Chapter Seven
The brew tasted like heaven, like she was swallowing everything fine and wonderful in the world and that she would always be okay from this moment forward.
A typical reaction to a mind-altering drug and it had worked fast. But she needed to experience it all even the addictive properties.
She closed her eyes. Though she listed, Braden was right there and kept her upright.
The potion was warm and soothing down her throat and even warmer in her stomach. The gentle heat continued to spread.
“What’s it like?”
“Heaven. Comforting.” She opened her eyes and turned to face Braden. He now had a golden aura and looked more beautiful than ever. She cupped his face and searched his eyes. She wanted to see inside him, all the way through, to his depths.
She slid her hand to his throat and gripped him, but not too tight. She just wanted to hold on while she explored.
The sensation felt familiar as though it had been done to her. Maybe it had. Maybe in some form Veyda had done this to her and searched out her potential.
The mint in the potion came to the fore and began to ease through her body and into her mind. Braden’s eyes were now gold-rimmed.
“Are you shifting a little?”
“Yes. I can’t seem to help myself. You’re having an effect.”
“Can you pull away if you needed to? Or do I have control of you. I think you should try.”
He slid away easily enough so she breathed a sigh of relief. “But you might have more control than you think. You might be able to apply pressure especially on those less powerful. Try again. Try to control me.”
“I don’t want to.”
He chuckled. He even smiled. “I know. I know who you are. But if we end up in a battle, you need to know what you’ve got.”
He drew close once more and again she slid her hand around the side of his neck. She created a firm grip and held his gaze.
The potion had warmed her all the way through, even to the tips of her fingers where she touched him. She added pressure just to the tips.
Braden’s voice entered her mind. That’s it. I’m feeling something from you.
Is it my killing power?
No. Not exactly. But it has a similar quality. This is about control. You were controlled like this by Veyda, weren’t you?
She thought back to that awful night, what she could remember of it. Then, just like that, another piece fell into place. I was. She was always behind me and she had her hand on my neck.
What did she want you to do?
To participate in the ritual.
What was the ritual? Can you see into the past? Look hard. This is important.
Someone’s screaming. There on the center platform. She’s screaming. She’s being tortured, but I can’t see her. The one covered in a dark mist. This was the first time she’d been able to remember the woman’s screams in her memories.
She suddenly recalled Veyda’s voice next to her ear. She’d put more pressure on Maeve’s throat. “You were made for this, Maeve. You were created for extraordinary feats, like nothing you can imagine. But I can imagine for you until you’re ready. Let me train you, instruct you, be your guide. You’ll lack for nothing here in Five Bridges. You’ll be safe under the shelter of my wing. You’ll help me build a society worth having here in Elegance, in all of Five Bridges. Join me, Maeve. Pick up the blade and cut out the woman’s heart.”
The memory was so stunning and so horrible, Maeve pulled away from Braden, her hands held up in horror. She glanced from one hand to the next. Had she done it? Had she killed the innocent woman that night?
“What have I done?”
“Maeve, what’s wrong?” Braden took hold of her arms. “Did you remember more about that night?”
“Yes. Veyda wanted me to kill the victim as part of my induction. The woman was on a platform in the center of the room. I don’t know who she was or what I did. The mist keeps her cloaked. Maybe Veyda wanted it that way. I don’t know. The witches, the ones I killed, were doing something to her. The smell. It’s the poisoned paste, the one Veyda’s been using on Kiara. The woman was screaming in agony. But Veyda was trying to seduce me into murdering her. She kept talking about my potential and wanting to train me.” She shook her head back and forth. “She said we’d create a whole new Five Bridges, one worth living in. Braden, this woman can’t actually believe she’s doing good.”
“I think a witch like Veyda would say whatever she felt she needed to say in order to get what she wanted. What interests me is that she must have needed to persuade you to do something against your will. She couldn’t force you. I think she used every weapon in her arsenal to get you to comply, but she failed. Your character won out over her dark spells and potions.”
Maeve wasn’t convinced. There was still something horrible about that night she couldn’t remember. She might not know the details, yet, but something else had happened and it made her tremble.
He released her arms and cupped her face. “Look at me. You are stronger than you know. That’s why you survived that night. What you’ve told me is that Veyda had to work hard to convince you to do something that I’m persuaded you refused to do. Then your killing power kicked in. Big time. You have nothing to feel destressed or guilty about.”
