Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Santiago
Everyone freezes. Even Zack is holding his breath by my side.
Patricia strolls closer and my gut clenches. She looks just the same as the last time I saw her, long blond hair trailing down her back in waves and red lips that I know don’t need any cosmetics. Her dark green eyes are glued on Rafael and Samantha.
“How can she walk with those heels in the forest?” Zack mumbles under his breath. He sounds disgusted, like it personally offends him that Patricia is not appropriately dressed for the terrain.
I have to bite the inside of my cheek to hold in the laughter. If Patricia even owns a pair of sneakers, I’m willing to swear off blood for a year.
“Rafael, explain,” she says and doesn’t pay any attention to me or Zack.
Rafe is so tense that I fear a strong gust of wind will set him off. Samantha chooses that moment to regain consciousness and her head slowly turns toward Patricia. She sniffs the air and her forehead wrinkles.
Rafael is already backing up and I take a step forward to set myself between Patricia and them. I can still feel the thing’s poison burning in my veins, but it’s fading, thanks to the alpha’s blood. It was just a quick sip for now, but it helps.
Samantha’s arm shoots out and she stops me from moving farther. She sniffs the air again and I pray that she’ll keep her mouth shut.
“Rafael.” There’s warning in Patricia’s tone. She doesn’t like to be denied. Samantha’s eyes turn icy blue. I’ve never seen her look like that. When she’s mad at us, her eyes look like blue flame.
“Patty, isn’t it?” she asks.
Both Rafael and I gasp. Patricia responds to Patricia and nothing else. Ever. She turns her full attention to Samantha, who doesn’t seem to be bothered in the slightest.
“Now, could you move downwind, Patty? You quite positively stink,” Samantha continues and I regret not knocking her unconscious again. But her eyes are clear and so is her voice. Zack inhales deeply and scents the air; a low growl escapes from him.
“The bitch smells like Alyssa. Now why would she smell like Alyssa?” he grumbles low enough for only me to hear.
My eyes turn back to Patricia and I take a deep breath too. Now that I know what I’m looking for, I get a tiny drift, not enough to be sure, but I don’t doubt Zack's nose. Patricia’s patience is at an end and she moves closer. Samantha tries to struggle free, but Rafael holds her tight.
“Get rid of her, Rafael, now,” Patricia demands. I’m certain that the moment Rafael lets go, she will attack Samantha. What I don’t count on is Samantha having the strength to break free from Rafael’s hold and lunge at Patricia.
“Samantha, no!” I shout. Zack roars and Rafael leaps forward. Too late. Samantha lands a jab at Patricia, who looks stunned. They attack each other without any hesitation.
“Bitch,” Samantha snarls when Patricia rakes her nails over her cheek.
“I’ll kill you,” Patricia shrieks.
“You can try,” Samantha pants. They are moving so fast, it’s a blur, impossible to find an opening to get in between without risking knocking out the wrong woman.
“Oh hell,” Zack curses.
“What?” I snap, not willing to tear my eyes away. If there is even the tiniest opening, I’m jumping in.
“She’s fighting like the thing. I know those moves.” He limps forward and holds up three fingers. One by one, he folds them and when he makes a fist, Samantha drops and tears into Patricia’s leg.
“I knew it,” Zack says and then curses again when Samantha cries out. Rafael and I jump at the same time and tear Samantha away from a shrieking Patricia.
It takes only a second before Samantha is vomiting blood.
She goes from ferocious to pitiful so fast, it staggers my mind.
Rafael is barely holding Patricia back and I crouch next to Samantha, holding her shuddering body.
Tires screech as someone drives up the driveway and I mutter a few chosen words.
“What are you doing here?” Rafael asks, clearly irritated, when a pretty woman hops out of the car.
Samantha gags.
“She’s under The Coven’s protection,” the witch says.
“Who is?” Zack growls, ready to pounce at her.
“Samantha.”
That shuts all of us up. Even Patricia ceases her struggles.
“Say that again,” Zack demands.
“Samantha Ramsey is under The Coven’s protection.
She will not be harmed,” the witch says and glares at Patricia.
Then she moves her attention to Rafael. “I do apologize for the breach in protocol earlier, Mr. Moretti. And this one too, although I think you can understand why I needed to rush this time.”
I’m stunned into silence. The Coven. Not a coven, not simply any named coven, The Coven. Patricia blanches and slaps Rafael’s hand away when he goes to help her to her feet.
I’m sure if it were any other coven, she would ignore the witch and try to finish Samantha off. And since she didn’t compel us to step aside or aid her, she’s not finished playing whatever game she has set up. This is just the opening move.
“Then you can take her with you,” Patricia spits out, while glaring daggers at Samantha, who’s still retching.
“Actually, that is not possible. Ms. Ramsey is also under Courtkenay protection and will remain at Rosewood estate,” a deep voice comes from the woods where Patricia emerged just a moment ago.
A man in a flannel shirt and heavy-duty boots steps forward.
He has white hair and a beard, but muscles aplenty. He nods at Zack, who bows at the waist.
“Grandfather.”
“Well, damn,” I mutter under my breath when the Wolf King takes in the scene in front of him.
“I see you’ve gotten yourself mixed up with some interesting things, Zacky-boy,” the man rumbles and his eyes sweep over the scene again.
Patricia’s face is blank and Rafael looks confused. I’m sure I’m wearing that same confused look myself.
“Sophie.” The man nods at the witch.
“Lord Courtkenay,” she replies with a respectful nod.
“Mr. Moretti.”
“Lord Courtkenay,” Rafael replies and bows.
“And you would be?”
“Santiago Wacerra, my grandfather, Lord Courtkenay.” Zacks jumps to do the introductions on my behalf.
“It’s an honor, Lord Courtkenay,” I say and nod, not able to bow with Samantha half lying in my lap.
“Wacerra you say?”
“Yes, sir,” I reply.
He hums but doesn’t say more. His eyes are shrewd, though, and I’m sure he knows more than he lets on.
Samantha is panting, her eyes glazed over and when she whimpers, I clutch her closer.
“Let’s get Ms. Ramsey back inside and comfortable,” Lord Courtkenay says and I gather her into my arms. Rafael is there in a flash to help me to my feet and Zack moves closer too.
“Mr. Moretti, may I enter your premises?” the witch, Sophie, asks.
Rafael looks her over, then glances at Samantha.
“Yes, but keep your distance from Samantha.”
“Of course,” Sophie agrees easily and gets her bag out of the car. A large bag.
“Fine, I know when I’m not wanted.” Patricia sighs dramatically and turns to go.
“I doubt that,” Rafael mutters.
“Not so fast,” Zack says and I turn my head to look at him, frowning. We need to get rid of Patricia, the sooner the better.
“She smells of Alyssa,” Zack reminds me.
As soon as Patricia hears that, she blurs toward the trees and disappears from sight.