Apparently, some shifters never got their animal form. I didn’t really understand it—how could one be a shifter if they couldn’t shift?—but essentially he smelled so much like a human and had no shifter tells that he was the perfect addition to ourforward team. I was grateful to have him, but it was yet another thing that reminded me I had so much to learn about the world I had fallen into.
I wished I could say that the rest of the afternoon passed quickly, but it didn’t. While there was relatively little downtime, having the constant threat of being caught along with the ever-present worry that our plan wouldn’t work made the minutes stretch out pretty painfully. I believed in our plan, I really did. Leo, Ricky, and I had put it together with America, all of her connections, Jason, Miranda, and pretty much everyone else in our little ragtag community. Surely with all of our skills and experience combined we had come up with something that would work.
Then again, the biggest reason we were getting away with it was because we were so completely under the radar, but that could only last for so long. Maybe Chadwicke could be considered an unfortunate and unpredictable tragedy, but once we killed another brother, it would be far more obvious that someone was taking direct action against their family. I didn’t know what we were going to do once that happened, but we’d cross that bridge if we survived the gala and the auction. And I sincerely hoped we did. Not just for us, but also for all of the magical folks who were currently depending on us.
Finally, after what truly seemed like an eon, the music began to gently play from the main area of the party, and guests started to arrive. I wasn’t in a position where I could see them, but that was okay. That wasn’t my job. My job was to begin phase one of the active part of our plan.
First, I switched out a couple of the normal mounted heaters with the special ones I’d stashed underneath a counter. Those were filled with a scent suppressing oil that would diffuse as it heated. I didn’t quite understand what scent blockers, scent spray, or scent-suppressing oil were, but I understood enoughto know they would help prevent the enthralled shifters or even turncoats on staff to smell the rest of my team as they came ever closer. And I knew my other feet on the ground were lighting the scent-blocking candles we’d peppered throughout the decorations.
It wasn’t like the candles and oils would magically make all my friends odorless, but according to Leo, some shifters could scent an enemy at a truly mind-boggling distance. Far enough that they’d never be able to get close to the manor without everyone already being on high alert. Obviously, we didn’t want that, so hopefully our little trick would allow us to set up for the attack.
Needless to say, I was nervous about that. I’d thought we’d strike during the auction, but during the planning phase, America’s father and several other people had pointed out that it would put the enthralled captives at risk of getting hurt. So, we would strike at the party before the auction could even happen. The less battle-hardened of our group would get the prisoners out, hopefully without encountering any direct danger. It was unlikely that everything would go according to plan, so we were all ready to improvise if necessary, but still, I had faith. I had to.
When the music nearly doubled in volume and I heard an egotistical voice boom over the speakers, I knew it was time for step number two: opening a couple very specific doors to let my friends in. These were doors that were traversed so often I wasn’t able to do any noticeable sabotage on them earlier, so it required an in-person visit. My counterpart, Chris, had the eastern wing while I had the western. Unfortunately, we had no way to keep in contact with each other, so all I could do was hope he was doing his part.
Moving like I belonged there, I hurried to the first of my targets and inched it open. Six pairs of eyes glowed in the dark, all rapidly approaching. There should have been guardsaround here, but the text I’d sent on my break must have been informative enough, because I couldn’t see any opposition between me and the luminescent gazes rushing toward me.
I wished I had time to greet them, but I didn’t. Instead, I rushed to the other servants’ entrance toward the back of the house. It faced a hedge maze, which was really ill-advised considering how much of a security risk it was.
When I opened the door, I instantly recognized one of the dark forms racing toward me. I stood to the side, not sure if he would take the time to greet me, but as soon as he was close enough, Leo shifted into his human form.
“Are you all right?” he asked, worry lacing his tone. I didn’t blame him for being concerned—this was a dangerous situation—and I certainly didn’t take it as him commenting on my ability to do what was needed. I looped my arms around his shoulders and risked giving him a quick peck.
“I’m fine.” I was being as honest as I could in the moment. Would I rather be in my garden, growing food and feeding my friends? Of course. But seeing as we were in the middle of enemy territory, about to perform one hell of an ambush against possibly the evilest people I would ever meet, I was doing far better than I’d expected. If only my aunt could see how I was doing now. It turned out the useless little girl who had killed her mother had some skills going for her.
