Even knowing what he did of Conall MacLennan and his mate, Fionn still surprised himself by offering, “She’s what Thea was. She’s what the Blackwoods are after.”
Conall processed this and then growled, “Fuck.”
“You should know Layton Blackwood doesn’t believe Thea was always wolf. That’s probably why they’ve taken her.”
Deep worry etched between the wolf’s brows. “She’s wounded. I found her blood where they took her.”
Having learned a while ago that Conall was famous for his ability to track anyone, Fionn asked, “How does it work? The tracking thing?”
“Usually, once I have someone’s scent, I just instinctively know where to go. But the spell they’ve cast over Thea is … it’s like my compass is haywire. I can sense her but something keeps leading me off track.”
“Now that you know that, focus.”
Conall snarled at him. Hands on hips, he gave his back to Fionn while he grappled against the spell.
“Anything?”
“Something’s wrong.” Conall glared at him over his shoulder. “I dinnae feel right.”
Suspicions building, Fionn asked, “Do you have my scent now?”
“Aye.”
“I’m going to hide, and you’re going to try to find me.”
“I dinnae have time for your games, fae.”
“It’s a test, wolf. Thea might not be the one they’ve spelled.”
Conall turned fully toward him, understanding dawning.
Fionn nodded toward the wall. “Cross it.”
The wolf eyed it. “The wall that drops right off a cliff and into the sea?”
“Does it?” Fionn sprung over it. Conall took a step back with surprise. Surprise that lasted but a second for he then threw himself over it. He studied the forest before him with a mere quirk of his lips.
Fionn traveled into the woods, hearing the wolf’s startled curse at his disappearance.
He waited.
He waited as long as his patience would allow considering Rose was most likely in the hands of the Blackwoods. Conall traipsed through the woods, bristling with obvious fury, when Fionn traveled to his location. He spun on Fionn, canines bared. “What the hell have those bastards done to me?”
They’d put the spell on Conall. Not Thea.
Without giving the wolf a heads-up, Fionn gripped him by the collar and sped him through the woods, bursting out of the trees at the faerie pools. He threw the two-hundred-and-seventy pound wolf like he was nothing more than a small sack of flour.
He hoped MacLennan could swim.
The splash of his body landing in the larger pool was impressive. Under he went before popping back up, dark hair slicked back and icy glare threatening payback.
He moved unnaturally speedily through the water to the edge.
“Before you try to kill me, let me explain.” Fionn gestured to the pools. “These are faerie pools.”
Conall pulled himself out with ease, water falling off his now-soaked body as he faced Fionn with death in his eyes.
“They wash off spells. Try concentrating on Thea now.”
Although the muscle in his jaw ticked, Conall took a breath and gave him a tight nod. Not even two seconds later, triumph lightened his countenance and relief moved through Fionn.
“I know where she is.”
Fionn pulled the hair tie out. “This is Rose’s. If you’re wrong, we can trace her with this.”
The wolf scowled. “Why the hell would you not just use this in the first place?”
“Because if Rose and Thea aren’t together, you’ll need your tracking ability to find your mate.”
“And I’m to believe you helped me out of the goodness of your heart, fae?”
Irritation bubbled under Fionn’s skin. “Rose is my mate. So, one, I understand what it would mean to you to lose Thea. And two, she and Thea need to be protected. The Blackwoods can’t open that gate. If taking a few minutes out of my hunt for Rose so that my backup is working at his full capacity, so fucking be it. Now let’s move.”
Conall studied him a second and then gave him a nod. He gestured toward the woods. “This way.”
Before he began to run at his wolf speed, he threw over his shoulder, “And I’m nobody’s bloody backup, fae.”
Fionn decided if he hadn’t been worried out of his mind, he might like the Scot.
Rose, Fionn thought as he struggled to keep from speeding past Conall, I’m coming for you, mo chroí.
“Rose. Rose!”
The voice wouldn’t stop. It tugged at Rose from a dark place of fiery hell.