She wanted to believe Braden. In her heart, she wasn’t a killer. Yet she knew she’d taken the lives of those two women. They were dead. The power she’d released from her killing hand had broken open their chests. She had committed murder. Maybe it was out of self-defense and maybe these women had deserved to die, but she’d become a murderer that night.
While she struggled with her emerging memory, something else began to come through. She gripped Braden’s arm. She thought maybe this was it and she would learn the rest of what had happened.
Instead, she felt Kiara’s presence as clearly as if she was in the room. She gasped. “Braden. It’s Kiara. She’s with me. I can feel her telepathic presence the way I felt yours earlier in my backyard.”
“Okay. Good. Focus on her. You can deal with your memories later. Because I’m sensing she’s in trouble.”
There it was again, how Braden was taking steps into her witch world in the same way she kept feeling wolf-howls form in her throat.
The potion felt like lightning in her veins now. She pictured the last time she’d seen Kiara and how she’d looked, the terrible poisoned wound on her neck. She forced her telepathy wide open.
At first, she didn’t understand what she was perceiving. Scattered words rolled through her mind. Pain. Can’t bear it. She’s coming. No. No.
The sudden screaming Maeve heard made her cover her ears. Braden held on tight, so she couldn’t move. She couldn’t escape the screams.
Then they stopped. I want to die. Please God, let me die. Now. Please. Please.
Maeve had almost caught her breath when the screaming started again.
Kiara was screaming and somehow it translated into a scream within Maeve’s mind.
She shook, head to toe. She opened her eyes and met Braden’s. His snout was longer, his cheekbones wider, fur had appeared low on his forehead and along his jaw. He looked fierce.
He growled. Sheba, now sitting on the sink counter once more, hissed, though not at Braden. She, too, must have understood the horrific nature of the situation.
Maeve nodded. “Kiara’s being tortured right now. We have to go to her. She won’t survive the night. Veyda plans on killing her.”
Sheba meowed her agreement, leaped from the counter then, as she’d done before, raced up the stairs.
As he released her arms, his wolfness diminished. “Let’s go, but I’m bringing our wolves with us.”
“Our wolves?” Now he’d said it, as though he already had a connection to the shifters.
“The Landing wolves. Let me contact Greg.” As he grew silent and no doubt used his telepathy, he piloted her toward the stone stairs.
She took his hint and flew up the spiral staircase in a whirl of levitation. When she reached the living room, she darted in the same way in front of the fireplace to the second stairwell.
Once at the spell boundary of her apartment, she crossed without taking Braden’s hand. She turned back to offer her hand, but he didn’t need it. He simply joined her at her side. “Did you see the spell this time?”
His brows rose. He glanced at his hand then hers. “I did. But you weren’t touching me, were you?”
“No.”
She wanted to explore how he’d done it, but the opposite doors across from the construction site opened. Greg and his six wolves entered the hall.
Again, Maeve felt a howl forming very wolf-like in her throat. The men looked ready for war. Each was armed with AR-15s slung over their shoulders, sidearms and knives hooked to their belts.
Braden moved to stand beside her as they waited for the wolves to levitate to them. She glanced up at him then back to her spelled line in front of her apartment. “How do you think you crossed the boundary?”
“I’m channeling your witchness.”
The wolves arrived hovering in place, levitating, amped up. Maeve felt their shared, warlike tension. They all looked at Braden. Each pair of eyes glowed.
Braden waved them forward and, as though they’d practiced for years, they fanned out to form a semi-circle. Maeve saw some of the residents pour into the hallway, no doubt as curious as she was.
Braden stated their mission. “Kiara’s being tortured as we speak. This has turned into a full-on rescue mission. Maeve will lead the way. You follow either her orders or mine. Stay sharp. We’re moving into dark witch territory with spells you can’t begin to imagine. You’ll experience confusion unless you stick close. We’ve got some real bad guys we’re after who torture their victims then sell tickets to hard-core snuff killings.”
Maeve thought his speech might cause some agitation. Instead, all she felt from the wolves was a tightening of focus and purpose.
Braden turned to her. “Lead the way.”
Maeve levitated and headed to the emergency doors. Once she was rising in the air and the team was with her, she was surprised when the wolves suddenly whistled and shouted.
