24
1185 Words
Her scent was still strong, so she’d only left minutes ago.
Following her scent, I headed into the kitchen. The back door was ajar.
Smart girl.
Outside, I followed her trail into the woods. The nocturnal animals were crawling around, and an owl hooted in the distance. The cool nip in the air reminded me that fall was in full force.
The trees were thick, but I was gaining on her. I could hear her panicked breathing, so she was only a mile or so ahead.
Suddenly, her loud cry pierced the air.
Fear choked me as I raced toward her. “Endora!” I yelled, not worried about being heard.
When she came into view, she was placing her hands in the air, reminding me of a mime. She pounded against an invisible barrier, and a loud knocking sound returned. “Let me out!” she shouted.
“It’s the perimeter spell.” Thank God they’d put one up.
She spun around, her chest heaving. “I just want to go home.”
“Why?” Her desperation to leave made no sense.
“Because Father needs me.” She stepped back until she was against the barrier. “You don’t understand. I’m not done serving him.”
“Serving him? What does that mean?” Oh, please, God. Tell me he wasn’t a complete sicko.
“If I don’t receive his blessing, I can never die.” She pulled at her hair like a damn crazy person. It hurt to watch. “I shouldn’t be allowed to live.”
“Why would you say that?” How the hell were we supposed to end the secret society when we had a nut job as part of our party?
“I’m part-witch.” She wrinkled her nose and banged the back of her head against the barrier. “Not worthy of air.”
I wanted to let her know I was part-witch too, but it didn’t feel like the smart move. “You have every right to live.” I took a few steps in her direction.
When her eyes opened wider, filling with even more fear, I stopped, not wanting to push her.
“No, I don’t.” She turned and ran toward the road that led into the neighborhood. “I have to leave.”
I ran after her, but not so close that I’d appear too threatening. “Endora, please calm down.”
“The longer I’m away from him, the angrier he’ll be.” She turned right and ran into the barrier. She clutched her arm to her side and took off again. “There has to be a break somewhere.”
“It surrounds the entire coven.” I needed her to see reason. She was so determined to get out that she wasn’t acting rationally. “There is no way out unless they allow it.”
“Then, I’ll make them.” She raced back toward our house. “That’s the only way.”
Well, I hadn’t thought that one all the way through. Dammit, I would have to bother Aidan. I need help.
Huh? He sounded sleepy. After a few seconds, his voice was clear. Emma, where are you?’
I’m out here chasing Endora.
Alone? he growled.
He already knew the answer, so I wouldn’t humor him. We went out the back door, and the perimeter spell kept her from escaping. She’s heading back to make a witch let her out.
I’ll wake the others.
No, let’s handle it ourselves. If we keep teaming up on her, she won’t trust any of us. There had to be a way to get through to her.
Fine. Displeasure rolled through our bond. Should I go out the back?
Yeah, and run to the front. The houses were in view. We should be there in a few minutes.
Our link went silent, and now that we were close to the house, I increased my pace to catch up with her.
She glanced over her shoulder and almost stumbled. “Please, just leave me alone.”
“You know we can’t do that.” I didn’t want to lie to her like Barry had her entire life. “We’re here to help you.”
Aidan appeared in front of her, and she slowed to a stop.
“If you think you can force a witch to let you out with a pack of wolves and a coven there to protect them, you need to reconsider.” I could try manipulating her like Barry had, but that would only make the situation worse.
“Why do you want me?” Tears streamed down her cheeks, leaving a trail of moisture behind. “I’m nobody.”
“That’s not true.” The very thing she hated was what made her strong. “You’re worth more than you know.”
“He warned me about witches.” Her eyes turned a grayish blue as her wolf surged forward. “He said that one day, a coven would try to take me, and there would only be one thing left for me to do.”
Something’s not right. Aidan approached her.
She was glaring at me and didn’t even notice.
“If you could just listen …” I wanted to shake some sense into her.
“No!” she screamed and raced toward me, hatred clear on her face. She lurched right at me, aiming to kill.
The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her, but if I didn’t, she might kill me.
M
y wolf instincts surged forward, and I dodged her attempt to grab my neck. The b***h meant to either choke me or break it.
“Endora, come on.” Keeping in mind the fact that we had kidnapped her, I understood she wasn’t being irrational, at least, not with this.
“Let me go!” she screamed, her face turning tomato red.
“I would if we could.” That wouldn’t go over well.
I’m about to end this. Aidan was as still as a statue. I understand you want to get through to her, but it won’t work.
She charged me again, and brown fur sprouted across her arm. Her wolf was almost in complete control.
“Please, Endora.” I hated to admit it, but Aidan was right. She was scared out of her mind.
She countered my right pivot and rammed her fist right into the stomach. “I should’ve never told you my name.”
I fell to the ground hard with her on top of me. She pulled her arm back, ready to punch me, when Aidan grabbed her hand.
Her body jerked at the sudden loss of momentum.
He yanked her off me and put her in a chokehold.
She bucked and screamed, but she couldn’t break his hold.
Lights turned on in Beatrice’s and Rowan’s houses as the wolves woke up from the noise.
The front doors opened, and the shifters all rushed outside.
“What the hell is going on?” Breathing raggedly, Honor took in the scene before her.
- Writer
