Chapter 57 #2
By Linc’s reaction, it’s clear Jase isn’t looking to spar, but to beat him up for real this time. Linc wisely turns around to give us his back. My brother and Tyson had already turned around. The others follow suit.
“Shift,” Jase commands, and after I’m shifted, he adds, “Maybe you oughta wait at home.”
I shake my head vehemently as I put my clothes back on. “If you think I’m going to sit this out when I could be here helping, you’re very mistaken, Jason.”
He growls at me.
Everyone’s backs are still turned, but Dani looks over her shoulder at me and says, “Possessive Jase rachets the hotness factor to the top of the Scoville heat scale, girlfriend.”
Jase’s gaze snaps to her and his lip curls with what looks like disgust.
And my heart soars, because this is a vast difference from the way Jase looked at her when we all first met her.
Cat, Erica, and Ronnie are trying not to laugh out loud. Erica is epically failing, trying to disguise it as a cough.
His eyes narrow. “Get dressed, Bailey.”
“Command me back to wolf shape. I’ll listen in that form and then if I want you to command me back, I’ll… just… um… give you my paw.”
He doesn’t have to command me back. Suddenly I sneeze and shift back on my own. I stay put on the chair.
“All right guys,” he mutters.
And everyone turns back around.
I make myself comfortable on top of my dress.
Erica, Ronnie, and Cat are all still failing to hide their amusement.
Dani isn’t bothering to hide it, and her unapologetic nature makes me think she doesn’t bother to hide much of anything.
Joel and Riley are both grinning. Linc is staring at his feet and keeping his expression clear.
Mase is regarding the inside of the patio umbrella over us with avid interest.
My brother has a look on his face that practically shouts, “Let’s get on with this.”
Dr. Blakely is silently laughing, his shoulders shaking.
Tyson lets out a sound that has me thinking he’s annoyed with them on Jase’s behalf.
“They’re probably scrambling with the lack of their drone returning,” Joel speaks.
“Pretty clear by how Mickey Mouse that was that they’re coming at us without significant material resources, just witchcraft.
Lincoln and Mase found no sign of any witches or anyone seeming suss across the lake, but that might be because they’re under a cloak of some sort. ”
“Most likely,” Ronnie agrees.
Aphra and Brody are now coming out of the restaurant toward us.
“Thanks for coming,” Erica greets and gestures to an empty chair that was set up for Aphra.
“You hitting the road after this?” Riley asks his brother. “We can have someone drive Aphra to the new place.”
“Not a chance,” Brody says. “You guys are in crisis here. I’m sticking around in case you need help. Hey Bailey.”
He reaches as if to pat my head but Jase growls and Brody’s hand stops mid-air. “Sorry, Jase. Reflex.”
I shoot Jase what I hope is an annoyed look and give Brody a chirpy sort of yip and a wag of my tail. He smiles even bigger.
Linc rises. “I’ll go grab you a chair, Brode,” he offers.
“No need,” Jase replies and plucks me up off my chair and sets me on his lap.
My dress, bra, and underwear fall to the patio, so Jase cusses, snatching them up.
I’m not sure if a wolf pup can roll its’ eyes but I’ve just tried.
Aphra looks nervously at Erica as Brody sits down.
I don’t know her all that well, but I do know she’s got major issues with her coven, which led her to where she wound up stuck with Wyatt Meadows for a time.
Against her will. I also know she was looking forward to going to the new property, to being part of Brody’s pack so her half-shifter daughter can grow up with shifters.
We offered her a place here in Arcana Falls, but her daughter has friends from Brody’s pack and Aphra doesn’t want to disrupt that. She already told us Halla is as excited about their new land as the others in the pack. I also know Brody was happy to have a witch be part of his pack.
“Aphra,” Erica says, “We know Brody brought you up to speed on what’s happening here.
And we also know how much you don’t want your coven to know where you are, but I’ve already talked to Dr. Blakely about your situation and explained that you’re under a cloak so they can’t find you or Halla, but yet if you turn that cloak off, you’ll be tapped into the coven’s grid so you could detect magic and potentially deconstruct spells. ”
Aphra says, “They can’t turn my access off while I’m cloaked. But the second I’m on the grid, Anya will take action, I’m sure of it.”
