Page 4 of Freed Wolfsbane

“Anytime, Saint. You’re one of us now, part of the family. We look after our own.” Bastian slaps me on the back and starts walking through the forest back to the Wyldhart house. Realizing I don’t know how to get back, I hurry to follow him.

A lump forms in my throat at Bastian’s solemn words. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like part of a family. I’ve been too scared to get close to anyone after losing my parents and Briar, but the loneliness has been slowly eating away at me.

“Thanks.” My voice comes out choked up, but Bastian doesn’t comment on it. He just flashes me a grin over his shoulder, and we walk the rest of the way in silence.

When we get back to the house, I start toward Rhys’s makeshift command center. I’m betting that’s where I’ll find him.

“Come find me after you talk to the mage,” Bastian calls before I get too far. “Staying busy will help, so I’m sure we can find some way to help with the search from here.”

I give him a nod and a half smile that doesn’t reach my eyes. That smile’s the most genuine one I’ve had in the last twenty-four hours though.

When I reach the dining room, it’s empty except for Rhys. He’s bent over a stack of papers, his laptop open next to him. He’s so absorbed in his work that he doesn’t notice my approach until I’m standing in front of him. Raising his eyebrows, he eyes me warily. “You back to start the fight you were so clearly itching for, McAlister?”

Huffing a laugh because I deserve that, I shake my head. “No. I just wanted to say that you were right, and I’m sorry.”

The tension drains out of his broad shoulders as he stands, unfolding to his full height. “You’re good. I get that this isn’t what you wanted, so I understand your frustration.”

“It was still crossing a line, Rhys. I know I work for you, but I consider you a friend. You didn’t deserve what I said.”

Rhys flashes me a rare smile. “You’re a hard man to get to know, but I consider you a friend, too, McAlister.” He sobers as he leans his hip against the long oak table. “We will find her. I vow on everything I am that I won’t stop until we find your mate and bring her home.”

For some reason, I believe him. I just can’t shake the feeling that we’ll be too late to bring my little shadow home whole.

CHAPTER3

BRIAR

I’ve been sitting in this sterile, cold, and kind of creepy classroom for forty-five minutes, if the cracked clock on the wall is to be believed. After manhandling me down three long hallways, the guards unceremoniously dumped me in this empty room.

While there are rows of desks with blue chairs attached, a white board, and a desk at the front, there’s no one in here aside from me. I’m slowly going out of my mind sitting here wondering what will happen next, which I’m sure is the point.

I have the urge to get up and start pacing, just for something to do. The large mirror on the left side of the classroom stops me, though. I’m fairly certain it’s a two-way mirror, and I’d bet my spleen that the Knights are watching me. Instead of letting them know how much they’re getting to me, I sit here and do my best to appear unbothered.

Another five minutes tick by agonizingly slowly before a whirring noise sounds in the silent classroom. I look around in alarm, trying to figure out what’s happening. I slump back in my seat when I realize the noise was from a projector screen lowering. My face scrunches in confusion as some sort of movie starts playing.

“At the dawn of the universe,” a female voice starts, her speech echoing like a gunshot in the silent room as an animation of space and what looks like magic starts playing, “a blast of magic tore through space. From this raw magic dust, all life sprung forth. Our own planet was formed when a ball of pure magic generated enough gravitational force to draw rocks and other space debris to itself. Overtime, these space materials condensed down around the magic, liquifying it and forming our planet.”

As the woman talks, I only get more confused. Why are the Knights showing me a film about the start of the universe and Earth? How the universe and planets form is something every supernatural kindergartener learns. Humans are oblivious, understanding the mechanics behind planet formation, plate tectonics, and how Earth sustains life but not that magic powers it all.

“In Earth’s infancy, magic leaked out into the planet freely, spawning life of all sorts. But this unchecked magic created chaos.” The video cuts to scenes of dinosaurs ripping each other apart, giant sea creatures destroying other smaller ones, and primitive-looking humans warring with and killing their fellow people.

“Only the rise of technology stopped the rampant violence and brought order to the world.” Scenes of ancient Greek and Roman cities show people living in harmony with each other, a stark contrast to the bloody battles that were just on the screen.

Well, that’s just plain untrue.

The rise of human technology thousands of years ago is what ushered in the decline of magic and created the magicless humans that roam Earth today. No one knows why technology suppressed the natural magic on Earth so much. One theory is that magic sensed the danger of tech, like war machines and destructive agriculture tools, and retreated into Earth’s core to keep itself safe.

Humans that know about magic, like the Knights of Aeneas, have been butt hurt about it since. They’re obsessed with finding a way to access magic again.

“It is the Knights of Aeneas’s mission to preserve the peace technology created by ensuring that no one has magic. Only the Knights of Aeneas, the rightful stewards of magic, should be able to access this dangerous power. We thank you for your sacrifice. Without it, the important work we do here would be impossible.”

My what now?

Excuse me, random lady, but I never signed up to sacrifice anything. And I’m certainly not a willing participant in helping the Knights of Aeneas eradicate all supernaturals.

Maintaining order my ass. They are the ones who cause chaos, death, and destruction everywhere they go.

I’m still trying to wrap my head around the nonsense that movie just spewed when a door next to the mirror, which definitely wasn’t there before, swings inward. A woman with her blonde hair pulled back into a severe bun walks through the door before it closes behind her with a click.

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