Chapter 26 #2
“Stay away from her,” Axel snarled. “Protection ward or not, I will hunt you down and rip you apart.”
“Big words from someone who’s barely even sane.” Ambrose’s words were calculated, cruel.
Axel lunged forward—
And stopped abruptly as I grabbed his arm. “Don’t,” I whispered. “That’s what he wants. To get under your skin.”
His muscles were rigid beneath my touch, his whole body vibrating with barely leashed violence. But he didn’t pull away from me.
“Smart girl,” Ambrose said. “Keep your rabid pet on his leash.”
“Leave.” My voice was steady despite the fear coursing through me. “Now, or I’m calling the sheriff. Again. They’re already building a case against you after what happened in my office. Every time you show up, every threat you make, it just adds to the evidence.”
Something flickered in Ambrose’s expression—too brief to read.
“This isn’t over, Rebecca.” He turned back toward his car. He paused at the driver’s door, looking back. “Oh, and give my regards to your friend Iris. Such a sweet girl. We had a lovely chat the other day.”
My blood turned to ice. “If you touch her,” I threatened. “There will be hell to pay.”
He huffed a laugh.
Then he was sliding into his car, engine roaring to life. The sedan reversed down the drive, disappearing back into the trees.
The moment he was out of sight, my knees nearly buckled. Axel caught me, pulling me against his chest.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured. “I’ve got you, sweetheart.”
But all I could think about was what Ambrose had said.
Give my regards to your friend Iris.
“We need to call the sheriff,” Axel said, his voice still rough. “Report this. Add it to the case.”
“He didn’t do anything.” The words felt hollow. “He stayed on the other side of the ward. Didn’t threaten me directly.”
“He threatened you plenty.” Axel pulled back to look at me, his eyes still more wolf than human. “All that shite about waiting for you, about what happens next—”
“It’s my word against his.” I pressed my hands to my face. “And he knows it.”
Axel growled, low and frustrated. “Then we don’t let you out of my sight. Not for a fucking second.”
“I have to work, Axel. I have a life. I can’t—“ I stopped, the weight of it all crashing down. “He knows about the cave. About what I’m searching for. How does he know?”
“Can’t answer that. Could be a lot of things.” His hand found the back of my neck, grounding. “But we’ll figure it out.”
“And Iris.” My voice cracked. “What if he’s trying to use her to get to me? What if she’s in danger?!”
My pulse turned to a dull roar in my ears. I couldn’t let someone get hurt because of me.
“We’ll warn her. Make sure she’s safe. Come on.” Axel guided me back toward the cabin. “Let’s get you inside. We’ll call the sheriff, document this, then figure out our next move.”
I allowed him to lead me up the porch steps, my legs moving on autopilot. The autumn afternoon that had seemed so peaceful an hour ago now felt sinister.
Inside, the cabin’s warmth did nothing to chase away the chill that had settled into my bones. Basil and Sage hopped over, sensing my distress, but even their soft presence couldn’t calm me.
Axel was already on the phone with Deputy Holt, his voice clipped and angry as he recounted what had happened. I sank onto the couch and pulled out my phone, staring at Iris’s contact. Ambrose’s words kept echoing in my head.
Before I could second-guess myself, I typed out a message.
Me
Hey, are you okay?
Iris
Becca! Actually, I was just getting ready to text you! I feel SO guilty about how I acted at the Fall Fling last night. I’m sorry I was being so weird and distant.
Last night. Right. The festival felt like a lifetime ago now, but it had only been yesterday. She thought I was asking about her behavior last night. Not if she was okay in general.
Me
You don’t need to feel guilty! I should have told you I was bringing Axel. I’m sorry for springing that on you.
Iris
No no, you have nothing to apologize for! I was just excited about us meeting up together and then when you showed up with him I got all in my feelings about it. So stupid. I’m really sorry.
Me
It’s really okay, I promise.
Me
Actually, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about.
I had no idea how to broach this subject.
