Page 64 of Secrets & Spells
“I don’t know, but I had a vision.”
“Shit.”
“I’m on my way to him now. The alley off Crescent, behind the diner. Meet us there.”
“Wait for me—you don’t know what you’re walking into.”
I shake my head even though he can’t see it. I’m almost on Crescent. “Not a chance. He’s my mate, Garrett, I’m not waiting.” Without giving him a chance to protest, I hang up. Finally free of the crowds, I break out into a run. I don’t know what’s happening, but my vision felt wrong. All I know is Jared’s in trouble, and I won’t leave him to face it alone.
The streetlight closest to the mouth of the alley is out, and I slow to a deliberate but quiet walk a few feet away, searching for anything else out of the ordinary. Then I hear it. Jared’s voice.
“Can’t find me. Not here.”
He sounds… broken.
Throwing caution to the wind I race towards the sound of his voice, skidding to a halt when I see him about a third of the way down the alley, hugging his knees to his chest and rocking back and forth.
“Can’t. Not here. He can’t find me here.”
Tears stream from his wide, unseeing hazel eyes. What the hell happened to him?
Slowly I approach him with my hands raised, doing everything possible to signal I’m not a threat. “Jared, can you hear me?”
“He’s here. Can’t be here. Not supposed to be here.”
Kneeling in front of him, I try again. “Who’s here, Jared? Who did this to you?” He still doesn’t respond. I don’t think he even realises I’m here.
Whoever’s behind this, they’re long gone—Jared’s is the only magical signature I can feel in the alleyway—but when I find the supe responsible for this, there’s going to be hell to pay. My magic might not lend itself to inflicting pain the way some witches’ specialities do, but I’ll find a way even if I have to tear apart the culprit with my bare hands. Nobody hurts my mate and gets away with it.
Carefully, I edge closer, my heart breaking when he still doesn’t react. An idea comes to me. Risky, but at this point I’ll try anything to bring my Jared back. Even if his mind is somewhere I can’t reach, he should still be able tofeelme. We’re mates. “Here we go.” I take his hands in mine.
The change is instantaneous. Jared’s whole body jolts, and his back slams into the brickwork behind him. “Jared, Jared, it’s me. It’s Selene.” He finally stops trying to tug his hands free.
Hazel eyes full of tears blink up at me. “Selene?” His voice is hoarse, like he’s been screaming. My own tears burn behind my eyes, and I grit my teeth with the effort of holding them back. I can’t cry. I can’t do anything that will upset Jared more than he already is. He needs me.
“Yes, it’s me. I’m here.” Frantically, I look him over. “Are you hurt?”
“No.” Overcome with relief, I throw my arms around him. After a beat, his arms band around my back.
Footsteps sound at the mouth of the alleyway, and Jared snarls, springing to his feet and shoving me behind him protectively.
“Easy there,” Garrett halts his approach. Jared doesn’t relax his defensive posture.
“It’s OK, Golden Boy, you know Garrett, right? I called him. He’s here to help.” The Alpha’s expression darkens with barely contained fury when the extent of his friends’ trauma dawns on him.
“You called him?”
“That’s right. He’s here to help us.” We breathe audible sighs of relief when Jared straightens from his defensive stance.
Garrett’s nose twitches. “I smell death. Is there someone else here, Jared?” I jerk in surprise. His shifter senses must be picking up on something I can’t—witches aren’t any better off than humans in that department.
“Further down,” Jared replies. His voice is flat, almost robotic. He’s shutting down.
“I need to get him out of here.”
A porcelain-pale female witch in a sharp black suit, and a similarly dressed male vampire with umber skin and a shaved head, appear a few paces behind Garret. “You’ll do no such thing,” she snaps, making Jared jump.
“Sorry, I had to call them,” Garrett apologises.
