Page 131 of The Howl
“Awful bitch,” Mom muttered before her door closed.
I opened my door and debated which was more pressing. Speaking to my Mom alone or finding out what had Mrs. Quill calling for her sister in such a worried tone?
Mrs. Quill and my fear for Ashlyn won. I ran quietly down the hall and stopped by Mr. Quill’s office door. At first, I couldn’t make out what was being said. Then a voice, angry and female, came through clearly.
“Enough,” Megan said sharply.
“We acknowledge that you were unable to sense his wickedness, but that doesn’t absolve us of our obligation to determine what he is planning to do with all that life energy,” Adira said.
“From now until the end of time, Oanen belongs to me,” Megan said, her voice ringing with the full power of a fury. “Any task he chooses to perform on behalf of the Council, he does with me at his side. And since I have spent time with Zayn Sias and have found him to be completely without any trace of wickedness, I will not waste my time tracking him down. Casting spells with life energy is not against the laws of Mantirum or mankind. Your persistence in finding the druid seems unusually driven. I think, perhaps, I would like to question you about that as well as your insistence in naming Nicolette Barchim guilty of a crime she was proven not to have committed.”
I grinned and pressed my cheek closer to the wood.
“We understand your warning,” Adira said. “Congratulations on your ascension, Fury.”
“Thanks, Adira. We’ll see you soon.”
“Soon?” Adira said, letting her panic show. “What do you mean?”
There was a pause then someone swore.
“We cannot afford to have her return,” Mr. Quill said. “Not yet.”
“No, you’re right,” Adira agreed. “Everything would be chaos if she returned now.”
I smirked at the fear in Adira’s voice. It was about time she realized she couldn’t push everyone around.
“Is there any word from Raiden on the missing human, Ashlyn?” Mrs. Quill asked.
“Nothing,” Adira said. “We have a choice to make. Employ a druid to attempt a locator spell or let the Fury start questioning people when she returns.”
“You know what will happen if she goes out seeking the wicked here,” Mr. Quill said. “Many of our young will die because of mistakes made in ignorance or plain stupidity.”
“What do we do, then?” Mrs. Quill asked.
“If we can’t find a way to stall her, we encourage Megan and Oanen to come here to visit you,” Adira said.
“Here?”
“Nicolette won’t be able to resist a newly mated pair. Hopefully, her hunger will keep them distracted long enough for us to find the missing girl and spare some innocent lives because I highly doubt whatever happened to Ashlyn was wicked enough for a trip to hell.”
I hurried away from the door, retracing my steps while my mind raced. I’d wanted Megan back for so long that I’d never stopped to think what that might mean. Especially with Mom here and Ashlyn missing. Adira was right in that Mom would have a hard time resisting a new couple’s lust. But more than that, what would a new fury think about a best friend who illegally hired underage druids?
In my room, I lay on my bed and wondered how I’d deal with this new problem. Outside, the light gradually faded.
* * *
A cool breezecaressed my cheek a moment before lips pressed against my skin.
“My sweet girl,” Mom said.
“Is it time to go already?” I said, forcing myself to sit up. “What do you want me to wear?”
She made a sound between upset and annoyed at my toneless questions.
“She really has broken your spirit, hasn’t she?” Mom asked.
“Who?”
