Page 90 of Ruthless Moon
Bast speaks this time. “What about the strangers outside Oliver’s when we got out with Liam? Several of them looked like men. And they were casting spells. But I’ve never heard of a male witch. I saw a woman when they took Liam. She helped me. I could’ve sworn I saw her again when we came out of Oliver’s house, but it was so loud and chaotic—”
Aiden cracks his knuckles and shakes his head. “We don’t know who they are. The witches here don’t either, but Lila is being cagey. So I think they know something. But none of our scouts have seen the cloaked people again since the explosion.”
Cloaked people.I know who they are.I stare at the ground. I know more because I witnessed the conversation between Meredith and Talia. She came to warn Meredith. She came to help her and Emma and instead Meredith died saving us and Finn took Emma and ran.
Liam squeezes my hand. “If you know something, you can tell us, love. We’re on your side.”
I glance up at my mate, expecting judgment in his eyes, but there’s none. There’s not a single thread of it flowing through our bond either. Just patience and kindness and love. Reassurance.My side... I’ve never had one person on my side, much less a group.
Do I say anything? Do I share Meredith’s business?We’re all in this together now, though. We’re hiding from the ghost of my father inside the witches’ court.
“Do you need to speak to someone else first, Gen?” Aiden asks, his tone even and calm.
I glance at Aiden and then back to Liam. And then into Bast’s anxious face, then shake my head. “A woman...she said her name was Talia Windham...approached Meredith, Rachel, and me in Denver. She was from somewhere else. Another court or coven, from what it sounded like. Somewhere Meredith’s husband was living. She was wearing a lot of leather, a hooded cloak. Very much pulling off anAssassin’s Creedvibe.”
“Meredith has a husband?” Liam’s eyes widen in surprise. “Why didn’t—”
“Wait, the woman’s name was Talia?” Bast says, interrupting his brother.
I look at Bast and nod. “Yes. And she wasn’t just a witch. She was a wolf too. I could smell her beast. And she said she was both—a hybrid.”
“I’ve never heard of a hybrid.” Aiden’s voice is deep and hushed. Then his whole stance shifts, and he gets fidgety. “We need to speak to Lila and the others. This coven is ours to protect and I don’t want them thinking we’re not on their side. They’re family.”
Bast looks around the slightly shocked group. “A woman like Gen is describing saved my life in the alley when Oliver’s men took Liam back. I would’ve been dead along with Jackson otherwise. Noah was about to shoot me. She definitely smelled like a wolf but acted like a witch. Threw him against the building with a flick of her wrist.”
“Let’s go have a talk with Lila, Rachel, and the others. Then we decide on how to answer Lucas.” Aiden looks at me for a second, waiting to see if I’m okay with that plan. Like I’m part of the family too. Part of the pack.
I am. I squeeze Liam’s hand. “Yes.”
Aiden leads our group down the path back to the village, Bast and Liam flanking me on either side. Their mother and Aiden’s mother break off and head into a small cottage while we forge ahead to the meetinghouse in the center of the village.
Voices carry on the still night air.
“Why would she just die for them? She was more powerful than any other witch here. She didn’t have to die. She chose to. Why?”
“The O’Connor wolf was like a son to her. I feel the same about most of the pack, Aiden included. My daughter grew up with all of them.”
“We’re missing something. Meredith could’ve taken down Oliver’s entire pack by herself. And Lawrence being here complicates everything! We’ll have witches from the New England court crawling all over this mountain looking for him if they aren’t already.”
“Yes, and finding us instead of him.”
We stand in silence outside the meetinghouse staring at each other. I don’t know what the others are thinking, but if Meredith could’ve single-handedly taken out my father...what was it about Emma and Finn that kept her from doing so?
“We can’t give up our home. None of us know how to construct a new court. And only aMathaircan cast such a complicated spell.”
“I don’t want to leave either, but I also don’t want to die.”
Aiden pushes the door open. “And we’re going to figure out how to save your home together. And you’re certainly not going to die. My pack will protect every last one of you to their dying breath. You’re family.”
The room is silent. They all stare at Aiden. Then at each of us.
Lila stands near the center of the room. Rachel and Alice are standing next to her. “You don’t understand the full extent of the danger, Aiden.”
“We need to share information. We need to know what’s going on. Bits and pieces won’t work. Trust goes both ways.” He steps closer to Lila. “Let us help you, please. There are so many things going on right now. We’re not seeing the bigger picture.”
A hushed murmur ripples through the witches, their attention now fully on us. I glance at Rachel, her eyes meeting mine briefly before flickering away.
Aiden’s right. The secrets need to be unraveled.