Page 99 of The Fated Hunter Wolf
I looked back to see her hands wreathed in silver fire that had somehow become pure white, blindingly bright and carrying power that made the air itself recoil.
“Whatever you’re planning, do it fast,” I said, dodging another dart with a speed that for sure wasn’t mine.
The magic that erupted from her hands was fundamental. The last two guards went down under a combined assault that was part silver magic, part enhanced wolf brutality, and entirely more effective than either of us could have managed alone.
Silence fell over the chamber, broken only by the sound of cages opening as Eve’s magical lock picks did their work.
“Well,” I said, looking at the unconscious vampires scattered around us, “that was new.”
Sable leaned against me, her wound healing faster than usual. “Think we can do it again?”
“Let’s hope we don’t have to,” I replied, but I was grinning.
Prisoners started crawling out of their cages, moving like they weren’t sure this was real yet. The kids came first, probably drawn by whatever calming mojo Eve was projecting. Even I was feeling pretty chill given the circumstances.
“Rhys.” Sable’s voice was soft, almost wondering. “Look at them.”
I followed her gaze and saw kids hanging onto freed adult wolves, pack members from territories that were supposed to be extinct helping each other limp ahead.
The bastards hadn’t managed to wipe them out after all. Supernatural beings were tougher than the fuckers who thought they could be bought and sold.
Eve came out from behind the maze of busted cages, herding a group of freed prisoners.
“We’ve done what we can,” she reported. “Some prisoners took off the second their cages opened—can’t say I blame them for wanting to get out of here.” She gestured to the group behindher. “Several are sticking with us. Crux wolves, kids, those who need medical attention.”
I took inventory of the rescued supernatural beings, my wolf picking up scent signatures from packs that were supposedly absorbed. Walking, breathing proof of the conspiracy we’d blown wide open.
“We need to haul ass upstairs,” I said, my tactical brain finally kicking back in despite the adrenaline making my hands shake. “Show this whole fucking operation to the Council. Let every pack leader get a good look at what’s been happening while they’ve been arguing about hunting rights. Even if some of them are responsible for it.”
Sable nodded, silver magic sparking around her fingers as she scanned for more trouble. Through our bond, I felt her vampire senses picking up movement in the passageways beyond the chamber.
We had maybe ten minutes before this place turned into a full-scale war zone.
“Everyone who can walk, stay close,” I called to the freed prisoners. “We’re going topside, and we’re doing it fast.”
Then Sable’s voice cut through the air, sharp with panic that made my wolf’s hackles rise.
“Where’s Astrid?”
34
SABLE
Astrid wasn’t in the chamber. Not among the freed prisoners clustered around Eve. Nowhere my hybrid senses could detect.
She was simply gone.
The silence after my question stretched until it became unbearable. My vampire nature expanded its range, searching for her distinctive scent signature among the chaos. The air was saturated with terror and pain, dozens of different supernatural scents overlapping until individual trails vanished in the chaos.
Eve’s face drained of color. “I’ll get these ones upstairs,” Eve said, voice tight. “You two find Astrid—I can’t track her anymore. Something’s blocking her Crux life force.”
My mind raced through the possibilities, none of them good. Astrid could have been taken during the fight—either by guards we’d missed or reinforcements who’d used our distraction to grab the most valuable target they could find. She was a young Crux wolf whose abilities could be exploited in ways that made a trafficking operation look like charity work.
“We have to find her,” I said to myself, silver magic crackling to life around my hands. “We find her, and then we burn this entire operation to the ground.”
Rhys’s wolf growled in agreement, but with a dozen freed prisoners to protect, reinforcements incoming, and a missing pack member somewhere in a facility built to hide supernaturals from detection…
“This is messed up.” Rhys said, eyes distant, like the answer was just out of reach.