“All right, you and Chris head out now. Esperanza is waiting in the weeping willow on the southern edge of the estate. She’ll show you a safe path home.”
I nodded. I wanted to linger, to stay, but there was far too much to do. So, after giving him one last kiss on the cheek, I hurried to the last door. This time, once all the shifters were in, I hurried out into the darkness. While I couldn’t see as well as they could in the dark, I had already memorized the exit path I was supposed to take. I had done my part. Now it was time to getout of the way and let the shifters do theirs—even though I really wanted to stay.
I sighed. That had been part of the compromise. Leo was so against putting me in any danger that the only way he, and Ricky, would agree to the plan was if I promised to leave before the fighting started. Part of me had wanted to argue, but another part knew I would be useless and only get in the way. One of the brothers might find me and use me against Leo. It was an unnecessary risk, albeit one my heart and pride most certainly wanted me to take. After all, I’d been the linchpin when we’d dealt with Chadwicke. Ricky wouldn’t have been rescued, and Leo wouldn’t have won his fight if I hadn’t run the asshole over. Granted, that situation was a lot different than this one. The people at that party hadn’t been there to buy magical folks. Those in attendance had also been mostly human. This, though? These were magical beings taking advantage of their own kind. Sure, there were humans in attendance, but it didn’t sound like they were going to be majority.
Chris caught up with me, and we followed the path I’d memorized to the weeping willow. The night was so dark I could barely make out a thing, especially after being inside under the bright lights all day, so I was super grateful for my companion’s slightly better night vision.
But as we crept to safety, a deep, sinking feeling formed in my chest, constricting my lungs. A nagging voice at the back of my head insisted I was doing the wrong thing. I told myself it was only my ego, that it would be best for everyone if I was far away from the danger, but that feeling in my chest, in my gut, wouldn’t dissipate. Something in me knew there were people who needed protection, and it was hell-bent on making sure they remained unhurt.
I ignored it until we reached the tree, and the eagle shifter who had crashed in my yard stepped out from beneath it. Evenwith my limited vision in the dark, I could see she wasn’t a happy camper.
“There you are! I can’t believe they’re exiling us from all of this. We could be useful. I’m the only eagle shifter on our team. Surely that’s gotta count for something.”
I felt for the young woman, I really did. Esperanza was incredibly brave and determined. She’d infiltrated this estate completely on her own without getting caught. The unfortunate run-in she’d had with the enthralled wolf walking the perimeter was what had gotten her in trouble and injured. Thankfully, most of the bespelled shifters weren’t great at communication. They followed orders well, but they didn’t have the wherewithal to inform their masters of an intruder.
“You’re still a kid.” I had to be responsible even though I really, really didn’t want to be. I wasn’t exactly a fan of battle, nor was I really that good of a fighter, yet the call to return to the manor was as irresistible and persistent as a siren song.
Maybe it was because I’d lost Leo not so long ago and was terrified of that happening again. That made sense. Yet no matter how much I tried to dismiss it, it stayed right there, beating alongside my own heartbeat.
“Yeah, I’m young, but I’m not an idiot. I wouldn’t get directly involved, but there’s no reason I couldn’t provide some auxiliary support. After all, some of the shifters they’re selling are probably younger than me.”
Ugh, what an awful but very true point.
“It’s too bad we don’t have any smoke bombs,” Chris said. Our attack team had a whole bunch of the handy gadgets Jason, with his somewhat arsonist tendencies, had made out of household items. I’d added a few herbs to them that would hopefully sedate any non-shifter who breathed in a steady dose of it. The few in our crew who weren’t shifter had gas masks to keep them safe.
Esperanza’s eyes glinted mischievously. “Speak for yourself.”
She grabbed a bag from one of the branches and unzipped it, proudly showing us about two dozen smoke bombs, along with a bunch of bang snaps.
“Where did you get all that?” Since I had helped make them, I knew they had all been carefully stored and accounted for.
Esperanza’s grin turned surprisingly wolfish for an eagle shifter. She’d definitely fit in with the rest of the pack, that was for sure. “I made them. Jason said he didn’t care what I did with the extra supplies. He also said there was no way he could use them all before he ran out of time. As for the bang snaps, well, it’s amazing what you can find on the internet.”
