Chapter 71

(**Irina**) 

Three women stand in a semi-circle around a small table with a white cloth draped over it. On the table is a glass bowl that is giving off a faint glow. We are standing in the large clearing outside the walls that surround Redwood. The same clearing that Eric brought me to so he could get Sebastion’s attention.  

The sun is shining down on us as we wait for Sebastion, Flint, and Justin to bring Fiona from the dungeons below the pack house. We were originally going to do this in the boathouse, but Jazmine suggested the wide-open space that this clearing provides will give their magic a deeper connection to all the elements of nature that they will call upon to do the ritual. After helping move all their gear out here, I have to say that it was a good idea. 

Arabella, the witch I have learned is their coven leader, stands in the center of the circle. Her flame red hair is flowing down her back, but it seems to blow around in a breeze that I can’t feel. With her eyes closed, she softly whispers words in a language I have never heard. Her left hand is gripping Jazmine’s and her right hand is gripping Lynn’s. 

Jazmine has had my attention since she arrived in Redwood. Her shockingly white hair is long and braided over one shoulder. It trails down her shoulder to her hip. Her beauty makes it hard to look away for long. Her white hair frames a heart-shaped face, but it is the shade of her eyes that keeps pulling my focus to her. That unnatural shade of purple. A pale violet that reminds me of the royal azaleas my mother used to plant. 

Lynn is the most unassuming of the three witches. Standing at five-foot even she is a small ball of energy. Her soft brown hair is streaked with grey. Warm hazel eyes evoke comfort when she looks my way. I feel at peace when just by having her in the room. 

The three women fit together like they have known each other for their entire lives. They can communicate with looks, or by an intuition, that grows from working and living so closely with others. I envy the closeness of these three women share. 

I had that once with my family, or at least I thought I did. After learning about my brother’s love affair with Gustave, I have to wonder what my other siblings hid from me and each other. If we ever find Ekatarina, I foresee some intense family therapy ahead for us all. 

My attention is pulled from the witches to the growl of anger that fills the air. Flint and Justin have Fiona held between them. They gave her a sedative to calm her down but from the angry growls coming from her, I can tell that calm isn’t something we are going to get from her. At least not right now. 

After getting a glimpse of who Fiona is when the spells fog lifted briefly, I feel anger in my heart at what Vicktor had done to her. Not only was she captured, but he separated her from her mate, then used her to drive a wedge between Sebastion and I. Knowing Vicktor like I do, I can only imagine what other horrors she has been through at his hands.  

I will do anything I can to help Fiona heal once this spell is lifted.  

“Let me go so I can kill this whore!” Fiona screams. 

Sebastion steps in front of me to distract her, then turns his head in Arabella’s direction. “How much longer until you three are ready?” 

“Bring her into the circle we have drawn in the grass. Step out of the circle fast or you will be trapped inside with her.” 

Sebastion nods at Flint and Justin to do as she commands. Together they drag Fiona kicking and screaming to the circle drawn with white chalk in the grass. There are symbols I can only assume are magical runes drawn all around the circle. They drop her inside, then step back quickly. 

Before Fiona can leap to attack them, blue light flashes all around the circle, then up to the sky, trapping her in the clear barrier. Her face contorts with rage as she beats at the barrier to get out. All her screaming is muffled by the magic.  

“I will need all of you to step back so that we can perform the ritual.” Arabella asks. 

Jazmine’s eyes flick to Monroe as he steps up behind next to me. Something passed between them before she closes her eyes to focus back on the magic. I was correct. There is something between these two, but that is for them to figure out on their own.  

“We call up on the powers of nature to help us lift the veil of darkness from Fiona’s vision. The visions she sees are not real. Help us lift the veil of illusions and lies from her eyes, heart, and mind.” Arabella calls out as she lifts her head and hands towards the clouds above us. 

