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Using my grandmother’s first name was a calculated move. I wanted to emphasize the distance that had always been between her and me.
“I rather think you should be more concerned with your sister’s daughters right now. I have somethingyouwant. You can do something for me thatIwant. And since you are emotionally invested in the continued well-being of your nieces, I propose a trade.”
The bodies of all three of my bonded wolves stiffened at his words. I glanced from one face to another and knew there was no way they would just let me offer myself up in exchange for the girls. Not that I was overly eager to do that. I didn’t trust Alexander not to double-cross us yet again. But still. I also couldn’t leave the girls to his mercy. Not that he’d proven to actuallyhaveany of that.
“Exactly what type of…trade…are you proposing? What under the sun do you think I could ever actually do for you that is worth all the trouble you’ve gone to in this foolish quest for revenge? How many innocent lives will you take or allow to be taken just to get back at Muriel?”
“Truly you wound me if you think that’s what this is all about. Mere vengeance. No, my darling niece, this runs much deeper than that. We have the opportunity to rectify the wrong that your grandmother carried out decades ago. Necessary because that bitch refuses to make things right herself. So my proposed trade is this: When those magical reinforcements I’m sure Muriel has arranged to back you up arrive, I will drop the barrier surrounding this house and send out Regina as a token of good faith. She can confirm the girls are in excellent health. You in turn may choose an escort of 20 Shifters and magic users to accompany you into this house. At which point you’ll cast one simple spell for me. Once you do that, you, your nieces, and your escorts will be free to leave.”
“What spell?”
“A rare spell that you wouldn’t know or be able to cast without the illustrated guide I stole from your grandmother. That’s all you need to know.”
I couldn’t help but scoff. “Do you really think I’d be foolish enough to simply agree to cast any spell for you without knowing what it does? Especially after everything you’ve done. I can’t trust you. What if the spell causes citywide destruction, or murders even more innocent people, or blows up the house while we’re standing in it?”
“I swear upon Mother Moon, Father Sun, andallthe shadows and sun that the spell I require you to cast will not harm anyone. Neither directly or indirectly. Simply call me at this number when you’re ready for me to drop the barrier.”
I hung up the phone and glanced around my bonded wolves. “What do you think?”
Finn scowled darkly. “It’s a trap.”
Connor appeared more thoughtful. “I’m not so sure of that.”
Finn rolled his eyes. “So, what, you think we should just trust him?”
“No, I never said that. Hell, the man admitted to setting another trap earlier tonight. And he or the Spellbinders he’s working with set that ambush in the bank’s elevator. I think those were all steering us toward this point. Toward manipulating Ava into casting this spell for them.”
I frowned. “And what spell couldpossiblybe worth all this?”
Connor’s lips twisted sardonically as he met my gaze. “A resurrection spell.”
That had me blinking and then tilting my head in consideration. “But surely he didn’t participate in killing Ava and Maddox only to turn around and resurrect them.”
Shea let out a whistle as he pieced things together. “Not Ava and Maddox, Blondie. He wants you to resurrect his father. Your grandfather. Patrick Sheridan.”
“Your bonded wolf is correct,” a familiar, well-loved voice said from behind. “That’s exactly what that bastard is trying to force you to do. Just like we both know you can’t afford to give in to the Shadowed Radiance that would require.”
I whirled and saw six Radiant casters had approached without our even sensing them, along with twice their number in Shifter guardians who directly served the Circle rather than individual Packs. I only had eyes for one of the Radiants, however. A pretty, full-figured woman with the strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes she'd inherited from my grandmother. The same blue eyes my sister had shared.
“Aunt Bridget!” I cried, launching myself toward her.
She smiled and returned my enthusiastic embrace. “Hello, niece. I’m happy to see you again. It’s been far too long.” Her expression sobered as she glanced down the street toward the safe house, something she could sense because of the sheer power emanating from the Radiant Seal that surrounded it. Blocking off the outside world.
My gaze followed hers and I stepped back, wrapping my arms around myself. "While I don't wish to open myself to Shadowed Radiance, because I know how dangerous it can be for those who channel it, I may simply not have a choice. If I don't do what he wants, Rory and Sorsha will die. I won't stand idly by and watch that happen."
Bridget looked at me somberly. "Has anyone ever told you why Shadowed Radiance is so dangerous? Why it is so rarely spoken of among Radiants and mostly considered a fairytale by everyone else?"
I hesitated, thinking back over what little I had heard about it. "Grandmother once told me that Shadowed Radiance can be even more addictive than Radiant energy alone. She said only those with the strongest of wills and a solid Beacon bond have a chance of using it without going insane. Or without destroying themselves."
My aunt nodded. "All that is true." She glanced at my bonded wolves and then the larger group that surrounded us. I felt her tap into Radiant energy and form a Seal around just the Radiants in our group and my bonded wolves so no one else could hear her next words.
"The other reason Shadowed Radiance is spoken of so rarely is because there could be widespread panic if the truth were known Terrifying enough that such Beacons can temporarily reanimate corpses in their vicinity as mindless minions to protect them. Less widely known is that these Beacons can tap into their tethers with a Pack to permanently resurrect someone who has died. This works no matter how long that person has been dead, provided the spell is cast upon their physical remains. But the spell comes at a price for both caster and the person resurrected. A shadowy tether is formed between the two. From that moment forward, the person resurrected will have no choice but to obey any direct orders given by the magic caster. And the next time that person dies, so will the Beacon who resurrected them."
My eyes widened. "Meaning the older and weaker Pack members to whom they are tethered would immediately lose themselves in madness if an Understudy can't regain control quickly enough."
She nodded grimly. "Exactly."
I swallowed nervously. "Is that why Grandmother only temporarily reanimated Grandfather's body when he died fighting her opponent? She didn't want to risk dying herself and take the whole Pack with them if he died again during the duel?"
