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That’s what being the Alpha is. Doing the hard things to protect everyone in your pack.
I sighed. Fine. But when this goes to shit, I get to say I told you so.
He smiled, dimples denting his cheeks. Deal.
I cleared my throat. “This isn’t going to work…” No one stopped talking. They kept on arguing. I turned to Dastien. Do I get up on the table again? Because I was kind of hoping that was a one-time thing.
Be rude.
I raised an eyebrow at him. Really? Because Lucas hated it. As I thought of him, I glanced his way. Apparently he’d noticed that I was trying to get their attention, because he was watching me.
I shrugged. “I’m going to do it again,” I said quietly, but Lucas was paying attention. I knew he’d hear me just fine.
“I think you should,” he said just as quietly. I watched his mouth move so I could be sure I was hearing him correctly. “Show them what you really are.”
That was a bit deep. What was I really? Who was I? I wasn’t sure yet. I was still way too young to have all the answers. Or any answers if I was being honest. But I shoved that all aside, and I let my wolf rise, feeling her tingle along my skin. Power built until I felt like I was going to burst at the seams. “Stop.” I pushed power, making my voice heard over all the chatter. “Everyone shut up.”
The room quieted at an instant. I sneaked a look at Albert, who was turning red, but remained silent.
“About damned time,” Cosette said. “I was beginning to wonder why I came all this way.”
“What the hell was that?” Blaze said.
Blaze been perfectly nice, and I didn’t take any joy in pissing him off. “We’re running out of time tonight,” I said as calmly as I could manage. “I don’t know what we’re in store for, but Astaroth is close. He nearly came through the open circle in what’s left of Luciana’s house a few hours ago in daylight, and I know he’ll come tonight if he can. She did magic here and I’m just not certain…” I didn’t need to get into all of that. “We don’t have time to do the spell to form the new ruling bond now—I don’t even know if we have all the ingredients yet—which means we have to be prepared to run any minute now.” I was praying that was an extreme exaggeration.
“And who made you boss?” Albert said.
I shrugged, trying to ignore his shitty tone. “Dastien bit me a few months ago, so you could blame him? Or you could say that since I was supposed to rule the Texas coven, you could blame my grandmother? Or you could really go for the big one and blame God?” Cosette laughed, and I barely held in my own snicker. “As soon as we’ve figured out everything we need, I’m going to have to cast a circle to do the s
pell. Any way I cut it, it has to happen because I’m going to be the link between the supernaturals. When I do, Astaroth is going to come through. He’ll be pissed and want to stop us. I’m going to need you guys to fight while the rest of us form the bond.”
“Who’s fighting and who’s forming the bond?” Blaze said. “Just to be clear.”
I blew out a breath. “We need three of each—witch, fey, and Were. And then me, because I’m a mix. I’m thinking—”
“May I make a suggestion?” Blaze interrupted.
“Sure.” I was open to suggestions, within reason.
“How about four each? That makes twelve. One more—you—makes thirteen.”
“Isn’t thirteen bad luck?” I asked him.
“The number thirteen is a lot of things to a lot of different cultures and religions. It can be good or bad luck, depending on the purpose, but most everyone agrees that it’s a powerful number. I hope that for your purposes the added power boost would be worth the risk.”
I wasn’t sure I wanted any more risk than I was already taking, but if the result was more power? That was too good to pas up. “So, that changes things. For witches, I’d been thinking Claudia, Shane—if I can convince him—and I’m not sure who else. Cosette, can you get three others?”
She sighed. “I can get one for sure. I’ve an idea for another, but I’ll do my best.”
“And the queens?” Meredith said. “Will they be okay with this?”
Cosette laughed and it sounded like bells. “My mother didn’t want me coming, but she agreed to it. Three more, not a chance. But I have some leverage I’m can try to use. We can’t stand by when our leaving helped cause some of this death and destruction.” She sighed. “She’ll agree if I can be convincing enough.”
I blew out a breath. It wasn’t a firm this-is-happening, but it was about as close to that as I could hope for.
Donovan leaned closer to the camera, nearly filling up the whole screen. “Who’re ya thinkin’ for the Weres?” His eyes glittered as he grinned. “I’m out of the running—I’ve enough on my hands here—but I’m curious what this lot is going to do when you tell ‘em.”
“How do you know it’s going to piss them off?” It was. For sure. But how did Donovan know?
