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“It does seem likely that they’ve fled,” Eli said, “But I think Ashworth, Aiden, and I should remain out here to keep guard, while Monty and Liz go in. Her magic has proven the most potent against these people.”
Well, against the basilisk, at any rate.
Monty glanced at me, then at my nod, moved forward. The steps up to the rear deck creaked under our weight, the sound scratching at my nerves. The back door was unlocked. Monty warily pushed it open but didn’t immediately enter, his gaze searching the interior shadows.
There was no sound, no movement, no obvious spells. The air drifting our way was warm though, so perhaps the fire remained lit.
We went in, checking each of the rooms before moving on. There was plenty of evidence of a hasty retreat, but absolutely no sign of vampires or vampire traps.
By the time we reached the bar area I’d seen through the stones, it was pretty obvious they’d fled. Maybe in killing their snake, we’d weakened them.
Or maybe they simply weren’t ready to sully confront us yet.
“Damn,” Monty said. “Missed them.”
“Yeah.” I walked across the room to the small table. The hand was no longer there, but the stones remained, sitting on top of a hastily written note.
You win this time, little witch, it said.But I have your measure now. Send my best wishes to my mother and tell her I will see her suffering soon.
It had been signed with a couple of Xs.
I checked the note for magic then picked it up and handed it to Monty.
“Well, the game remains afoot, Watson,” he said after a moment. “I can’t say I am in any way disappointed.”
I snorted and shoved him toward the rear door. “You’re certifiable, you know that?”
“Maybe. Thing is, I’ve got a feeling this is the big one. The last swansong of evil being called here by the wellspring’s fading waves.”
“I hope you’re right.”
He glanced at me, eyebrows raised. “Even as you know I’m not?”
“Fears you’re not,” I corrected.
“Ah, that’s a very different thing, my dear cousin. We can do this. We can beat these bastards and settle down into a more peaceful life.”
“I thought you didn’t want a boringly peaceful life?”
“I’m going to marry Belle. Life will never be boring.” His grin flashed. “Besides, I have a book on beasties to write.”
I laughed and shoved him out the door.
Darkness might be plotting against us even now, but for the moment, we had time and space to regroup and plan our response.
And that was a win in my book.
Epilogue
Once again, I stood beside Aiden in the middle of the O’Connors’ great hall. This was it. This was decision time. The moment we found out whether or not we’d be allowed to stay within the compound—whether our child would be allowed to run under the moonlight with the rest of the pack.
Aiden had made his case. His mother had made hers. To my surprise, what she’d concentrated on was not so much how dangerous my magic could be—a hard sell, given that same magic had saved the lives of many in this room—but rather the danger of allowing one outsider in and the snowball effect it could have in the future.
Which, in many respects, was a reasonable argument.
Karleen was many things—and she and I would never be, in any way, friends—but she wasn’t stupid.
But this decision wasn’t just about where we lived. It held ramifications for our daughter and what she would become. I couldn’t just stand here mutely. I wasn’t a wolf; I had no rights in this place—and maybe never would—but I nevertheless had to take a stand. I was to be an alpha’s wife. I needed to start acting like one.
