“Of course.”
I met Xander’s gaze, then Kyle’s, trying to impart without words how important it was for them to stay calm. We had to work out how to break out of here, or I had to find a way to neutralize my father. Neither option was going to be easy.
The wolves nodded at me, seeming to understand my silent message.
I turned and followed my father toward home. His gait had changed. There was a jerk to his shoulders, and one leg wasn’t moving symmetrically any longer.
Had he hurt himself? Or was there another reason? Perhaps the jerky movements had something to do with the blood magic.
I shuddered at the thought, at the payment such dark magic might take from him. Dabbling with dark magic—especially blood magic—was known to exact a deadly price.
Dad trotted up the front steps and opened the door to our home, holding it wide open for me.
I shivered as I stepped past his protective veil into the house. In the hour or so that I’d been gone, the house had changed. It had darkened.
Again.
I stopped at the base of the stairs, just inside the door, and stared at my father. Did he really think I couldn’t feel the changes he’d made?
“Father, what have you done to the wards? They feel... strange.”
My father grinned and for the first time, his teeth were yellow. They hadn’t been, earlier. He looked like a human who’d been chain-smoking for decades.
“I strengthened them,” he said. “With the wolves in the realm, I thought it best to better protect your mother and myself. And you, of course, now that you’re home.”
That made no sense on face value. My father’s magic in this realm was unparalleled and the shifters had no magic—here or outside the veil—beyond their shifting ability. They had brute force and strength, but that wouldn’t stand up against the high warlock’s magic. He didn’t need extra protection.
I nodded, pretending to agree with him even though he sounded ridiculous. “You’re right, Father. Of course.”
What he didn’t know though, was that he was going to need protection if he tried to harm Xander or Kyle. Monique’s power had never been unleashed, nor had it truly been activated yet. But she had massive potential, and nothing lit the flame of power like needing to protect a loved one.
I walked further into the house, and he shut the door behind me. Another ward snapped into place, rolling over my skin, and I shivered.
There was something otherworldly going on in this house.
I stared at my dad, fear sizzling in my veins. If he went crazy, who the hell was going to stop him? “Father...”
“Michael! My baby!”
I turned at the sound of my mother’s sweet yet wooden voice. She was sitting in the rocking chair in a corner of the lounge room, staring in my direction.
“Mother.” I walked over to her and bent forward to kiss her cool cheek, then sat on the closest chair so that I could speak to her directly. “How are you today?”
She blinked at me, then smiled. “I’m well, Michael. I’m so glad you’re home.”
“So am I.” I reached over to hold her hand.
She didn’t respond to my touch, not even returning my brief squeeze of her fingers. Instead, she just stared at me blankly.
I pulled back my hand and stood up. “Would you like some tea?”
“Oh, yes please,” she said.
I wandered into the kitchen to get some space and sort her tea.
Damn, it was hard being back here.
I put the kettle on, a human habit I’d picked up while traveling, and leaned against the bench top. I had to face facts. My mother was so much worse than I remembered. What little spark had once been there was gone.