“I know,” I cut in, calmer now and more focused on the task at hand. “But I need details. Anything you didn’t think mattered.”
Naia exhales slowly, obviously not wanting to go back there, and I can’t blame her. Then she murmurs, “They ambushed me near the outer edge of the territory while I was doing a perimeter check. There were more than I expected, and I recognized some of them. Some that had been in our pack once,” she sighs and adds, “Then the magic hit. It wasn’t like anything I’ve felt before. It was colder and heavier, and it just shut everything down.”
I nod slightly as I digest her words. “It was suppressive magic then.”
“Yeah.”
“What happened after?”
“Not much. I tried to fight, but I couldn’t shift; then I must’ve passed out or something. When I woke up, I wasn’t on the island anymore,” she says slowly. “I couldn’t smell the ocean, and the air was different. I was restrained, but…” she hesitates, averting her gaze as she collects her thoughts.
“But what?”
Her brows draw together slightly, and she responds, “I could feel it. Other magic signatures that had nothing to do with mine. They felt different from the one used on me.”
That immediately sticks out to me, and I follow that train of thought. “How many?”
“I don’t know,” she admits. “It wasn’t clear, and my head was still a bit foggy. It was just there.”
My mind starts turning again, faster now, considering how many shifters and non-shifters there were, and what abilities they might’ve possessed. At the very least, they could’ve had potential.
“They’re obviously grouping these targeted individuals and selling them; that much we know for certain.”
Naia’s expression darkens. “For what?”
“That’s the question.”
Silence settles again while we both mull over what this could mean. Whatever the answer is, I doubt it’s good.
“If they’re running these auctions, then they’re in it for the money, which means there’s a market for these magic users,”I murmur, allowing the words to come out as the thoughts form in my head. “These buyers could be collecting them like antiques, but why?”
“Maybe they’re trying to use the powers for themselves,” Naia suggests, seeming far too knowledgeable about that aspect, and we both know why.
It’s no secret that the Wraith Peak pack had its eyes on magic users for quite some time. Her father was especially interested in using others to his advantage before he died.
Her eyes meet mine again, full of renewed determination. “Which is why I need to go back. Then I can find out if Hayes has anything to do with it.”
There it is again, and I exhale deeply. “We’re not doing this again.”
“They’re building something,” she pushes. “You saw and heard it. I can’t just sit here while they—”
A sharp ring cuts through the apartment, startling me out of my focus before I register that it’s my phone. Pulling it out of my pocket, I glance at the screen.
Hunter.
I close my eyes briefly, already knowing this isn’t going to be a quick, harmless call about nothing.
Naia notices immediately, glancing between me and the phone. “Who is it?”
I don’t answer. Instead, I just hold her gaze for a second longer before turning away and answering the call. Phone to my ear, I murmur, “Yeah?”
“Finally,” Hunter’s voice comes through, sounding familiar and almost relieved, if I’m not mistaken. “Were you planning on picking up the phone at some point or what?”
“I’ve been busy,” I return, trying to keep any strain or obvious emotion out of my voice.
“Doing what?”
I glance at Naia, catching the way she’s watching me now with narrowed eyes, trying to read every shift in my expression. She’s curious.
