Chapter 13
Myles rounded the corner of a building a half-mile from his place and spotted a shape move away from the shadows. The dark-headed wolf he’d seen earlier walked toward him.
Griffin looked to his men and gave a nod. “I wondered if you would accept our help.”
“I told you we would,” Kane said.
Griffin stared at Myles with his green eyes. “I followed Delphine. They’ve taken your woman to a cemetery.”
“Which one?” Myles demanded.
“St. Louis number one.”
Solomon snorted. “Of course. It’s where the Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau is buried.”
“She’s going to channel Marie,” Kane murmured with a curse.
Myles didn’t take his gaze from Griffin. “Delphine and her people likely heard your call. They’ll be on the lookout for any wolf.”
“Not if some of my men lead them away.” Griffin pointed to a black-haired werewolf. “Jaxon and a small group will cause a distraction for us.”
“And me,” replied the tow-headed teenager. Myles figured he was only about sixteen since he hadn’t filled out yet as weres did in their late teens.
“Colt,” Griffin said with a warning look. “I need you to return to the pack and get as many wolves as will come.” Griffin’s gaze swung to Myles. “I’m guessing the LaRues want to make an impact.”
Solomon moved forward so that he stood beside Myles. “Without a doubt.”
“This is going to cause a shit storm for sure,” Court said.
Kane shrugged. “Everyone can kiss my sweet ass for all I care.”
Myles turned his head to look at Kane. He’d missed his carefree and slightly reckless brother that had been more concerned with women and drink than their family legacy.
What Delphine had done to him with her curse had changed Kane.
He was still reckless, but there was a carelessness about him now, one that said it didn’t matter to him if he lived or died.
One that screamed for retribution and vengeance.
Myles was glad he wasn’t on the receiving end of Kane’s fury because Kane was a man with a mission, and nothing and no one would be able to stop him.
Why hadn’t they realized it before? They should’ve recognized the lethal gleam in his eyes. Perhaps Kane had just gotten good at hiding it.
“The distraction needs to be big enough to cause Delphine to worry,” Myles warned.
Griffin smiled menacingly. “I think setting her temple on fire might do it.”
“Uh, yeah, that’d do it,” Court said with a grin.
Myles wished now that he had gone out to the Moonstone camp and seen the weres. “How many do you think you can get?”
“All of them,” Colt stated with conviction.
Griffin nodded in agreement. “They’ve been waiting for just such an event.”
“What are you thinking?” Solomon asked Myles.
Myles looked at his brothers and grinned. “I’m thinking one of Dad’s strategies. Surround and conquer.”
“Simple, but efficient.” Solomon gave a nod of approval. “It’s worked before.”
Myles looked back at Griffin. “Timing is everything. Delphine expects me and my brothers. I want your pack to hold back and wait for our signal.”
“What will the signal be?” Griffin asked.
Kane slapped him on the back. “Trust me, you’ll know.”
With a look, Griffin sent Colt and Jaxon off on their missions. The third wolf remained, rubbing his bald head and moving to stand just behind Griffin.
“Give my wolves some time to get into place,” Griffin said.
Myles looked at the sky and the growing darkness. “That might not be an option.”
“Delphine won’t start the spell until midnight.”
Court crossed his arms over his chest. “And just how do you know that?”
“I know a lot about Delphine.” Griffin looked over his shoulder at the other were. “We know a lot.” He turned back to the LaRues. “This is my brother, Gage. Delphine didn’t just turn our parents into mindless wolves that we had to kill. She has our sister.”
Myles drew in a deep breath. “No wonder you were so eager to help us with Delphine.”
“Our parents made a mistake in running away the night Delphine went on her killing spree. Worse, they shouldn’t have left the four of you behind.”
Solomon was stony-faced as he said, “We turned out all right.”
Myles couldn’t stand around talking anymore. He had to see Addison for himself, to know she hadn’t been harmed yet. “I’m going to the cemetery.”
“Not now,” Kane said with a hand upon his arm.
Myles looked from his hand to Kane’s blue eyes. “Try and stop me.”
“He’s right,” Griffin stated. “If you arrive now, it could ruin your plan.”
Solomon turned on his heel. “I think there’s another faction we need to talk to before we confront Delphine.”
Myles hesitated while Court, Griffin, and Gage followed Solomon. After a moment, Kane released him and also followed. Myles blew out a frustrated breath and fell into step with the rest.
Addison woke to the pounding of her head. She tried to grab her temples, but her arms were jerked to a stop at her sides. A look down confirmed that she was tied with thick, course rope that already cut into her skin, rubbing it raw.
She laid her head back and looked up at the clear sky after glancing from one direction to the other at the huge stone monuments. The cemetery. Great. She wondered what she was laying on, then thought it was better if she didn’t know.
