Page 6 of Bullied Wolf Mate

The man’s eyes grew even wider as he realized his spell hadn’t worked. This time, when he opened his mouth, I knew it was to sound the alarm. Before he could do anything, I slammed the cloth over their nose and mouth. He resisted for another moment, then collapsed.

I grunted, slipping the cloth soaked in chloroform in my back pocket. Sometimes, human methods were the most effective.

Jameson and Klyte appeared behind me. I crouched, rummaging through the witch’s pocket as I fished around for any keys.

Only to realize there weren’t any.

“Shit,” I said, standing back. I looked down the hall the man had been guarding, which showed a row of doors with barred windows on either side. As I studied them closer and saw the wards etched into each one, I made a sickening realization. None of them had locks.

“Magic,” Jameson said, looking down the hall.

“We got anything to counter it?” I asked.

Jameson raised his eyebrow at me. “Think I wouldn’t be prepared for that? Did you sleep during the prep meetings, and I didn’t notice?”

I shrugged. “I learned to sleep with my eyes open,” I said, cracking a grin.

Jameson rolled his eyes, then pulled the hammer out of his bag again. Yet again, I had to feel relief that there were a few witches around Brixton who actually liked us. Otherwise, there was no telling how we would be able to do any of this.

He slammed the hammer against the wards, which gave a flickering glow for a brief second before the light died. The door swung open, revealing a hulking figure sitting on the bed. His head turned toward us, and he stood. He was a large shifter with jet-black hair. He looked me up and down, nostrils flaring. I recognized him, even if it had been a few years since I’d last seen him.

“Declan?” I asked.

Declan nodded. His eyes darted to each of us in turn, lingering on Jameson. “Silver Wolves, right?” he asked. When Jameson nodded, he grunted in interest. “Thought you guys were retired.”

“Wishful thinking on our part, apparently,” Klyte said.

Declan grunted again. “Guess I should thank you, then,” he said. He gestured at his neck, where a padlocked collar, the type that suppressed a shifter’s ability to change into their wolf, rested. “Any chance you can get this off me, too?”

Jameson removed the collar. Declan let out a satisfied groan as he cracked his neck, first one way, then the other.

“Thanks,” he said.

“Where are the rest of your men?” I asked.

“Around,” he said. “Presumably in the other cells.”

I fished around in my bag, pulling out one of the talismans. “Here.” I threw it to him, and he caught it with one hand. He examined it for a moment before nodding in satisfaction.

“Nice craftsmanship. They took ours when they caught us,” he said.

“How’d they catch you in the first place?” Klyte asked.

“Triggered a trap,” Declan answered, slipping the strap around his neck. The jewel in the center glowed despite the lack of light. “Our talismans weren’t going to do any good against it. We had the option of dying or handing over our talismans and surrendering. Guess which ones we chose?”

“Smart move,” Klyte said. “I’m surprised they let you live.”

He shrugged. “She wanted us for questioning and as bargaining chips,” he said. “I’m not going to question a witch’s motives, especially when it means I get to keep living.” He grunted, cracking his neck from side to side. “Suppose I should thank you for getting us out.”

“You can thank us when we’re all breathing fresh air. Any idea where the witch you’re looking for is?” Jameson asked.

“Not exactly. But I would hear a commotion down that end of the cells fairly regularly. The door opening and closing, and voices.” Declan jerked his head further down the corridor. “If I had to guess, they’re in one of those cells.”

“Right,” Jameson said. “You and your team get out. We’ll find the witch.”

Declan remained where he was. “I’m not leaving without the asset,” he said. “I don’t think you understand just how important she is. If we leave her here, there’s no telling whatmight happen. That was my mission, and I’m going to see it through. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m not leaving that to a few unknowns.”

I rolled my eyes, only I knew we didn’t have time to argue, no matter how badly I wanted to. “What’s so important about this witch, anyway?” I asked.