Startled, she turned to face them. She almost asked what was wrong until she realized they were honoring her most recent achievement. She could fly.
She felt her cheeks warm up. She even smiled.
Braden caught up with her, took her arm then drew her forward. “Come on.” But he was grinning.
The sudden shift from excitement to shouted praise had a good effect on her nerves. She felt herself relax just enough.
As she rose higher in the air, she addressed Greg telepathically and let him know where they were headed.
We’re ready, returned in a strong, solid response.
When Maeve reached the protection spell, she drew up and hovered midair. Turning to face the group, she saw in each intense pair of eyes how much they were with her.
She saw a new possibility as well because of the potion she’d taken. She glanced at Braden, If I touch each of them, it will forge a connection that will help during the rescue, but I’m not sure your wolf will like it.
She watched his eyes flare and a layer of fur appear in sexy lines along each cheek. I’d better be touching you at the same time, or I will tear them apart, one by one.
She nodded. I feel it too. Get over here. Her lips curved as she held out her arm to him.
The moment he surrounded her waist and pulled her close, everything she was lit on fire.
You’re glowing.
You do this to me, she responded.
He looked deadly serious. There’s a lot here, Maeve. Between us, I mean.
I know. We’ll talk later.
She reverted her attention to the wolves. The recent interaction between herself and Braden had caused each of the men to sprout fur and elongate jaws and snouts slightly. She explained about the spell and what she felt was possible.
Each wolf inclined his head slowly as she moved along the half circle. Braden tracked close, his body tense. She gripped the throat of each wolf and when she felt the connection form, she moved to the next. When she’d created the temporary bond, the wolves howled.
She felt the same kind of howl form in her throat. This time, she didn’t hold back, but joined her voice with theirs.
Braden howled as well and to her newly-formed wolf ears, the sound was exquisite with layers of resonance her witch ears alone could never have heard. Her heart swelled and a strange, single word formed in her head: Home.
A few seconds later, the howling died away and her focus sharpened once more in Kiara’s direction.
Greg called out. I can see the spelled boundary.
At that, Maeve turned to Braden and smiled. He dipped his chin three times in approval. Let’s go.
She flew forward and upward, crossing the security spell. She was almost ready to turn in the direction of Veyda’s compound when she sensed the warlock’s presence. Gammet was here.
Instead of reacting as a witch and feeling a profound need to hide, she suddenly felt very much like a wolf. Battle was what she wanted. She now hoped he’d brought his team ready to fight.
To Braden, she telepathed, I can feel him. Veyda’s warlock. He’s not far. I think we should engage his force in the Graveyard. We don’t want to be dealing with him once we’re at Veyda’s compound.
I agree. Let’s do it.
She addressed the team and explained the situation. She hated that they had to delay getting to Kiara even one second, but Gammet would stop them before they’d flown a hundred yards in the direction of Veyda’s compound.
Among the wolves, she watched arms tense up and assault rifles shift about as each man strengthened his control of his weapon.
“He won’t be expecting a force. We need to shut him down before we try to rescue Kiara. We’re heading into the Graveyard.”
~ ~ ~
Braden stared hard at Maeve. He could feel the tension and excitement in her and it felt more wolf than witch. Her suggestion they go on the offensive meant something.
He glanced at her and saw that her blue eyes were lit with a familiar, warring light. He’s tried to kill you again, Braden. This warlock needs a lesson. Just remember, he’s powerful.
Braden nodded. I’m going to forge group telepathy.
Go for it.
Braden took a moment to establish the group communication. All the wolves fixed their attention on him. He explained about Gammet, and what they could expect. Let’s go in, guns blazing. Don’t hold back. These are a bunch of bad guys who’ve been doing Veyda’s bidding. Maeve will track him. Remember. If she gives an order, think of it as mine. Now let’s go.
He released Maeve’s hand and rose into the air.
The Landing backed up to the Graveyard so it was a short flight. Within seconds they were levitating above the no-man’s-land that separated all five territories from each other. It was a fitting place to confront the man who’d almost taken his life. Twice.
