Chapter 19

MISTY

The following morning, we met at Chelsea’s parents’ house. They had a much bigger dining room table, and Tanner felt we should include some of the Knox and Monolith warriors.

Dom, Trent, Sully, and Ulrich were already seated. Beta Karl leaned against the door jamb and looked beyond tired.

My mom was hovering around the kitchen making tea, but she was the only one who drank it. Everyone else, including me, opted for coffee.

Chelsea’s Grandad, David, lived with them and was also present.

“I don’t have anything in the way of baked goodies other than biscuits, I’m afraid,” Sharon said, placing the tray on the table.

“That’s quite all right, Mrs. Fulton,” Trent said. “We weren’t expecting to be fed.”

“Call me Sharon, please.”

I sat down and helped myself to coffee, everyone staring at me.

~“I think you need to explain,”~ Cammy said.

~“About being a witch?”~

~“Yup.”~

“Um, I’m not sure how to explain, but apparently, I am a witch.” I looked to my mom for support, and she moved behind me, her hands on my shoulders.

“I almost lost Misty, and something strange happened at the Monolith when I was six months pregnant. I’m sorry I never told any of you, but I think the old woman who healed me was a witch, and her essence went into Misty.”

“So that’s why you ran to the Monolith daily?” Sully asked. “And you have that spicy scent. Quite pleasant, really.”

My face heated. “Yeah, I didn’t know everyone was aware.”

“You can’t hide anything in such a small pack, girlie,” David cackled.

“What does that have to do with the palace?” Ulrich asked.

Goddess, retelling everything was a pain, but it was better that everyone was in the know.

“I’ll explain,” Tanner said, and he recounted everything that happened at the palace.

Tanner was a good orator and had a gift for storytelling. All of them were spellbound to the last word.

“I’ll jump in here,” Dom said. “Lloyd is the best trainer I have ever had, and I often wondered how someone so young could be so experienced. But I guess he isn’t young. Still, I like and respect him, and you have my support. I’ll help in any way possible.”

I smiled and nodded gratefully at Dom.

“Thank you, everyone. I intend to sneak into the palace solo, but knowing there are enough warriors to defend Monolith makes it easier,” I said, blushing profusely.

“You can’t go alone,” Ulrich said, a frown on his face. “You’re one of us.”

That was the nicest thing he had ever said to me, and emotions welled, and I wiped my eyes openly.

“She’s not going alone. Tanner and I will accompany her,” Chelsea said decisively, her hand covering mine.

“Wait,” David said. “You haven’t explained why Alpha Zack was executed.”

My mother sighed and held up her hand. “I’ll explain this part.” She told them why we moved to Knox and that King Axel demanded Olivia stay at the palace.

Mutters of outrage were heard around the table.

“So, he doesn’t have a mate?” Karl mused. “How many alphas have lost their daughters to him?”

“Many. But it doesn’t matter who he sleeps with—none have borne him a pup,” Tanner said.

I gasped. How many she-wolves had he used like that? What happened to them afterward?

“Hmm. I bet he kills them when they can’t bear a pup,” David said.

Tanner nodded his head in assent. “One she-wolf did fall pregnant, but when the pup was born, the DNA result stated it wasn’t his. Suffice it to say neither of them are alive.” He grimaced in disgust.

No wonder Uncle Zack wanted Olivia back. He knew she would be killed in the end. I would have done the same.

That must be why Axel demoted Tanner as beta; it was his right to voice his objections. How cruel and loathsome could you be to kill a newborn?

“He could quite easily have fertilized an egg with his sperm, right?” I asked. “But maybe he is infertile?”

“Oh, he’s thought of that and has sperm on ice. According to the doctors, he is not infertile. He’s only twenty-four and has decided to wait until he is thirty,” Tanner said contemptuously.

“So, all the packs are without their alphas and betas. I think I’m going on a little road trip…,” David mused.

“No, Grandpa, it’s too dangerous.”

“No, it isn’t. You go and do what you have to, and so shall I. Besides, I think I will rewrite the history books so they reflect the truth.”

He grabbed a biscuit and stuck the whole thing in his mouth, winking at Chelsea.

“Well, Misty, I hope you break the curse,” Dom said.

“Me too,” I said, feeling overwhelmed.

Two hours later, we were on the road. We stopped at a Holistic store and bought candles, herbs, and everything we needed to break the spell on the crystals.

Tanner set course for the Fultons’ beach house, and I stretched out in the back and dozed off.

I dreamed the biggest load of garbage under the sun. Everything was mixed up, and I woke feeling out of sorts.

Chelsea’s head was on Tanner’s lap, and for a moment, I thought I caught them doing something they shouldn’t while driving, but when I heard a little snore, I knew she was asleep.

“Almost there,” Tanner said, looking at me through the rearview mirror.

I checked the time on the car’s display. It was past dinner time as we drove through a small town that looked more like a resort. Several restaurants had seating outside with fairy lights, and I wished we had come here on vacation.

~“Maybe we can come here with Lloyd?”~ Cammy suggested.

~“I can’t think that far ahead…”~

We pulled into a driveway; Tanner cut the engine and caressed Chelsea’s cheek. “Wake up, sleeping beauty,” he whispered.

