Iinhaled deeply. I couldn’t smell Layla. Of course not. So we couldn’t followher! I kicked the ground. “She got away, again! I could have killed her butthen we wouldn’t find Sadie and Tara. Ahh! This is maddening,” I roared.
Earlcame out of the house and threw a towel at Kai who was gloriously naked. Kaiwrapped it around his waist, nodding to Earl.
“Theywere too fast to track,” Earl told us.
Iglared at Kai. “If I didn’t have to come out here and check on your unconsciousass, I could have gone after her! If I didn’t have a mother, she wouldn’t havebeen able to use my emotions to lure me here.” I swear to God I was five secondsaway from going insane.
Kaifrowned. “What do you mean?”
Isighed. “She’s playing me. Maybe I need to go after her alone.” I stalked offand headed to the front of the house.
‘Don’tsay that. I’m sorry for controlling you before,’he said as I walked away.
‘That’snot what I’m talking about, Kai. Layla knows I care about all of you. She usesyou guys to keep me weak. Prudence made me hear Emma’s fake scream last time.This time they used my mother and then Layla knocked you out.’
‘It’sgood that you care about us,’hetold me and I turned to see that concern lined his face.
“I’mnot so sure. If I wasn’t mated, and so attached to the pack, I would run offand take her on myself. The Devi and I could do it together.”I knew myeyes were fierce.
“Don’t say that,”he said with fear. He sensedthe certainty through our bond.
Igot in my car. “I’m saying it.”
Kaislid in the passenger seat beside me. “We’ll find her and the female wolves shehas taken. Together,” he declared.
Ilooked out at the trees, letting my hands rest on the steering wheel, but Ididn’t respond. Kai grabbed my face and forced me to look at him.
“Lookwhat we learned today. She must be staying within the area. Tara was takenyesterday so she is still in the area.”
“That’swhat she wants you to think! She could have a private jet taking her to NewYork. You know nothing about her! She’s winning!” I slammed my palm on thesteering wheel. I was having a hard time figuring out if I was so angry or ifit was the Devi. It scared me not to know if I was myself or not. Tears linedmy eyes.
Kaitook my hand in his and kissed the top of it. “Let me make some calls. Wehaven’t exhausted all options. Your mother is safe, you are safe. That’s all thatmatters right now.”
Inodded but I made a decision right then. If Kai didn’t find where Layla washiding Sadie and Tara soon, I was going to finish this by myself. I quicklycleared the thought so he couldn’t pick up on it. It was the only thing left todo.
Fightingwith Prudence had given me an idea. After dropping Kai off at home, and settingup the guest room for my mom, I called Sylvia and the coven over and we all metinside the barn. Since I wasn’t allowed to leave the mountain anymore this barnhad become my little meeting place.
WhenSylvia and the others had gathered, I stood and addressed them all. Sylvia hadonce told me that the only real way to harm a witch as powerful as Prudence,was to use her full-given magical name in a spell.
“Prudencehas powerful magic and she just tried to kill my mom and capture me, so I wantyour help in finding out her full-given magical name,” I told everyone gathered.
Someof the women gasped, and I saw many shake their heads. They looked afraid butSylvia seemed to consider my words. Sylvia was the one who named me. Someonehad to have named Prudence. If I could find them and get the information out ofthem, Prudence was mine. Layla was too powerful with Prudence helping her. Ineeded to even the scales.
“Iknow what you’re thinking, but the person who named Prudence is dead,” Sylviasaid.
Igasped. “How do you know that?”
Sylvialooked at Gretchen. “Because it was our old coven leader. Prudence killed herthe moment she named her. To keep anyone from ever having control over her.”
Isank down and put my head in my hands. No. I needed to catch a break! “Prudencewas in this coven?” I said in disbelief.
Sylviasighed. “Only for a short while. After she killed Gloria, she ran and startedher own dark coven.”
Gretchenmoved forward and placed a healing hand on my back. “I have an idea if you’re open-minded.”
Ifelt waves of peaceful energy saturate my body as I looked up at her. Her hairwas half up, half down with a crown of braids. I envisioned Gretchen and Sylviakicking back the witches’ wine on Friday nights for fun and had to stifle achuckle.
Gretchenwas looking at me oddly as her hand hovered over my back, then she smiled. “Oh,you’re pregnant,” she declared as all of the witches gasped in excitement.
