the rescue plan, those who are going Earthside agree to meet at the stables in an hour, and then we all disperse to prepare. Max readies an operating room in case I’m injured and he needs to deliver the babies on short notice. Sophie packs a small bag with medical supplies to care for the girls, if needed. Ash and I confer with a contingent of the Gorm to let them in on the plan and their role in it.
I send a message to Gus, the head groomsman, asking him to saddle Northstar while everyone else changes into dark clothes to help them blend into the forest surrounding the school.
At the allotted time, Ash and I head down to the stables to meet the others, bringing Steele and Silver with us.
“We await your safe return, my queen,” Gus says, removing his cap with a bow and handing me Northstar’s reins.
“Thank you, Gus,” I say, mounting Northstar in one smooth motion.
Ash gives me an appreciative once over. “You look like an avenging angel up on Northstar’s back, wearing your steel breastplate with your hair blowing in the breeze.”
With a smile for my husband, I pat the shimmering metallic coat of Northstar’s neck. “Thanks for being my ride, big boy.” When I escaped from the school, the binding curse caused severe cramping in my leg muscles. I suspect the same thing will happen the moment I set foot back on the grounds—the curse will bring about that torturous pain and I won’t be able to move. I’m riding in on Northstar so I don’t slow down the rescue mission or take anyone’s focus from our objective. Because Elle’s curse was created specifically for me, no one else should be affected by it.
Ash bulks up with Archer’s dragon power, golden eyes catching the morning light. Silver and Steel sit patiently at his feet. Their job will be to round up the guard dogs patrolling the grounds of the school. The guards themselves will be handled by Kat, who stands in front of me alongside Ben, Luke, Sofie and the contingent of Gorm.
“Any last-minute questions?” I ask, looking at the assembled group. When I’m met only with silence and determined looks, I say, “Let’s go.”
We jump Earthside and arrive on the country road at the top of the unmarked driveway to the Gingerbread Cottage School for Girls.
“Remember, Elle will most likely be here at the school, and there’s a good chance Franco will be as well,” I say to the others. “Don’t think because it’s daylight, Franco will be forced to stay away. He often visited during the day, using the portal to jump directly into the subbasement where there are no windows.”
Ash turns to the contingent of Gorm. “Wait here for my signal.”
They nod their agreement in unison.
“Let’s get this party started.” I tighten my hold on Northstar’s reins, and Ash uses his power to jump us all to the covered bridge at the same time.
When we land, the cramping immediately begins in my feet and creeps up my ankles. I gasp and then breathe through the agony, grateful to be on Northstar’s back and not trying to walk or even stand on my own.
“Are you all right, Nina? How’s the pain?” Ash asks with a worried frown.
“I’m staying ahead of it, and it’ll subside as soon as I’m inside the school,” I answer with a tight-lipped smile.
Kat strips down and dives naked off the bridge into the inky lake surrounding the school. She disappears under the surface before emerging transformed into her siren appearance. Shimmering black scales begin in the valley of her breasts and cascade down her torso. She opens her mouth and a beautiful song emerges from between her dagger-like teeth. She uses the strength of her tail to lift out of the water like a dolphin as her melody vibrates around us.
Guards shuffle out of the forest and spill out of the school. They cross the grounds to the lake in the drugged state Kat’s siren song induces. At the water’s edge, they drop their guns and tread without hesitation into the water.
Kat sings louder as she stretches her talon-tipped fingers wide and lures her prey to her. She’s a spectacular killing machine.
Ash voices a command to Steel and Silver. They take off at a run across the covered bridge and down to the grass to round up the guard dogs who don’t seem to know what to do without their handlers. The guard dogs race around the edge of the lake, barking and snarling at Kat.
Steel and Silver corral the dogs with growls and barks much louder and more menacing than anything Earthside dogs can muster. The guard dogs cower timidly together and lie down at Steel and Silver’s feet, knowing they can’t win against a pair of dominant hellhounds.
“Stay,” Ash calls to Steel and Silver.
Our hellhounds keep watch over the now quiet dogs.
“Let’s go to the school,” I say.
“Should we stay in case Kat needs help?” Luke asks, looking at Sofie and me.
When the guards wade chest deep into the water, Kat disappears below the surface. The men are yanked under in quick succession, and the water churns with bloody froth.
“No need. My girl’s got it,” Sofie replies proudly.
“Come on.” I motion Northstar forward across the bridge and down onto the grass.
We skirt along the edge of the tree line until we reach the back of the school. Then we cross the grounds to the original location of the portal in the wall of the school. I know that our time before being discovered is getting short. If my presence back on the grounds of the school doesn’t alert Elle, the missing guards will.
