CHAPTER 11
Rhys
The anxiety of not knowing anything gnaws at my insides, making it impossible to focus on anything other than the worry consuming me. Tension builds within me, causing fur to spread across my arms for what feels like the hundredth time since Caylix and Kathan left earlier to search for Rue.
Each minute that ticks by feels like an eternity without any news or updates.
I pace back and forth in the living room, my senses heightened to the point where I can hear the faintest rustle of leaves from whatever little critter is scurrying through the trees outside. The cabin is silent, except for the scuff of my shoes against the floor. After so many days of this place being lit up by Rue, it feels wrong, and only amplifies my unease.
Rue should be here, damn it. She should be safe in our arms, but we failed her.
A dark voice in the back of my mind whispers it’s possible she could’ve fled after being discovered by Kathan, but I dismiss it immediately. Rue isn’t a spy. She isn’t some fucking plant placed with us by the Witches’ Council. Not unless they’re the most sadistic bastards I’ve ever met, letting one of their own get attacked by a feral and almost die. It doesn’t fit. It would be absurd. And I refuse to believe it until I have concrete proof otherwise.
My ears perk up at the distant sound of tires crunching on gravel, alerting me to Arya’s arrival. As she pulls into the driveway, I can smell her concern before she even steps foot inside. The chorus of doors slamming reaches me seconds before she and her mates bound through the door, their expressions etched with worry.
Arya’s gaze darts around the cabin, her nostrils flaring as she scents the room, no doubt noticing the absence of Caylix and Kathan. “What the hell is going on, Rhys? Where is my brother?” I pause mid-pace, my eyes locking with Arya’s hazel ones. Whatever she sees there has her cursing under her breath. “Tell me what’s happened.”
“It’s Rue. She’s missing,” I somehow manage to snarl.
Arya sucks a sharp breath through her teeth, making a hissing sound. Fierce determination crosses her face as she straightens her spine, reaching for the stake at her side. “Who do I need to kill?” she demands.
It almost brings a smile to my face. Almost. Arya is fierce as hell when she wants to be. She’s exactly like her twin when it comes to protecting those she cares about. And she took to Rue instantly, forming a bond with our little witch. Like she knew that’s exactly what Rue needed. Arya is one of the most perceptive people I’ve ever met, though she rarely shows the depth of it to anyone.
“We don’t know yet.” My voice is a strained rumble, the weight of the admission threatening to cut my legs out from under me.
Arya strides toward me, holding her hand out placatingly, a concerned frown on her lips. “Calm down, Rhys. We’ll find her,” she says confidently, not an ounce of give in her voice.
That’s when I realize I’m snarling and my hands are partially shifted into claws. Fuck. I haven’t lost control like this since I was a pup learning how to harness my wolf form. But, Moon Goddess, she’s right. We have to find her. I won’t be able to live with myself if we don’t.
Satisfied I won’t wolf out in the middle of the living room, Arya turns to her mates who have been watching, lending their support silently. “Ian, would you mind pulling the reports of feral activity in the area? They’re the most likely suspects.”
I clear my throat. “Also, see if you can get any intel on the location of Lance Lacroix. Discreetly,” I add, and Arya raises an eyebrow. “The cauldron licker was the last person seen with Rue before she vanished. We believe he might’ve caused a scene to get us away from her. Even went as far as to use his magic to make Kathan... angrier than usual.”
Ian nods and pulls his phone out of his pocket. “On it,” he replies before stepping outside. That man is almost as efficient as Caylix. He’s well on his way to making it to senior enforcer. I’m glad they joined the pack for Arya instead of the other way around. And I’m glad they finally were able to work out their differences.
“I’ll go with him and work on leads for Lance’s whereabouts,” Mauve adds. “Seems like the sort of thing that needs a woman’s touch.”
When they’re gone Calisto whistles under his breath. “Damn. Lance is involved, huh?”
Arya eyes me curiously. “Which means the Witches Council is likely involved as well. Tell me everything.”
As I explain the events that transpired, the more I feel my chest constrict. Like there’s a weight sitting on me, restricting my ability to breathe, and I know I won’t be able to pull in a full breath until she’s safe in my arms again. Maybe not even then. Because in this world, there’s always some new danger lurking on the horizon.
“So, you’re telling me Lance Lacroix appeared out of nowhere, said some bullshit, and Kathan automatically took his words at face value without an explanation?” Arya rolls her eyes. “Even if Lance used magic, that makes him a bastard.”
I sigh. “Sadly, you and I both know that wizard is a sore spot for him after what happened with his sister. I don’t blame him for being hurt. I blame him for taking off like a fucking coward. And I blame us for following him blindly.”
She reaches a hand out and squeezes my shoulder. “You couldn’t have known this would happen.”
I shake my head, backing away. “No, don’t do that. There’s no excuse for it. One of us should’ve stayed with her. We never should’ve trusted that fucking vampire enforcer to keep her safe, but... everything happened so fucking fast.” I drag a hand down my face. “We didn’t think. Our pack brother was in distress. He cut off the mental link between us, and we ran after him like our tails were on fire. Fuck!”
Arya stops me before I can ram my fist into the wall. If I wasn’t so angry, I’d probably appreciate her not letting me shatter my hand, but all I can think about is Rue being out there in danger somewhere, or worse, dead. And it would be all our faults.
She can’t be dead, right? I’d know. I have to trust that she’s still alive, that we’ll find her and she’ll be okay.
“You absolutely fucked up. But self destruction won’t help find Rue,” she scolds.
I blow out a breath, forcing myself to focus on her words rather than the despair threatening to consume me. “I feel so fucking useless here. I should be out there pulling out Lance’s nails one by one until he reveals what he knows.”
“I respect that,” she responds, no judgment in her voice. “But you and I both know that would start a war with the witches. That’s the last thing we need with the feral problem escalating every day—“
The trail goes cold in town. I startle as Caylix’s voice booms through my mind. I only managed to catch the faintest whiff, but it just fucking stops at the edge of the curb, he growls, his frustration evident. The enforcer’s scent was mingled with Rue’s. And she was afraid, so whatever happened, she didn’t go willingly.
My stomach plummets to my toes. I’ll fucking murder him when I get my hands on him.
Not if I get to him first. Has Arya made it yet?
Yes, she’s here with her mates, I reply. Ian is pulling the feral activity report now in case that former feral fucker managed to get to her. Mauve is digging for information on where Lance is.
Good, he responds. We’re almost back. We’ll regroup at the cabin. He cuts off the mental link, effectively ending the conversation.
I meet Arya’s gaze and relay Caylix’s message. Her eyes narrow in fury. “That enforcers’ days are numbered.”
“You’ll have to get in line.”
Ian comes back through the door, a troubled frown creasing his brow. “I had an enforcer on duty send me pictures of the recent activity.” He zooms in on the report on his phone before handing it to me. “It looks like there’s been a spike in Slade’s territory within the last few hours. And they’re moving in a group again, bigger than the last one.”
Arya and I share a look. “That can’t be a coincidence, can it?”
“I fucking doubt it. Either they’re planning an attack on Slade or... they have Rue and they’ve taken her there.”
She nods. “And we need to figure out which.”