Wolfsbane

  “Don’t,” she said. “You didn’t do it. They did.”

  “I know, but—”

  She cut me off, choking out words. “Cal—I don’t know what they did to Ansel after they hurt him. I think he might be . . .”

  “No.” I grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to meet my eyes. “I know what they did to him, Bryn. It’s horrible, but he’s not dead. He’s safe. He found me and Shay.”

  “He is?” Her voice shook, eyes wide, desperate to believe me but not trusting my words.

  “I swear you’ll see him as soon as we get to Denver.”

  Connor burst into the cell, swords dripping blood. Mason and Nev were just behind him, their muzzles the same crimson as Connor’s blades. “We under control in here?”

  “Yeah,” Ethan said. “Can you get her out of those?” He gestured to Bryn’s chained wrists, turning his own attention to Sabine’s shackled limbs. “I’ve got this.”

  Mason followed Connor to Bryn’s side. He changed forms and bit his wrist, letting her take his blood while Connor freed her. Ethan made room for Nev, who knelt beside Sabine.

  “You holding up okay?” Nev whispered, extending his arm toward her.

  “Barely,” she said, sinking her teeth into his flesh.

  Ethan hovered over them, watching as Sabine’s sallow complexion flushed with new life. I heard him expel a long breath when she raised her face and smiled.

  “How do you feel now?” he murmured.

  “I’ll be fine,” she said, sounding shy in a way I’d never witnessed from Sabine. She lifted her eyes to meet his. “You saved my life.”

  It was Ethan’s turn to avert his gaze. “I—uh . . .” He rubbed the back of his neck, fumbling for words.

  Free of the chains, Sabine leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Ethan’s neck, pulling him into an embrace.

  “Thank you,” she said. “Thank you so much.”

  He stiffened in her arms, his tensed muscles finally easing when she didn’t pull back. He let his cheek briefly rest against her hair.

  “Jasmine,” he murmured.

  “What?” Sabine asked, looking up at him.

  He cleared his throat. “You’re welcome.”

  “Even a Searcher.” Nev snickered. “Only you, Sabine. I swear.”

  “What are you talking about?” She glanced at Nev, frowning. Nev just grinned.

  “Never mind,” Ethan said quickly, clearing his throat while casting a cold glance at Nev. He freed himself from her arms, rising. Sabine smiled again, only for him, and Ethan looked a little dazed.

  Nev chuckled, shaking his head.

  “What’s so funny?” Sabine asked as he helped her stand.

  Monroe appeared in the doorway before Nev could answer. “Who did we find?”

  “Two more,” I said, gesturing to the girls. “Bryn and Sabine.”

  His face fell a little. “No sign of the rest?”

  I shook my head, knowing we both shared the same creeping sense of despair. We hadn’t found Ren. I wondered if we would.

  “If they’re healed, we need to move,” Monroe said. “We still have others to look for.”

  “Can we afford another ambush?” Connor asked. “The Keepers obviously were expecting us; this first group might just be the beginning. The next fight we encounter could be much, much worse.”

  “We’re finishing what we started,” Monroe said. “And our numbers have doubled.”

  Connor opened his mouth to protest, but Monroe shook his head.

  “We finish this,” Monroe said. He turned his back before Connor could reply, already walking swiftly down the hall.

  TWENTY-ONE

  BRYN TOOK MY HAND, leaning into me as we left the cell.

  “I’ve missed you so much, Cal,” she said. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”

  “I missed you too,” I said, though I didn’t feel worthy of her affection. She’d been through so much while waiting for me to come back. They all had.

  “I’d better stay on my toes,” she said, returning my smile before she dropped to the ground—a bronze-furred wolf. She joined the other wolves, who trotted side by side, tightly bunched, nuzzling each other, tails wagging.

  Ethan and Connor watched the young wolves reestablish the pack bonds. The Searchers’ faces were puzzled. I guessed they were trying to make sense of the way their sworn enemies demonstrated affection, loyalty, even playfulness. Traits the Searchers associated with their own kind, but not with Guardians. Only Monroe seemed unsurprised by the wolves’ behavior. He strode ahead, driven by a single purpose.

