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Footsteps pounded beside him as Alexa kept up without question. The house shook once more—except it was no longer just outside. Then a loud, deafening sound sent wood splinters flying everywhere. He ducked and hauled her down when a few flew towards their heads. They dragged each other to the bedroom, slamming one open and calling out a name.
But it was too late as Archie was no longer in bed and the wall behind the bed was replaced by a hole burning at the edges.
Chapter 17
She went crazy. It was the only way to describe how Alexa felt the switch flick in her system as she went kicking and screaming, then howled for her son. But hands held her back no matter how she tried to break free, and a voice penetrated enough to stop her from exploding into her bear form. When her vision cleared, it was to find the bedroom door closing.
“House is rebuilding itself,” Isabella whispered, voice tinged with anguish. “It is exerting effort to strengthen its defenses. When it exhausts itself, I daresay only a nuclear bomb can penetrate it.”
Except it was too late, and her son was no longer here. Her heart broke at the knowledge and her body grew weak. Someone caught her before she stumbled to the ground, and she fought her dizziness, too, and held on to the whispers that sank in her mind and acted as an anchor. It helped her from fully sinking into the abyss. It urged her to snap out of it; when she did, blue eyes were the first thing she saw.
“They took my son,” she said, tears streaming down her face. Edmund wiped them away, solemn features drawing closer as he rested his forehead against hers.
“I know, my love. We will get him back. But we can’t jeopardize the rest and go through that.”
She repeatedly blinked until her vision cleared further, then glanced at where he pointed. The severity of the situation caught up to her as she eyed the Fae now gathered around the lawn, triple the amount they had once been and creating a blockade that prevented anyone from leaving. She counted them, then cursed. So did Billy, who was quaking in agitation.
“Too many. Even if I call Angelo—”
“It won’t help us one bit,” she cut in. Ideas popped into her head until one latched on insistently. “We hurt them, and they will hide Archie forever.”
“What are you suggesting?” Isabella asked.
Alexa swallowed, unable to say the words. But Edmund read her mind and announced it for her.
“We wait them out,” he said. “We wait until they leave and track Archie down after.”
As expected, the solution brought on a flurry of protests, particularly from Charlie, who was ready to go. He glared at them, then decided that Edmund was to be blamed.
“That’s a stupid idea. We will miss them if we wait. They are on the run now, and it’s best if we track them down while their prints are still fresh.”
“And that’s just what they want,” Alexa countered. “Charlie, don’t you trust me?”
“What?” Charlie reared back, taken aback. “Of course, I trust you.”
“Then, will you trust me on this one?”
He opened his mouth, then snapped it shut. He inhaled deeply and let it out with a conceding grumble.
“Waiting it is. But how the hell are we supposed to track them?”
“That part’s easy,” Isabella crooned out, inclining her head. They all turned to look in the direction she was referring to and were mesmerized when the grass slowly moved. To anyone else, it was in response to the wind as even the Fae didn’t seem to care. But to their observing eyes, they watched each sway throw dots in the air and latch on to the Fae’s clothes, then blend in with their colors. She exclaimed in satisfaction. “See? Very easy.”
Half an hour later, the Fae seemed to figure out that no one was coming out and left in groups. When the yard looked empty, Charlie impatiently tried to march out but was stoppered when Billy held up a hand.
“Wait a bit,” he suggested.
Seconds later, the grass shimmered with blinding power until two Fae in hiding were whipped out and sent running. Billy let go of Charlie as the younger man dashed out, exploding into his bear form when he landed on the porch. The rest followed, but the yard remained empty, with no traces of energy left behind.
“They are gone,” Isabella said. “Truly gone.”
“Not for long.” Billy’s eyes glinted. “Sweetheart?”
“I can see the lines as clear as day.”
“So, we track,” he declared.
“We track!” Charlie mirrored with conviction.
