“We’re going to get you help,” he said. “Where are Jason and Meredith?”
“I’m here,” Jason said from behind him.
Silas stood and searched the area, sniffing the air and following her scent. He found her near the crater, curled next to her mother.
“Silas?” she said, a worried expression on her face. “I can’t move my legs. And there’s something wrong with my mom.”
“Too many times,” Olivia murmured beside her.
Meredith stroked her mother’s hair back from her face. “She needs a doctor.” With her hand on her mother’s forehead, she looked at Silas. “She’s shifted too many times, too close together. She’s running a fever. If we don’t get her help, she’ll die.”
Silas nudged Jason. “Take Olivia. I’ll carry Meredith. We need to get them to the truck and get help.”
His brother froze. “An hour ago she was trying to strangle me.”
“Alex was controlling her,” Meredith said.
With a sigh, Jason scooped Olivia into his arms. “Yeah, it looked that way. But I’ll trust her when I have proof. Everyone’s a hero when they’re trying to save their own scrawny necks.”
Meredith cast him a pleading glance. “Please, take care of her. She didn’t know what she was doing.”
“Give him time,” Silas said as he gathered her into his arms.
Meredith leaned her head against his chest. “I don’t know when Alex poisoned her, but I do know my mother wouldn’t have helped him of her own free will.”
“The pack will need answers, but she’ll be treated fairly,” Silas said. “I’ll make sure of it.” He watched Jason load Olivia into the back of the Suburban and hoped the woman would live long enough to receive a fair trial.
“Thank you for saving my life.”
He lowered his forehead to hers. “And thank you for saving mine.”
“Bingo!” Jason yelled from the Suburban. He held up two cell phones. “Look what I found in the glove compartment.”
“Any charge left?”
“Ten percent.”
Silas helped Meredith into a seat, then dialed Polina.
“Silas? Are you all right? I’ve been doing locator spells nonstop,” Polina’s voice cracked with emotion.
“Alive and well, my friend.”
“Where are you? I haven’t been able to track you using magic.”
“Then you’ll have to settle for technology. I’m sending you my GPS location now. Phone’s almost dead, but we need your help. And tell Gerty to call Bojingles. We’re going to need medical attention. If she can provide transport, we’ll take it.”
“She’s here with me. Logan and I will be there as soon as he can lock onto your location. Gerty too.”
“Good.”
Polina whispered something in the background. “How careful does Gerty need to be? Is Alex nearby?”
“He’s dead. Nickelova too.”
There was a pause as she took that in. “What happened to the book?”
“It’s gone.” He stared at the crater. “I think it’s gone for good. You and Grateful are going to want to see this. By the way, how is Grateful?”