Addison tried to yank harder against the ropes, but it only made her wrists bleed.
“Don’t bother. You won’t get anywhere,” said a recognizable voice.
She looked around but didn’t see Minka. “Where are you?”
“Behind you. For now.”
That sounded ominous. “How are you here?”
“Funny thing, that,” she said sarcastically. “I heard rumors about Delphine’s plan, and even shared those with Myles. I didn’t know I was the one she would take as her witch.”
Fear snaked through Addison, turning her blood to ice. “Surely you can get us out of here, right? You have magic.”
“I have visions.”
“Obviously, you have more than that,” Addison argued. “Why else would you be taken?”
“How very astute of you, Addison,” Delphine said, her voice seeming to come from all around.
Addison turned her head to the left and saw Delphine’s white dress seconds before her face came into view.
Delphine smiled and came to stand beside her. “It won’t be long now, girls. Soon you’ll be free of this world. You’ll be doing something for the good of the Quarter.”
Minka snorted loudly. “Just shut up with your crap. You’re a murderer any way you look at it.”
“That’s right, Minka,” Delphine said sharply. “Because every leader must sacrifice individuals for the good of the cause.”
“Do people actually believe that drivel?”
Addison tried to turn her head when Delphine walked behind her, but she could only catch a glimpse of white.
“I can make your death easy, or I can make it difficult,” Delphine said in a hard voice to Minka. “You choose, witch.”
“I’m not a witch!” Minka shouted. “I’d have to be able to do magic to be a witch.”
Delphine chuckled, the sound getting louder as it went on. “Oh, how your family has lied to you. Do you think you were chosen on a whim? You have untapped potential they’ve been keeping from you.”
“Don’t believe her,” Addison said to Minka.
Delphine’s laugh was as hollow as her soul. “She’d better listen to me. There are many witches to choose from, but it was you I wanted. Imagine my surprise as I plotted to kidnap you, and one of your elders came to me instead.”
If Addison was shocked, she could only imagine what Minka was feeling.
“It seems,” Delphine continued, “that she was afraid of you taking over. She offered you in exchange for me leaving your coven alone for the next twenty years.”
There was a squeak of rope before Minka said, “Liar.”
But there was no heat in her words, as if she knew what Delphine said was true. Addison knew that feeling of betrayal, of having family turn their backs.
“And you, Addison.” Delphine tsked and returned to stand beside her. “I didn’t think a phone call pretending to be Myles would work with you. How easily you were captured. Did Myles tell you his entire building was warded against me?”
Addison felt sick to her stomach. She should’ve known not to go outside. Myles would never have sent her down for food. What an idiot she was. And now, she was smack in the middle of something she didn’t want to be a part of.
“To think of the lengths he went to in order to keep me from you.” Delphine shook her head, her long black hair falling around her. “Tonight’s ceremony is going to be one remembered for ages.”
Addison glared up at the priestess. “Myles will come for me. He’ll find me.”
“Are you sure? A werewolf can’t be trusted. I know because it was one of my ancestors who cursed the LaRues into being werewolves hundreds of years ago.”
“He’ll come.” At least Addison hoped he would. They had shared their bodies only once. That didn’t constitute a commitment, and yet she felt sure Myles would at least look for her.
Delphine turned and walked away, her laughter fading with her.
“Don’t listen to a word that bitch says,” Minka said.
Addison pulled on the ropes again. “Like you didn’t listen to her.”
“Because I know what she said is the truth.”
Addison stilled, her eyes widening. “You know who betrayed you?”
“There are five elders of our coven. That narrows things down significantly. I didn’t want to be a witch,” Minka said softly. “I was unable to do even the simplest of spells, but I had visions.”
Addison was quiet for a minute. “You spoke to Myles?”
“I knew he wouldn’t tell you,” Minka said with a loud sigh. “Men can be so...stupid sometimes.”
She took exception to that. Myles wasn’t stupid. “He told me about Delphine’s plan. He just didn’t tell me how he heard of it. When did he talk to you?”
“This morning. Just in case you don’t know it, that man has it bad for you.”
That brought a smile to Addison’s face. “The feeling is mutual.”
“Yeah, I figured. Do you know who he really is?”
“He’s a werewolf.”
“Well, aren’t you the smart one of the bunch.”
Addison heard the smile in Minka’s voice. “He’ll come for me.”
“Everything you’ve heard about wolves is true, Addison. Nothing will stop him from getting to you. Nothing.”
“Delphine will kill him.”
“Remember what I told you about the hunters? The ones who guard the city? The LaRues are those hunters. If there is anyone who can find a way, it’s them.”
Addison tried to swallow, but her mouth was bone dry. “I hope you’re right.”
“I am,” Minka whispered. “I have to be.”