“What?” I ask.
Marcellus is silent for an endlessly long minute, then he jumps up. “Benjamin linked me!” he blurts out. “He found a way around the blockades Aloysius put up and reached out.”
“No way,” Eugene says.
Cassian stares at us. “Of course he did,” he exclaims.
“Right?” Marcellus hits his forehead. “I tried to reach him earlier, too, but I couldn’t get through Aloysius’ walls. But he was able to do it from the inside!”
“Didn’t you say he is your gamma?” Eugene asks. He exchanges a look with Alex and Julianus.
“Anyone willing to fill us in?” Alex asks.
“He can link from long distances,” Lori says, her eyes light up in relief all of a sudden. “Because he originally was an alpha’s heir!”
“Exactly,” Marcellus looks so happy, it warms my heart. “He must have connected to his wolf.” He stalks over to the map and points at his brother’s pack.
“Blue River?” Eugene asks, surprised. “Marc and my pack?”
Marcellus shoots a look at him but doesn’t say anything. He just lets out an inaudible sigh. I am instantly relieved by his reaction.
You know, I can feel your feelings through the bond,he links me.
Yes, and it’s awful. But there is no use in hiding it.
I would never leave Sunset Hills,Marcellus tells me.Eugene wasn’t able to let go yet, but it doesn’t mean that I haven’t. Sunset Hills is my home. You are my home. My friends here are my home. I will talk to Eugene later.
“Benjamin said, they are very close to it,” Marcellus explains.
Alex and I don’t even need a second to dash forward to the map. “There is just one family estate there,” Alex blurts out. “It’s well hidden. I haven’t been there in centuries.”
“Past the mountain chain,” I explain.
“Let’s go and get back our friends!” Marcellus orders. “I am done hiding and playing Aloysius’ games. The next time Silas and I leave this pack and meet other leaders, I want Silas to beable to do it openly, with his niece at his side, and as my co-leader and the vampire lord he is.”
*NOVA*
I just hope that Benjamin won’t try to play hero and do something reckless. But then I recall the look of determination on his face. He didn’t look like someone who was about to do something stupid to prove himself, he looked like someone with confidence, who knew he could save Maddie.
He is doing his part, and I will be doing mine.
I manage to avoid the guards. They are probably all on the hunt for Benji. Unfortunately, the whole area is surrounded by a thick and high wall. I might be able to climb over it, but I have a slight, dreadful feeling it might not be a good idea.
And the main gate is heavily guarded.
“Here,” I hear a voice behind me. “Come.”
I spin around just to see Juniper grabbing my arm and tugging me behind a small shed.
“There is a secret passage. You can leave the property through it and get help.”
“You?” I ask, shocked. “I thought you…”
“My loyalty has always and will always lie with Lord Silas,” she says. “He saved my life once, although I was just a lowly vampire bastard back then. I am a hybrid, you know?”
“What?” I gape.
“No one knows. Silas protected me and my secret, and no one noticed. I am half witch, so my powers helped me mask my other side. I would rather die than sell out Lord Silas.”