The Graveyard looked like a torn-up war zone. As many as twenty bodies were hauled away at dawn by Tribunal Squads assigned to the task. Occasionally, bombs went off and carved out even more craters. Ditches filled with cacti, weeds and desert rock made for slow-going on foot or in a four-wheeler. Motorcycles fared better. Small makeshift bridges were the only way through, though they often gave out under the weight of the vehicles.
Levitation helped a helluva lot.
Maeve broke into the group telepathy. He’s not far. Fifty yards at most. To the north.
I see him. Looks like he’s got a bigger crew this time. I’m seeing about a dozen. Fan out.
With precision, the Landing wolves split off in a wide arc four to Maeve’s left, three to Braden’s right.
Braden sharpened his wolf vision. In the distance, he saw them lined up and arrogant. Good. Let them think they had this.
Braden channeled his growing spellcaster and sensed what Gammet had planned. To Maeve, he telepathed, At my command, shoot forty feet straight up.
Got it.
When the team closed within thirty yards, he used a sharp telepathic command. Split. Use evasive maneuvers. Now! Attack.
Maeve rose swiftly into the air at the same time Braden did, just as he’d told her to. The wolves responded by levitating swiftly in opposite directions then by descending from all angles. They fired at the enemy at the same time.
Gammet’s team on the ground returned fire, but Greg’s men never stopped moving.
Braden told Maeve to stay high in the air and to alert him in case Gammet called in reinforcements.
He didn’t wait for her to agree. He knew she’d follow his orders.
He levitated above the battlefield and watched the Landing wolves in action. Greg hadn’t been kidding when he said he’d been running drills with his team. They were a highly disciplined unit. Through the group telepathy, he heard Greg call out one command after another. Each time, one or several of his squad would shift aerial positions or targets.
Gammet’s crew on the ground had obviously relied on their numbers and ferocity to carry the day. There was no discipline to their movements and they were hunkered down behind whatever Graveyard debris they could find. Unless they carried a boatload of ammo, they wouldn’t be able to keep firing off that many rounds and not end up empty handed.
When one of Greg’s wolves dropped in lopsided levitation from the air, Maeve’s voice entered his mind. I’ve got this.
As she flew in the direction of the wounded wolf, he felt her contact her support staff at the Landing. He almost went after her to serve as protection, but he stopped himself.
Instead, he fixed his attention on the warlock.
Maeve, take care of the wolf. I’m moving in on Gammet.
Take him, Braden.
He used group telepathy. Wolves, lay down some cover. I’m going after Gammet.
Greg responded. I want everyone in the Z formation we worked on. Let’s come in from high in the air. When Braden finds his target, we’ll do the same. Let’s rock-n-roll.
He watched the wolves levitate almost straight up, which stopped the ground fire.
Braden pivoted in the air so that he was head down as he flew toward Gammet. His position made him the smallest possible target.
Greg’s crew came in from all directions but at downward angles to avoid friendly crossfire.
The warlock moved to the center of what looked like eight still-standing men in his squad. He appeared to be heating up his own killing power as he lifted his left arm toward Braden. But would he be fast enough to do some damage?
Braden called out a command to the team. Converge. I’ve got Gammet.
As he shot like a rocket toward the warlock, he saw movement all around his peripheral vision as the six remaining Landing wolves shifted tactics and began to dive in as well.
Each had his own method for avoiding gunfire, but they flew like lightning toward Gammet’s hunkered down squad. At least five of the warlock’s crew suddenly took off running. Braden had seen this before. Those men would disappear into the night and never be seen again.
Braden added some speed. Three – two – one.
Just as Gammet tried and failed to fire his killing power, Braden slammed into the warlock. He knocked him backward against an abandoned car.
The warlock, as big as Braden, grunted and tried to recover, but he was no warrior.
Braden used his fists. He grabbed the front of Gammet’s t-shirt then powered in three quick jabs to his face. Blood gushed from his nose. Braden heard bones crunch.
The warlock waved his arm. Braden felt the spell, but his connection to Maeve’s abilities gave him enough warning to release him. The moment he did, Gammet smiled and began to disappear.
At the last second, when Gammet was completely invisible, Braden reached for him, but he was gone.
Several expletives rolled like fire off his tongue. Around him, the Landing wolves battled the remainder of Gammet’s squad.
In a sequence of split-seconds, his thoughts jumped hurdles. How did Gammet go invisible? Where did he go? Were his men in danger?
In the end, his final awareness was a grenade exploding in his head.
