I’ll find her.Her absence is temporary. My entire life’s focus will be to find her, and this time, ensure her protection.
As I turn around, another scent catches on the wind. Another witch, but one who’s harmless, albeit annoying.
Freya appears in a cloak similar to the other three. With pursed lips, she waves at my form before muttering, “Despite my finite knowledge, I can’t speak growl. Shift back so we can talk.”
Freya has answers I need. Shemustknow where her own people took Carina. So I shift and stalk straight towards her, intending to force the words from her if she wants to play games.
“Where’s Carina?”
“In a mansion in Northern Ontario by now. She’s alive.”
“And safe?” Fuck, my chest is ripping apart piece by piece. She’s so far away. Ontario is a fifteen day walk from here. Shifters can go faster than a human’s pace and could probably shave the trip into about a week, but that’s still too long.
Freya’s eyes shift to the side. “Safe is relative. She’s unarmed. She’s still asleep.”
“What exactly will they do to her?”
The trees rustle in response to her sigh. “They’ll turn her Dark. Sloane’s deepest desire is for all of them towantto use black magick. If Carina refuses the proposed options, they’ll set her up to take a life in order to force the Darkness into her.”
“She already took some. Did you know that’d happen?”
“Give me some credit. Yes. She’s controlling the little bit well.”
She could contain the world’s Darkness in her body and control it “well” and I wouldn’t give two flying fucks.
“I need to go after her.”
Freya nods slowly, and her gaze shifts down my naked form with a calculating look. “Yeah, wolfy, hate to say this, but if you go now, you’ll die.You’replanning on taking on a coven? You need help, my friend. You need numbers.Trustme when I say, you can’t do this alone.”
She makes sense, but I’m driven to ignore her logic—to justgo. No number of shifters will change the fact of needing to find my mate. But Freya’s logic imbeds enough to beat out the wolf. Going against a coven isn’t wise, and disappearing from the pack for days on end for a dangerous mission is opposite of what it means to be Alpha.
“Also…” She rocks back on her heels and bites her lip. “Stop by Highridge.”
“So Morgan can slaughter me herself?”
“Nah, not her style. No, because right now, the bond is stretched too far to be helpful. You know Northern Ontario, but nowhere specific. Once you’re close, the bond will kick back in, but by then, you may be off the correct path. Morgan can give you more precise directions. Besides, you might find some extra help there. Even at your speed, you’re looking at a minimum of a week of running, probably longer.”
“Or you could. I assume you know their location.”
“There’s not much that happens with my kind I’m unaware of. But can’t interfere, sorry.” She begins picking at her nails, clearly not at all sorry.
“You’re interfering now!”
“Nuh-uh. I’mguiding.Big difference. Guiding you, wolfy mate, to the witch in question.”
One day, I swear I’ll…
“Can you ever be helpful for once in your miserable existence?”
She flips her hair over her shoulders—this time a brunette colour I might bother inquiring about, but truthfully, don’t care. “I’ve been told by numerous people that I’m extremely helpful. Also my existence is wonderful, thanks for asking.”
“They must be delusional then.”
She flicks her fingers my way, a spark of purple landing by my feet. “Seems you’re competing against the vampire for who can be the most irritating. I assumed you’d be nicer. The next guy better be easier to handle. Although…” She trails off into some mumble or other that serves to aggravate me.
“Whatare you going on about?” I ask, only to immediately realize, I don’t care. “Never mind. Just tell me what to do.”
“Already done that. Go home. Sleep on whatever chaos you have going on.” Sleep will be the last thing fucking happening. “Get some fellow wolfies—maybe ones who are less of a dick than you—then drop by Highridge. I vow nothing bad will happen to Carina while you’re doing all that. They’ll keep her knocked out for the next few hours, if not the day.”