  We crossed the room, heading for the north cell block. The dais loomed before us and the scent of blood, old and fresh, grew stronger. The sharp tang, layer upon layer of agony, flooded my senses in a blinding wave. I stumbled, gagging as we approached the raised stones. The violence witnessed by this place seemed to have leached into the floor and the walls. I dropped my head, wanting to cover my ears. I thought I could hear my mother screaming. Connor caught my elbow, steadying me.

  “Hang in there,” he murmured.

  I nodded, trying not to look at the stains on the hideous stage.

  Monroe unlocked the cell block door. He’d pushed it open only partway when something flickered in my peripheral vision. It was just like earlier, a furtive moment in the shadows.

  “Wait.” I grabbed Monroe’s arm.

  “What’s wrong, Calla?” he asked, watching me.

  My eyes tracked over the spot where I thought the movement had come from. Then I saw it.

  A gargoyle.

  It wasn’t moving at all now. It looked just like a statue perched against the stone frieze that ringed the ceiling, but every nerve in my body screamed that it wasn’t.

  “Ethan.” I pointed at the creature, whispering. “Shoot that. Right now.”

  “That’s a statue.” He frowned. “Creepy as hell, but I can’t waste bolts.”

  “Just shoot it.”

  He looked at me for a moment and then took aim. The bolt flew true. Ethan swore when it didn’t bounce off a carved monster but buried deep in flesh. The gargoyle screamed, stone coming to life.

  “What the hell!” Connor jumped back as the creature dove from the ledge, flying at us.

  I covered my ears, thinking that my eardrums would burst from its hideous screeching. Bryn snarled, leaping to meet the creature midair. Startled by her fearlessness, the gargoyle balked, screaming its outrage. Bryn’s teeth tore through one of its wings and the creature dropped to the floor, gray milky blood oozing from its torn flesh. Sabine leapt onto its chest, pinning it to the dais. Bryn struck again, this time jerking her head fiercely when she took hold of its throat. I heard the crack of bone as the gargoyle’s neck snapped.

  “It’s been watching us the whole time,” I breathed.

  “Are there others?” Connor asked, turning in a swift circle, keeping his eyes on the ceiling.

  “No, but Calla’s right. It must have been tracking our movements since we arrived,” Monroe said. “I think we may have just triggered the alarm.”

  Each one of us went still, taking in the significance of Monroe’s words. Our silence was met by a low, urgent sound in the distance, like faint drumming. The scrape of nails on wrought iron, footpads hitting the steps. Coming fast, the drumming became pounding as our enemies descended from the upper level of the club.

  “They’re coming for us,” Monroe said, glancing toward the door that would take us out of the prison and back up the stairs.

  “Do you know of another way out?” Connor asked, looking at the wolves. My packmates glanced at each other. Sabine whimpered before she shifted forms.

  “None of us have seen another exit,” she said. “That’s the way we were brought in. I’m sorry.”

  Her eyes found Ethan as she apologized.

  “We’re trapped down here, then,” he said, staring at Sabine as if he were weighing the possibilities of how he’d like to spend his last moments on earth.
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  “The rest of the pack has to be in this block,” Monroe said. “If we can free them, we’ll be able to put up a decent fight. Maybe get out of here.”

  “Not all of us,” Connor said.

  “We don’t have any other choice,” Monroe said.

  “He’s right.” Ethan loaded new bolts into his crossbow. “Time for the last stand. Always knew it would come someday.”

  “No,” Sabine said. “I’m not dying down here. I won’t give Efron the satisfaction.”

  She dropped into wolf form and howled. The rest of my packmates raised their muzzles, joining her battle cry. From the levels above us I heard the answering howls of the approaching Guardians, singing out their own challenge.

  The wolves’ howling seemed to revive the despondent Searchers.

  “I can jam that lock!” Connor was sprinting across the room. “If it really is the only way in, it might buy us some time.”

  “Good thinking,” Monroe said. “Ethan, help Connor and the wolves. Try to keep them at bay. Calla, come with me.”

