Page 24 of Property of Karev

The fucker has the nerve to narrow his eyes and say, “Azalea, come. We’re all going home.”

Does he really think he has me on a leash because of his daughter? Taking her home means I’ll follow like a fucking dog?

The heat in my throat intensifies and I’m ready to send this fucker to hell when I hear my old lady firmly state, “My home is here, with my mate.”

Pure pride flows through my veins and a smirk tugs my lips. There’s nothing anyone can say due to the statement Lea just made. She’s mine, I’m hers; we belong together from here on out.

Calvania’s anger is written all over his face as he stomps out of the door, Alora walking out ahead of him. We watch as they get into the car and drive off.

“I have a feeling there’s more going on than Drexel getting dumped by Alora. She’s a hot head, and it’s clear Drexel has some serious mental issues, but somehow it doesn’t make sense,” Lea murmurs.

I turn to face her. “You’re right. And why wouldn’t he attack when the pack is protecting them? Hellhounds aren’t afraid of werewolves.”

Lea nods. “His two men were still in the car when Drexel attacked. They didn’t even so much as try to help.”

“We need to look into it. Shit. Triton might know what kind of demon is afraid of werewolves or has enough history with your family to make a long-term plan. Your father is afraid of something bigger, and it’s not just the Drexel issue.” I rub a hand over my face. “I hope whatever Triton ‘winged’ helps save Levan’s life, even if it didn’t do shit to protect Zara.”

“What? What do you mean?” She frowns.

Releasing a sigh, I explain, “Before this shit happened Triton came into church with a bag of lemon cookies for you as an apology. He swung by Zara’s place to get them; she owns a bakery. Anyway, his reasons for swinging by the bakery were a little different because he had some kind of premonition or a ripple of warning bad shit was going to happen to Zara and Levan. Since those two were going head-to-head, he didn’t exactly know what. So, he couldn’t use his magic for a specific thing and winged it.”

“Winged it. Magic. Winging magic?” Her eyes go wide. “That sounds dangerous because the chance of having it backfire is freaking huge. Wait. Magic. Witches and werewolves. I’ve read somewhere that witches use werewolf entrails in their potions and such.”

Her line of thought is brilliant. “Which means that if Drexel attacks werewolves they would know who’s working with him by smell. This could be why he didn’t attack your father after his first attempt to kill him.”

“Definitely. Though, it wouldn’t make sense unless he doesn’t want to expose the witch...or has some kind of deal to keep her out of it? Ugh. We need to know who is helping him,” Lea grumbles.

“Triton might be able to pick up on a trace of magic,” Cassia states, making me jolt.

How the hell did I forget she was near? Fuck. I’m so caught up with the shit going on and my old lady standing in front of me that I ignore my surroundings. Definitely not something I can afford right now.

Movement out the window snags my attention. “They’re back.”

They park in the parking lot and stomp inside, faces grim.

It’s Sevrin who speaks first, “We got him into the sea and once we were waist deep Levan partly shifted. The screams were fucked-up. He shifted back before fully shifting to his great white shark form. For a moment he did nothing, sinking to the bottom until he suddenly sped off and in the distance we saw him leap his massive form out of the water.”

“So, he’s okay?” Cassia asks.

The brothers stay still and it’s Triton who shrugs and says, “We won’t know until he comes back. We can hardly search the whole damn sea for him. On the other hand, his final shift was fluid and the jump out of the water was impressive enough to know he must have regained his strength. It makes sense for a shark shifter to stay in the saltwater after suffering a major injury. So, yeah...I think he’ll be okay.”

At least that’s something. Although, I don’t think the fucker will be okay ever again once he realizes Zara is gone forever.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

– AZALEA –

“Good,” Karev rumbles and asks Triton, “Any chance you can sweep the parking lot for any trace of a witch’s magic?”

Triton’s nostrils flare. “Say what now? Do you think that mutt is working with a witch? Wait, that actually makes sense.”

He doesn’t say anything else but simply turns and walks out of the clubhouse. Sevrin is standing next to Cassia and they whisper some words back and forth for a few heartbeats. Cassia holds up the baby monitor, gets a kiss from her mate and walks away into the hallway.

“Why didn’t Drexel scorch my father to dust, but instead decided to rip his head off? What was his goal? Taking his place? It doesn’t work that way. Hell, if he’d married Alora he would have been the runner-up to take my father’s place...but taking it by force by killing him?” I muse, trying to understand.

Karev shrugs. “Those type of fuckers won’t settle until they have it all. So, I’m guessing he wanted proof of your father’s death to show others instead of only a pile of ash.”

“Or he wanted to take his power,” Triton grits as he stalks back into the clubhouse. “I don’t know why I didn’t pick up the stench of a witch when that fucker attacked. He’s definitely working with one.”