Page 98 of The Magic of Betrayal
"Who? Who was going to do a spell?" I urged as ice ran down my spine.Something is wrong.
"Laurie and your men. To get you back, did you see them?"
"Where?" Khol asked as he and Bram stood to their full height.
"About a hundred yards into the woods, there's torches," she breathed, her voice weak.
"We'll go check it out, stay here with your grandma, okay, princess?"
My brain was at war. Laurie had fucking attacked Gran, she was obviously not in her right mind and I knew without a doubt the guys never would’ve allowed Gran to be harmed, so they didn’t know what she was up to. They were probably in danger, too. The urge to go with Khol and Bram was nearly suffocating, but Gran needed me right now. I’d help her first then get my ass out there.
“Okay, I’ll be out there as soon as I get Gran situated.” I nodded and they left the room. Slipping my hands under Gran's arms, I lifted her upright and got her on her feet before I threw one of her arms over my shoulder, guiding her to her bed. She needed to rest.
"Let me just get you into bed, then I'm going to go see if the guys are out there," I told her, spreading an extra blanket down over her bedding so it wouldn't get blood on it. "I don't have time to get you cleaned up yet, are you okay?"
I was anything but calm, but I didn’t want to upset Gran. She’d been through enough tonight. Her own daughter had harmed her, the least I could do was swallow my agitation and not add to her stress.
She took my face with both hands and something in her face twisted my stomach.
"I'm fine. Your mother... she's not right, child. Be safe out there, go. I'm fine. Go find your men,” she encouraged.
“Gran,” I shook my head, ready to tell her I’d go soon, but wanted to make sure she was okay.
“Go Saige. Hurry,” she ordered, her tone firm.
With a lingering look, I turned and ran through her house, bursting through the open doorway, finding Maven waiting for me, pacing. When he saw me, he yelped and ran ahead, leading the way.
I didn't hear any voices,why aren't there any voices?It was almost too silent. Even the forest was quiet.
Maven led me through the forest to where the smoke was getting thicker and I almost screamed when Bram materialized in front of me through the fog.
"Did you find them? Where is everyone?" I asked, trying to continue walking but his hands landed on my shoulders.
"Is my mother still here? I'm going to fuck her up for hurting Gran like that. Who would do something like that to their own mom?" When Bram didn't respond to my questions, I tilted my head up and looked at his face at the same time I heard a howl from Maven that sent thunder through my veins. He sounded... mournful.
"Bram?" I whispered as I took in his pinched expression, the way his eyes were shining.
"S- Saige," his voice cracked.
Why is he calling me Saige? He's never once called me Saige.
"Don't call me that," I snapped. "Let me past, Bram."
"I can't, you don't want to go over there right now, okay? Just– just stay right here with me," he pleaded, his pained eyes locking on mine. As if he were begging me.What's over there?
"What's over there, Bram?" I choked out as I held my stomach.
He shook his head, running both hands through his hair.
"You're scaring me," I rasped as my chin trembled and the ache in the back of my throat threatened to suffocate me.
"Let's go see your Gran, okay?" He took my arm and started to pull me with him, away from whatever it was he didn't want me to see.
"No," I said, but he didn't stop, he picked up his pace. "NO!" I screamed, making a sudden break from him that he didn't expect and as soon as his hand left my arm, I was sprinting toward the smoke, and then I was in it. Bram was calling my name behind me.
"Grab her, Khol!" he roared.
My feet skidded to a halt when I nearly tripped over a chair. What the fuck was a chair doing out here? Adjusting my vision, I could make out three other chairs and then I saw a figure hunched over.