  I followed Monroe into the cell block, glancing back to see my packmates circling Connor and Ethan as they fiddled with the lock of the east prison door. I drew a slow breath and shivered. Beneath the harsh metallic odor of the cell block a whisper of wood smoke curled through the air.

  “What is it?” Monroe asked.

  “He’s here,” I whispered.

  A howl from another part of the prison spilled into the cell block. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I’d recognized the cry—Mason was calling for help. Nev’s answering howl sounded a moment later. Monroe looked at me. I heard the scrabbling of toenails on flagstones, followed by barks and snarls.

  “Guardians,” I said. “They’ve broken through.”

  “Find him. Let him know we’re coming. I’ll tell the others—make sure they keep the fight away from here—and I’ll be back for you and the rest of your pack. I promise.”

  I nodded, swallowing my fear.

  Monroe drew his swords and ran back into the Chamber.

  The scent pulled me to the far door on the left. Please be unlocked. Please.

  I turned the knob and the door swung open. This cell was larger than the others. Sparse, bright metal illuminated by buzzing fluorescent lights running along the ceiling. I caught his scent before my eyes found him. The warmth of sandalwood and rough edge of leather made my chest ache. Without thinking, I stumbled forward, running toward a figure crouched in the far corner of the room.

  “Ren!” I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, pulling him against me.

  “Calla,” he murmured. His forehead rested against my throat, his hands pressed into the small of my back.

  “Are you hurt?” I whispered, still holding him tight, bursting with relief that he was alive.

  “No.”

  “Thank God.” I pulled back slightly, catching my breath, barely able to hear my own words over the pounding of my heart. “We don’t have much time. I can’t explain right now. We have to get out of here.”

  Ren looked at me and suddenly I was dragged forward, crushed against him. His lips were on mine, feverish, burning into my skin. Memories rained down on me, drowning me in a flood of emotions.

  Ren.

  This was Ren as I’d known him for so long. My intended mate. The young Bane alpha. My rival and my friend. The one who would lead the pack by my side. A warrior like me. A wolf like me.

  I kissed him back as tears burned in my eyes. The tide of the past carried me with it, and I pushed my body closer to his. I didn’t know what to think or feel. All I knew was how good it was to be near him again. Pressing against him, I was haunted by the destiny that I’d anticipated but hadn’t fulfilled. A time when I didn’t know that lies were lies. When I thought I understood my place in the world. Some small part of me longed for that certainty, for the life I might have had before my world spun into chaos.

  He pulled back, gazing at me. Lifting his hand, he traced the shape of my face. His other hand took mine. His fingers paused, lingering on the braided white gold band of my ring.

  “With me,” he murmured. “You belong with me.”

  The lump in my throat was painful, stopping me from speaking even if I could have found the words. How many promises had I made only to break? How much had I stolen from him by leaving?

  He kissed me again, softly this time. His lips moved over my jawline, down my throat. He pulled me even closer, whispering in my ear.

  “They said you’d come. I didn’t believe it, but now you’re here.”

  The whirlwind of emotions that lifted me stilled as his words brought me tumbling back into the present.

  They said you’d come.

  I lifted my face, looking at him more closely. He was here. Alive in the room. But unlike the others, he wasn’t bruised. His face wasn’t drawn from ordeals of pain and constant hunger. His clothes weren’t torn or grime-covered. His scent was the one so familiar to me, warm and masculine but untainted by vomit, blood, or filth. I looked at his arms. He wasn’t restrained. And he was alone.

  Cold fear snaked over my skin.

  “Ren?” I whispered. My heart was screaming out against the chilling facts that my mind was quickly wrapping around.

  He leaned forward, kissing my earlobe.

  “I missed you, Lily. So much,” he murmured, taking my arms in a firm grasp. “I’m sorry.”

  Suddenly I was sailing through the air across the full length of the cell. My head slammed against the wall and for a moment I couldn’t see anything. My body tipped over and I sank toward the floor. Fingers dug into my upper arms, lifting me up. I felt Ren’s breath hot against my skin. His lips crushed mine again, but this time I tasted blood. I jerked my head away and gasped, fighting to regain balance and vision.

