Chapter Twenty-Six
Having been to Grant Anderson’s office several times now, transporting there was an easy task. He just had to make sure he picked a spot that was clear of furniture or other people, lest he accidentally appear inside a sofa or table (not the most pleasant thing in the world) or another person (definitely unpleasant and unsurvivable for both parties.) He decided that just outside the office would be best, as he guessed the Alpha’s office would be filled with people.
As he appeared in the Fenrir executive offices’ waiting room, Grant’s admin Jared jumped out of his seat in surprise. “My apologies,” he said, nodding to the frightened Lycan. He strode to the door that led into Grant’s office and walked in.
He expected the different reactions, of course, and even anticipated their anger. Connor and Nick immediately attacked him, and though he was tempted to simply swat them away, he knew he deserved their anger.
“Get them off him!” Jade pleaded to the others.
Nick managed to land a punch, which was a surprise, but Daric supposed it was a long time coming. Connor, on the other hand, wrapped his gigantic arms around him, restraining him and bringing him down to his knees.
“Did you find them? Where’s Sebastian?” Jade asked as she rushed to his side.
Daric raised his head slowly. “I did find them.”
“And?” The Lycan’s green eyes searched his face. “Are they alive? Did you get them?”
He shook his head. “I couldn’t. Not by myself.”
While the rest of the Lycans and witches looked on, Grant stood up from his chair and walked over to him. “Well, warlock? Did you change your mind? Did you want that bracelet back on?”
“I’m sorry for disappearing like that,” he said apologetically. “I know I broke your trust, but I had no choice. Please don’t punish Dr. Cross for doing what she thought was right.”
“Dr. Cross has been properly chastised,” Grant replied, his eyes flickering over to the Lycan scientist. “But, you said you found them? Why didn’t you bring them back right away?”
“If you could kindly ask Connor to let me go, I can explain,” Daric said patiently. “We have no time to lose,” he added when he saw the hesitation on Grant’s face.
“Let him go, Connor,” Grant ordered.
The Lycan grunted but released Daric quickly. The warlock dropped to the ground unceremoniously but quickly got up. As he brushed himself off, he felt all the eyes in the room on him.
“Well?” Grant asked.
He took a deep breath. “I know where they are. Stefan has been hiding out in my old village in Norway.” Daric explained to them what he had seen and what Stefan had done to ensure that Daric couldn’t just sneak in and transport his prisoners away.
“We need to attack now,” Nick said. “While Stefan himself is vulnerable.”
“But that’s why he chose that place,” Lara pointed out. “He’s only temporarily vulnerable. The northern lights should only affect his blessed powers. Being blood magic, the controlling spell seems to be unaffected if his puppet masters still have a hold over the humans and Lycans.”
“We need to help the Lone Wolves,” Killian added. “If they’re under some kind of spell, then you know they’re innocent.”
“Daric,” Jade began. “You told me that Stefan is the source of the power and puppet masters are only his conduits. Do you think he’s particularly weak if he’s being drained by both the controlling spell and the northern lights?”
“I did not think of that,” Daric said. “But it’s possible.”
“Then all we have to do is kill Stefan, which may not even take a lot of effort,” Jade hypothesized.
“If we can get past his army,” Alynna pointed out.
“We’ll need our own army, then,” Grant said in a serious voice. He looked at Nick and Alynna. “Start making preparations. We’re going to call every able-bodied Lycan in New York and our allies. Daric,” he turned to the warlock. “How many people can you transport to your village at one time?”
Daric thought for a moment. “I suppose I could move five to six people at a time.”
“Good,” Grant nodded. “We need to get a move on then if we want to attack Stefan before daylight.”
***
Meredith sat in the hut alone, rubbing her hands over her arms as the cold crept over her. Her Lycan metabolism had been keeping her warm, but when the direness of the situation had dawned on her, nothing could stop the chill blasting through her veins.
She realized where they were being held—it was obviously Daric and Signe’s old village in Norway, where the warlock and mage first crossed paths. It was dark outside, which made it even harder to judge what time of the day it was. The eerie northern lights overhead made the entire place look creepy, like some damn horror movie, but that wasn’t what made Meredith’s skin crawl. It was the army of men waiting outside, standing still in the cold like a bunch of zombies. And then there were the wolves—Lycans, by the size of them—surrounding the village, tied up to the wooden posts like dogs waiting to be unleashed. Stefan was well-guarded, and even with Daric’s powers and the New York Lycans, she doubted they would have enough resources to fight the mages and their army of human and Lycan slaves.
She wondered where Stefan had taken Sebastian. It was a smart move on his part, taking Sebastian away because all the Lycans needed to do was free him and unleash the dragon. Hopefully, he still wasn’t under Stefan’s control, but if the mages got a hold of Jade, then all bets were off. She hoped her best friend was safe somewhere. And then there was Zachary Vrost. Stefan only needed threaten the child and Nick Vrost would give everything he had to keep his son safe. For once in her life, she was truly scared.
Her she-wolf whined, trying to comfort her.
“I know,” she said aloud. “I’m trying not to lose hope.”
Think, think, think, the she-wolf said. What would Archie do?
Archie would tell her not to give up. There was always a way.
“I’ve given you all the tools you need, Meredith,” Archie said countless times. “Think.”
She was tired. Bone tired. As soon as Stefan and Victoria had left, she searched every inch of the cabin, trying to find a weak spot or anything to help her get out. But there was nothing, they made sure of that. Just the furs on the ground and the single bed in the corner. She had nothing on her except the tracking bracelet and—
“Christ on a bicycle!” Her hands crept up to her chest. The phone! She had forgotten she had it tucked away in her bra. Her hands trembled as she took it out and pressed the power button. “Yes!” She pumped her fist in the air as the phone turned on.
Meredith took a deep breath. She would only have one chance at this, and the battery was near dead. There was no signal, of course, but most phones had a GPS unit. Hopefully, someone at Fenrir would be monitoring signals from all their registered phones. It was a long shot, but hopefully, someone out there was listening.