Hi, Iris. My psycho ex might have threatened you. So I just want to make sure you’re being safe.
Hi, Iris. Remember that ex I mentioned? Yeah, he’s kind of a psycho. I’m worried he might try to hurt you. Be safe!
Hi, Iris. There’s this guy named Ambrose… He’s kind of a psycho. I’m worried he might try to hurt you.
Iris
How about we meet up? I’d love to talk in person. Maybe Wednesday after The Roost closes? 6PM?
I blew out a breath. That would make things a lot easier. The roost closed at six on weeknights so I could definitely make that work, since Wednesdays were my long days and I finished up around five.
“What is it?” Axel had finished his call with Deputy Holt and was watching me with concern.
“I texted Iris to make sure she’s okay. I told her I wanted to talk. She suggested meeting Wednesday night after closing.”
His expression darkened. “Don’t like the idea of you being out late with Blackthorn’s threats.”
“I’d rather talk to her in person. She needs to know about Ambrose.”
Axel sighed. “Fine. I’ll pick you up from The Roost at seven.”
Me
Wednesday sounds perfect. I could really use some girl time.
Iris
Perfect! Can’t wait.
I set my phone down and wrapped my arms around myself.
“Come here, lass.” Axel’s voice was softer now. He held out his hand.
I stood and went to him, letting him pull me against his chest. His arms came around me, solid and warm and safe. I could hear his heartbeat beneath my ear, steady despite everything that had just happened.
“We’ll get through this,” he murmured into my hair. “As soon as you break your curse, he won’t have any leverage.”
I wanted to believe him. Wanted to feel as confident as he sounded. But my body wouldn’t relax.
Later, I sat at the kitchen island watching Axel cook, my hands wrapped around a mug of chamomile tea.
The sun had set, casting the cabin in shadow despite the warm glow of all the seasonal lights.
Axel had insisted on making comfort food—his words, not mine—which apparently meant homemade mac and cheese with bacon and roasted vegetables.
The smell should have made my mouth water. Instead, my stomach was still twisted in knots.
“You need to eat, sweetheart.” Axel didn’t look up from where he was grating cheese. “Can’t have you wasting away on me.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Don’t care. You’re eating anyway.”
I took a sip of tea, letting it work its magic. Or trying to. My mind kept replaying the confrontation. Ambrose’s face. His threats. The way he’d known about the cave.
“How did he find out?” I asked for the third time. “About what we’re doing?”
Axel’s jaw tightened. “Could’ve followed us.”
“But you would have smelled him.”
“He’s a witch, yes? Isn’t there a spell or somesuch for disguising scents?”
I slouched. “He could have easily used magic to mask his scent, yeah. But I just don’t understand how he put two and two together.
He would have to know about the knife. Know that it’s in there, that I need it to break the curse.
Otherwise, for all he knows, we just enjoy hiking and… spelunking or whatever.”
“Perhaps someone has been feeding him information.”
Denial was on the tip of my tongue.
Then I thought about it. How many people knew what I was up to?
“Elle wouldn’t,” I said. “She’s been helping me search for the knife since before I even came here.”
“Not saying it’s her.” Axel returned to grating cheese.
I ran through the list of everyone in my head.
Elle. Axel. My siblings. But they didn’t know much.
Vera knew I was looking for a way to break the curse, but not the specifics.
Just that there was an artifact. Robbie thought I was just here for work, though…
if Vera had told him. And if he told my mom and dad.
“Oh God.” The realization hit. “Robbie could have opened his big mouth again. Which would mean my parents could have easily said something to Ambrose.”
I set down my mug before I dropped it. “I should call Mom. Vera’s right. I should have told her when Ambrose hurt me. If she knew what he was really like—”
“Would she listen?”
I opened my mouth. Closed it. Because the truth was, I didn’t know.
My mother had been so focused on breaking the curse, on restoring the family’s magic, that she’d encouraged me to stay with Ambrose from the start.
Even after I’d broken things off, even after I moved across the country, she’d still given him my number.