  “Ren, stop. Please.” My hands found his shoulders and I tried to push him away. “What are you doing?”

  His gaze locked on me and I saw the tightness of his jaw, the strain in his eyes. Fury and sadness pooled in the darkness of his irises.

  “I don’t want this, I never wanted this,” he said through clenched teeth. “I don’t have a choice. You’ve given me no choice.”

  He slammed me against the wall again, forcing air from my lungs. For a moment he hesitated, staring at me, grief etching his features even as his grip on my arms tightened.

  “It’s the only way.” He choked on the words as though desperate to believe them. “You’re my mate. It’s my duty to bring you back. To make you stay. They said I have to.”

  I stared at him. “Have to what?”

  “Break you.”

  TWENTY-TWO

  REN PINNED ME TO THE cold steel of the cell wall, his knee parting my thighs.

  Shock drained the strength from my limbs. I couldn’t find the will to change forms. This can’t be happening.

  “Oh God, Ren. No.” I could barely whisper the words, staring at Ren. I no longer recognized the boy in front of me, madness and grief blazing his eyes, driving him to hurt me. Terror gripped me in a way it never had. I didn’t want to believe this change was possible, but his fingers dug into my wrists, making me cry out. I tasted blood in my mouth. His teeth had torn my lips. Does Ren belong to the Keepers now?

  My body shook; sickening waves crashed through my limbs. I was only upright because Ren still held me against the wall. The frenzy in his eyes terrified me, making me fully aware that his every choice was fueled by grief and pain.

  “You don’t have to do anything, Renier.” A new voice came from the cell door, quiet but hard. “Let her go.”

  Ren’s teeth were already bared as Monroe slowly moved toward us. He had a sword held low in each hand.

  “You do have a choice.” He continued to speak in low tones. “Leave this place, leave all of this behind. You can come with us.”

  “With you? Searchers?” Ren spat on the ground.

  “We aren’t what you think,” Monroe said. “We came for you. Calla is here to hel
p you. So am I.”

  I cast a pleading gaze at the alpha even as I twisted against his painfully tight grasp. “Please, Ren. It’s true. Come with us.”

  “Your lies took everything from me.” Ren’s eyes were fixed on Monroe. “I’ll kill you before I believe anything you say.”

  He glanced at me, his face contorted with outrage and sorrow that sent shivers racing over my skin.

  “I hope it doesn’t come to that,” Monroe returned. “I’m not your enemy, but I can’t force you to make the right choice. This doesn’t have to be the end, but if you won’t come with us, at least let the girl go. Don’t make this worse.”

  “What could be worse than accepting the outstretched hand of a monster?” A man stepped from the shadows of the doorway.

  My heart slammed around wildly when I recognized Emile Laroche, broad and bulky in contrast to his tall, streamlined son, his body all knotted muscle and coarse bristling hair. The Bane alpha looked straight at me. Though he remained in human form, he was flanked by three wolves: Dax, Fey, and Cosette. My heart splintered as their eyes locked on me and they growled in unison. I could pull their single, shared thought from their hateful stares.

  Traitor.

  I didn’t want to see the truth that stood before me. Truth witnessed by the sharp flash of fangs and bristling fur, eyes full of hate as they stared at me.

  A choice. They were given a choice. Just like Sabine.

  Three of my packmates had turned on me. They belonged to Emile’s pack now. They had chosen the Keepers over their friends.

  Why?

  Then I turned my gaze back on Ren. His fingers still dug into my arms. They’d given him a choice too. My gut clenched violently and I thought I might be sick. I could see the pain behind his fury and knew Ren didn’t want to hurt me, that he’d only chosen the Keepers because I’d left him behind. Because I’d betrayed someone who loved me. He’d lied for me and they had tortured him. He’d been broken and it was my fault. What other choice could he have made?

  “Emile.” Monroe’s hoarse voice tore my eyes off of Ren. The Searcher’s face became almost unrecognizable as he stared at Emile, eyes darkened by a hollow, endless rage.