Gammet was after Maeve.
Every instinct he possessed, wolf or witch, told him Maeve was in danger.
Braden levitated, arced in the air, then flew faster than he ever had before in Maeve’s direction. She was leaning over a stretcher on the back of the Jeep. Alfonso was tending the injured wolf.
Maeve. Fire up your killing power. We’ve got incoming.
When he was within ten feet of her, his shoulder collided with the invisible enemy. The collision knocked Braden to the ground.
He rolled several times, but levitated swiftly to his feet and raced toward Maeve.
Her eyes were bright. She seemed to understand and she was ready. He moved in behind her and held her tight.
He chose to continue telepathically. Can you see Gammet? Sense him? If not, just fire into the air. He’s out there.
Maeve lifted her arm. Thank God for a touch of emerald flame because I can see him. His face is bloody and he’s having a hard time holding his levitation. The combination of the invisibility spell, and a beating I’m guessing you gave him, is having an effect. When I looked up at your warning, he was lifting his arm to fire at me, then you rushed him. You just saved my life, wolf.
Good. But if you’ve got a bead on him, Maeve, take him out.
He felt her hesitation. All right. Wound him, then. I’ll finish him off. But remember, he’s what stands between us and the rescue of Kiara.
Mentioning her friend was all the encouragement she needed. Her killing power was already wound up so she simply swept her arm in a quick circle. The spray of golden sparks traveled the distance between. Gammet cried out then became fully visible, his spell annihilated. He was twenty-five feet in the air when he fell. Even at that distance, Braden knew he would recover from the fall.
But Gammet landed on a pile of construction debris and was impaled on a pipe.
“Oh, God.” Maeve pressed her hands to her face for a few seconds, then began to fly in the warlock’s direction. Braden levitated beside her, whipping over the broken-up concrete, rocks, dirt and cactus.
When they reached him, Maeve turned toward Braden and buried her face in his chest.
Braden slid his arms around Maeve, reminding himself she wasn’t used to battle. He stared at Gammet’s body, eyes open and glazed. He’d fallen on some sharp plastic tubing, pierced through the stomach.
Maeve’s voice entered his mind. I’m not sorry he’s dead. He tried to kill you and who knows how many others have died by his hands or by his magic.
He rubbed her back then turned her away from Gammet. He gestured to his foot. “Hop on.”
She didn’t hesitate as she planted both feet on his boot. He swept his arm around her waist and pulled her tight to hold her steady. He levitated slowly not toward the Jeep, but to the battlefield where the Landing wolves had finished off the rest of Gammet’s squad.
He didn’t get too close, though. By the whoops his wolves made, he knew the results of the battle. There would be gore Maeve didn’t need to see. “Don’t look.”
“I’m not going to, though I’ve seen everything before. Out here, where there are so many dead or dying bodies discarded nightly, most were maimed or tortured. Like you were. But I’m still not used to it. Never will be.”
Greg levitated in their direction. He inclined his head slowly to them both. He had blood on his hands, along his arms and spattered on his neck and face. The battle had gotten up close and personal. His eyes were bright and glowed with golden rings around the irises.
“How did we do?”
“Dispatched. All of them. Except those who ran, but they won’t be back.” He ground his teeth. He glanced at Maeve then back to Braden. He was curbing his speech.
Braden took in the rest of the team. They remained at a distance, but they were still revved up. He shifted his gaze to Greg. “You ready to finish our mission?”
Greg dipped his chin. “Let’s go get Kiara.”
He felt a hit of adrenaline shoot through Maeve’s body. She levitated off Braden’s foot and turned toward the east, no doubt in the direction of Veyda’s compound.
Braden flung his arm up and waved it in a circle. “Follow the witch.”
~ ~ ~
Maeve took off. Now that the battle with Gammet was over, she turned all her witch senses toward Kiara. With the potion working in her veins. She could sense that the strong woman lay whimpering and begging for death.
To Braden, she telepathed, They’re burning her. She won’t last much longer.
She flew faster. Braden tracked with her. The wolves kept pace.
Because they were moving into the denser part of Elegance, the wolves trailed behind her single file.
When she reached the familiar intersection, she formed the group telepathy the way Braden had. The spell begins at the corner. Follow me. Stick together. She took a few seconds to strengthen her connection to each wolf and felt them respond by moving physically closer to her.
