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“Maybe they’re behind this one or something?” Vanya said. “Leven had checked the perimeter, he might know.”
We fell silent as we continued up the stairs. There were several bedrooms, a small library, and a sitting room they’d converted into a war room of sorts, which is where we finally stopped to explore.
They’d burned all of their maps, small pieces on the edges still distinguishable in the remnants of the hasty fire. It seemed they left in a hurry.
“He has some anger issues,” I deadpanned as I traced my finger over some of the numerous stab marks that lined its wooden surface. It was so mottled it was a wonder anyone could use it to write.
“I’d say that’s an understatement,” Callum said. “That monster thrives on pain.”
“And not the kinky kind,” Vanya said. That caught me off guard and I cracked up, lightening our somber mood a bit. “Oops, did I out you Callum?” Her voice was unapologetic and a smirk twisted her lips. I raised an eyebrow at Callum and pressed my hand into my cock that really liked the idea of the alpha dominating me.
He gave us both a dark look. “Behave or I’ll spank you both,” he growled, but there was a hint of laughter in it, life coming back into his eyes. I shot her a relieved smile behind his back, and she returned it easily. We may not know each other well, but we were a good pair.
We searched the desk and shelves, but again came up empty handed. Then it hit me. The feeling of my intuitive magic tickling my brain.
“This isn’t right. We need to go down,” I said in a hushed tone, too focused on the feel of it. Like I was in a trance, my body turned and I walked back down the stairs I’d just come up and headed to the basement stairs. We assumed it just went to the basement before but maybe we were wrong. With the first step down my magic jerked me in the opposite direction.Okay, maybe this isn’t it.
Their steps fell in with mine wordlessly as I went the opposite direction down the hall and descended a long flight of stairs that skipped what should have been the basement and went straight to the subbasement, lights flickering on as we got to the bottom.
There were several doors leading off the main room. The room itself only held old supplies and a few bits of broken furniture.
“I bet he broke all of this,” Vanya said as she pointed to a shattered table, the wood splintered as if someone had slammed a fist in the middle of it. “And what’s with all of these mirrors?”
“Maybe a bad decoration choice?” I laughed it off and headed for the first door. The smell hit me as soon as I swung it open, the scent of decay had me turning and dry heaving, thankful I didn’t feel up to breakfast today.
“Is that?” Vanya breathed out as she stepped closer, despite the smell. “Callum, it’s the tracker.”
“He failed,” Callum said grimly. “I guess the Grave Alpha didn’t like that.” He ushered her out and shut the door again. “Can’t say I’m sorry.” They’d given me a bit about the tracker, and honestly, the knowledge that such a vile person was gone had my panicked breaths slowing a little, just not enough to function quite yet. It wasn’t every day you came across a fucking rotting corpse.
Vanya didn’t say anything as she pulled me up and placed my hand on her chest, forcing me to take breaths with her. I couldn’t comprehend why it shook me like that, but it was such a shock finding him that I couldn’t forget the sight of his gaping mouth or decaying skin.I’m going to have nightmares for weeks.
“Hey guys, look at this.” I didn’t even realize Callum had stepped away but he was glancing into a room that appeared tiny, like a cell with a mattress on the floor and with a toilet in the room as well. He walked in and crouched down in front of a chain on the floor, a small shackle on the other end.
“Apparently he was keeping a pet,” I said with disgust. “A wolf from the smell of it.”
“You can smell us?” Vanya asked, horrified. I chuckled at her worry.
“Don’t worry, it’s not bad. Wolves have an earthy scent to them. Witches smell like the magic they use. Vampires like copper,” I explained.
“I feel weird now.” She snorted and shook out her limbs like she could shake off the mere idea of it. Then her face paled enough my heart stopped. “Holy shit,” she breathed out, dropping to her knees on the mattress. Her fingers traced over some etchings in the wall. Her eyesight was clearly better than mine. Wanting to see as well, I threw a quick light spell into the air, illuminating the words on the wall.
“Thanks,” she muttered under her breath. But her voice was clouded with tears.
“What is it?” I asked gently as I joined her, my hand resting on her arm.
“He didn’t just have a pet,” she choked out, “he had my sister.”
That was when I took in the words.
My name is Meira, tell my sister I’m sorry.
ChapterTwo
Vanya
“Vanya, you have to calm down,” Leven begged me. There was worry in his voice, and I could tell he was grasping at anything to help me, but there was nothing they could do.
Ever since I’d seen her name on that wall it was like everything had shifted. Finding her had been a focus, of course, but I’d been distracted by losing Callum and recruiting Torryn. It had taken me away from finding her and I’d allowed it to go on too long. This was completely my fault. I’d failed my sister… again.
