Page 113 of Blood Magic (Dark Witch Chronicles 1)
“Fine. But I’m not a taxi service, you hear me? I do this, I do it once.”
“That’s what I said, too,” Fearghas chimes in.
“Shut the hell up,” Rainey snaps.
Ridley grins at Fearghas and disappears.
“You know, you could be a tad more grateful, Astor,” Fearghas says.
She rolls her eyes. “Fine. But I’m shit at apologies, so all you’re getting is an unfuck you.”
He smiles, the emotion so in contrast to what I’m feeling that it almost makes me sick. “That’s the best apology I’ve ever received.”
Less than a minute later, Ridley reappears with both Delaney and Cole. Cheeks flush, she rushes toward me. “What happened?”
“Bronywyn was here. Now she’s not. They came into my home and took her. I never even heard him coming. Why the fuck didn’t I hear him coming?”
“I’m guessing he’d cloaked himself.” Delaney shakes her head. “Why the hell did no one tell me she was here?”
“Everything was under control,” Rainey replies. “We rescued her last night—”
“Rescued?” She whirls on me. “You said you’d call if something happened.”
“We didn’t have much time,” Elijah replies. “Walker informed us of a feeling he had, and we acted. When we got there, she was nearly dead.”
“Who had her then? The council?”
“A councilman Paloma introduced us to. He had a group of witches attack her in an attempt to steal the dark magic.”
“You have got to be fucking kidding me.” Delaney pinches the bridge of her nose. “I leave you kids alone for ten seconds…” She trails off as soon as she meets my gaze. “So, the council has her now.”
“Yes.”
“Do we have any clue where they could be holding her?”
Eira clears her throat and steps forward. “I know where they are. I make it a point to always know where my enemies hang their hat.”
“You can’t get involved,” Fearghas warns her. “They spot you, and that’s it. They will have everything they need to come for you, Eira.”
She touches his arm gently and smiles. “I won’t let them keep her, Fearghas. No one knows as well as I do how horrible they treat their ‘guests’.”
“Why don’t you just tell us where she is,” Rainey says. “Then you don’t actually get involved but get us where we need to be.”
“I can be of help in there. You have no idea what you’re going up against.”
“No, but I do,” Elijah says. “I may not know where they are located here in Billings, but I know what type of muscle they typically have watching the place.” He glances at Rainey. “Let myself get caught a time or two to gather information.”
“We are so perfect for each other it’s disgusting.”
Eira smiles softly. “I’m only a phone call away should any of you need me.”
“Thank you.” Delaney steps over to Rainey, and they start talking, Fearghas, Cole, and Elijah joining in. Ridley sits with his back to the wall, staying out of it for the most part, and I do my damnedest to listen, all while my mind is putting Bronywyn through scenarios far too horrific to visit.
Torture.
Rape.
There’s no fucking telling what that bastard is capable of. If left unchecked, the council does whatever the hell they want. And it’s in this moment that I realize everything Bronywyn was fighting for is something we all should have been fighting for.