Wind blows all around us where there was none before. It gathers in strength when the three witches chant. Jazmine and Lynn both lift their faces and arms to the sky. A shaft of sunlight streams down straight into the circle where Fiona is trapped. 

A thick cloud of white smoke covers her from head to toe. Hiding her from everyone outside the barrier. The smoke swirls, shimmers with energy, then pulsates as if it is a living thing floating around her body. Soon it fades away, leaving Fiona floating in mid-air within the barrier. Her eyes are closed, both of her arms are flung wide to the sides of her body, and her feet arm pointing down at the ground. Her entire body is shimmering with a pale golden light. 

Now that I can see she is safe, or as safe as any magic can be, I let out the breath I was holding. Sebastion switches places with Monroe to stand behind me, then wraps his arms around me. Instant calm settles over me at his touch. It is as if only the touch of his skin against mine can soothe me. Closing my eyes briefly, I lean back into his embrace, then take a few deep breaths. 

When I open my eyes again, Fiona is now bathed completely in a dark, swirling cloud of smoke. Her eyes are wide open with rage as she stared out at me. If there was room for me to step back, I would, but Sebastion is right behind me.  

“The one who cast the spell on her is a dark witch. They are now drawing the spell from her.” Monroe says.  

He is now standing next to me. I glance over at him as he speaks. Monroe’s eyes are no longer focused on the beautiful white-haired witch. They are narrowed and focused on Fiona. There is anger in his eye, anger at what Vicktor did to her. I feel that sentiment, but the same man abused too. 

Vicktor Treadstone needs to die. 

I feel that the day he will come for us is fast approaching. His death is the only outcome that will give me true peace for the first time in five years. I want that death to be at my hands.  

“Hey, none of that now. We will deal with him when the time comes. One problem at a time.” Sebastion whispers in my ear.  

His hot breath makes me shiver inappropriately, considering the current situation we are in. The deep vibrations I feel in his chest let me know he is laughing at my reaction. Damn the man for using my high libido against me. Later, when we are alone, I will make him regret that laughter. 

A sudden burst of light draws my focus back to the ritual. I shield my eyes from the golden light the fills the clearing. Once the light fades, I open my eyes to see what has happened. The barrier is down. Fiona is now on the ground on her hands and knees, and the three witches have lowered their arms. 

“The dark magic has been purged from her body and mind. The illusion spell has been broken.” Arabella says softly a few moments later. 

Arabella sways after she speaks, but before she can fall, Flint catches her. Justin reaches Lynn as the woman’s knees give way. Monroe moves faster than I expected him to as he closed the distance between him and Jazmine. He scoops her up in her arms like he would a lover.  

I raise my eyebrows then look back at Sebastion, who merely shrugs his shoulders. “Ok, let’s get everyone back inside the walls. We can take the Arabella, Lynn, and Jazmine to the house next to where Monroe is staying. Fiona goes with Monroe and his men so they can watch over her.” 

With those orders given, we leave the table and bowl behind as we head inside. Someone can retrieve later them once everyone has gotten some sleep. From looks of all three witches, magic is exhausting.  

(**Sebastion**) 

As I lay wrapped around Irina’s body, my skin cooling from our heated lovemaking, thoughts of all the things to come flow through my head. Our time together as we are now is rapidly running out. Treadstone hasn’t made a move yet, but we know it is coming soon.  

He must be scrambling to contact all his minions. What is going through his head when none of them calls him back? Eric is dead and buried. Westly is in a dark hole in the ground where no one will find him. He isn’t dead, but I am sure he wishes he was. Beckett won’t tell me where he took him until Treadstone makes his move.  

I am not sure what to think of that. What are those four vampires doing with Westly? Can they turn a werewolf into a vampire, or would the transition kill him? That is a question I will have to ask when Beckett calls to check in.  

The sound of tapping on my door makes me raise my head. Justin mind-linked me to tell me that Fiona is asking for Irina. I tell him we will be there in a few minutes. Gently, I shake Irina awake.  

