Magnus pulled Sapphire aside and frowned down at her. He hated what he was about to say because he knew she’d not like it. “Listen to me and don’t argue with me. Ivory can’t be trusted. You’re leaving the started there being a chance at war. Her leaving that pack will start the war. You can’t do anything going forward until that connection is still there. Do you understand? She could say these things to get close to you to prevent you from leaving.” “I get it. But someone would have to be telling her what to say or do. Yes, she can be manipulative. I have lots of experience with that. But her lies can be picked apart easily if anyone with a level head thinks about it. What do you have in mind for her then? Locking her up somewhere? Putting a guard on her at all times? I can’t see her accepting any of that.” “Then would she like a one-way ticket to the closest city? Let her deal with the pack there?” “Oh, you wouldn’t dare force her one another pack.
“What do you mean you’re locking me in here for the night? What will I do? How come Sapphire gets to run around free?” Ivory was pouting and sulking when she was given the news that after dinner, she would be locked in the room they’d given her. “I’m not some unruly teen, who’s misbehaved.” “We have things to do and currently there’s no one here qualified to mind you. They will be here in the morning when you wake up. Until then. Goodnight, Ivory.” Magnus shut the door and locked it. He turned to a guard. “She’s not to know you’re here. Only let her out if the packhouse is on fire. If she throws a fit, leave her be. She’s not your concern. You’re here only to keep her from leaving the room.” “Yes, Sir.” The wolf stood at the door and pocketed the key. He was one of Magnus’ loyal enforcers, and Magnus knew he could trust him. While this was happening, April was examining. Sapphire for any magical spells cast on her. She claimed it would take quite a
Sapphire tried to sit still for April as she examined her. She didn’t remember much of what her aunt did around her. Sapphire remembered being sick several times after her aunt forced her to drink some gross potion or elixir. It’s part of the reason Ivory hated her. When Sapphire got there, her aunt experimented on them both and wasn’t very nice about it. Or the lack of results she got. Neither girl ever knew why they were treated. They made Sapphire believe it gave her something that she didn’t deserve. They made Ivory feel like a failure for not developing whatever it was. So Ivory was always trying to please her mother and getting whatever she wanted, hoping she’d be bribed into doing what her mother wanted her to do. Or develop whatever it was. April quickly found out that yes, she had a spell on her. Now Sapphire struggled to keep her patience because it was hours since then and April was still trying to figure out what the spell was supposed to do. Thi
What was she thinking? As Ivory heard the lock engage on the door, she couldn’t believe this was it. A snap decision got her into this. What was she thinking by following that fool cousin of hers? Should she try to escape? Try to get home? Home to what? What would she be going home to? Work? Drudgery? Hate? No, she couldn’t go home, that she knew. It seemed like hours went by and she resigned herself to a quiet night with herself. Gods, she hated being alone. She’d been alone all too much since Sapphire left. She hated being alone because she was alone with her thoughts and her reality. Ivory needed to do something. Anything. They took her phone earlier and now she paced the room. She’d lost count of how many times she’d crossed the room. If nothing else, she gets her steps in for the day. There was no television in the room or a phone. Not even a radio. This was worse that home. She at least had her phone, but who would she call? No one would talk
“What have you found out from you investigation?” Magnus looked at April with concern. Hayden stood at the back of the room while Magnus sat on the corner of his desk as he watched her closely. “Good news. The spells that are attached to Sapphire aren’t spells put there by her aunt. They aren’t negative spells at all. In fact, they are more likely protecting her from her aunt’s magic, by preventing her from accessing her ability to commune with the moon goddess. Her aunt may have been sloppy and not bothered to look for it. Though, I must admit I almost miss it. It took longer than I expected to find the signature on the spell. That wasn’t easy, but I know Betty’s magical signature, as I’ve undone a few of her spells before. This isn’t her signature, and I can only assume it’s her mother’s. Which I find odd.” April was really trying to be thorough in her details, and Magnus could appreciate that. “Odd why?” Magnus listened intently, his hands resting on his
Magnus couldn’t sleep. His mind kept playing over the plan, looking for any weaknesses. He knew he wasn’t underestimating Kilburn. Sapphire’s uncle was not in the here and now.Everything reported to Magnus pointed to some kind of poisoning. His mate must do something witchy to him.Witches weren’t normally the bad guy in Magnus’ mind, but every report he got about Kilburn’s mate pointed to a nasty creature with the knowledge of herbs and magic at her disposal. She didn’t have a problem using either to get what she wanted. For that reason, she wasn’t well liked by her own community. He figured that was another reason she was trying to get her hands on Sapphire’s abilities.Magnus wanted this over. He wanted his mate beside him, in every way. Sapphire deserved better than this half existence. She should need to feel like she must hide her wolf, and she should have access to the Moon Goddess. He didn’t care if she shared her experience. Magnus wanted his mate whole and happy.H
Ivory dragged herself from bed, with this Ran character standing nearby watching her. Someone left her a change of clothes and a few personal items. Why didn’t she pack something when she left the packhouse yesterday? Gods, this felt strange. Ran unnerved her with his eyes and silence. He wouldn’t answer any of her questions. Ran had the nerve to demand that she not pout. This was hard on her and that’s how she coped. Ivory pouted when she didn’t get her way. She complained, she wheedled, she expressed her anger. All to get her way. She came from the bathroom half expecting Ran to be gone, but he still stood there. “I can look after myself. You can go.” “Eat your breakfast. We have thirty minutes before we leave to get into place for the meeting.” “Fine, but it’s not very exciting watching me eat. Why are they making me go exactly? Is it just to prove to my father he has me?” “No, you’ll reject your pack at one point. Then we can d
Sapphire stood with Ivory on the second floor of a shop on the edge of the outdoor market. A cousin of Magnus was with them, along with Magnus. The two men were instructing them on what they were expecting from each girl. Sapphire worried about Ivory. She knew she’d say one thing and do another on a whim. She didn’t know which way Ivory would run with any of her stunts, and there was always a stunt somewhere. The problem was, who would then be the receiver of that stunt? Her father? Her mother? Magnus? Herself? Sapphire didn’t know, but she feared the explosion when it happened. “If I even suspect either of you are going to say something off script, I will pull you from that balcony immediately. We are ending this today by removing you from your birth pack. Once you both are gone, it will force your birth pack to renege on their treaty. That will break that treaty and it will force them to leave the region until this is all cleared up.” Ran wasn’t angry as he said t