She flew above the cars and hovered at the usual corner. The night traffic honked loudly. There were a lot of sex clubs in this part of Elegance. She could hardly be surprised that Veyda’s compound would be in the middle of things.
When she approached the spelled area, what struck her first was the lack of confusion. Braden, stand next to me.
The wolf moved forward. What’s going on?
Tell me what you’re experiencing here. Any disorientation?
I’m feeling a profound need to turn around. Only your presence is keeping me in place. Same with the team.
I’m not feeling anything like that.
That’s great. The potion?
Absolutely. She felt more confident than she had in a long time. She’d avoided using emerald flame but now that she had she was kicking herself. Hard. Maybe she could have gotten Kiara out sooner. On the other hand, there was a strong possibility Braden’s support had made this possible.
She took a deep breath and approached the gate. The usual purple and back spell-clouds were fainter than ever. She pushed the wood gate open and began to move swiftly down the path to the side of the compound. A block wall formed the boundary between the property and the sidewalk beyond. The spell also blocked the city noises so that the grounds were very quiet.
As she walked, this time the spell gave way with a bare lifting of her hand.
You with me? She called back to Braden and realized he wasn’t there.
Whipping around, she could see her team but they were stuck. She hurried back in their direction. Sorry, I got carried away.
Thank God. It’s like mud in here for the rest of us.
She took his hand and started forward once more. The team fell into place behind Braden. She kept one eye on the path and the other on the seven men following her.
They’d been wolf warriors for a long time and maintained silence. Each levitated a few inches above the ground.
Greg’s voice entered the group telepathy. There are women in each of these cells. What the hell is this?
She didn’t hesitate to speak the truth. A place of torture.
Maeve ignored the expletives that exploded from Greg’s mind. She almost pathed an ‘amen’ in response.
When she reached the last cell, she saw what she already knew to be true. Kiara wasn’t there.
Braden’s voice entered her mind. This is Kiara’s cell, isn’t it?
It is. Do I press on, Braden? Because I have no idea what we’ll find.
~ ~ ~
Braden knew he had to take the reins of the mission. It was one thing to bust someone out of a cell they could locate. But another to enter a fortified compound. Will Veyda’s spell last? If it does, you’ll need to keep leading us to the torture site. If not, I want you behind me as we move forward.
Let’s find out.
He still held her hand as she moved to the edge of the building. The spell was a swirling purple and black smoke that tugged at him. He kept a vigilant watch on the team behind him as well. The wolves stuck close.
When she reached the corner, he tugged on her hand. Careful. When you take a look, lean just enough to use only one eye.
He waited as she pressed herself close to the wall and leaned just enough to get a view of what was out there.
I’m seeing an immaculate garden.
He could feel her sudden distress. What is it? Kiara?
No, it’s that Veyda has used something so beautiful to disguise the horror of what goes on in this place.
All right. Take a breath. Literally. Now. Breathe.
He watched her back rise and fall. Better?
Yes. Sorry.
No worries. Do you see any guards?
None. Just a long walkway that leads to a street-side, heavy iron gate and stone walls. The spell doesn’t cover the front part of the compound.
He moved in close behind her and had a look himself. She was right. The purple and black mist ended at the side of the building. The garden was lush with tall, well-groomed trees but no leaf debris on the ground. Flowers bloomed in tidy beds. Shrubs were neatly pruned. This was a home once. A very nice home.
Yes, it was.
He stepped around her and looked up at the roofline. No electronic security that I can see. I’m guessing Veyda trusts her spells more than surveillance.
She’s powerful enough to feel confident.
Yet here we are.
She squeezed his hand.
The sound of women singing, no, chanting in terrible dissonance, crested through the garden.
I know that sound. Braden. The torture will start up again. As if on cue, a woman screamed.
Kiara.
Braden glanced back at his men. They’d all heard it. A few noses and cheeks had elongated. Fur sprouted. Shall we take care of these bitches?
Heads bobbed.
We need a quick recon.
Greg stepped forward. I’ll go.
Maeve broke in, Let me go with you. I might see a witch trap you won’t.
Braden turned to stare at Maeve. He knew she was right. If Greg hit a spell, who knows where he’d end up. But he didn’t like the idea of Maeve, as untried as she was, heading anywhere without him. Yet they had to have the information. If they went in blind, they could all end up dead.