“What is going on?” Her voice is thick with sleep as she opens her eyes. 

“Fiona is awake. She is asking for you.” 

Irina sits up instantly. The sleep clearing from her eyes as she looks at me with concern in her eyes. “Let me get dressed then I will go to her.” 

“We will both be going. The spell may be lifted, but I don’t know or trust her. Until I know what her intentions are, I go where you go.” 

Irina looks like she is going to argue with me, but she just shakes her head then gets up out of bed. Her naked body entices me to pull her back towards me, then capture her lips in mine when she falls back on the bed. Before the kiss can spin out of control, I pull away, then get up to find clothes. 

Her laughter makes me smile. “That was a mean thing to do. Now I am aroused again but we have to leave this room.” 

“That just means when we return later, I can finish what I started.” 

“This pregnancy has my libido going crazy.” 

“Do you hear me complaining about it?” 

“No.” 

“Then what is the problem?” 

A pillow hits my back as she laughs. I am really starting the enjoy this playful side of my mate. We have been so serious in our lives so far. Now that Zasha has returned to her, I get to see more of who Irina was before Treadstone took her.  

I love her more and more with each new thing I learn about her. I thank the Moon Goddess each day for the path she put me on with Irina. This is where I was meant to be all along. 

“Alright, I’m ready. Let’s go see what Fiona has to say to me.” 

Pulling my shirt over my head, then slipping shoes on, I grab Irina’s hand then walk with her out of our room. When we get to the house Monroe is staying in, he is waiting for us outside. His hair is disheveled and there is a lazy look in his eyes, like he just woke from sleep. I pick up a faint whiff of Jazmine’s scent on his clothes. 

“Has Fiona said anything to you?” 

“Nothing other than to ask for Irina. She is calmer now. I will take her with me back to Canada to rejoin the other survivors. There will be a lot of healing still for her.” 

I nod at him then open front door of the house. Fiona is curled up in the sofa's corner. Her dark skin sticks out in all those light colors in the room. Her hands are wrapped around a coffee mug that is steaming with fresh tea.  

There is fear in her eye when she sees me, so I hold them up to show her I mean her no harm. “Nothing you did was of your own free will. I hold no anger towards you.” 

“I marked you.” 

“It faded. I no longer feel the pull to you.” I sit on the far end of the loveseat, so I am not too close to her. 

“I still feel the bond with my mate. He is still alive.” 

“What did you want to say to me?” Irina asks. She sits on the sofa with Fiona. 

“You were a prisoner of Vicktor’s too. Why were you not in a cage like the rest of us?” 

“He used my ability to cloak my scent as a weapon.” 

Fiona frowns. “How?” 

“He sent me with another of his scouts to track down and hunt supernaturals.” 

“Eric.” Fiona’s voice comes out shaky and full of fear. 

“He was one of three scouts. I rarely worked with him. Will it help ease your fear if I tell you he is dead? Eric is dead.” 

Fiona’s eyes fly to Irina’s, then mine, as if she is searching our faces for the truth. When she sees Irina is telling the truth, her shoulders visibly relax. “Westly?” 

“He is somewhere no one will ever find him until we need to use him against Vicktor. He can’t harm you.” 

“Then there is only Vicktor left?” 

“Yes, and right now he is in France trying to protect what remains left of his collection.” 

“That is where Vicktor has my mate.” Hope shines in her eyes as she looks at Irina. 

“Then, with luck, he will be free soon. That compound is under attack by those who work to free our kind from The Collectors.” 

That knowledge fills me with trepidation. I know that when they achieve their goal by freeing all within the compound, if Treadstone isn’t killed in the battle, he will comeA for us. For Irina, Zasha, Arianna, and me.  

It is time to make my pack safe. Our time will be out soon. No one here will die because that monster wants what he can’t have. 

Vicktor Treadstone must die.