Dad. What the hell have you done?
The door swung open and Monique’s face, which always was too transparent, flickered through anger and hurt, then betrayal, when she saw the high warlock behind me.
“Michael... and the high warlock.” She said the words with a smile that looked more like a fierce grimace. “Come in. Please.”
She turned and hurried away in the direction of the kitchen to begin, what I assumed, was a hot chocolate brew.
I walked into the cottage, and my father was right behind me, closing the door and forcing me to move further into the small space.
Xander and Kyle nodded at me, their expressions watchful but not hostile. I moved around to the fireplace so I could see the whole room. A short-acting love spell practically burned a hole in my pocket and I dreaded having to use it. But if I didn’t, my father would know I was not on the same side as him in this matter.
I wasn’t sure that Monique, let alone Kyle or Xander, would ever forgive me for effectively drugging her. And yet, I didn’t see that I had a choice.
“How’s everything going with the plan to undo the pack’s curse?” Xander asked my father, his huge presence filling his side of the room. I had to admit, he was kind of impressive, really.
“I’m almost ready with the solution,” my father surprised me by saying.
“Really?” Xander asked, crossed his beefy arms over his beefier chest.
Dad sat down on the sofa as though he’d actually been invited. “Yes. I’ve been doing some scrying to find my sister, and looking into the past, and it seems you are correct. Abigail did place a curse on your Alpha, and because of his position as leader of your pack, the curse extended out to affect everyone in the pack.”
Monique gasped, sagging against the sink. “Are you okay?” I asked, walking toward her.
She nodded, then stood straighter. “I can’t believe any witch would be mean enough to do such a thing.”
My father continued as if she hadn’t spoken at all. “I believe the only way to fix the curse is for the Alpha to pass on.”
A growl filled the room as the wolves responded to that suggestion in the only way they could. With anger.
My father smiled politely. “But since I knewthatwould be your reaction, I’ve been looking into other ways to find a solution.”
“Have you found anything? What would we need to do?” Kyle asked.
“Other than kill our Alpha,” Xander added in a low rumbling voice.
My father appeared to think about it for a moment. “I believe I’d have to meet the Alpha in person, but I’m still doing research, so I’ll let you know tomorrow. As originally promised.”
Xander and Kyle appeared to relax and I wanted to scream at them.No! He’s here to get you. Don’t fall for any of his tricks.
I glanced at Monique to see if I could impart that message to her, but she wasn’t looking at me. “That’s great news,” she said. “Hot chocolate everyone?”
“Yes please,” my father called, then there was a knock at the door.
Monique went to answer it and it was Gregory, one of the town’s older warlocks, asking for my father.
“I just need a moment, high warlock. It’s important. I went to your house to speak with you, and your wife told me I would find you here.”
I stared at my father and kept my face blank, though I wanted to send up a prayer of thanks for the interruption. This might give me an opportunity to speak to the others, however brief.
My father walked to the door, his cheeks flushed with angry heat. He had no excuse to avoid Gregory, so he really had no choice but to answer the summons, though it was obvious he wanted to stay. “I’ll be only a moment,” he ground out.
Monique rushed over to him with a steaming mug and a big smile. “Here you are, high warlock. Thank you again for your help.”
My father took the mug and stepped outside, though his spine was ramrod straight and I could almost see the anger puffing out of his ears.
The moment the door was shut, I rushed to Xander, a man I had to trust. Because all of our lives were on the line.
“Listen to me.” I grabbed his arm. “We only have a moment.”