Chelsea sat up groggily and smiled. “Is this place cute, or what?”

It was the most charming little A-frame, painted in a lovely lilac color with olive green window frames and doors.

“It’s gorgeous,” I responded.

“The inside is so cool.” She dug in her backpack for the keys and grinned at me. “There are only two bedrooms, one on either side. The slanted walls make them so cozy.”

We followed her to the front door, and she deactivated the alarm. I gasped. It was open plan, with a view of the beach. The waves lapped gently against the shoreline, and it looked like paradise. “Ta-da.”

“Holy crap, this is stunning,” I said, moving to the window. “For someone who wants minute details, you never described it properly,” I rebuked.

“I know, I did that on purpose. I wanted to see your face.”

“I’m glad it has an alarm system. I didn’t get to sleep like you two,” Tanner said, making himself comfortable in a squishy armchair.

Chelsea ignored him and grabbed my hand. “Let me show you the bedroom.”

She dragged me to the door on the right and threw it open. A double bed against the wall, a TV mounted against the slanted wall so you could lie in bed and watch. The bathroom was built in, featuring a toilet basin and shower. It had a door leading directly to the beach. Everything matched in creams and bronze.

“Wow!” I said. “How lucky are you.”

“We didn’t know grandma had so much money. It surprised us too.”

My dad’s comment about wolves not being omnipotent came back to me. Chelsea’s grandmother had diabetes, but she never told anyone and never used insulin. It killed her in the end.

“My folks want to retire here, but it’s hard because there’s no pack in the area, and they don’t want to be rogues, but I guess they can take long holidays.”

I nodded and dropped my bag and backpack on the floor, not the bed. I didn’t want to sully this picture-perfect place.

“How about a swim?” Chelsea asked. “It will refresh us, and then we can order something to eat and thrash out the plan for tomorrow.”

Just thinking about tomorrow made me nauseous, but I was determined to free Lloyd, and then ~he~ could kill Axel.

“Yes, let’s do that.”

She bounced out of the room, and I changed into a bathing suit. Wrapped in a towel, I opened the door and walked to the water’s edge.

I could hear Chelsea squealing and guessed Tanner was chasing her. Tears pricked my eyes. I also wanted that, but I couldn’t picture Lloyd as playful.

~“We will have that,”~ Cammy consoled.

Dropping the towel, I waded into the warm water until it reached my thighs before diving under. All sound ceased, and I dropped to the soft sand and opened my eyes, the salt burning them. Cocooned and safe, I let the current take me.

I was grabbed harshly by the hair and pulled to the surface. “What the fuck are you doing?” Chelsea yelled.

“Geez, I was enjoying the silence.”

“Sorry, I just got scared when you didn’t come up for air.”

“I was under for less than a minute, Chels. What did you think I was doing?”

“Girls? It’s been a long day. You’ve both cooled off, so might I suggest we have a quiet evening?” Tanner said, an arm’s length away from us.

I nodded, and Chelsea wrapped her arm around me, and we walked back to the house.

After we changed and ate dinner, we sat down and started planning. Tanner did the planning, and I just listened.

“Right, Frieda will let the gate guard know you are coming to visit and collect you there.” He handed me a piece of paper, hand-drawn with the general layout, and marked the entrance to Lloyd’s chamber.

I studied the map, but it was daunting, and many things could go wrong. “Okay.”

“It’s best if you don’t take the map; it will be suspicious if you are caught with it, so make sure you know it by heart. Frieda will orient you on the way in, but you have to find your way out.” He handed me a small pocketknife. “This is so you can pry the crystals out of the wall. I think claws might break them.” Next, he gave me a foldable fabric bag.

“What is this for?” I asked.

“To put the crystals in. I tried to find something dense so you can’t see the crystals because they might be quite bright.”

Clever, I hadn’t even thought of that.

“And a mini flashlight. It might be dark in the chamber.”

Goddess, what would I have done without Tanner?

“The alcove is about six feet deep and has two stone vases and a mermaid painting on the wall. Between the two vases is a wooden panel with a push latch at about the height of your head.

“Once the panel opens, you’ll see a steel door with four dial locks. You have to dial the right numbers in the right sequence.”

~“Wow, they really wanted to keep Lloyd hidden,” ~Cammy mused.

After Tanner had explained everything and made me repeat the sequence and the numbers, I was stressed to the nines. This wouldn’t be easy in and out…

“The best time is lunchtime, which means you’ll have to be at the gate just before. By then, Frieda will be ready.”

“Are you going to drop me?” I asked.

“I will drive you closer, but not to the gate. You’ll take a taxi. We’re close enough to the palace so Frieda can link me, but if anything goes wrong, remember there’s a phone with my number in the chamber, okay?”

I swallowed. “Yes, I understand.”

“Good, now I think it’s best to have a good night’s sleep. Especially you, Misty.”

I nodded and got to my feet. Chelsea jumped up and hugged me. “It will be okay,” she said, but her voice broke slightly, and I knew she was as worried as I was.

I put on Lloyd’s T-shirt and fell into bed, hoping for a dreamless sleep, but anxiety gnawed, and I couldn’t stop thinking.