The alpha wolf’s snarl made Eli flinch, and he stumbled, his legs not quite stable enough to hold him. Farren braced her hand against his chest and tightened her other arm around his waist enough to keep him upright.
“Liam’s right. We’ll get her back.” Though she wanted to believe her own words, they had tofindthe Thirteen before they had any hope of going up against them to save Mara. “How soon will Regulus be here?”
Peter gave up his seat on the sofa so Farren and Eli could sit together and checked his phone. “I’m surprised he’s not here already.”
“Did ya’ find anythin’ out runnin’?” Farren asked Liam.
“A few drops of Mara’s blood at the end of the driveway. Then nothin’.” With a frustrated rumble in his chest, Liam stalked over to one of the dining room chairs, spun it around, and sat with his arms crossed over the back of the thing. “It’s like they made her vanish from the spot.”
The knock at the front door sent Peter scurrying to the foyer. “Farren?” he called. “I need you to give Regulus permission to enter.”
Glancing at Eli, she almost laughed when his expression mirrored her own question.That’s actually true?
She didn’t want to leave her mate’s side, and only went far enough to peer around the corner and see a very tall, very pale man standing just outside her door. His black hair fell to his shoulders. High, sculpted cheekbones along with nearly bloodless lips gave him a decidedlygothvibe. Was hetryingto fulfill a stereotype? Or was this one of those times where the fictional had been based quite literally on facts?
“Are ya’ Regulus?” she asked.
“I am.”
“Do ya’ plan to do any bein’ in this house harm?”
“I do not. You have my vow, Farren Denair. I have fed in the past day. I am sated enough to control my urges, and I wish only to provide aid. Do I have permission to enter?” His deep, smooth voice carried a hint of an accent she couldn’t place. Refined, yes. But also lyrical.
“Then you may enter.”
He bowed to her, then to Peter, and stepped inside.
“Living room.” She jerked her head, and the vampire and Peter followed her. Yet the only footsteps she heard were Peter’s. Shite. Vampires were utterly silent. No wonder they were such effective hunters.
Once Peter had introduced the vampire to everyone in the group, Liam explained what had happened over the past five hours.
“I saw the power that one created,” Regulus said with a nod to Eli. “It lit up the sky for five hundred kilometers. It is no wonder the Thirteen were able to trace it to its source.”
“They found us because of the casting?” Eli asked. “Fuck me. Cade...I’m sorry—”
“Don’t. Say. Another. Word.” Streaks of silver and gold glowed in Cade’s eyes, and he growled at Eli. “Mara and our baby could be dead because of you.”
“We all agreed this was the smartest plan,” Caitlin, ever the peacemaker, offered. “We need to figure out why the castin’ failed.”
“I wasn’t strong enough.” Eli’s whisper made Farren’s heart ache, and she twined her fingers with his.
“Ya’ can’t be certain of that, luv.”
“The practitioner’s son is correct.” Every head in the room swiveled toward Regulus. His expression hadn’t changed once since he’d stepped inside, his face a mask of some expression between boredom and superiority.
“Practitioner’s...son?” Eli sat up with a small groan. “I’m the son of two elementals.”
“No. You are not.” Now, a hint of annoyance flickered in the vampire’s black eyes. “Paulo Ruiz was a member of the Inverness Coven for six years before he joined the original thirteen practitioners to cleave from the mother group. Each one of them believed in the spirit element, but their reasons for doing so, their hopes, their intentions...those varied greatly.”
Regulus studied Eli for a moment. “Are you certain you wish to hear this?”
“Mate, if you weren’t a vampire, I’d be over there shaking you to get you to talk faster.” Eli’s fingers squeezed Farren’s so hard, it bordered on pain. “Tell me what my father did and what the hell happened to him.”
“Now wait a fucking minute.” Cade’s knuckles cracked as he balled his hands into fists. “Mara needs to be our priority.”
“If you attempt to go up against the Thirteen without the practitioner’s son claiming the power of his birthright, you will fail, and she will die.” Regulus moved so quickly, all Farren saw was a black-clad blur, and then the vampire stood directly in front of Cade, close enough the alpha wolf could reach out and snap his neck. Or try to.
“And how long is that going to take? They could be torturing her.” Cade’s voice faltered, and he turned to Liam. “If I lose her...”
