Chapter 37
Bran sat in his office, contemplating whether to interrupt Nate and Savon, or ask someone else who might have a better idea what they were dealing with. Fran managed to work her magic to eradicate the toxin after Bran gave Clay the antidote, but where had the violet starlets come from?
He knew what it was. His mother taught him about a Fae flower named violet starlets. Tiny star-shaped, purple flowers. Crushing the petals and stems and steeping in water produced a toxin that addicted the victim. Take it away and they would die if they quit cold-turkey.
Something that grew in the Sylvan Forest. Bran sat back and pulled the card out of his pocket. A Good Book in Edenton Washington. Shaking his head, he punched in the number and called Savon’s friendly mage.
“This is Tremaine,” he answered.
“I was going to wait until I talked to Nate, but they need a night without the bullshit. And I have a problem I’m hoping you can help me with—or at least provide some answers.”
“What’s going on?”
“There was a wolf who prowled around Savon’s a couple times too many. He’s in a cell right now. And yeah, Nate and I both did some major damage to him, but Nate put him back together. He wasn’t healing how he should. He has all the signs of withdrawal from violet starlets.”
“Canagan.” Tremaine sighed. “Might be how she’s keeping some of the wolves under her thumb.” He rubbed at his head, then nodded. “There’s an antidote. I know someone who could get it.”
“We took care of it. I have my mother’s herb journals, and everything we need to counter in the woods around the house.”
“That’s good. How long has he been in a cell?”
“Few days. I couldn’t smell the rot when I brought him in but sensed something off.”
“She may have been withholding it until he gave her answers. Wouldn’t be the first time. Now, I wonder if any other wolves are having this issue.”
“Couldn’t tell you. I sensed something off a few days ago, but the black stain started yesterday. At least his healing is back to normal now.”
“Good. Want me to take a look at him?”
“Maybe to be on the safe side. Make sure we didn’t miss anything.”
“He harmed Savon?” Tremaine asked.
“No, but he wanted to.”
“Figured. She wouldn’t have let him live if he pushed her too far. You don’t have to worry about her.”
“The coma,” Bran reminded Tremaine.
“Yeah, but worse would have happened to Nate. So let’s drop that argument.”
“You really do believe she can handle herself?”
“Against nearly anything. And after Nadya teaches her to better control her sorceress powers without falling to the demon side, she’ll be even stronger.”
“That a good thing?”
“Yes, because she fears the darkness within. And with Nate there to balance her, she’s not going to fall. She’s smarter than that anyway.”
“Come to the precinct. Bring who you need. I want to be sure we didn’t miss any other problems. And please have Robert bring you. I don’t want the other wolves to know about your trip out.”
“You got it.”
* * * *
“Think we should take this wolf to the Silver Council?” Robert asked.
Tremaine shook his head. “Leave it up to them. It’s pack business, it’s not spilling into the human population, and if Nate is going to take this pack, his choices and actions will affect how the rest of the wolves react.”
“Okay, but if he’s a problem, we can stop it now,” Robert offered.
“And also hurt the pack dynamic.” He snorted. “We’re here for Savon, and to make sure the Wolfssengen Pendant doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Let Nate prove he can be a strong Alpha.”
“All right.” Robert stood and glanced at Preston. “Are you coming as well?”
“May as well. This town doesn’t have much to do, and I miss my woman.”
“Yeah, me too, but this whole situation could change in a moment,” Robert added.
“Then let’s go,” Tremaine said. He missed Liz, but they had just spoken before Bran called with news.
They appeared in the precinct, and Preston’s head cocked. “Werewolves are prowling nearby,” Preston whispered.
Bran entered the room from a hidden door. “Yeah, and they’re on our side. Making sure the rest don’t find Clay before Savon and Nate are back. Though, he’s resting peacefully now. The corruption of the toxin caused is gone.” He rubbed at his head. “I don’t think anyone but Canagan could find the violet starlet plant. It’s in Faery, can’t grow on Earth, according to my mother.”
