“Oh, you better not have,” Nexi retorted, enraged to her bones that they’d do something so intrusive to her soul sister. “You can’t go into someone’s mind and take things out, no matter that your magic says you can.”
Zia reached out for Nexi with a gentle expression, but Nexi jumped away. “Don’t even think about touching me again. How do I know you aren’t going to erase this from my mind?”
The Mistress of Witches studied her with a frown. “Haven’t you wondered how Haven keeps that darling innocence in our cruel world?” Her eyebrows rose. “What would you rather: she loses that or I intervene?”
Nexi didn’t like either of those choices.
She stayed silent as Zia continued, “It might not be right, but the truth is, difficult scenes don’t happen often.”
Nexi stared Zia down, and for the first time the power inside the Mistress of Witches showed through, as Zia went on, “I’m sorry you have an issue with my helping her, but if it means Haven can be without the trauma of what she sees then it’s my only choice.”
“So, you say,” Nexi countered.
Zia pursed her lips.
“What happened to her?” Finn rushed into the Council’s Foyer and once he reached Haven, he lifted her into his arm. Concern shadowed his normally light eyes.
Kyden jumped to his feet. “Gruesome death.”
Finn placed a kiss on Haven’s forehead, then to Zia, he said, “Thank you for taking care of her.”
Zia inclined her head.
Finn turned to Nexi. “Zia always gives Haven a memory of a night alone with me. Remember that if you’re talking with her.”
Nexi tried to stay angry—hard, in fact—but seeing that Finn was okay with it, what could she say? They weren’t hurting Haven. They were keeping Haven…sweet Haven. She sent a glare Zia’s way. “Don’t you ever do that to me, got it?”
Zia flipped her hair over her shoulder. “I won’t ever need to. You’re not having a breakdown, are you?”
Yes, good point. Why wasn’t she?
Kyden rubbed his jaw, his eyes dark and cautious. “The number of werewolf deaths is rising and they’re only intensifying in nature.” He looked at Zia and sighed. “Undoubtedly, more is going on here. The killing tonight was nothing I’ve ever seen. It wasn’t a random act of violence. Those wolves killed for pure pleasure.” He hesitated, his brows drawn together, then he asked Zia, “Have you heard from Briggs at all?”
She shook her head. “Nothing except that he’s in Texas and they’re digging deeper to find out what’s going on there.”
Silence settled in around them.
Nexi couldn’t take it anymore. “So, we have nothing to go on. No reasons for why it’s happening since werewolves are supposed to be friendly—which by the way seems a bit hard to believe, even if I have seen a few nice ones—but what do we do now?”
Kyden’s eyes glinted dangerously. “We go with what we have, and that includes hunting the wolves that killed without mercy.”
Chapter Fourteen
In the slums of New York City, Kyden examined the rundown house in front of him, and wondered why the werewolves picked this place. The paint peeled off the wooden planks on the exterior, and the home needed a person who cared about its appearance. He scanned the area and down a ways he spotted a group of teenagers, but they paid them no attention. Exactly how he wanted it.
He turned to Foley. “How many wolves are in there?”
Foley lifted his nose and took a deep sniff. “I believe there are four.” He sniffed again. “Yes, four.” At Nexi’s parting mouth, Foley raised a hand. “I have no idea if they are all from the Texas pack or if they’re members of the New York pack—I’m not that good.”
She nibbled her lip, and then added, “Let’s hope they’re the New York pack and aren’t looking for any trouble.”
For their sake, Kyden hoped the same.
While he always loved a good fight, especially if he was outnumbered, since it gave him a fine challenge, he didn’t like those odds with Nexi involved. However, he knew to keep those thoughts to himself, since it would only anger her. Besides, he spotted the fire in her eyes for the fight ahead. Guardians needed to protect and defend, a desire bred into their very veins, and he wouldn’t refuse Nexi that right.
She studied the house for a second before she asked Foley, “The werewolves that killed the woman earlier are in there? You know this without a doubt?”
