Chapter 27 For a Favor #3
For a moment, it felt like the world had shrunk down to just the four of us. Well, seven, if you counted Angelo and Emerson hovering nearby like overgrown bodyguards and Brumous on alert.
“There’s something else.” Angelo’s words were sharp with anger. “Her magic’s been siphoned. Recently.”
“We know. Can you fix it?” Koa asked with a scowl.
“The side effects?” Angelo shook his head. “No. That’s something only time can heal.”
“Do you have any recommendations about removing the silence shackle?” Cas’ voice could’ve frosted hell.
“Far as I know, only the caster can do that, but you could ask your father.” He held up both hands, palms out, when Koa’s fangs dropped. “Like him or not, he’s been around a lot longer and seen far more shit than any of us. He might have an idea.”
I groaned internally. Of course it came back to him, a man who could make a thunderstorm look cheerful and the last person I wanted to involve in this mess.
But one look at Seri, her wide gray eyes and the way she snuggled into Cas like she was afraid someone might snatch her away, and I knew I’d do it.
For her, I’d call the devil himself.
“He could stay with her while you take care of Claudio,” Emerson suggested, earning him three glares.
“I’d like to meet your father,” Seri said hesitantly, fiddling with a button on Cas’ shirt, her eyes on her fingers. “And your brother, Prince Sebastian.”
“See?” Emerson smirked. “Bodyguard and whisperbind expert, all in one.”
Cas’ face twisted with indecision, and Ko’s wasn’t much better.
Guess it’s up to me. Zane to the rescue. Again.
“Fine,” I said, forcing a grin. “I’ll give Daddy Dearest a ring later. Maybe he’ll be so busy yelling at me, he won’t notice we’re asking for a favor.”
#
During breakfast, Seri sat between Cas and me, eating quietly and listening with wide eyes as Ko and I traded stories with Emerson. Angelo, meanwhile, was on his phone, his brow furrowed.
“Finally,” he muttered at last, turning the screen to face us.
A face appeared, all sharp angles and brown eyes. Jace Beaudreau looked to be about our age, but even through the camera, the alpha of Gray Shadows radiated power. His voice was youthful, confident, and bright with curiosity.
“Hey, man. What can I do for you?”
Angelo, who was famously allergic to small talk, explained what was going on in quick, short sentences.
“What do you need from me?” Alpha Jace asked with a frown.
“Help to set a trap. Catch him off guard before he knows what’s coming.”
“And gut him when he pounces.” The alpha grinned, all teeth. “Sounds fun. So long as the Cimmerians will play nice with others.”
“They certainly charge headfirst into hell if you blink wrong—”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Koa smirked, spinning his dagger across his fingertips.
“—but yes. I vouch for them,” Angelo said begrudgingly, setting my little ol’ heart all aglow.
“All right. I need a few days to sort things out here.” Alpha Jace looked thoughtful for a moment. “Evermere isn’t too far from the ambush spot I have in mind. The pretty boy princes mind hosting a wolf?”
“We have a dire in residence.” I resisted sticking out my tongue, which should have earned me a gold star, really. “What’s one more fleabag?”
Koa snorted, and even Seri let out a small giggle, which she quickly covered with one hand. Jace stared at me like I’d just declared war on the moon, but after a moment, he nodded.
“Send me the GPS coordinates.” His lips curved into a predatory smile. “I’m looking forward to working with you.”
The screen went blank, and Emerson shook his head.
“Zane, I’m going to tell you right now, his wolf, Gold, is not to be messed with. Alpha Jace doesn’t call him T-Rex for nothing.”
“You hear that, Brummy!” I rubbed my hands together as the pup raised his head. “We’re getting a new toy!”
#
Angelo and Emerson’s gray SUV rumbled down the driveway, kicking up a small cloud of dust that caught the sunlight like glitter.
Seri stood on the porch beside me, her curls tousled by the spring breeze, one hand raised in a hesitant wave.
Brumous, the overenthusiastic little gremlin, bounded after the SUV, barking his head off like he was personally escorting them off the property.
“Brumous, come back!” Seri called.
The pup skidded to a halt, ears flopping as he turned and trotted back to her, tail wagging like a windshield wiper gone haywire.
I grinned. Since he’d been getting at least four pounds of meat a day, Brumous had more energy than a squirrel on three shots of espresso.
“Claudio’s not going to know what hit him,” I said, leaning against the porch railing and crossing my arms.
Although my tone was light, the tension in my chest was anything but. That bastard had hurt Seri, and no amount of witty banter could mask the simmering rage beneath the surface.
Still, I tried. Had to stay in practice.
Koa’s favorite dagger materialized in his hand as if summoned by sheer anger, the blade catching the sunlight in a flash of silver. He pressed a kiss to the hilt, right where Seri’s name was etched in delicate cursive, and smirked.
“Oh, he’ll know exactly who hit him. I’ll make sure of it.”
“But he’s dangerous.” Seri’s gray eyes widened, a flicker of worry crossing her face. “What if he—”
She cut herself off, biting her lip, and I could practically see the gears turning in her head. She was scared for us, even after everything she’d been through. That kind of selflessness was both endearing and infuriating.
His broad frame casting a shadow over the porch, Cas placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his voice steady and calm.
“One rogue werewolf is child’s play for us, Seri. Trust me.”
“Yeah,” I chimed in. “We’ve handled worse before breakfast. Literally. I mean, just the time Cas tried to make pancakes was more difficult to survive than Claudio will be.”
Cas scowled at me, but Seri let out a small laugh. It was a rare thing, hearing her laugh, and I’d do just about anything to keep it coming.
“I don’t want anyone else getting hurt because of me.” She hesitated, her fingers twisting in the hem of my hoodie.
“You’re not a burden, Seri.” Cas’ hand on her shoulder tightened slightly, his green eyes softening. “You’re ours. And we protect what’s ours.”
Her cheeks flushed pink, and she ducked her head, but I could see the hint of a smile tugging at her lips.
Brumous chose that moment to plop down at her feet, panting like he’d just run a marathon instead of chasing a car for thirty seconds. I reached down to ruffle his ears.
“Don’t worry, Brummy,” I murmured. “We’ll make sure Claudio regrets ever laying a finger on our girl. Right, boys?”
“Right.” Ko flipped his dagger with practiced ease, catching it midair.
“Right.” Cas nodded, his thumb caressing Seri’s neck.
She looked between us, her gaze lingering on each of us in turn. There was still a hint of uncertainty in her eyes, but also something else. Something warm and trusting that made my chest ache in the best way possible.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
“Anytime, sweetheart.” I leaned in close enough to see the faint freckles dusting her nose before I kissed her, swallowing her soft gasp of surprise.
“I’m next for a kiss,” Koa declared, but Cas looped an arm around her waist and pulled her away before I was even finished savoring her soft lips.
Then he took off, the bastard, our beloved tucked under one arm like a football. We chased after him, Brumous trotting with us, as Seri’s laughter rang through Evermere, and I felt a surge of determination.
Claudio Kane wouldn’t stand a chance.
Not against us.
And definitely not when we were fighting for her.