Isaac blinked, his lips going wide, his eyes turning down at the corners. It was horrifying.
“Open the cell,” Cade said.
“Cade, we can’t leave them—”
Cade looked over sharply before repeating, “Open the cell.”
Isaac fumbled for his keys, walking over to the one in the center. His key jammed against the lock with a discordant sound before he managed to slide it in. With the door open, Cade lifted his hand, and the werewolves levitated off the ground, moving into the cell one at a time.
When they were all inside, Cade walked in.
I followed, looking around in surprise. The cell had grown. The last time I had been inside, it had only been big enough for one person comfortably. Now, the small pack fit in easily.
Cade snapped his fingers, and mage lights glowed in the corner of the room.
“How did you get into my territory?” Cade asked.
Justin spoke, repeating the same story he had told me. He had followed a scent that had led him into the territory. They had no idea it was House Bartlett land.
“We never would’ve come if we had known,” Justin begged.
“What did it smell like again?” I asked.
“A deer,” Justin said.
“No, it smelled like hamburger,” one of the other members of the pack said.
“Cookies,” said another.
Cade glanced at me, and I raised an eyebrow. It was possible that they had all been so hungry that someone had saidsomething smells good, and the rest of them had just filled in the blank. But it sounded like magic to me, the Pied Piper leading the children out of town and into the mountain.
“We’ll have more questions in the morning,” Cade said.
He walked out, his magic sliding off the children, following him like a serpent. I looked at the kids one last time.
“Please, don’t just leave us here.” Justin’s eyes were wide, his breath coming fast.
Cade was waiting outside, arms crossed. Jay and Isaac were huddled together close, although both of them kept glancing at me, where I stood still in the cabin.
Closing my eyes, I forced myself to follow Cade, shutting the door on the begging pups. Isaac came up next to me, locking it. I stared at the closed door for a long beat before turning to Cade. “We can’t just leave them here. Keith just got killed here. You know it’s not safe.”
Cade narrowed his eyes, and I saw my mistake. Declan would have sneered, an implieddon’t ever question my orders in front of the helpin his curled lip. I had only made that mistake once. The second time I had made it, I had ended up with a bounty on my head.
“Let everyone know we’ll have a war council as soon as it’s light,” Cade said to Isaac. Then he moved his hand through the air, and darkness encircled us both.
I landed in his room, panting. The pain felt worse than it ever had before.
“So, this pain thing, it’s something you save special for me, like your older brother giving you the toy at the bottom of the cereal box?” I asked. “Because I definitely didn’t feel this way when Isaac took us halfway across the property.”
“Yes, I save the agony for you because I know how much you love it. It’s not like you complain every single time we go anywhere.” Cade’s face looked yellowish, the sweat coating his brow gleaming in the light of his room.
“Please. There’s just the two of us here. Don’t leave those kids out there. That’s how we lost Keith, the only person who had a clue who’s trying to kill you.” I reached for Cade, counting it as a victory when he didn’t flinch back. Gently, I ran my thumb along his forehead, wiping off the worst of his sweat.
“They aren’t there.” Cade stepped away, walking into the bathroom before I could react.
I heard the sink turn on and splashing as he rinsed his face.
His magic swirled on the ground, creating complicated patterns. More of it seemed to coalesce, seeping from the walls themselves. Frowning, I crouched down low, reaching out to touch it.
