Page 135 of Mage Massacres

“Yeah,” I commented absently, rubbing my hands on my thighs. “That sounds about right. I can’t see what it is yet. Something is blocking me.”

“That’s Alric,” Rig replied, clearing the front entry stairs in one long stretch of his legs. “He’s trying to slow you down. You can’t trust your Sight until he’s dead. I’m sure he has plenty of my magic stored and ready for use. There’s no way to know everything that he carries up his sleeves.”

I shrugged. “I’m learning as I go. The downside to that is not having centuries of practice. The upside is not having centuries of people telling me how to use my magic. I’ve never really trusted my Sight because I couldn’t control it. But I trust my intuition, and my gut is telling me—”

“Bad things are on the horizon?” he guessed. “I think we’re all starting to feel it, Moonlight. It’s stronger today than it was yesterday.”

“Tensions are high, Pretty Lady,” Dad called from the doorway, his arms crossed as he stared at the sky. “My wolf is restless, howling like it’s a full moon.”

I tilted my head to the left, wanting to agree but unable to. My wolf had been quiet, and the demon I shared my soul with hadn’t stirred today. Since I was a child, they’d been in my mind, fading to background noise over time, but their silence was conspicuous.

“You leaving now?” Dad asked.

“Yes, sir. We’re making a quick stop in Wales, and then we’re off to Oxford.”

“Wales? Oh.” He rubbed his beard. “Why the lycans? They’ve stuck to the Cambrian Mountains for centuries.”

I took a deep breath, glancing at the night witch beside me. “We’re going to get Miller’s last mate. He’s the alpha’s son.”

Dad sucked air through his teeth. “Page, yeah? Afton is a riot, but Cady is…”

“Caddell is an ass?” Millie snickered. “Afton is lovely when her mate isn’t around.”

The previous Supreme Alpha pointed at her. “That. You might sweet-talk him, though you’d be better off fighting him for respect.”

“That’s one of the plans,” I admitted. “But I’m going to try reasoning first.”

Dad tossed his head back, snorting with laughter. “How are you going to reason with him, cub? The lycans have always hated that they fall under the shifter umbrella when it comes to laws and regulations.”

“I’m going to politely point out that he threatened the guild’s apprentice. Before I do that, I’m going to inform him that I’m his Supreme Alpha. They may stay to themselves, but the fact that he can’t disobey me means that he still falls beneath me in the hierarchy.”

I rolled my shoulders back. “I always thought having all these titles would be a burden, but I’m starting to realize that the lines between them are blurring.”

Dad sobered. “Explain,” he softly demanded, trying to follow my logic.

“According to pack law, threatening harm against a member of any Alpha’s pack is a direct threat to the Alpha himself—or herself. As I’m now the guild’s High Priestess, Miller falls under my protection.”

He squinted at me but nodded to let me know he was following.

“My protection,” I repeated, index finger poking my chest.

“Oh,” Rig sang, grinning like the Cheshire cat.

I pursed my lips, raising my brows as high as I could get them. Charlie King was a smart man, but sometimes he was a little slow at connecting the dots.

“I’m his alpha, Dad,” I said in exasperation.

“No, shit.” He chuckled, his excitement palpable. “Cady is going to love that argument.”

“We’re ready. Waiting for you, Barbie,” Briggs grouched in my mind. “Novak checked us into a hotel in Oxford, and Palmer gave him the alias of his choice. Please, do not leave them in charge again. Anyone with half a brain will know it’s a fake name.”

“What is it?” I inquired.

“N. Joey Magoo.”

I cackled, and Murphy snapped his attention to me. “Why are you laughing?”

“The guys are done,” I told them before turning to Dad and Rig. “We’re leaving. We’ll be in the fae realm this time tomorrow, and I’m guessing there’s no cell reception there. Maybe hellfire will work, maybe not. I filled Jack in on the happenings, and he knows how to find me. I asked for fifteen days, but I’m hoping it will be a lot quicker than that.”