12
1288 Words
“So you're not a hybrid anymore, then?” I asked, and smiled softly as I watched her frown, annoyed by the reminder.
“How funny. Don't bother me, Logan. I'm a full-fledged witch now. I can take you down with just a snap of my finger,” Elena replied, a hint of annoyance in her tone.
“You're not going to do that,” I said with a tense smile. “You're in my mother's coven. She'd take you to her grave before you could snap your fingers.”
Elena smiled back at me. We both knew it was true. Especially now that I knew my mother was one of the Firstborn, someone extremely powerful, I didn't believe she would allow anyone to harm me or Lincoln, even from the grave.
I remembered the stories she told us about a witch who rose from the dead to protect her family.
“Let's get this over with, Logan. Give me the blood of a renegade and some things that have a direct link to the Raven Clan,” Elena said, bringing me back to reality with a jolt.
I remembered the real reason I had brought her to the basement.
"I still need to get those things. How about we do the Locator Spell another time?" I replied, frowning.
I still had to get something from the Raven Clan.
Besides, I noticed that Elena looked exhausted, as if she could barely stand. I was afraid that something unexpected would happen to her if I forced her to cast such a complex spell in her current state.
“Are you worried about her now?” Kol, my inner wolf, asked me through our mental link, his tone mocking.
“Of course I'm worried about Elena, she's Maddox's mate,” I replied.
I could sense his smile. He might act like a heartless being, but he wasn't. Although, for heaven's sake, I wasn't going to let Elena, or anyone else, know that I was concerned.
“What will happen now? Are you going to take me back to the dungeon?” Elena asked me suddenly. I saw the fear in her eyes.
“Do you want to go back to the dungeon?” I asked her, instead of answering directly.
Her eyebrows shot up, horrified by the suggestion. “I'm not going back there. They only give those renegades one meal a day, and their cages are so small I can barely sleep. It's too uncomfortable,” she complained.
I couldn't help but laugh weakly. “What did you expect? A five-star hotel with room service? It's a prison for renegades.”
Elena grimaced. “You're torturing all those renegades, giving them proper food and a comfortable bed is the least you can do.”
I laughed with a touch of sarcasm. I didn't understand her logic. We captured the renegades, locked them in tiny cages, and gave them one meal a day. They were my prisoners, not VIP guests.
“How about I offer not to take you back to the dungeon in exchange for you casting the spell on me now? I'm open to negotiation, you know?” I smiled as I watched Elena's face fall at my proposal.
“No, thank you,” she replied with noticeable restraint.
I shrugged. “I'm going back to the attic. Maddox will take care of you from now on.”
Elena nodded. “Can I stay here for a moment? I just want to try some simple magic.”
I raised my eyebrows and looked at her suspiciously. I accepted that she was a witch and that I had no immediate reason to suspect her crossing into our land, since she was my Beta's mate. But trust did not come immediately.
“Well, I can do magic another day,” Elena repeated when she noticed my hesitation.
“No. It's fine. You can stay here for a moment, but I'm only doing this because you're Maddox's mate. Don't do anything you'll regret in the long run, Elena.”
I watched her swallow again and again. She was nervous.
“I won't,” was all she said.
“Do you know the way? Or do you want me to tell Maddox to bring you here?” I asked.
“Okay, can you tell Maddox to meet me at the front door?”
I nodded. I said goodbye to her and climbed the stairs back to the storeroom. I mentally watched her until I reached the door.
As I walked across the first floor of the Pack House, I raised an eyebrow when I saw Maddox walking toward me. The expression on his face was dark, ready for combat. His fists were clenched.
“Maddox...” I began, but Maddox cut me off.
“Where the hell did you take Elena?! She's not in the dungeon!” Maddox asked in an angry tone. “What the hell did you do to my mate, Logan?!”
Maddox yelled at me again and pushed me hard on the shoulder, making me curse internally.
“I didn't do anything, Maddox. Calm the hell down.”
I yelled back, but he just laughed. He was about to hit me when I intercepted his fist, grabbing it firmly.
“How the hell am I supposed to believe you?! You said you'd take my partner back to the dungeon, but she wasn't there!”
Maddox yelled again. I let out a deep sigh, struggling to remain calm. I was holding myself back from punching him in the face.
“She's fine, Elena's fine,” I said firmly, but he was already blinded by his rage.
He pushed me again, this time with all his strength, and my back slammed into the cold wall. I couldn't take it anymore. I was so f*****g upset and angry at his irrational behavior.
“She's dead! Elena is dead! I tortured and killed her! Is that what you want to hear from me?” I yelled, losing control. I pushed him so hard that he staggered backward.
“You... what?” Maddox asked, looking at me with an expression of disbelief.
I could see all his strength drain from him; he looked like he was about to burst into tears. s**t! He actually believes me? He's an i***t.
I was about to explain what had really happened to Elena when Lincoln appeared out of nowhere.
“What the hell is going on here?” Lincoln asked, frowning, looking alternately at Maddox and me.
“Logan killed my mate!” Maddox accused me.
I cursed in my mind. Lincoln raised his eyebrows, confused by the accusation.
“What do you mean? You already found your mate? When? How?” Lincoln bombarded Maddox with questions.
“Yes! And Logan killed her because she's a renegade!”
Maddox replied, causing Lincoln to look at me in astonishment.
“You killed his mate?” Lincoln asked me, his voice tinged with disbelief.
I felt a twinge of pain in my chest as I saw the disappointment on his face. He didn't seem to be asking, but accusing.
“I didn't,” I began to explain, but Maddox interrupted me again.
"You killed my mate! Where the hell is she?! I never thought you could do this to me, Logan. I know you hate renegades, but... Are you jealous because I found my mate while you're still waiting for yours? You're so bitter you don't want me to be happy with my mate!" Maddox yelled at me, and my jaw clenched in rage.
I lost all control and punched Maddox in the face on impulso.
“f**k you, Logan!” Maddox yelled furiously, about to attack me.
- Writer
