You were gorgeous, and when our eyes met, I thought my heart would give out. Then you smiled at me, and I felt like the most important person in the world. I’d expected an angry glare, but you only showed kindness despite our packs’ rivalries. Then later, you came over and told me how beautiful I was. Never before that day had a male werewolf made me feel worthy.

  In just a single moment, you swept me off my feet and stole my heart. There was no going back from the handsome Tobias Foley after that. Now, all these years later, I only love you more.

  My only regrets are the could-have-beens. I’m sorry I didn’t stay with the werebears. Now I’ll never see you again. Never hold you in my arms and stare into your loving eyes. That’s my biggest regret.

  Please don’t waste any time mourning over me. The pack needs you now more than ever. Also, Benjamin from your father’s pack would make a fine addition to ours. He’s risked his own back to help me.

  Stay strong for our family and always remember that I’ve never loved anyone more than I love you.

  I’ll see you on the other side (in a really long time).

  All my love,

  Victoria

  I folded up the paper and handed it to Benjamin through the bars along with the pad and pen.

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  He nodded and slid it into a pocket. “I’ll make sure he gets it.”

  James and Wilson appeared out from the woods.

  Chapter 93

  Toby

  My friends and I all sat back to back in a circle. Several of my father’s men walked around us, carrying their weapons in position to shoot at a moment’s notice.

  I wanted to kick myself for not figuring out that we’d been going in the wrong direction. The fact that Frida’d had such a hard time with the spell should’ve been my first clue that another spell was fighting to prevent her from finding the location. When before had a witch conducting a locator spell suffered a nose bleed or fought against a darkness?

  Now, if Norman was telling the truth—and I had little reason to doubt him—Victoria was alone and beaten somewhere. Probably being taunted by my father. How he loved to let his mouth run, and a captive audience made him even more giddy. Though, giddy for him usually meant welts, open wounds, and concussions.

  My father’s cronies continued marching around us. I had to find a way to escape. Victoria needed me, and I needed to kill my father again.

  As though reading my mind, Brick, who sat on my right, glanced over at me and nodded toward the door. I arched a brow. He nodded again, and intensified his expression. I gave a quick nod in return, not sure what I was agreeing to.

  Brick held my gaze a moment longer. He was trying to tell me something, but I had no idea what. I had a feeling I’d soon find out. He turned and shared a look with Soleil. Then he jumped up and ran between two of Father’s men, shoving them to the side.

  Soleil cried out.

  Brick turned around and stared at me. “Go!”

  The barn rang out with chaos and confusion. I scrambled to my feet as guns blared. Red splattered from Brick’s chest as bullet after bullet hit him. He looked at me one last time and pointed to the door before falling to his knees, then to his face.

  My heart broke as I ran for the door.

  Soleil told the rest of us to get out. She rose and opened her mouth. She was going to take the essence from everyone in the room.

  “Come on!” I cried.

  A sharp pain tore through my middle. I looked down to see red covering my shirt from the small hole in the fabric. It was only one bullet. I could make it—I had to. Victoria needed me, and now that Brick had given his life, I owed it to him to take down my father.

  No pain came from my wound. My body was in shock. I took advantage of that and ran before the pain registered. My essence tugged backward as I ran, but snapped back as I broke free of the old building.

  The others called out as they exited the barn. I had no time to turn around. I could only hope they would follow me. The gunfire stopped. That had to mean our captors were all dead.

  I ran toward the Hummer, slowing with each step. The pain of the wound broke through my shock. I gasped and pressed my hand against it. Moisture covered my palm. I fell against a tree trunk, fighting the pain. It shot out in every direction from the bullet hole.

  “Toby!”

  I pushed myself up.

  Tap ran over. “What happened? We heard the shots and screaming.”

  I grunted, pushing myself up more. “It was a trap. We need to get to Victoria. Did the others arrive?”

  “Everyone ran toward the sounds of the gunfire.” He pushed my arm away from my stomach. “We have to dig that bullet out.”

  “I hope by ‘we,’ you mean you.”

  “Yeah. Lay down.”

  Stars danced in front of me. “Hurry.” I lowered myself.

  He stuffed something cotton into my mouth. “Bite on this. You’ll need it.”

  Beads of sweat broke out around my forehead. I took a deep breath.

  Horrible, mind-melting pain exploded in my stomach as Tap dug into my wound for the bullet. I screamed, unable to control myself. The cotton muffled some of the sound. Sweat drenched my hair and dripped into my ears. The pain intensified as my friend dug around some more.

  “Almost got it.”

  I screamed again, unable to take the torture. Where was Ziamara’s healing blood or Frida’s magic when I really needed it?

  “Just about… There!” Tap pulled his fat little fingers and the bullet from my stomach.

  Stomach heaving, I gasped for air. My vision blurred. I couldn’t give in. I wouldn’t. Victoria needed me.

  “I’m going to have to sew that up, my friend. It’s not going to feel good.”

  “You don’t say.” I closed my eyes.

  “First, some antiseptic ointment.”