He nodded. “The tracker pinpointed them at this location, and I recognize their scent, too.” He gave Nexi a long look, then his gaze locked on Kyden. “Seeing that you’re outnumbered, let me help with this.” He cracked his knuckles. “Been a while since I’ve had a good fight. It’ll be good to raise the hackles.”
Kyden wouldn’t dare refuse the offer of help. He understood Nexi’s desire to fight. Hell, the same desire drove him, as it did all guardians. But he wasn’t confident he’d be able to watch over her, which didn’t sit well. She might want to face her own battles, prove her strength, but he already knew. He only wanted her safe.
Cupping Foley’s shoulder, Kyden smiled. “Thank you.”
Foley inclined his head.
Brushing past him, Kyden strode toward the house with Nexi in tow. Once at the front door, he glanced over his shoulder. “Bravery is good. Stupidity is not. Yell if you need me. Clear?”
“Gotcha,” she replied with a firm nod. “Now you listen to me.” Staring him down with a serious look, she added, “Bravery is good. Stupidity is not. Yell if you need me. Clear?”
Foley barked a laugh.
Kyden didn’t.
Frustrated, he shook his head. “Nexi, will you listen to me for once?”
“I am listening.” Her eyebrows rose. “Are you listening to me?”
Irritation tightened his muscles, so he glanced at Foley, knowing she’d never agree to what he set forth. “Stay by her.”
“That’s not necessary,” Nexi stated.
Foley jerked his chin, a move that Nexi clearly didn’t notice because she didn’t comment. But it was enough of an agreement that if she got into trouble and Kyden was too busy in his own fight, Foley would look out for her.
Kyden cupped Nexi’s jaw, capturing her gaze. “Remember what you’ve learned. Act fast. Be brutal—”
“Kyden.” She sighed and rolled her eyes, moving away from him. “I’ll be fine. Stop worrying.” She shoved him on the shoulder. “Get in there.”
He hadn’t anticipated how hard this moment would be for him. A pull between the side of him wanting to protect her and the other that wanted to support her. Glancing at the front door, and on a deep breath, he used the power behind his muscles and kicked it.
The old hinges broke under his force and dust flew up in the air. “Where?”
Foley sniffed. “To the right.”
Kyden rushed into the house, sensing Nexi on his heels, and suspecting that Foley came up the rear. He entered the living room, or what might once have been one, but now was a rundown square room, empty of all furnishings.
Four wolves stood in front of the fireplace, fists clenched, and glared daggers at him. No doubt they’d heard the conversation outside and expected their appearance, which made Kyden wonder why they hadn’t acted.
Why was none of these wolves feeling remorse? Or fear that the Council’s Guard would hunt them?
One of the men stepped forward, and Kyden recognized him as one who’d killed the woman—the rustic looking one in need of a shower. “Get out.” He sneered. “You don’t belong here.”
Kyden stopped at the entrance, and Nexi settled in next to him, Foley at her side. “You don’t belong in New York. You shouldn’t have left the Texas pack’s protection. The murder you’ve committed tonight is unforgiveable.”
Silence surrounded him.
The werewolves didn’t deny it, or even react to his statement, once again raising alarm. Kyden also didn’t like how the other two wolves—not involved in the crime tonight—looked at him with such disrespect. These werewolves weren’t typical, and he had no doubt if Briggs saw any werewolf looking at the Council’s Guard with such contempt he wouldn’t have the chance to say a word because the wolf would be dead.
What had turned these wolves into coldblooded killers?
Before he could ask as much, Nexi snorted. “Liar.”
Kyden studied the wolves, as they once again showed no response. He thought it odd that these wolves were sticking together. They had rejected their own pack, but had remained protective of each other. Why?
He stared at the clean-shaven one, wondering what would keep them so bound together. Why would they kill an innocent mortal without a purpose behind it? They weren’t defending their reasons or explanation their actions, they were staying stone cold silent.
The secrets surrounding all this, as well as the deaths, and how the werewolves in the room stared again at Nexi bothered him. Twice now, he’d seen wolves more focused on her than on him, and that surprised him. Why was Nexi such a threat?