“Rose, wake up!”
She groaned. It hurt in the darkness, but it was agony up where that voice was trying to haul her to.
“ROSE!”
Her eyes flew open, her blurred vision slowly coming into focus as the pain burst furiously across her nerve endings. “Argh!” She groaned, swinging against the chains and crying out with the movement.
“Rose, I’m so sorry, but I can hear them. They’re coming.”
It took Herculean effort to move her head toward the voice.
Thea.
The fae turned wolf was on her knees, begging Rose with her dark gaze. She looked paler than before.
Rose remembered the silver bullet.
Fuck.
“Remember what I told you,” Thea said, her voice hoarse.
She’s in pain.
“Imagine Layton hurting Fionn. Taking an iron blade to him.”
Rose nodded weakly just as the door blew open and the warlock in question strode into the room.
He wasn’t alone.
His sisters were with him, along with five warlocks and … Rose eyed the mammoth male and remembered he was the one who’d snapped her neck. They had a werewolf as a bodyguard.
Oh, if Rose got out of this, the werewolf would be the first to get it. She did not enjoy having her neck snapped.
At all.
She glared at him and the wolf had the audacity to sneer. Then he signed his death warrant by turning to Layton. “You said I could play with the wolf bitch. When’s that happening?” His greedy gaze sought Thea.
Thea snarled at him in warning and he grinned lasciviously at her.
Oh yeah, you’re going to die, pal.
Layton cut the wolf a dark look. “I said the wolf was yours once we’ve opened the gate. You know you’re not so much with the listening skills, are you?”
“Rose,” Thea urged.
So, she tried. She really tried. She imagined Layton killing Fionn, emitting pure sunlight like the badass faerie she was.
Rose sagged, exhausted.
“Rose.”
She cut a look at her pseudosibling. “I’m sorry.”
“What’s going on?” Layton asked, glancing between the two. He zeroed in on Thea, striding toward her. “What are you trying to get her to do?”
When neither of them answered, Layton grabbed Thea’s hair and dug his thumb into her wound. Thea’s gurgled scream tore through Rose. Watching the
wolf grit her teeth, pain reddening her skin as she fought not to give Layton what he wanted, was unbearable.
“Stop it!” Rose yelled, forgetting her own pain as she yanked against the chains. Her right arm lowered and her breath caught.
Did the chain just pull from the ceiling a little?
“Oh, ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner.” Layton straightened from his torture of Thea to smile at Rose. “I’m going to put another bullet in your little wolfy friend if you don’t tell me where An Breitheamh is, Rose.”
Thea launched herself at him, her jaw wide, canines out as she clamped onto his thigh and yanked her head back with such force, she took a huge chunk of Layton’s leg with her.
The warlock’s scream filled the basement as he fell to his knees. Rose watched in horror as Thea’s body jerked seconds after a gunshot rang out.
Liza stood, her hands wrapped around the gun.
Thea slumped against the wall, unconscious, as Lori hovered over Layton.
“The fucking fae, you moron!” he yelled, spittle flying everywhere. “Her blood will heal me. I’m not turning into a fucking dog every full moon!”
No.
No, no, no!
Between the thought of Thea dying and Layton living, Rose was done.
Done being the victim.
What would Fionn do?
He’d use the pain, Rose thought. He’d use the pain.
With a scream of fury, Rose did just that, using the agony to fuel her strength. She forced her body to move, pushing herself onto her feet. She wrapped her hands around the chains above her manacles and with every bit of her fae strength, she yanked those fuckers from the ceiling like she was pulling a birthday candle out of a cake.
They were too shocked to react in time.
And Rose’s rage was too great.
Using Fionn’s training, Rose vanished, traveling to the spot behind Liza. She was a streak of movement as she used her full speed and strength, snapping the wrist holding the gun. Then she twisted Liza’s neck, hearing the death crack. Traveling to the werewolf, Rose punched her fist through his back and tore out his heart.