Chapter 23 Trish
Trish
Oh my gods! I looked over my shoulder, willing Jaxon to stop walking in the other direction so I could see his face and make sure he was all right. Everything was happening so fast. My fingers tingled as I glanced down at my hands, grinning like a lunatic.
My magic was back.
And Jaxon… He said… There was no way. He must’ve been confused.
Right?
I think you know the answer.
But I didn’t. Not really. All our memories were a blur, racing through my brain as I tried to pick one out and examine it in the light, but they were all so tangled up in each other.
“That was amazing,” Vincent whistled, reminding me that my drama with Jaxon wasn’t the most important thing right now.
“What was?” I asked, keeping my voice light. Nonthreatening. Like I had nothing to hide, and he could tell me all his dirty dark secrets. Preferably fast so I could get out of here and hurry to fix things with Jaxon.
“Your magic.” Vincent gave me a funny look, keeping my pace as we walked, but he was herding me toward the path that led up out of the valley on the other side. “How long have you been able to draw on Earth’s power?”
“Oh, that.” I chuckled nervously. He didn’t know what my magic truly was, and I got the feeling that the less he knew, the better. “Honestly, my magic hasn’t been the most cooperative lately, but it feels like it’s finally fixed.”
“Perfect timing then.” He winked. Something about the ease in which he held himself—and his softer voice when he wasn’t barking out commands—made him less intimidating.
And my magic flowed through my veins, pumping me full of life and reminding me who I was always meant to be. I felt strong. Whole. Almost giddy and drunk on the power of being myself again.
Vincent wasn’t that scary after all.
True, I could still mess him up as a wolf even without my magic, but the whole powerful warlock warlord thing made him seem older and more threatening than he really was. This close, I could see he wasn’t much older than me. Twenty-five or so I’d put him at.
What secrets are you hiding, pretty boy?
“I guess so.” I kept smiling. “How long have you been able to draw on the power of the sky?”
Tit for tat. Easy flow conversation.
Come on, warlock, give me something I can use to get out of here.
My wolf rolled her eyes. You’re doing great at being a spy. Really, a natural.
Vincent didn’t answer my question, which was totally rude in my book. “When I heard that the infamous Sage Cerberus hadn’t arrived, and another Cerberus witch had taken her place, I’ll admit, I was a tad disappointed.”
“I’m sorry… what?” I stopped walking.
“It was my mistake.” Vincent placed his hand over his heart, giving me a charming smile. “Had I known that Cerberus was home to two powerful witches, I would’ve sent another summons.”
The air left my lungs in a rush. “You sent the summons for Sage?”
Vincent nodded. “I’d hoped she would be sympathetic to our cause given her rumored background. If you don’t mind me asking, who is she to you?”
He was going to find out shortly when my aunt Alpha Kera came charging into this whole thing, so I figured it didn’t hurt to tell him now.
“Sage is my mom.” And I was going to give her a piece of my mind for lying to me like she had.
See? We’re not even supposed to be here. Let’s go find Jaxon.
That hurt more than I wanted to admit.
“The witch’s daughter. More powerful than her mother.” Vincent nodded approvingly. “Destiny is funny that way.”
“Hilarious.” I didn’t bother to correct his assumptions. Mom was definitely the more powerful witch of the two of us. That was why she’d gotten the summons. Not me.
“I assumed she didn’t tell you this.” Vincent watched me from the corner of his eye as he continued walking, motioning for me to follow his steps.
“Nope.” I popped the P, trying not to let on how embarrassed I felt. “She wouldn’t have come without my dad anyway. So I guess you’re stuck with me instead.”
“You’ll do perfectly.” Vincent smiled again. He was actually somewhat handsome in a windswept and effortless way, if you liked softer lips and a pretty face. Not as handsome as Jaxon, but I could see girls falling for this warlock if they weren’t careful.
Thinking of Jaxon made my wolf whine and I glanced back over my shoulder again. The training grounds were far behind us. We’d moved fast.
“You never told me how long you’ve been able to manipulate the elements,” I said, hoping to get something from this strange conversation before I turned tail and ran.
“Observant.” He laughed. “You’re just what we’ve been looking for.”
“Looking for?” I swallowed hard. Something about his words didn’t settle right.
That’s because he sounds like a creepy cult leader. Can we go back to Jaxon now?
In just a second.
“I’ll tell you what, we can have this conversation over lunch. You must be starving after all that work today,” Vincent said as we crested the far hill of the valley.
“Whoa.” I was not expecting what I saw.
Black military grade tents with shimmering, thick canvas formed what could only be described as a city.
All-terrain vehicles from an ancient world in camouflage-green parked on the far border, overlooking the fenced ridge.
The path we walked spread into a central road beaten into the earth and smaller trails wove between the structures in clearly cut paths.
This had been here before the festival was set up, and looked like it’d remain long after.
Had the Ossory Alpha sanctioned this? How could he without the approval of the other Alphas in his region?
