Chapter 25

MISTY

The nerve of Lloyd, I simmered in righteous anger, supremely irritated with him.

~“He just wants to protect us,”~ Cammy commented.

~“And I want to protect him.”~

That is what mates did—they looked out for one another. Telling me to forget him? Not possible… But hearing that my dad was alive lifted a weight off my shoulders.

“Are you sure this is the right way?” I asked Adam.

We found ourselves in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by wheat fields on both sides, with the city lights fading into the distance.

The road, once tarred, was now riddled with so many potholes that Adam had slowed to a crawl. I kept glancing behind us, but there was no sign of any wolves.

“You’re the navigator…,” he quipped, swerving to miss another pothole.

It seemed we were heading the right way.

“Were you in the throne room on the day of the gala?” I asked.

Adam scratched his head before glancing at me. “The palace is a grapevine and everything King Axel does eventually filters down to us. I wasn’t in the throne room—I’m too junior—but I helped carry out the bodies.”

I gasped. “How many, and do you know who?”

“Five alphas, two she-wolves, and four guards. I saw one of the she-wolves around the palace. I think her name was Olive or something.”

My chest tightened. Both Aunt Faye and Olivia were dead. “Her name was Olivia. She was my cousin, and the other she-wolf was my Aunt Faye,” I rebuked him, though I knew he had nothing to do with it.

His face fell, and he looked at me contritely. “I’m very sorry.”

“What did you mean when you shouted ~You think what he’s doing is right~?” I asked.

“What King Axel did in the throne room was unforgivable. I don’t want to serve a king like that. When Tanner disappeared, he flew into a rage and executed one of the warriors out of sheer spite—mind you, not himself…” Adam paused, his focus on the road.

I absorbed this information, realizing I had drastically underestimated Axel. I would never make that mistake again.

I had believed the kings to be benign and wise, dedicated to ensuring the well-being of their packs. Axel, however, was immoral and cunning, and his predecessors were no better, cursing Lloyd for their protection.

“My parents weren’t married. My mom is human, and I didn’t know my father well. I saw him for birthdays, and that’s about it. When he died, Tanner came to break the news.

“When I shifted for the first time, she freaked out, and I didn’t know who else to call. Tanner collected me, and I’ve been living in the palace since then.”

I looked at Adam in sympathy. “So, you didn’t know your dad was a wolf?” I asked.

“Nope, not until I shifted. Tanner helped me acclimate and took the time to train me. He also introduced me to Frieda and told her to look after me.

“So I went to her for advice, and I wanted to know where Tanner went. She told me there was a situation, and if I was prepared to help, it was a way to Tanner, so I agreed.”

My heart went out to Adam, and I couldn’t imagine shifting for the first time with no idea of what was happening and then having to deal with rejection from the woman who birthed you.

“Thank you for telling me.”

We approached a vast, open space, and I squinted into the darkness. Was that a barn? It had a high-peaked corrugated roof, and the wood looked faded and weathered.

The doors stood open, and the VW’s headlights illuminated Tanner’s silver Mercedes.

A sudden knock on my window startled me, making me scream in fright. My heart raced, my breath catching in my throat.

For a moment, I was frozen, staring wide-eyed at the window, before I saw Tanner. Chelsea stepped out from behind him, and I sighed in relief.

“Seriously?” I grumbled, getting out of the car. “Do you want to give me a heart attack…”

“Shut up. I had convulsions the entire time you were in the palace,” Chelsea said, hugging me close.

“Are you living in a barn?” I asked.

“Ugh, we’re slumming it.”

Tanner bent down to look at Adam. “Drive straight into the barn,” he instructed, closing the door. He straightened and gave us both a hug. “I should have never let you go to the palace. That was foolish, and I should have known Axel would check the chamber.”

“Do you have the crystals?” Chelsea asked.

“Yes, and I have much to tell you, but are we safe here?”

“It’s as safe as anywhere,” Tanner said, wrapping an arm around us as we walked to the entrance.

A green Land Rover was parked in front of Tanner’s Mercedes, and Adam slotted in beside them. Tanner quickly closed the door and slid a bolt across. Light flared as Chelsea lit a kerosene lamp, illuminating the interior.

The cavernous structure wasn’t as bad as I had anticipated. A lounge area was furnished with mismatched beanbags and a rickety coffee table that looked like it had come from a dump. In the corner was a makeshift kitchen with a new camping burner, a foldable camping table with benches, an old sink, and a generator. Beyond that were several blow-up mattresses with sleeping bags on the floor.

“Told ya, we’re slumming,” Chelsea stated idly.