He made the decision to go with her himself, but Maeve shook her head. Stay here with my wolves. If anything goes wrong, take them straight up into the air and get the hell out of here.
She was thinking like an alpha female. The pack came first.
When Braden nodded, Maeve released his hand then took Greg’s.
Braden froze. Don’t touch her!
Greg jerked his hand from Maeve’s and all the wolves responded by bowing their heads. Braden had invoked their submissive stance by his sharp telepathic words.
Maeve immediately drew close to Braden and put her hand on his neck. Look at me.
With some difficulty, he shifted his gaze to hers. He’d been staring at Greg ready to challenge him to a dominance fight.
He blinked at Maeve. He felt tufts of fur along his jaw and down his neck. His jaw quivered. Nostrils flared.
She leaned up and kissed him. Not a simple kiss either. Her tongue was pushing at his lips and his partial wolf fangs.
He turned into her and wrapped her up in his arms. He wasn’t in his rational mind. He knew that. But wolf instinct outweighed everything, even the need to rescue a woman who’s screams he could hear again.
That was my fault, Braden. I took his hand. We don’t have to touch. I won’t do it again.
Her words and the feel of her tongue swirling over his fangs, had a positive effect. Eventually, his wolf face began to smooth out and he could kiss her in return.
The moment he drove his tongue into her mouth, she collapsed against him. He didn’t need more proof than that and his wolf eased down until he was himself again.
When he released her, he turned to Greg. Sorry about that. But please, don’t touch her. Though I haven’t marked her, she’s mine. The last word carried a warning growl.
Greg nodded. I’ll be careful, Boss.
Though he found the words didn’t leave his mouth easily, he said, If you need to, you have my permission.
Got it, Boss.
Greg turned to Maeve. It rocks you can levitate now.
Maeve smiled. Yes, it does.
Braden watched them take off. The remaining wolves drew close to him. He let each get a look at the garden, then drew them back into the shadows. Veyda’s security spell was still there, but behind them now.
As a unit, each grew still and quiet, waiting and levitating. It was tough when the screaming would end for a few seconds, then the chanting would rise like nails on a chalkboard. He dreaded the moment it stopped. His sharp wolf hearing could detect Kiara’s agonized pleas for her torturers to let her die.
Greg and his wolves, however, were seasoned. Five Bridges wasn’t a playground and Savage saw this kind of brutality as well.
No more than two minutes had passed when Maeve and Greg returned.
Greg gave a brief, seasoned report. No guards outside. A second main entrance at the east end with SUVs. Best guess, she’s got a force inside, but they’re not active on the grounds.
Another scream made Greg stop and shut his eyes for a moment. Braden watched him take a deep breath and regroup.
When his eyes opened, he continued. There’s also an exit of some kind on the north end. He then threw his arm toward the south. Beyond that gate, we’ve got high-end vehicles all lined up, most with drivers. But no security, except one at the far end. Looks like a cartel vehicle and two toughs by the car.
Braden flared his nostrils. So, everyone inside must feel secure.
That works in our favor.
Braden cast his gaze around the team, six now with one wounded in the Graveyard. Arm up.
Where do you want me? Maeve’s voice in his head brought him up short.
Out of the line of fire.
You might need me.
I know. Stick close. Follow my orders.
She nodded.
He took one final deep breath of his own then cast his gaze around the squad. Let’s go get Kiara.
He moved slowly into the garden. Maeve levitated beside him.
As soon as they drew near the doors to the compound, his sensitive wolf nose detected a witch odor, something full of poison.
The chanting had started again which meant Kiara was begging to die once more. The double front door was slightly ajar.
Maeve pathed, I can feel Veyda’s presence. She’s not far.
There was only one thing he wanted to know. Will you be able to see her?
I have no idea. But I’m hopeful.
Braden pulled the door open. The foyer was long and elegant. Paintings hung on either side and at the far end, a waterfall feature filled the space with soothing humidity. The floor was tiled with marble.
I’ve been here before.
Braden heard the despair in Maeve’s voice. This is definitely the place, then, where you killed the witches?
It is.
With his own emerging witch senses, Braden knew two things at once. This was where his wife had died and Maeve was close to remembering everything.