Chapter 413
Chapter 413
Elara
“He’s scared. Fear warps people,” I muttered, flinching as if the thought had somehow escaped my mind aloud.
Ben shot back sharply, “That’s no excuse for talking about killing people p>
“He was trapped inside his own mind for a whole month,” Ben explained, his voice heavy with frustration. “I’m not defending what he did, but he was completely alone for nearly thirty days, feeling the magic pulse through him with no way to fight it. Healing from that takes time and experience p>
Marietta’s eyes blazed with fury as she spat, “Chaos magic is what set you free from your prison, Ben. We’ve told you before the magic itself isn’t the problem; it’s the person wielding it. Magic is neutral. You’d do well to remember that before you start suggesting wiping out an entire group of people.” Her anger radiated like heat, and I found myself watching Brianna, waiting for her to step in if things escalated.
“That kind of thinking is dangerously close to the mindset of humans who discover our powers and decide they hate what they can’t control,” Marietta continued, taking a deep breath as her clenched fists relaxed at her sides. She was a remarkable speaker, and I knew I would learn a great deal just by observing her. She seemed to instinctively understand that we could sense and even feel the emotions of those around us. A skilled warrior, I’d never seen her fight, but I knew she studied her opponents carefully, preferring to win battles of the mind before any physical confrontation.
“So, what do we do?” Malcolm’s voice cracked with frustration. “I’m sick of this crap! I know Elara feels the same. We’re young—that’s probably why we’re being targeted.” His pacing faltered abruptly as he turned sharply to Brianna. “Is this what happened to my dad? Was he targeted before me p>
In that moment, I saw the small boy beneath the tough exterior, and all I wanted was to pull him into a hug. But I knew he wouldn’t appreciate it, so I stayed seated, my heart aching quietly.
“That’s a possibility we have to consider,” Brianna said solemnly. “This has been a long game for all of us, which means we have to be extra cautious about who we trust. If Eliza is behind all this, she’s as chaotic as her magic. When she left us, it was because we refused to let her into the inner circle. Even we can recognize when someone is destined to abuse their power-and we try to stop it.” Googlᴇ search.net
“She tried the same thing in my coven,” Marietta added, and I sat up straighter, drawn in by their conversation. They worked so seamlessly together that I often forgot they led separate covens. In my mind, they were like mates-opposites in many ways, yet perfectly complementary, much like Ben and me.
“So, back to my original question,” Malcolm said, folding his arms across his chest. I noticed how much he’d grown since I last saw him. Though still young, his body had hardened-softness replaced by a sharp jawline, defined forearms, and a broader frame. He looked every bit ready to step up and protect his pack.
“Combined border patrol,” Ben declared, rising but not moving away from me. His leg brushed against my shoulder, grounding me. “We need a witch and a wolf working together. Witches can detect the magic, and wolves can protect them while they dismantle it. Is there any way to mask the Shadow Markers so Ash and Ember won’t realize we’re tampering with them p>
“That’s difficult to say,” Marietta replied thoughtfully. “Only the original caster would notice the magic snapping p>
“Then I’ll leave that to you,” Ben said firmly. “Elara and I need to keep working the neutral territory between Red Fang and Black Claw. We seem to be the most affected by it, and I’m sure Junior is too, if it’s designed to keep us apart p>
I stood up, suddenly feeling awkward as they planned around me. “Will the incoming winter storm affect the magic p>
“Probably not,” Brianna answered, “but it might make finding the talismans more difficult. The pairs can protect each other-wolves with physical defenses, witches with magical ones p>
Junior’s voice cut in, “Are the markers the only focus? Or is there something else we should be watching for p>
“They need to see the cave,” I blurted out. Malcolm turned to me, curious. “They haven’t been there yet, and I want to know if that operation has moved or if it’s just been better warded. It’s been months—they’ve had time to fortify or relocate it, but I’m sure the magic left remnants either way p>
He nodded thoughtfully.
“We should also make sure whoever is paired with Junior, Elara, and me is prepared for the backlash,” Ben added. “Those markers are designed to hit us hardest p>
We spent a while hashing out logistics. All the witches traveling with us were paired with Malcolm’s wolves. Reluctantly, he had sent a few wolves and a witch to the packhouse to guard Luna Sam. They had wards of their own, and after losing his father and my parents, we couldn’t take any chances.
As we headed toward the SUV, Ben suddenly grabbed my arm. “We’re starting now p>
“Wait, what do you mean?” I asked, caught off guard.
“I didn’t stutter. We’re going now, and you’re staying with me. No more splitting up. I’m done with that my wolf is done with it. We need to get to the bottom of this so you and I can figure out what the hell is going on.” He tugged me along, and since no one was rushing to rescue me, it seemed like he was getting his way. Assholes.
“What about staying with a witch to control the magic we find?” I suggested hesitantly.
“They’re following, but at a distance. We’re the bait now, the target. I want them to come to us, and I want this to end. Now.” With that, he ripped off his shirt and pants before shifting. His wolf took the clothes to one of my warriors, who tossed them in the back of the SUV, then looked at me expectantly.
“Ugh. Fine,” I grumbled. I’d been great at finding excuses to avoid one-on-one situations with him, but now he wasn’t leaving my side until we faced this head-on together.