“Have you been able to get our stuff from the beach house?” I asked, falling into a beanbag with a sigh.

“Too dangerous, but your backpack and the materials for breaking the spell were in my car,” Tanner said, pointing vaguely at the kitchen area.

I nodded, trying to remember what I’d packed.

“This calls for a drink. Well, I need one,” Chelsea said, flopping into a beanbag and looking expectantly at Tanner.

“I could use one for sure,” Adam said, choosing the beanbag opposite me.

“I can offer you rum, rum, or rum…” Tanner grinned.

“Rum it is, and then I want a full account of what happened. In detail, Misty. Understand?”

I rolled my eyes at her.

Tanner procured plastic cups, poured a decent amount into each one, and placed them on the coffee table before settling into a beanbag himself.

I spent the next hour recounting everything, with numerous interruptions from Chelsea and Tanner. Adam explained what happened outside the palace, and Chelsea sent me a look that I knew precisely how to interpret.

“So, you’re a bona fide witch,” she stated in awe.

“I don’t know how I did that,” I admitted, “and I’m wondering if it was because of the protection spell I cast that morning.” Chelsea raised her eyebrows, prompting me to add, “I did it before you were awake.”

Tanner stood up and paced in thought.

“Why didn’t you desert long ago if you knew what kind of a king Axel is?” I asked. I couldn’t imagine serving such a narcissist.

He stopped and frowned. “Funny, I’ve been wanting to for ages. I even bought this place and made all sorts of arrangements long before Lloyd was released. But he was the catalyst. One look at him, at his size and personality, and I was filled with admiration. He should be king, and I’ll follow him anywhere,” he said firmly.

It was quite a statement, but I could see he meant it. Secretly, it pleased me that he thought so highly of Lloyd.

My feelings for Lloyd had grown, and the alone time with him had been wonderful—especially his kisses. For someone who’d been asleep for most of his life, he certainly knew how to kiss, and I wondered if he’d ever done it.

~“I knew you would fall in love with him,”~ Cammy sighed dreamily.

~“Did you enjoy spending time with Vetus?”~

~“Oh yes, he is the wolf I dreamed of, but he calls me Calamity—and I introduced myself as Cammy.”~

~“Don’t blame me, I didn’t tell Lloyd.”~

“Are we still in linking range?” I asked.

Tanner shook his head. “Nope, and my link still hasn’t broken. Axel is a sly bastard.” He clenched his fists, a mix of frustration and determination flashing in his eyes.

Shit, I’d been hoping to link with Lloyd before going to sleep to reiterate that I would not drop it, come hell or high water.

“You could take Wolfsbane,” Chelsea suggested.

“No. Without my wolf, I’m human and lose my strength. I’m sure Adam can testify to that.” He looked at Adam sternly.

Adam nodded in agreement. “I was scared and thought it was a viable option, but I learned my lesson, and if it wasn’t for Misty and her swinging bag of crystals and witch powers, I’m sure I would be dead now.”

“Tanner, regarding the allegiance spell, I assume you need an object that ties Lloyd to the Sayelle-Moreau bloodline. Do you know which objects are passed from king to king?” I asked.

He frowned for a moment. “There are a number of them—I’ll make a list. Talking of breaking the curse, I’ve set up a nice spot for you in the loft where the sun comes in. But it’s late, and I think we should turn in for the night.”

“I need to call my mom,” I said, reaching for Chelsea’s phone. I was sure my dad’s phone battery was dead.

“I already did. Tanner also warned them that they may have palace company, but Monolith is easy to defend, especially with the extra warriors,” Chelsea explained.

“She doesn’t know my dad’s alive…”

“Text her, but she’s probably asleep. She’s been very stressed and worried about you, so I spoke to her daily.”

I jumped on Chelsea’s beanbag and hugged her. I was so thankful that I had a friend like her. “I’ll call her in the morning,” I agreed.

Ten minutes later, I lay on the blow-up mattress, settling into my sleeping bag and wearing Lloyd’s T-shirt. The dim light from the kerosene lamp cast soft shadows around the barn, creating a cocoon of warmth and comfort.

I reflected on the curious fate that had led Tanner to stay in the palace until Lloyd was released.

I was sure Lloyd would make an excellent king, but my instincts told me he would likely refuse the throne if offered.

I knew I had to prepare myself for the challenges ahead and wished the old crone would appear to instruct me. I giggled when a memory of Chelsea and me popped up watching ~Buffy the Vampire Slayer~.

Chelsea got the DVDs as a birthday present, and we spent weeks binge-watching. For months, whenever we encountered a decision or problem, we would ask ourselves, “What would Buffy do?”