I sighed, understanding his concern, but I also knew how to ease him. “I’m assuming Alphas are possessive in nature?” He nodded hurriedly. “Well then, you have nothing to worry about. Thor will guard her with his life.” I gave Kyden a knowing look following that statement, since I had a protective fool of my own.
He just grinned and winked.
Isla had better kiss me for what I was about to say. “You’re preventing her from being truly happy.” I grabbed Valor’s hand. “It’s time to let her go.”
He actually wiped away a tear. “It is not so easily done.”
“Of course it isn’t. You’re a good father to her, but really Valor, she’s twenty-four. Her hormones are probably eating her alive.” I said, then instantly regretted it. I shouldn’t have gone there.
He grimaced. “That is my biggest concern of all.”
Oh god, now we were about to have a sex talk. Get me the hell out of here. I glanced at Kyden, who grinned devilishly, seeing me squirm.
But like the protector that he was, he took the wheel. “Thor will be gentle with her, Valor. You know this.”
“I do know this, but…” He cringed a little.
“It doesn’t make it any easier.” I finished for him.
Valor gave a soft smile. “No, it doesn’t.”
Chapter Seven
The next night, I was glad I could give myself a jolt of energy, or I’d need a double shot of espresso to get my butt in gear. I was zonked. The past few days had been a bit of a whirlwind. I was still getting used to non-vacation mode. As Kyden and I entered the Council’s Hall, the tension in the room was so thick we needed a pair of shears to cut through the air.
When I saw Sabi sitting on the floor with her head bowed, I understood why. She’s a classic witch all the way. Long dark hair, tight but fine features, eyes almost cat-like. Presently, she was having a premonition. It was her gift—she could see parts of the future—trouble stirring within the darkness. The only thing was that it came just minutes before, so action was needed quickly.
Just as we reached Sabi, she gasped loudly and her head shot up. “Black Magic Witches are doing a ritual. A wolf is with them.” Her voice sounded exhausted—premonitions always left her a little weak.
“Where are they?” Zia asked urgently, as she placed her hand on Sabi’s arm to give her boost of energy.
Seconds later, Sabi jumped to her feet, revived. “Come, I’ll show you.”
“Nexi, come with us,” Zia shouted, and ran past us. Kyden started to follow behind, but Zia quickly spun around. “No. You cannot come.”
“I will go with her,” he spat.
Zia scowled at him. “We do not have time for this. It is not safe for you there.”
I grabbed his arm, willing him to hear her. “Listen, she is right. You could be killed,” I begged him to understand. “Please stay here.”
He glowered as I pulled away from him, but he didn’t follow. I ran, following Zia. I could hear Kyden pacing the room behind me. He always had trouble allowing me to fight, especially when I went without him. It was never easy for him.
Just as I reached the door, I yelled back to him. “Don’t worry, I have Willow.”
If I was in danger, Willow would protect me. She had chosen to be my protector. She probably didn’t realize what a full time job that would be. There wasn’t much she could do about it now though. Once chosen, there was no going back.
It was doubtful that knowledge would appease Kyden, but hopefully, it would keep him from acting foolishly. He had no protection against magic. If he went up against a Black Magic Witch, he would lose.
Once we reached the portal in the Council’s Foyer, Sabi, Zia and I grasped hands and stepped through the door. A flash of light shut my eyes. When my vision came back to me, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
Four Black Witches stood, circled around a black powered pentagram. It looked like any normal pentagram I’d seen, but experiencing it in use was scary as shit. Breathing was almost impossible. The air was thick and darkness surrounded us entirely—practically sparking off the wind.
The witches chanted in some odd language as a wolf lay in the centre, howling in pain. “Er…why are they not attacking us?” I questioned aloud.
“They are entranced,” Zia answered. “Given up to the dark spell they have cast.” She glanced at Sabi. “Go quickly, get the others.”
Sabi nodded, then vanished immediately.
“We will need more than the three of us to defeat them,” Zia told me, worriedly.
