My gut clenched hard at the thought that Jewels wasn’t here, that this was no more than another one of her traps… another plan to take us out. We were vastly outnumbered, especially if you considered how many shifters and witches had been sleeping in the previous room.
“Destroying you, and all of her sycophants, was on our to-do list anyway,” Slade said in a calm, unruffled voice. “I’ll be happy to tick that one off today.”
Blaine threw his head back in another laugh, like that was the funniest joke he’d ever heard. “You might have some immunity to magic, but I have every damn witch left in this country. You cannot take on their collective power.”
Slade shuffled us back into the room with the beds, needing the space to shift into Slalon. All of the shifters and witches got to their feet and started to follow.
“You’re not going to run, right?” Blaine taunted. “After all your big talk ofticking me off your to-do list.”
“Where’s Jewels?” I asked in the hopes he’d monologue for a minute, so the twins had time to shift. Not to mention, it was still important information we needed. “Why did she leave you here to deal with us?”
Blaine’s glee made my stomach swirl, and I fucking itched to tear his head off. “Ah, that’s an amazing story. My favorite witch always has plan upon plan in place. In related news, where’s your omega?”
At the mention of her name, I tapped into the bond, finding Emme still at the hockey game. She asked about going home with Warrick, and since I needed her safely in our house, I agreed.
“She’s safe and sound at home,” I told Blaine.
Slade’s dragon drifted into her beast too, and then we both shut down the connection. We couldn’t have her picking up on what was about to happen here. The air crackled strongly as the twins called on their energy to shift.
“It was brave of you to leave her home unprotected,” Blaine said conversationally. “Not that we were surprised. We knew it would happen sooner or later… Especially afterthatdream.”
“There’s no way for Jewels to get to her,” I snapped. “The entire town would be alerted the second she stepped into Golden Claw.”
Blaine nodded, as if he completely agreed. “Oh yes, but there’s just one little problem with that theory.”
When he didn’t continue, I clenched my hands and imagined his death. “What’s the damn problem?”
Blaine paused. “The problem is…”
Magic exploded around us, and before he could finish, we were under attack.
CHAPTER 42
EMME
Warrick was quiet as we left the stadium, the mid-day light enveloping his Range Rover, and despite the packed stadium we managed to escape the crowds fairly quickly. Kassidy had taken the front seat, since I’d jumped in the back like Slade hadrequested.
My friend was tense. I could only assume it was due to seeing Henderson out on the ice today.
The quintet was quiet as well, and when I opened the bond to check on Hunter and the twins, all I picked up on was restlessness, like they were doing a lot of waiting around.
I didn’t push any harder. As long as they were safe, I’d give them their privacy, since I expected my own in return. My wolf shifted uneasily but I kept her in place.Leave them be. They’ll check in when they’re on the way home.
In truth, unless Hunter was already on the plane, I doubted he’d make it back within the twenty-four-hour timeframe. But he was still trying to keep his promise, and that mattered as much to me as him making it in time.
When Warrick’s phone rang, I jumped about three feet in the air. “Hey, love,” he said as he answered, and my heart stuttered when Cora’s voice sounded through the speaker.
“Mate, are you on your way home?” she asked softly. “I don’t want to be alone any longer, and Richard and Sierra have already gone totheir wing.”
Warrick shot me a side-eyed glance, and then to my surprise said, “Would you be up for a little company? I could bring two of your lovely friends home with me.”
Kassidy shifted to the side, staring at Warrick with a semi-hopeful expression.
There was a long pause, and I tried not to get my hopes up too.
“Actually, yes,” Cora finally said, her voice faint. “That would be amazing. I’ve missed them.”
I had no idea how she knew it was us, since Warrick hadn’t mentioned our names. Maybe he’d already told her that he sat with us at the hockey, not that I’d seen him grab his phone, but I had been focused on the ice.
