Samuel’s hands curled into fists at his sides. “How long ago?”
“It’s hard to tell. The other magic in this place is muddying everything. But the residue hasn’t fully faded.” Didi met his gaze. “Days. They were moved recently.”
My heart thumped against my ribs as we exchanged a wary glance.
“Esmeralda knew we were getting close,” I murmured.
“We don’t know if the woman your old neighbor saw was really her,” Gavin said, his tail twitching agitatedly.
“Want to bet?” Barney muttered.
Didi’s emotions washed across my white wolf senses in a hot, painful wave.
Shock. Anguish. Fury.
I felt the witch’s magic surge through her body as her instincts reacted to the unholy violation that had taken place down here, in this dark forgotten space.
She froze when I silently placed a hand on her arm. A shudder shook her, her cold fingers closing gratefully over mine.
Bo was practically vibrating with anxiety when we emerged from the cellar.
“What did you find?” he said, jumping nervously around me.
I hesitated before telling him. He whimpered, his ears flat and his tail tucked tight between his legs.
Barney studied the loading dock entrance with a frown. “The lock was changed at least twice. She was using this location regularly before they abandoned it in a hurry. There will be property records for this warehouse. An owner. A lease.”
Gavin swallowed. “I’ll check the county clerk’s filings.”
The thought that had been dancing at the back of my mind ever since we went down into the cellar finally found its way to my lips.
“What if this is more than just a kidnapping?”
The others stared.
Samuel frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Melody said the witch behind this wanted the Lincoln sisters. Not wanted to get rid of them. But wantedthem. Their influence. Their power.” I swallowed. “Arthur said the Black Chalice Rite could grant whoever drank the potion the ability to consume the power of another and make it their own.”
Didi drew a sharp breath, the blood draining from her face.
Barney scowled, no doubt remembering what his nephew had attempted to do.
“You think she wants to steal the Lincoln sisters’ healing magic?” Gavin quavered, his nostrils trailing smoke.
I hesitated before dipping my chin.
Samuel stood in the center of the empty warehouse, his gaze locked on the gaping hole andthe dark space where the three women had been imprisoned. The mate bond hummed with something I’d rarely felt from my alpha.
Cold, focused rage.
He turned to face us, his amber eyes catching the light that filtered through the broken windows.
“We’re done being one step behind,” he said in a deadly voice. “Barney, I want whatever information those Alliance archives have on the Thornwicks by tomorrow. Didi, get in touch with Arthur Holt and see if he can map out where the ley line beneath this warehouse connects to. If this magic is tied to a specific configuration, he might be able to narrow down where they’ve been moved to. Gavin, find out who owns this building and every property connected to the same entity.” His gaze settled on me. “Abby, those shell companies are our fastest route to a name. Crack them.”
25
X MARKS THE SPOT
