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“We’ve covered all the reasons running won’t work,” Willa replies. “This is the only way to ensure the pack’s safety. If they have me, they have no reason to come after you guys. Lie low until I get back, and if I don’t—” She trails off for a moment. “Then you run.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come?” Drexel asks. “I can help.”
“No. You stay here, keep Mags safe.” Delaney tucks her blade away and shrugs into a leather jacket.
“You two will be safe here.” Bronywyn pulls on her own hunter green jacket. “I’ve reinforced the wards with Magnolia’s blood, so the magic will not fail should anything happen to me. Though you guys need to get Winnie and Ivan and then get out of here quickly. You can use the safe house. I updated it so Magnolia can access it, and I showed her how to sever the connection.”
That safe house and the connection here gave us a place to hide Delaney as she healed from the blood loss she suffered while being held captive by Lucy. I’ve no doubt it will give Drexel and Magnolia a perfect escape route should they need one.
“Hell, bring the entire pack through it,” she offers, turning to Willa.
Jaw tight, the pack alpha nods at Bronywyn, then at Z.
“Please promise me we won’t need a place to hide,” Magnolia says softly as she gently cradles a hand wrapped in gauze. Likely an injury created by Bronywyn when she’d used her blood to reinforce the wards this morning.
“I wish I could.” Bronywyn offers her a tight smile. “Tell Winnie nothing until it’s necessary.” Reaching into her pocket, she withdraws a piece of paper. “Twenty-four hours, and you give her this.”
Magnolia nods and takes the paper, hand shaking as it closes on the note that likely contains Bronywyn’s heartfelt goodbye to a woman who was more than a friend to her over the years.
“I spoke with Brad this morning,” I tell them. “He’s prepared to keep the cleaners and my pub open for business. And should anything happen to us, he has what he needs to go after the councils.”
“If you can’t manage it, what makes you think he can?” Drexel asks.
It’s an honest question, so I’m not offended. “It’s well known that we are the ones who stopped Heather and Lucy. That we came forward to protect when the councils chose to stay out of it. He plans to take my summons as well as the knowledge of what happens to us at the council’s hands, and use it to recruit.”
“Fuck. You’re going to have him start a war.”
“Not start it,” I tell Rainey. “Finish it.”
“Seems you were busy while we were all sleeping.” Elijah smiles. “Smart move.”
“It’s the only way to ensure our deaths mean something. The council cannot be left unchecked, and if we can’t end the fuckers, then I’m damn sure going to make sure someone can.”
“Do you think he’ll be able to recruit?”
“With us gone, the councils will likely no longer be on high alert, opening up an opportunity for him. Opportunity made easier by the perfectly legal cleaning company and the perfectly legal pub, which will put him in direct contact with supernaturals who already hate the councils.”
“I’ll help,” Eira offers.
“You’ll be opening yourself up to the council,” Elijah reminds her. “Is that such a good idea?”
“I won’t let your deaths be in vain,” she replies. “I wish I could come with you now.”
“You won’t make it into the building without them capturing you,” Fearghas snaps.
“I know that,” Eira retorts.
“You guys are all talking like we’re going to die in there,” Delaney chokes out. “We could very well survive.”
“Optimism is key,” Cole adds.
“Optimism doesn’t always help. Sometimes realistic expectations are best,” Rainey replies. “And realistically, I don’t see this going any other way.”
“Walker have any more visions?”
Rainey shrugs. “I called this morning but got a text back instead. Said he was busy but asked us to let him know if we come up with any ideas that wouldn’t get us killed.”
“Well, this is it then, huh?” Bronywyn comes to stand beside me, and together we face our friends. Every single one of us is battle-ready, from weapons to mental space. Cole, Delaney, Elijah, Rainey, Willa, Bronywyn, and myself.