“It can if grown correctly. Canagan always has it handy.”
“Would explain why a number of the pack get sick and die when they displease Canagan.”
“Who were these wolves?”
“All of them had ties to Canagan, but two of them were enforcers of Killian.”
“And where are the rest of Killian’s enforcers now?”
“They left after Killian died. None of them wanted to be under his rule, and without an Alpha, there was a good chance that Jay would have destroyed them. A couple of them came to me, to see if I knew a way to counter the toxin. I’m lucky my mother taught me that much.”
Tremaine nodded. “Most new Alphas would clear house. I’m curious why they came to you.”
“They know what Canagan is, know what I am. Hoped I would have an answer.”
Robert looked at Tremaine. “I think it’s worth looking into Clay’s head. We can get a better idea of what Canagan wants with Nate and Savon.”
“Pretty sure Nate got that out of him. Canagan wanted her out of the way, hoping it would tear Nate down.”
“Would it have?”
“Yeah, it would.”
“Killian was a real asshole,” Tremaine muttered. “And I understand he’s your father too.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t know that until the fucker saved my life. At that point, I was fine with dying. He could have saved my wife. No, he waited until she was dead, and I was ready to let everything go. He knew what I was losing when Margaret got sick and finally died. He didn’t make a move then. He knew about Meridian, about the awakening. Shit…my mother could have done something too.”
Tremaine ran a hand through his hair. “Sorry. I never realized who Savon’s parents were. I knew what she was, but I fell out of touch with Darron decades ago. And I had only heard stories about Fawn. I didn’t know him well enough to know they were together and had kids.”
Bran shrugged. “It’s okay. Darron blamed himself for a massacre thirty-five years ago. He came out to Silvertail Ridge to leave the guilt behind.”
“Did it work?” Preston asked.
“He refused to train Savon. Taught her some control and to lock away the power,” Bran answered.
Tremaine huffed. “Oh, he found someone to lock down her magic. I think he knew better than to come to me. Ms. Murdock explained her power had already manifested before they attempted to lock it down.”
“Why?” Bran inquired.
“Some types of casters can go through the process early. Without maintenance it wears off. Sometimes, stress can tear it apart and all hell breaks loose. Like with Savon.”
“What are you talking about?”
Tremaine rubbed at his head. “Ask her. It’s not for me to share if she hasn’t.”
Robert walked to the cell. “Sylvan magic still surrounds him. Not sure what it’s meant for.”
“He could be a problem,” Preston pointed out.
Bran lifted a shoulder. “For now, he stays. I can call Nate if I need to, let him decide, but I’m not making that call.”
“Why?” Tremaine asked, genuinely curious.
“He’s my brother. Shit, I wasn’t even surprised when I learned. Things were always strained between my parents and his. Of my friends, Nate is the wisest. He reads a situation, knows how to resolve it. He lacked the confidence, but he’s gained that, even before Savon moved back.”
“Let us know if you need us,” Tremaine said and reached for Robert. Preston touched Robert’s back, and they were back in the hotel room.
“I think we need to go to Draecyn’s. See what we can find about the Wolfssengen Pendant.”
Robert dropped into a seat. “Supposed to make the wearer mad. Also forges or breaks any bond they share with another. Or supposed to. I remember the story my father used to tell me.”
“Can you tell it?” Tremaine asked.
“I don’t remember all of it, but the pendant was sought by wolves to break their mate bond when one went feral or crazed. The Fae created it to break bonds forced on one, or those that forged and were corrupted. It can also bind a person to the wearer. Without the pendant, it can’t be broken.”
“You think Canagan used it against Killian?” Preston asked.
“That or the other way around,” Tremaine answered. “I don’t know. They both wanted the pendant. That much I knew. And at times Killian and Canagan were lovers. Shit…after how he made her a wolf, I don’t know what to think.”
“I’m not sure I want to know.” Robert stood. “Think Draecyn will share his knowledge?”
“Only one way to find out.”