“I’ll help keep you safe, lass,” Dr. Blakely says. “If you want to supply details of why you’re in hiding, we can levy sanctions against your coven, ensuring they know we’re watching if they attempt to take any action against you or your daughter.”
She shakes her head. “Thank you, but the Starling high priestess prefers to ask for forgiveness rather than permission. Her asking for forgiveness might mean harm comes to my daughter. I won’t put her at risk. She’s my only priority. I know I owe you guys, but…” She winces. “I’m terrified.”
“Can I run our idea by you?” Erica asks.
“Okay,” Aphra whispers.
Erica says, “We want to know what they’re doing.
What their end game is. And if we can figure that out, not only can we stop them, but also with Mitch here, he can ensure the Supernatural Council takes action against them as a key witness.
If you report your concerns, extra safeguards can be taken.
But bottom line, we want to ask you to lift your cloak so you can deconstruct the spell, and give us those details.
And while you’re doing that, Ronnie can lay hands on those plants and maybe glean more information. ”
Greyson says, “Just wanna say, Aphra, we know the cloak hides your location, but chances are that they suspect you’re still here.”
I sneeze.
Shit.
“True,” Aphra says softly. “The cloak also protects me and Halla from Starling magic. And I have thought about that. It keeps me up at night, but I feel safer with all of you and I have worried that Anya will cause trouble for Brody once we move. If I lift it and tap into anything related to the coven, she’ll know about it and will cut me off, so in terms of coven magic, I’ve probably only got one chance. ”
“If you use that one chance to help us, we’ll do whatever we can to help you going forward. You won’t be left hanging. You have my word,” Riley tells her.
“And mine,” Dr. Blakely says.
“And ours,” Erica adds.
“Exactly,” Grey agrees. “You’ve got lots of help, Aphra. Pack means everything and you’re part of Brody’s pack. Brody’s one of us so that makes you one of ours, too. You’ve got all of us against that witch.”
“A powerful witch without a conscience,” Aphra whispers.
I sneeze again. And again. My eyes are now burning and I don’t feel well.
Jase turns me so he can look at my face. He’s looking me over with concern. He gets up, holding me. I twist, trying to see what’s going on, because Aphra is extending her hand toward Ronnie.
“I trust you all, but first, Veronica, you can read me. I want you all to know I have nothing to do with this. Also, if anything happens to me, someone will have some of my story.”
Ronnie leans in and grasps her hand.
After staring into space for a second, understanding registers in her features.
“Let’s do this,” Ronnie says with conviction. Ronnie knows at least some of Aphra’s secrets, that much is clear.
I’m sneezing again. My eyes are burning and my face feels wet.
“Aye,” Dr. Blakely chimes in. “Once we know what’s happening here, we’re going to levy some significant sanctions of our own. I’m in touch with Lucinda and some other council members on the matter.”
Aphra looks terrified, but she nods. “I’m ready to get on with my life.”
I sneeze again and Jase is on the move.
“I’m taking her home,” he says.
Or they could move this meeting indoors!
I protest verbally, letting out a loud single bark, but I am feeling like garbage. These plants are probably growing as we speak and making me feel worse.
“Gotta take you home, Bay,” he mutters.
I growl at him.
My brother laughs. So do some of the others.
Obviously, my wolf isn’t intimidating. But I’m ticked off.
Jase carries me off, telling them he’ll be back.
While taking me home, he explains, “They need to get this all looked after fast so it doesn’t begin to affect me and everyone else. You’re a distraction right now, but more importantly, you’re feeling like this? You need out of the open air.”
I want to argue that he could’ve asked them to take the meeting indoors but of course I can’t do that. He’s right, but I still sulk while he carries me, walking me across the bridge and back to the house.
Once we’re indoors, he sets me and my clothes on the couch and says, “Shift, Bailey.”
“You could’ve asked them to move that meeting indoors,” I complain.
