seat and stood over her father. “He must have one of the artifacts. We should search him, remove anything that doesn’t belong on him.”
“You’ll never find it,” he hissed.
Jay glanced back at the bar. “Call Fran. If anyone can find it, she will.”
“On it,” they answered.
Jay grabbed Father by the front of his shirt and dragged him toward the back. “Come on, you can help me find anything he may try to use against someone.”
Nodding, she followed.
Neil caught up. “You okay to do this?”
“I am.” She didn’t mention the fact she was looking forward to hitting him herself, not that she would likely do much damage, but just once she wanted to make him feel pain for the many years he’d caused her.
Jay threw her father to the floor and kicked the door shut once Neil and Genevieve were inside. “What might he have on him?”
“Any number of magical artifacts. Things that could get him out of Silver Council Cell if they hadn’t searched him well enough.”
“What about something on the skin?”
She tipped her head from side to side. “Wouldn’t they feel the magic?”
“Depends on his own, and if they knew to look for something.”
“Right.” Genevieve stalked toward her father.
“You won’t touch me,” he snapped.
“I will, and I’m sure I’m much stronger than you are now, thanks to Neil, who finally did something for me.”
“Oh, don’t whine about love. It’s a foolish waste of time. I did you a favor keeping you from this man. He’ll only hurt you in the end.”
Anger burst free and her arm shot out, her hand in a fist that slung across his face. Blood flew. “You’re the monster who tried to control me.”
He tried to move his right arm, and Jay caught it, squeezing tightly. “Go too far, and I’ll rip you a new asshole,” the werewolf warned.
Genevieve smirked. “Wouldn’t bother me if you did it now. Maybe his loss of magic would be a good thing.”
Jay shook his head, his eyes latching onto her. “Unfortunately, right now, that’s not an option. We already called the Silver Council in to deal with him. If we change him before the enforcers gets here, we have to deal with a case against us. Unless he’s foolish enough to attack in the midst of two werelynx and a werewolf.”
“You have no right to do anything to me,” Olivier hissed.
Neil stomped past Genevieve and patted him down roughly. “You let Genevieve suffer needlessly. All for yet another artifact you desired. One you couldn’t claim yourself.”
Nothing was left untouched. Neil tore the rings from her father’s fingers, the necklace from his neck, emptied pockets, removed his shoes, and shoved clothes around to make sure nothing was left.
Genevieve noticed something different about a button on his shirt. She reached forward and knew she was right when Father screamed, “No!”
She pulled the button from his shirt. Panic filled his eyes as his hair silvered and wrinkles spread across his face, growing deeper.
“I’ll die without that,” he whispered.
“Then you die,” she spat.
There was a knock on the door, and Genevieve pocketed the button. Whatever it was, she didn’t want to hand it to the Silver Council, at least not ones her sister didn’t know. The three mages who helped them, they were different than any other Silver Council members she had met.
A witch stepped through the door. The one they met at the café. She offered a smile. “Jay called.” She glanced at him.
“Yeah, can you check to see if this asshole has any other magical artifacts we have to worry about?” Jay nodded to Olivier Laurent. “And don’t worry about being gentle. Neither of his daughters think much of him.”
Fran’s eyebrow arched, but she stepped forward and whispered spells. She found an anklet that appeared to be silver and quickly removed it while Neil held his leg still.
She frowned as she turned it over in her hand. “I’ve heard about this kind of charm. It should unlock any door.” She handed it to Genevieve.
Olivier muttered a curse.
Genevieve smiled. “Thank you. He escaped from a cell at the Silver Council. He’s the cause of at least two hundred deaths, probably far more.”
Fran took a step toward the door. “I’ve heard enough about him to know he’s the scum of the earth.” She offered Genevieve a smile. “He has nothing left to help him. I should go.” She slipped through the door before anyone could say anything.
“This is how you got out. And the button, that’s how you stayed young. Is your magic failing too?”
“Wasn’t until Zariha drained me when you disappeared.”
“You fed me to that thing. You’re no father.”
The door opened and in walked two mages.
Jay cleared his throat and motioned to her father. “Olivier Laurent escaped from your headquarters.”
The taller mage nodded. “Yes, we’re aware, though he seems to have aged.”
Jay smiled. “An enchantment was removed. Apparently, his appearance had been altered through magic.”
“I see. Did he have anything on his person?”
Neil shook his head.
Jay did as well. “We searched but found nothing.”
Olivier didn’t offer any grievance. In fact, he said nothing.
One of the mages handed Jay a card. “We’ll take him back in. Thank you for calling.”
“Of course. Considering he was here to harass this young woman, I was happy to deal with him.”
The mage dipped his head and dragged Olivier out. Still no word from her father.
What else could he have up his sleeves?
Jay shut the door while she stared after him. Then she shook her head. “I’m sorry. You hid the rest of his things?”
“Of course. In case the other jewelry we removed had some other magic. I’ll hang onto it for now. I’m assuming Ceridwen will be back here before long and can give us some answers about what that is and what it actually does.”
“He’s aging. He must have lost the tie to some of his magic.”
“Or maybe he was never that strong on his own,” Jay offered. “Honestly, I’m surprised he’s made it this long.”
“I hope we found everything.”
“I’m sure the mages will do better searching him this time.” Jay rubbed at his face. “The jewelry doesn’t seem enchanted, though. That button…what’s its purpose?”