Within moments, the downpour intensifies, transforming from a light sprinkle into a torrential cascade as the sky opens. I stand there, drenched to the bone, as the rain soaks through my clothes and drips from my hair. Despite the cold, there’s something invigorating about the storm, a raw and untamed energy that courses through the air. The intensity of the rain matches the turmoil within me, a perfect reflection of the chaos and disorder I’ve been feeling tonight.
I finish the incantation and open my hand so the rain can wash away the blood. The air crackles with electricity, as if nature itself is responding to my call.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning streaks across the sky, illuminating my darkened surroundings.
I continue walking until the sound of hooves reaches my ears. I smile, my gaze landing on the sleek black horse coming down the stretch of road, the moonlight at his back. His presence brings a sense of relief, as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
Golden eyes flash with warmth as he draws near, his midnight coat glistening in the rain. Reaching my palm out, I grin as Nero nudges my hand, then I wrap my arms around his neck.
“I’ve missed you, old friend,” I whisper, stroking his mane.
Chapter thirteen
Kai
“Knowledge, like air, is vital to life. Like air, no one should be denied it.” -Alan Moore
The whole pack is gathered on Salena’s spacious deck at her and Logan’s new house, overlooking a large backyard. The moment she and Logan discovered this house, they knew it was perfect. It had barely been on the market for a day when they put in their offer. The property is only ten minutes from my place, and it backs onto the same stretch of forest that has been our sanctuary for years—where we’ve grown roots that run as deep as the trees themselves.
Declan moved out of my spare room and into the apartment above the bar, which gave Salena a life outside the bar. Her cat, Ghost, apparently made the move with her, though I’ll have to take her word for it—Salena and Logan are the only ones who can see the damn thing.
I flip the barbeque off as the sun begins its slow descent. Its golden rays stretch across the yard, bathing the group in a warm glow as they settle into their seats on the weathered wooden deck. Salena moves with purpose, her hair catching the fading light as she switches on the twinkling string lights she carefully hung earlier. The tiny bulbs come alive, casting a gentle, magical glow that transforms the deck into a cozy retreat.
On autopilot, I take a seat, listening to the chatter around me. Suddenly, a jolt of pain shoots through my shin, and immediately my focus shifts to Salena. There is the hint of a question and worry in her turquoise eyes.
“What was that for?” I grumble.
“You have been lost in thought all day,” she replies.
“Yeah, you even burned the hamburgers,” Grady adds.
Glancing around the pack, I come to the realization that most of the day is a blur to me. It’s been a whole ten days since Ash left, and an unsettling feeling has been gnawing at me. There’s this undeniable sense that something isn’t quite right. It weighs heavily on my mind, as if my gut instinct is trying to tell me Ash is in trouble. Which is difficult to fathom, considering how capable and self-reliant she is.
“I’m worried about Ash,” I confess.
“Doesn’t she always disappear for a week or more at a time?” Felix asks.
I tip my head back, a deep sigh pushing past my lips. “Yeah, but this time feels different. If I just knew what she was doing when she disappears, I might feel better. She told me she was telling her bosses she was done.”
As I bring my head back up, I catch a glimpse of Salena’s eyes, which betray a flicker of surprise, followed by guilt. It’s the same look she used to give me when I’d take the blame for her mischief during our childhood.
“What do you know?” I ask, sitting forward.
Salena hesitates, her focus flickering around the group before settling back on me.
“Well, when Ash first showed up, I was concerned, so I had some people look into her.” Salena bites her lip, as if contemplating her next words. “I know who she works for.”
I frown, my attention shifting over to Logan before landing back on my sister. “Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”
“It wasn’t my place,” Salena answers with a shrug.
“Ash went on one last job, and she hasn’t returned. If you know something . . .” I let my words hang in the air.
Salena shifts in her seat, then hands her plate to Logan.
“She belongs to the Kotov family.”
In that moment, my heart freezes, and a blanket of silence drapes over the group. The tension in the air is noticeable as we collectively hold our breath, creating a silence so complete that even the sound of a pin dropping would have been audible.
