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Leaving Alexander to approach with a hardbound leather book in his hands. It reminded me of an old-fashioned journal from another century. Finn growled loudly, but Ava patted him on the arm, successfully soothing him. She then reached out to yank the book from Alexander, earning an amused smile. Our twisted uncle stepped back, eyes focused on Ava as she opened the journal to a page that had been bookmarked.
She scanned the spell quickly. I glanced at the book, noting a group of illustrations similar to the ones showing Muriel Sheridan resurrecting her husband on the left-hand page and words describing the process on the right. It seemed ridiculously straightforward for such a powerful spell. One with potentially devastating consequences for both our Beacon and Pack.
I wanted to forbid her from eventhinkingabout casting that spell, but that wasn’t my call to make. It was hers. And there was little Rory to consider. We’d only gottenoneof our nieces to safety.
So I bit back the foolish veto I wanted to utter and instead touched Ava’s arm as she read. Sending supportive emotions through our bond. Letting her know without words that I would be there to fight for her no matter what. We were the fangs and claws to back up her magic. And Alexander was about to discover he’d chosen the wrong Pack with whom to fuck around and find out…
* * *
Finn
I glanced briefly at the book Ava snatched from Alexander’s hands but kept most of my attention focused on the enemies lining the room all too few feet away from our woman.Our mate!my inner wolf impatiently corrected.
Fuck, I would be proud as hell to call this amazing woman our mate. But first we had to survive the shit-storm in front of us. Not to mention save our other niece. Andthenwe needed to smash in Alexander’s double-crossing face. Picturing that in my mind made it just a little bit easier to wait patiently while Ava examined the spell Alexander wanted her to cast.
Part of me wanted to grab that book fromherhands and rip it to shreds. The last thing I wanted our little Beacon to do was risk herself even more by using the dangerous Shadowed Radiance her aunt had cautioned against. But Alexander had our backs against the wall right now. I was sure he had an equally large group holding Rory and Marie hostage out of our sight. They undoubtedly had orders to kill one or both of them if we tried to fight our way to that room. Ava might have no choice but to cast that spell.
But casting it wouldn’t automatically guarantee Rory’s safety. We all feared Alexander might betray us again even if Avadidresurrect his father. Although to be fair, Alexander hadn’t even said that his father was the person he wanted resurrected. And I definitely didn’t see anything that could be the man’s remains anywhere nearby.
Ava glanced up from the journal and met Alexander’s expectant gaze. “I have some questions.”
He nodded. “Ask away.”
“First, whereexactlydid you get this book?”
A smile teased his lips. “I stole it from the same mausoleum where I retrieved my father’s funeral urn. It’sMuriel’sold journal. I’m surprised your grandmother didn’t mention the theft. Even if she had no way of knowing I was the responsible party.”
Ava’s expression tightened but she let that go unremarked. “Second, why do you seem so sure Icancast this spell? I’ve never channeled Shadowed Radiance.”
Alexander let out an outright laugh at that. “Oh my, I see your grandmother hasdefinitelybeen keeping secrets from you. Why do you thinkshebelieves you can cast Shadowed Radiance? Because you did it as a child.”
She frowned. “I’m pretty damned sure I would remember resurrecting someone, no matter how long ago.”
He shook his head. “There are many ways to use Shadowed Radiance besides resurrecting or reanimating corpses. Which is where legends surrounding zombies originated.” He gestured toward the journal. “May I?” Ava’s eyes narrowed, but she handed him the book. He flipped to an earlier page and held it out. She accepted it and began reading what sounded like a journal entry aloud.
“My worst fears have been realized, and little Ava has inherited my Shadowed Radiance. She grew so angry when Kayleigh took one of her toys that she shadow-stepped from one side of their playroom to the other. The whites of her eyes turned black and she started casting shadows toward Kayleigh, but fortunately I reached her in time to cut her off with a Radiant Seal. Her parents and I need to discuss how we can bind this magic until she’s an adult. Power this strong can’t be permanently bound—I know that from firsthand experience—but we can’t have Ava hurting herselforher sister. Mother Moon protect them both.”
Ava’s voice trailed off and she bit her lip uncertainly. Likely confused by the fact her grandmother seemed so concerned for both her and Kayleigh. I was honestly surprised by that fact myself. It didn’t track with everything I’d always believed about the Dragon Lady. What pretty much all of us had believed. I couldn’t help wondering whether we’d gotten it at least partially wrong.
It for damned sure wouldn’t be the first time I’d been wrong where the Sheridan women were concerned. And Mother Moon willing, we’d all survive long enough that it wouldn’t be the last…
15
AVA
Ifrowned and met Alexander’s gaze directly. “Third question: Who precisely is it you want me to cast this spell upon?”
A strangely intense expression crossed his face. “Ultimately? The father who Muriel Sheridan stole from me. From his Pack. From us all. But first, I’ll need a little insurance that you can actually do what I believe you can. This spell can only be cast once upon any set of remains because it destroys them utterly if it fails. No sense in risking getting it wrong the first time.”
My pulse picked up speed. “Surely you don’t think I’d be foolish enough to risk myself by resurrecting two people. That’s double the danger for all of us. For my Pack.”
His lips twisted. “I’m still not sure I fully believe Muriel’s claims that the magic works that way. Regardless, I won’t risk my father’s one shot at redemption without proof it will work.”
“And I won’t agree to put myself or those lives that are my responsibility at risk for some random person!”
“Oh, my darling niece. It’s not a random person who you’ll be taking that risk for, but someone you dearly love and have a clear interest in resurrecting.” He nodded to his minion waiting on the wings. “Bring her!”
Sudden dread gripped my stomach as a door at the end of the hall opened and two figures pushed a casket toward us. One that carried the St. Louis Pack’s official crest on top of it. My gaze rushed back to Alexander and by the smug expression on his face, I just knew who had to be in the ornate wooden box.
