CHAPTER 48
He’d saved them again. Pierce’s power was unmistakable, and as Caster took stock of first Mark’s body and then his own for any injuries, he was grateful to the demon.
He sensed the tension in Mark’s body long before he unleashed his anger in a growl so loud, it was bound to alert the whole house to their failure.
Mark snatched his hand away from Caster, unbothered by his nudity as he paced. “She got away!”
His anger was understandable. Their plan had gone off without a hitch, but it was clear they hadn’t counted on Ethel’s desire to keep her power.
She’d fought with the force of a thousand armies even as it was clear Pierce had all but stripped her of access to the dark power she’d used to terrorize them.
“I told you she was stronger than you think. I…”
Riley’s invisible bonds tightened around Zeke, cutting off his words. They were true, but unnecessary.
“Yes.” They all jumped at Pierce’s many voices.
It was unsettling the way he seemed to appear out of thin air.
“She got away. That was my mistake.” By the last word, by the time his particular brand of darkness was done delivering his full form into the room, his camouflage was in place.
He smiled, his voice acquiring a more human quality.
“But she has lost access to the darkness her ally provided. She is now just another Water Witch.”
“Are you sure?” Riley asked.
Pierce nodded at Caster. “Ask your man Marcus if he sees the cauldron. It was in one of the locked bedrooms in your Uncle’s house, the top floor to the right.”
Caster reached for Marcus, hoping that battle had gone according to plan. Marcus!
What is it? Are you OK? Leave it to Marcus to sense even the faintest of his worry.
Yes. Pierce says to check for a cauldron in one of the bedrooms. Top floor to the right.
There is a bit of chaos here, Caster. Give me a few minutes.
He nodded and glanced at Dean. “The fight is still on.”
“Perhaps we should be there.” The Prime Alpha seemed impatient to jump into that battle.
“No.” Pierce’s denial, like every time he spoke, was devoid of most emotion.
His impeccable ability to remain calm was annoying in its consistency.
He tipped his chin towards Mark. “The rest of you can go, but not him. Until we are certain of that cauldron’s destruction, he can’t be anywhere near it.”
“Why?” Mark asked.
“You are not in control of your power, Magicae Lupus. That cauldron’s darkness will call that side of you to the Underworld, and you won’t be able to resist. A small tear in the Veil is all it will take for her to regain all the power I just stripped from her.”
“Why did you let her go?” The accusatory tone in Mark was not uncalled for, but again Pierce only smiled.
“I didn’t. As I recall, it was your responsibility to rip her throat out as soon as I had all her dark power.” His energy pulsed in the room, much stronger, more potent than before, and Caster sighed, hoping they hadn’t just granted someone powerful beyond comprehension even more power.
Pierce caught his eye and smiled as if answering the question he hadn’t dared ask. “She is easy to track now, anyway.” Then his attention shifted to Mark. “Don’t worry, her desire for vengeance is too strong. You’ll get a chance to tear her apart soon enough.”
No Cauldron anywhere.
Caught up in the dueling desire to believe Pierce and the niggling sense of the threat he presented, Caster almost jumped at Marcus’s voice in his head.
Are you sure?
Since when do you question me? The impatience in his tone was clear, but his admonishment was gone in the space of a second. Your Uncle is not here.
Caster could not contain his gasp, drawing the attention of the others in the room. What?
But Marcus was done answering questions. Tell Riley to get us out of here. This place will need considerable cleansing.
“What happened?” Cy’s impatience knew no bounds.
But Riley held up a finger, tightened his bonds on their prisoner, grabbed his shoulder, and dissolved into a teleportation spell. When he reappeared a second later, he nodded at Caster to speak, and Caster thanked him for his foresight.
“Uncle Lucien was not there.” The flash of anger on Cy’s expression was a welcome relief, but behind it lay the pain of their failure. As long as their uncle remained at large, their father’s rule would always be threatened.
He nodded at his brother, hoping Cy would hold on to that anger for the moment they would need it, a moment that was fast approaching. He turned to Riley. “They need you.”
He didn’t need to say more. Riley disappeared into a teleportation spell only to materialize a second later with Marcus and Damien in tow.
Both were covered in the consequences of what had been a considerable battle.
The black goo that comprised Ethel’s twice-dead army was apparent everywhere he looked.
Marcus glanced at Pierce, who hadn’t moved even though his part of the plan was complete. “Julian, Kyle and the others are right behind us.” Then his full attention was on Mark. “Get dressed. It is time to brief the King.”