  Warm liquid splashed onto my stomach and drained down inside my wound. It stung with an intensity I’d only ever felt a few times—all in horrific battles. I bolted upright, screaming again through the cotton.

  “Down!” Tap pulled string through a needle.

  My eyes rolled back and everything turned black.

  When I regained consciousness, I was reclined in a middle row seat in the Hummer. Clouds rolled by quickly out the window. I moaned and raised the seat. Frida drove, Soleil slept in the passenger seat, and Tap stared out the window next to me, appearing deep in thought.

  “What’s going on?” My tone was harsher than I’d intended. I cleared my throat and looked in the back seat. No Jet or Ziamara. “Where are we going?”

  Tap glanced over at me. “Frida tapped into Soleil’s strength and ran another locator spell. We’re on our way to what we think is the real location.”

  Soleil sniffled. “The only strength I have is from drinking all that essence.”

  The memory of Brick sacrificing himself hit me like a truck. “I’m so sorry, Soleil.” My voice cracked. “I didn’t expect him to do that.”

  “Me, neither.” She wiped her eyes.

  I leaned my head back and took a deep breath. “I don’t know how I’m going make it through this without my best friend. He’s been with me for so long…”

  “We’re here,” Tap said. “I’ll make sure his sacrifice was worth it. I’ve called others to let them know where we’re going. We’ve got this.”

  It felt like I was going to choke. “Thanks.”

  We rode in silence for a long time. My mind flooded with memories of Brick, who had been at my side for centuries. As one of my guards, he’d always claimed it would’ve been his highest honor to die for me, but somehow I never thought that would actually happen. And now with the other side permanently closed, I would never see him again in this life.

  I put my face into my palms and allowed myself time to grieve. Tap put a hand on my arm.

  Finally, I sat up and wiped my eyes. “How close are we to Victoria?”

  “Almost there,” Frida said. “You were out a while.”

  “Did you see any visions about what we’ll be up against?”

  “No. My powers are weak, and even with tapping into Soleil’s strength—”

  “Which is at an all-time low right now.” Soleil blew her nose.

  “I barely had enough to see where Victoria’s being held,” Frida finished. “At least whatever spell had been blocking her has lifted.”

  “Did you see her? Is she okay?”

  “She’s locked up. That’s all I know.”

  “Okay. But she’s alive?”

  “Yes.”

  I sighed in relief and reach over to squeeze Soleil’s arm. “We’ll have a huge memorial for him.”

  She nodded, but didn’t say anything.

  “Do you want me to drive, Frida?” I asked.

  “We’re almost there.”

  “Just let me know.” I lifted the hem of my bloody shirt and looked at my stomach. The wound had completely healed and it didn’t hurt to the touch. I took a deep breath. Everything felt back to normal inside, too. At least I had that going for me. Now all I needed to do was to tap into my anger, and I’d be ready to face my father and his pack. He’d already done so much, and now my emotions were as raw as the day I’d lost Victoria.

  “We’re here,” Frida said. The Hummer slowed and we pulled onto a dirt road in a forest.

  My breath hitched at the thought of finally being near Victoria—hopefully for real this time. If this was another diversion, I would likely lose it.

  “Does this look familiar?” Tap asked me.

  “Why would it?”

  “I thought maybe this was where the pack originated. Perhaps where you grew up.”

  I shook my head. “That was far from here.”

  The car stopped. The road had ended and nearly two dozen other vehicles were parked along the trees.

  “This looks like the end of the line,” Frida said. “Do we march in, or wait for the others?”

  I clenched my fists. “We go. This isn’t just for Victoria. It’s for Brick, too.”

  “Just the four of us?” Soleil asked. “I’m already feeling sick from drinking all the essence back there. Actually, you know what would help—in more ways than one?”

  “What?” I asked.

  “If I teleport out of here. I’ll use up a lot of the essence that’s making me sick. I’ll round up some of the toughest supernaturals I know in the area, then I’ll teleport back here ahead of them. Then we’ll have more on our side and I won’t feel like garbage.”

  I nodded. “Go.”

  She ran off to teleport in silence.

  “Then maybe we should wait,” Tap said.

  Images of Brick taking the bullets filled my mind along with thoughts of Victoria being held against her will. “We make plans A, B, C, and D. Maybe all the way through Z and back through the alphabet again. Then we go in with a large number and a plan that’s sure to succeed. How far off are the others?”

  Tap checked his phone. “Jet and Ziamara are heading over with a local pack. Other supernaturals from all over are making their way here as we speak.”

  “If we wait, we stand a chance at outnumbering your father’s men. We don’t know how many others he’s recruited. We have to assume he’s recruited an army.” I looked behind the others, where I heard the low rumble of vehicles. “Sounds like a caravan is arriving now.”

  Cars of every make, model, and color rolled in and parked. People piled out. My nose tickled with all the scents—werewolf, vampire, mesmer, bear, djinn, faerie, troll, and more. From within the woods, the sounds of hooves grew louder—some were arriving on unicorns with their horns full of deadly poison.

  Tap turned to me. “Suddenly, I’m feeling a lot better about this.”

  “It still isn’t going to be easy.”