“They don’t feel as strong as Astoria did.” She was the only bitchy Black Magic Witch I had the not-so-great pleasure of encountering.
“These witches are not in Magnus’ guard,” Zia answered. “They just live in his realm. They are not gifted with such a strong force.”
The witches continued to chant as the wolf continually writhed and howled in complete agony. Suddenly, the wolf began to shift forms quickly, changing back and forth from wolf to man repeatedly.
He screamed and when he shifted, my heart plummeted. “Dante,” I screamed, and rushed forward.
Zia grabbed me, her arms wrapped around my shoulders, forcing me still. “Don’t.”
“That’s Dante,” I shouted, trying to break free. “We must do something.”
“We can’t.” Zia held me tightly. “He is lost now. Look at him. Look at his eyes.”
I squinted, noticed that Dante’s eyes were now clouded over with shadows. Then, like a smack in the face, the answer laid before me. This wasn’t the wolves’ doing at all. Dante would never accept the darkness. He was the essence of good. What was he doing here? How had someone done this to him? The last I knew, he was off telling the Alphas of this situation. Now he was knee deep in it.
“This is so horrible,” I managed in a whisper.
“Very,” Zia replied.
“What have they done to him?” I asked.
“They are doing a Black Magic ritual. They have used black ash and blood to draw that pentagram there. It is summoning the darkness to steal Dante’s soul. Do you see the markings in the ground?”
I followed her gaze, and saw serpents drawn together in a weaving pattern, which sat around the edges of the pentagram. “What is that?” I croaked.
“That is an offering ruin.”
“An offering to whom?”
“Magnus,” Zia replied with a little growl.
“Why would they do that?”
She shook her head slowly. “I have no idea. This offering ritual here is how Black Magic Witches welcome a new one into their realm. They are offering Dante’s soul to Magnus—offering him to the dark realm.” She glanced back to Dante. “Never have I heard of this ritual being done with one who didn’t want it.” She looked back at me. “Ever.”
“Ever?”
“Think of how you feel about them.” She gave a nod when my face grimaced. “That is how they feel about you.” She glanced back at the witches. “They would never force someone to come into their realm, just as we wouldn’t them.”
“But it’s Dante, he’d never…” I started.
She stopped me, raising her hand. “Exactly, which makes this all the more peculiar.”
I gave my head a little shake trying to make sense out of all this. “Not only that, but why are they making the wolves kill humans?”
She shrugged, completely unknowing. “That is what we need to find out.” She nodded toward the witches. “I am afraid these witches are not going to be so willing to tell us though.”
“Yeah, I kinda figured that,” I grumbled.
So far, I hadn’t even gone on a witch assignment yet. My Guardian role was the only one that kept me busy. This was a hell of a first assignment as a witch. Going up against four Black Magic Witches wasn’t my idea of fun. “Can we get his soul back?” I asked, hopeful.
She cupped my cheek, deep sadness lay in her eyes. “It is not an easy task. Let us get through this first. Keep your mind clear of anything and everyone else but these witches.”
Just then, Sabi reappeared with seven other witches including Haven.
She came up to my side and whistled. “Jumping jellybeans, there’s some bad witches.”
Jumping jellybeans. Oh, Haven. Only she could take a dark situation and make it light. “You’ve got that right.”
“By the way,” Haven said. “We better make this quick, Kyden is about ready to tear the hall apart. I’m pretty sure he has already worn out the floor with all his pacing.” She glanced at the wolf who was still flashing between forms and her brows furrowed as she focused on him. Then, her eyes widened. “Oh no,” she gasped, and raised her hands to her face in horror. “Dante!”
Sabi came up beside us, her voice filled with regret. “I wish I could have seen this earlier. It might have given us more time to save him.”
“You saved a lot more lives by seeing it at all. We will help him. He’s going to be okay.” Was that for my benefit or hers? I wasn’t quite sure. I could only hope I was right.