Page 51 of Hell and Hexes
Chapter 21
Sylvie
We stood in the charred remains of Dallas’s compound, bits of the forest still smoking. I cringed, avoiding Cassie’s eyes, knowing that this was far more damage than she’d wanted Eshu to do. So many people had lost their homes, but Eshu had kept to the part of the deal that said he wasn’t supposed to harm or kill anyone. Outside of some singed fur, none of the werewolves were hurt. And I couldn’t exactly blame Eshu for roaring fire when the werewolves had riddled him with bullet holes and been hanging off him by their claws and fangs.
The good thing that came from all this was that the werewolves were not only grateful to us for helping with the fight, they owed Lucien big-time for putting out the fires in the forest as well as Cassie for putting out the ones in the compound. And I had no doubt that everyone in the town would offer to come up and help them rebuild, further cementing a new relationship between the werewolves and the other beings of Accident.
Dallas came forward, his silver hair full of soot, the burns on his hands already healing. “Thank you. Thank you, Perkins witches and demon mates for seeing the fire on the mountain and coming to our rescue. I am in your debt. And you.” He turned to Clinton. “My son who disgraced himself by refusing to challenge me, by turning traitor and cowardly sneaking away with a group of other traitors to steal part of our territory. You had every advantage here. You could have watched the monster kill us and burn us and been in a position to take the entire mountain as the new pack alpha.”
“Wasn’t gonna let a giant lizard destroy the home I grew up in or watch idly while he killed wolves I always considered my friends and family,” Clinton said with a gruff note in his voice. “Couldn’t stand by and let my father fight without me by his side.”
Dallas clapped his son on the shoulder. “I want to offer reconciliation. Come back to the pack, and all will be forgiven. You’ll be my son once more, and your followers will be welcome back with no penalties.”
I saw the doubt in Clinton’s eyes and knew what he wanted. He’d been an alpha. He’d had his own pack. It would be impossible for him to go back now and be happy.
“Let’s negotiate this in my office tomorrow morning.” I stepped forward and put a hand on each werewolf’s arm. “Just the two of you, with me as a witness. This is a family matter. You should both discuss this in private, then make a joint announcement to both groups of werewolves.”
Clinton nodded. “I like that idea. How about you, Da?”
Dallas thought for a moment, then nodded as well. “Yeah. There are details to work out that should be private to our family—just the two of us. And Sylvie as witness, of course.”
Cassie came forward at that. “Then let’s all head back to our homes for the night. Dallas, once you’ve assessed the damage, any displaced wolves are welcome to stay in Accident until there are suitable accommodations up here for them. I can ask Hollister to use his hotel, and several of us in town are set up for guests.”
Clinton held up a hand. “We’ve got room at our place as well. None of our houses got damaged, and everyone’s got a spare room or bed for anyone who needs a temporary spot to den down.”
Cassie smiled over at him, then looked back to Dallas. “Of course we’ll help you rebuild as well. I’ll put out the call, and by tomorrow noon we can have a crew up here with supplies helping to put up new homes and whatever else you need.”
Dallas lowered his head, but not before I saw the sparkle of what I was pretty sure were tears in his eyes. By the time he looked up, they were gone.
“I appreciate that, Cassie.” He reached out and patted her shoulder, sliding his hand down to brush against the side of her boob.
Some things might change, but some things would always remain the same—like Dallas being a letch. I looked over and saw Tink glaring at him and realized he was really going to get an earful and maybe more tonight. Then I remembered what she’d told me and wondered if that wasn’t his intention all along.
We all piled in our cars, following Cassie and Lucien as we drove down the mountain and back to town. I was covered in soot, smelled like smoke, was tired and sore—but I was happy. Eshu was right. Things had somehow ended where they were supposed to in spite of the convoluted path they’d taken. I just had to make sure the negotiations tomorrow went the way I wanted them to go, then we could all rest easy that there was peace among the werewolves.
But first I needed a shower, and then I planned on curling up in bed with my sexy not-a-demon, who hopefully was no longer a fire-spewing oversized T-rex.