  He pulled out a sword nearly as large as him. “I don’t expect it to be, my friend.”

  The unicorns arrived, led by vampires dressed in regal battle gear. Several dismounted and stood tall, looking at me for direction.

  I opened my mouth to speak, but the noise of powerful wings flapping stopped me. Between the trees and the moon flew hoards of dragons. They slowed and landed, gracefully avoiding the branches. Some shifted into human form. Two stepped forward. One, a former dragon king, and the other his wife, a vampire-dragon hybrid—Ziamara’s half-sister and also the daughter of my dear friend Marguerite, queen of all vampires.

  Eylin wrapped her arms around me. “Mother wishes she could be here and has called for vampires worldwide to help.”

  I returned the embrace. “Thank you for coming.”

  She backed up and grinned, looking just like her mother. “Let’s kick some ancient werewolf butt.”

  “That we will.” I stepped onto a stump and held my fist high into the air.

  The crowd of supernaturals imitated the gesture.

  Chapter 94

  Victoria

  Heavy footsteps sounded from the woods. They grew louder with each step. I pressed myself against the corner of the cage and searched the dark periphery. Finally, a group of people emerged from the trees. They all wore long black robes with tall, pointed hoods. It made them even harder to see in the dark. If the moon hadn’t been so close to being full, I might not have seen them at all.

  Charles whined.

  “Shh.”

  Their footsteps grew louder as they approached. The group stopped several feet from the cage door. One hooded figure stepped forward and unlocked my cell. Without a word, he waved me out.

  Charles growled.

  I rose and stepped forward, stopping just before the door.

  The hooded figure waved me toward him.

  “What’s going on?” The silence rang in my ears.

  He waved me toward him again.

  I stared at him, not able to make out any features. The nearly-full moon was behind them, casting shadows on anything I would’ve otherwise been able to see.

  “What—?”

  “Silence!” he boomed.

  I jumped.

  He waved me out one more time.

  The click of a gun being cocked into position sounded. Then another. Several more.

  I stepped outside. The nearest hooded figure reached for the chain leash and yanked on it. He pointed to the ground. I threw myself onto all fours before anyone had a chance to use their guns.

  In one unified motion, all the hooded figures turned around toward the woods. The closest one yanked the leash, making me gag on the hard collar. The group marched toward the trees and I struggled to keep up on all fours.

  As we entered the forest, the soft sounds of chanting came from within the woods somewhere. I followed the group. As rocks and branches dug into my palms and knees, my heart thundered so hard I feared it would explode—although that would have been a quick death, quite the opposite of what James surely had planned for me.

  The chanting grew louder as we plodded through the forest. Even more chilling was how quiet everything else was. Normally, even at night, woods were filled with sounds of life. It was as though something so evil, so vile, resided nearby that the wildlife feared upsetting it.

  By the time we finally broke free of the trees and entered a clearing, my palms and knees were torn to shreds and bloody. Flesh dragged behind as open wounds picked up dirt and pebbles. I winced, but dared not complain. Besides, this would probably be the least of my problems soon enough.

  The moonlight cast a glow on everything on the wide open grassy field. I couldn’t see much from my angle, low on the ground and with the robed werewolves mostly standing in front of me. There was a low platform and some objects with wheels.

  They picked up their pace and whoever had my chain yanked, choking me. I moved faster, cringing at the pain in my palms and knees. Finally, we stopped in front of the platform, and the others moved to the side, giving me full view of what lay ahead. A group of about twenty-five more hooded people stood in front of us, all wore the same black robes except one who had a white one with a strange symbol on the chest.

  Their chanting grew louder. The men around me lowered to their knees until the voices stopped. They rose, and together spoke a foreign phrase. The man in white stepped forward, the toes of his shoes nearly dangling off the edge of the platform. He pointed at me with a long finger. “Rise.” He sounded like James, though everything sounded different out in the field.

  I rose, dusting myself as best I could, and stared at the hooded figure. His features were completely hidden.

  “Do you know why you’re here?”

  Other than to be tortured and killed? “No.”

  “This is your trial. You will be judged by the ancient werewolf tribunal ceremony reserved for the worst of offenders.”

  The others behind him uttered their agreement. I said nothing. More robed werewolves came from the woods and crowded around us, leaving me no opportunity of escape.

  “Are you familiar with the ways of the ancient tribunal?” asked the white robed man.

  I shook my head, not trusting my voice to remain steady.

  “We will ask you a series of questions. You will answer honestly and then receive your judgment. Dishonest replies will result in…” His voice trailed off and he waved his palm out in front of him. My gaze followed and landed on large contraptions that looked like they were designed for one purpose—torture. Six-foot long wooden spikes stuck out from one. Another was a pole with ropes and chains attached. A steaming vat large enough to hold a person sat next to the pole. Still others lay behind, but I couldn’t make out their details.

  “You will do best to answer the questions honestly.”

  I turned back around and focused on the man in white.

  “Do you understand?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good.” He extended his arms out as far as they would go, reaching on both sides. “Let the tribunal of Victoria Bernhardt, rebel werewolf, begin.”