Page 93 of The Witch’s Daughter

“I’m not sure that’s the best idea…” My voice trailed off when I saw the look on Alec’s face. “Right. Tisiphone thinks Vincent is performing blood magic and he’s convinced some followers to join him. She’s trying to get proof. Then she’ll get out of there.”

“Blood magic?” Meg gasped. “Nope. That’s it. She’s pushing this too far. We’re going to get her.”

“I thought you said we’re not supposed to argue with Kera.” Alec rolled her eyes.

“But Trish can’t take on an evil warlock alone,” Meg cried. “You’re right. This is crazy. We never should’ve let her go in the first place. Kera is going to get her killed.”

“She’ll be fine.” Alec nodded in my direction. “She’s using her magic again, right?”

“What do you mean again?” Meg growled. “Trish always uses it. And look how it always ends up. Coupled with this dark magic, there’s no telling—”

“Will you shut up?” Alec growled back at her sister. “She was doing that for you. For all of you. Don’t you see it? Trish literally turned herself off so that she could take care of everyone else, and you’ve fed into it since day one.”

I blinked, shocked, but not all that surprised to hear Alec saying this out loud.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. She—”

“Don’t you?” Alec cut her off. “You were fine with her working for you, and being a good little beta wolf, just like the rest of the pack treated her. Someone you could save. That all of you could save because you have this hero wolf complex and nothing to use it on.”

I knew she wasn’t talking to me, but I still felt scolded. I decided to never speak to Alec again before she finished her morning coffee.

“You’re so full of it.” Meg shook her head. “Ever since you moved out, you think you’re better than us. But I care about my sister. I care about both of you, and I would never intentionally do anything to hurt any of my family.”

There was something in that statement that sobered Alec a bit, but she didn’t apologize. “If you really cared, you’d trust that Trish isn’t a pup anymore and that she can take care of herself.”

“I…” Meg blew out a heavy breath, realizing I was still standing there. “Sorry,” she said. “We’re all worked up about this.”

“I understand.” I itched to leave, but didn’t want to risk their ire, and it was interesting to learn more about Tisiphone this way, even if it felt like eavesdropping.

I hadn’t realized her family was always so intense, but maybe that’s how families were. It wasn’t as if I had any real reference otherwise.

Alec’s claws descended as she drummed them against the tables. Her tone was as sharp as the clawed tips. “What are you waiting for? We’ll relay the message. Now go make yourself useful and take care of our sister.”

My wolf didn’t even blink at the clear challenge and dismissal in the sigma female’s command.

Please don’t make her tell you twice.

33

Trish

I didn’t know how I’d ignored my intuition all these years because my gut screamed at me now to hurry up. Even my wolf was strangely on board, quiet as she lent me her strength and speed.

I’m not a heartless beast.

Never said you were.

I flew through the tents, chasing the scream that was cut short, and hearing nothing more than the pounding of my feet as I ran straight into the worship tent full of statues, where I came to a screeching halt.

The pews held room for at least a hundred witches and warlocks. Though they weren’t all full, and more people were still coming inside, that wasn’t what stopped me in my tracks.

On the star-shaped dais, gagged and bound, Calla looked at me, screaming with her eyes. Her wolves were nowhere to be seen, and she tugged uselessly against the restraints when she saw me. They must’ve been magic-infused to hold her that way.

Beside her, smiling like he was expecting my arrival, was Vincent.

My wolf growled as I stalked forward, moving slowly as if caught in the quicksand of a dream. Because this wasn’t real. Maybe I’d slipped into the drug tent again, or this was the lingering effects of numerous orgasms last night. There was no possible reality where this could be happening. It had to be a joke.

But Calla wasn’t laughing.