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“It’s also possible the demon is loose, hiding in the woods or terrorizing another town,” Scarlett added.
“You think?” I asked.
“No, probably not. I mean, it’s possible, but Zoe’s hunch makes more sense. He’d have wanted to test you. See what you were capable of, and get a feel for the power hidden under the soil,” Scarlett explained.
“What happens if he finds it?” I asked.
Zoe chewed on her bottom lip, a nervous trait I hadn’t seen since she returned to town a few years ago.
“Zoe?”
“With that much bloodstone, the power would be limitless. We’re talking a permanent portal between all the worlds. Releasing everything and anything into our realm. Power over all beings on earth,” she said.
“Just that, huh?” I often wondered why our ancestors hadn’t just destroyed the stones, but they were so deep underground the excavation was out of reach until modern times. Even if we wanted to go after it, we’d have to dig deep into the earth’s surface for years. Hiding that kind of operation would be a challenge.
Then there was the fact that nobody knew if you could actually destroy the stone.
“Does your whole pack know about this?” Scarlett asked.
I shook my head. “The council knows, so I’m sure enough people know, but most of them fixate on the resources that can be spent.” It was how we kept this place running, after all. The stockpile of gold and silver ore from the early days of the pack was massive. We’d sell some when needed to keep things afloat.
“I told Morgan we’d meet her tonight,” Zoe said, taking us back to the original plan. “We need to see if she’s on our side before we ask this of her.”
“What do you propose?” Even as my instincts fought against the idea of using Morgan as bait to test her father, I mentally prepared to sacrifice her for the good of the pack; for the good of the world. We couldn’t afford to let this monster find the bloodstone.
ChapterFifteen
Morgan
After spending a week avoiding Luke,it was odd to be sitting in his living room waiting for Zoe to arrive. He looked just as uncomfortable as I felt.
“Thanks for leaving food for me,” I finally said to break the silence.
“You’re welcome,” he said.
Every time I let myself look at him, I recalled the morning I’d run into him in just his shorts and had to make myself look away. Why was I like this around him? I had no problem sassing back to everyone I met but the longer I was here, the less I wanted to be hostile toward the male who had literally kidnapped me.
Something was very wrong with me.
Maybe it was likeBeauty and the Beast. That whole finding your captor attractive thing. I was going to have to watch myself. It wasn’t like there weren’t other attractive males in town. For such a small place, there were a few choices if I was really feeling the need to connect with someone on a physical level.
My stomach churned as I recalled the earlier conversation with Zoe. If I didn’t find a way to prevent going into heat, it might come down to that. When I was young, I could resist the urge to scratch that itch. As I got older, I recalled it getting more intense. Harder to ignore. I wasn’t sure what it would be like now after denying it for so long.
Shit. I had to stop thinking about sex. What was with me? This didn’t normally preoccupy my thoughts, but Luke was sitting right there looking amazing. I was definitely slipping into that whole crush on your captor situation.
“So, how are you liking town?” Luke asked.
“It’s nice,” I said. “I’m sure it gets cold as soon as winter arrives.”
“It does,” he agreed.
“I noticed a few aspen groves in the distance. Are they in the pack limits?” The trees were starting to turn, and they’d be gorgeous up close in the coming weeks.
“They are. I can show you if you’d like,” he offered.
Flutters filled my chest. I was stuck here anyway, and it wasn’t like I wasdoinganything with him. “That’d be nice.”
Finally, the sound of the front door opening broke through the awkwardness. I felt myself relax as I heard footsteps approach. Zoe entered the room, followed by two people I didn’t know.
