Page 81 of Rescued By the Beast
I hope that doesn't mean losing him.
Chapter 26
Mark
"No luck with the grimoire?" My voice comes out harsher than I intended.
Balthazar sighs and crosses his arms over his chest.
"Nothing. I contacted the wizards I know, asked about any strange movements, but no one has any idea. If a grimoire had been stolen, mycoven[6] would already know. It would reach my ears."
I bite the inside of my cheek. I don't like the direction this conversation is going.
"So the only explanation..." My voice comes out a little lower, as if saying it out loud makes it all the more real.
Balthazar nods, his eyes fixed on me.
"Either this person came from far away, outside the contacts that mycovenand others in the area have, or the grimoire you saw in that house comes from a recent pact. A book forged through demonic influence."
The roar comes out before I can hold it back, and my fist hits the wooden table hard enough to make it creak. Ted crosses his arms and gives me a worried look before speaking:
"He or she won't be able to hide for long, Beast. We're all looking for them. Not only our team, but other wizards also want to see that son of a bitch pay for what he has done to our city."
My gaze turns to Balthazar.
"Has it been confirmed? Is it the same person?"
He nods, his expression sombre.
"I compared the sample I collected from the Wendigo with the traces of energy I found in the house that exploded. It's the same magical signature. Same magical DNA."
I growl, feeling my canines push through my gums.
"All that's left is to find this bastard. I've studied every damn recording in the city, every street with visibility to that house. It's been a week and whoever it is, they haven't been back there. They're hiding well."
Ted clears his throat.
"The house was really abandoned, boss. The rightful owner inherited the place, but has been living in another country for years. We have no leads. The sentries haven't reported anything suspicious since then either.
My claws threaten to emerge. I feel my beast stirring beneath my skin.
"Everything seems quiet now, no appearances, but my instinct tells me it's the kind of calm that precedes a storm. It's not over yet."
Balthazar mutters something and moves his fingers in the air, an unconscious gesture of someone who deals with magic.
"It's definitely not over. I read your cards today, and it wasn't good. There will be some kind of disorder or battle. It'sopen to interpretation, but given everything that's happened, I imagine it's connected to the monsters.
My gaze turns to Ted for a moment. My jaw locks, I press my lips together, and I know he notices.
"What are you hiding, Mark?" His voice is direct, incisive.
I exhale through my nose, yielding to the truth.
"Maybe I know what the cards said..." I murmur, feeling my fangs lengthen. "Liam challenged me to a duel. I accepted. It's going to be tonight. Full moon."
Ted lets out a low curse.
"Damn it, Mark! I knew you were acting strange these days. Hiding something. Why did you accept this shit? It's only going to bring you headaches with those wolves."