They’d want to know of a war camp.
“Impressive, right?” Vincent said.
In that moment, with the vast backdrop, I saw him for who he truly was. The warlock that commanded a power greater than most of us had ever seen. And the danger that lingered behind his disarming smile.
“Come on.” He motioned me forward again. “Let’s get you something to eat.”
*
My feet couldn’t stop walking even if I wanted them to, and I trailed slightly behind Vincent, slack-jawed as I took in the sights.
The tents here were twice as large as any building in Cerberus territory, built for giants it seemed.
In the distance, near the tank-looking vehicles, were corrals of goats and sheep.
This was more than a temporary camp. It was a territory of its own. A fully functioning city hidden in plain sight.
And it was exactly the kind of information Alpha Kera would want.
I tried to keep the smile plastered on my face and didn’t question Vincent’s motives any more than I had to as I catalogued all I could see. He must not have considered me a threat to take me right into the heart of his operation.
I was using that to my advantage.
And I’m always here if you need me. My wolf flexed her claws.
“Here is the chow hall,” Vincent said, leading me past the heavy flaps that blocked out the heat of the day outside.
It took my eyes a minute to adjust to the dim light. The tent was mostly empty, save for the female serving herself a plate of food from the covered trays on the back table.
I blinked, barely recognizing her as Jaxon’s whispered words from this morning came crashing back. The Ossory witch and ambassador who’d disappeared.
“Sarah,” Vincent said her name warmly. “Would you mind grabbing us each a plate too?”
“Sure. Whatever you need.” She set her own plate down, immediately going back to the line.
“She doesn’t have to do that,” I said.
“Nonsense.” Vincent pulled out a chair at the nearest table. “Take a seat.”
I tried to keep up the sweet and innocent smile as I sat, pushing my senses out to get a read on the Ossary witch without drawing Vincent’s notice. She looked a little paler than when I saw her the other day, but it could’ve been the low light. Her movements were quick. She didn’t seem injured.
Vincent sat across from me. “So… Tisiphone. What do you know of your namesake?”
I wasn’t even aware he knew my name, and hearing someone besides Jaxon or my mom use it made me cringe internally. But I didn’t want to offend him. “It’s Greek.” I shrugged.
“Is that all?” He looked disappointed as he leaned back against the chair.
If he’d spent any amount of time around wolf shifters then he’d know of our various mythological histories. I didn’t see why he wouldn’t, but maybe he hadn’t heard of ours.
“Legend has it that Cerberus Pack descended from the canid mythos of Cerberus, Hades’s three headed beast that guarded the underworld,” I explained.
“It’s a story of Ancient Greek origin. Like most packs, many of our given names have roots there.
My parents took inspiration from the mythos of the Furies to name me. ”
I didn’t mention my sisters because I didn’t trust him at all and I’d protect Alec and Meg with my dying breath.
“You do know your history.” Vincent nodded approvingly. “But I have to wonder, if you’re knowledgeable in the old gods, why do you not worship them?”
“Come again?” I blinked, not sure I heard him right. Then I remembered I was supposed to be playing innocent and naive. “We do pray to the gods. Everyone does. And we celebrate the moon cycles. Give tribute to the earth…”
Vincent waved his hand in the air as if dismissing that all as foolish. “That’s a perversion of what it means to worship. Don’t worry, we’ll forgive you here.”
I told you this was a cult.
“Sarah.” Vincent smiled up at the witch as she approached with two plates. “Our new guest here should be made to feel welcome, don’t you think?”
What’s that supposed to mean?
“Yes, Vincent,” Sarah said eagerly. “What did you have in mind?”
“Ready the guest lodging and have someone retrieve her belongings from her tent,” Vincent said despite my gasp of outrage.
“That’s really not necessary,” I said, getting ready to unleash my claws if I had to.
“Nonsense.” Vincent turned back to me and flashed that charming smile.
“You said it yourself, your magic has just returned. We can help you with that here. We’ve got everything you need.
I’m building more than just an army, and I think someone as inquisitive as you will enjoy learning about our cause. ”
Sarah set the plates on the table before us. Roasted chicken and fresh-baked bread filled my nostrils, and I swallowed down the sound of my wolf’s growl.
“You’ll love it here,” Sarah said before she slipped away.
I didn’t let my eyes betray my shock at seeing the bandages on her wrists, and I tried not to notice how she ran from the tent without touching her own plate, while Vincent’s words rang in my ears.
Kera will want to know more.
I’ll say it again. This is a mistake.
“She’s right, you know.” Vincent picked up a drumstick and studied it before noticing the confused look on my face. “Sarah. She’s right. This is where all the powerful witches belong.”
“Am I a prisoner here?” I joked, keeping my voice sugary sweet as I discreetly sniffed for poison in the meat and found none.
“Of course not.” He grinned. It didn’t quite reach his cold blue eyes. “But I do plan to make it so that you never want to leave.”