He rolls his eyes and leans over, getting right in my space. “Your eyes are watering, your nose is running, and I can see and feel that you’re feeling worse by the minute. Stop worrying about missing something, for fuck’s sake.”
“Grr!” I say as human and I know it doesn’t have the same effect as a wolf’s growl does. I grab my clothes and stomp up the stairs to go to the bathroom to get dressed again and blow my nose.
When I see my reflection, I’m alarmed. My eyes are bloodshot; my nose looks red and raw. But I’m already feeling a bit better.
I’m glad Aphra is going to help. I’m also happy she’s ready to move forward past this stage, which must be awful.
I can’t imagine how much she worries about her daughter.
We certainly know by what happened with my brother and all that happened with his birthmother how powerful half shifter / half witches are.
This led Soleil Young to try to get her hands on Stacy to siphon the twins’ energy.
This is at least partly why Aphra hides her half-shifter daughter Halla from her family.
Judging by what happened with Aviva Starling as well as now with Alta, the dark-magic hunger runs rampant in that coven.
***
We’re snuggled up on the couch. I’m reading an e-book on my phone.
“What are you reading?” he asks.
“I’m just re-reading an old favorite.”
He frowns. “You’re not interested in reading any of those books you got on our first date?”
“I can’t focus on a new book. I’m too stressed,” I say.
He looks at me like I’ve got two heads.
“You need to be a reader to understand. An old favorite is comfort. It’s like an old friend.”
He’s been coiled and ready for action. And also a little grouchy despite the fact I’ve told him I’m feeling better.
I have a feeling I know what would cheer him up, but I’ll test out my powers of seduction another time when someone isn’t out to get us.
His phone rings and we both straighten up. Erica’s calling.
“Erica,” Jase greets, putting her on speaker.
“How’s Bailey?” she asks.
I answer, “I’m okay. Better now that I’m inside, thanks. What’s happening?”
She replies, “Alta and her stepsons are behind the drone. Alta’s behind the spelled flowers.
She’s a green witch with significant knowledge about toxic plants and she’s known for using gray magic.
Fabio, the younger of the two, is a hacker, so we suspect the combination of her magic and his hacking skills meant she found you guys in Rome, attaching a locator spell to the council here instead of to Dani.
Their magic could mean the growth catches up with their planned schedule, not normal growth cycles so we’re on alert. ”
“Hacking what?” Jase asks.
“Joel says there haven’t been any breaches on any networks within the village; he’s got strong security protocols. But possibly through the airlines to find out you were flying to Bucharest. Aphra knows him and it’s what she thinks he probably did.”
“Okay… so how is Alta still pulling strings with the sanctions?” Jase asks.
“That’s a good question,” Erica replies. “We think she either set it all in motion before her magic was taken, she still has her magic, or she’s working with someone. We can’t tell.”
“What now?” I ask.
Riley pipes up through the phoneline. “Now, we wait.”
“What about the flowers?” Jase asks.
Erica answers. “Aphra merged a new spell with Alta’s.
Everything’s now frozen in terms of toxins, but not growth.
This might be the last intervention Aphra can perform on a Starling spell; Anya can easily figure out she’s back in the grid, so to speak.
Aphra’s work should mean the flowers won’t cause any harm, that they’ll still grow as they’re supposed to do.
If Alta sees them full-grown, she’ll think they’re weakening all the shifters here and she’ll make her move. Can you test that out, Bailey?”
I say, “I’ll go do it now.”
Jase looks annoyed. I know he doesn’t want me to experience discomfort again, but if I can help, of course I will.
I step out onto the deck, Jase right with me, holding the phone.
I pull in a big breath and let it out slowly.
I do it again. “I do smell the plants, Erica, and I think the fragrance is getting even stronger, but they’re not bothering me.”
“Good news,” she says. “Can you shift and touch one in wolf form?”
I undress and Jase commands the shift, following me outside the yard. I walk, as wolf, along the river’s edge and they feel like regular grass to my paws.
I hear Jase telling her the good news with relief swimming through my veins.