“The bolt-hole used to be here.” I point to a section of brown brick.
“I don’t feel any magic,” Ash says.
“Elle said she moved it after my attempted escape. She must have been telling the truth for once.” I walk Northstar along the back of the building, looking for the portal’s magic signature. We turn the corner of the school and search the wall for several minutes before I find it.
“It’s here.” Dismounting from Northstar’s back, I grimace at the cramping in my calves and thighs. I press my hand to the brick and smile to myself when it passes through.
“I can sense the magic signature now,” Ash says, coming up beside me. “I don’t suppose you would consider waiting out here?”
“I can’t. The pain in my legs is getting worse. I need to get inside the school for the curse to release me. Besides, I’m the only one who knows my way around in there.” I look at Ben and Luke. “We’ll slip in through here. Once inside, don’t be tempted to shift into your dragons. I need you in this form to lead the girls out. Also, the rooms are small and the ceilings low. You could become trapped or destabilize the entire building. Follow me.”
“Ben and Luke should go first to make sure it’s clear, then you and Sofie, and I’ll have your back,” Ash says.
“Okay,” I say, respecting Ash’s need to have the last word on my safety.
After telling Northstar I’ll be right back, we file through the bolt-hole. Once inside, I follow the trail of my magic and use the mate bond to tell Ash where to go as he leads the way. We weave through the narrow gray hallways of the subbasement, running into a couple of guards that Ash quickly and quietly takes care of. When we reach the hallway containing the bedrooms, I dispatch Sofie and Ben to knock on all the doors. Because it’s still morning, most of the girls open their doors, rubbing their eyes. As the girls spill into the hallway, I hold my finger to my lips.
“I knew you’d come back,” Winnie says in a low voice.
I give Winnie a reassuring smile before addressing all of the girls. “My friends are going to take you out of the school and across the bridge to safety. Follow them. We’ll get the others.”
I catch Sofie’s eye. “When you get outside, you and Kat take the girls up to the Gorm. Take Northstar and the dogs with you.”
“Will do,” Sofie says.
“Ben, there’ll be another dozen or so girls upstairs,” I say. “You need to get them out. Go in through the front door and kill anyone you meet that isn’t a teenage girl.”
“I’m on it, boss,” Ben says before leading the girls down the hallway, with Sofie bringing up the rear.
Using the mate bond again, I direct Ash to the dining room, and he leads Luke and me there. When he enters the room, Danny jumps up from the table and puts herself between Ash and the two other girls sitting there. “Who the fuck are you?” she demands, then picks up a butter knife and points it at him to defend herself and her friends.
I know what Danny sees when she looks at Ash—a big male. A threat. She’s scared, and I don’t blame her.
“Danny, it’s me.” I step from behind Ash.
Danny lowers the useless butter knife when she sees me. “I didn’t think you were coming back. No one ever comes back.”
“I made you a promise. And I keep my promises. My friend Luke is going to get you out of here. You need to go with him,” I say before turning to Luke. “Keep an eye out for any guards that may still be down here.”
Luke steps forward and the girls still sitting at the table hop up and they all rush to follow Luke out of the dining room.
“Welcome back, Nina.” Elle saunters into the dining room from the doorway to the common area. “How positively foolish of you to come back here.” She laughs.
Franco fills the doorway behind her, not an ounce of humanity evident anywhere. His skin is pale and crepey, and his blood-red irises burn with mania. “Seems like a fair fight. Two on two. On second thought, the odds may be in our favor, especially since you can’t use your power, Seraphina, and you’d be stupid to change down here, Mountcastle.” Franco curls his lips back to bare his fangs and pushes his icy power into the room.
While Franco’s power prickles my skin like frostbite, my loathing for him and Elle simmers inside me, threatening to boil over. I pull on my enchantress power to have it at the ready, and it leaps to life, clicking into a place in a way it never has before. With a deep knowing, I realize I can use as much of my magic as I want and it won’t hurt me, and that I’ll have pinpoint control. My queen power has finally settled.
Remembering Ash’s comment about my terrible poker face, I keep my expression neutral, not wanting to give Elle and Franco any indication of the danger they are in from both my wrath and heightened abilities. Let them think they have us cornered. They have no idea what I’m capable of. It’s time to fight dirty. Be wily.
Franco and Elle rush into the dining room and split apart, attempting to circle us. Throwing the mate bond wide open, I use it to call Ash’s clan magic to me. Since Ash is on the inside of the school with me, there’s nothing to prevent me from using the bond. My magic isn’t trying to escape the curse so there’s no risk of my power bouncing back to injure me.
Ancient dragon magic surges into me like a high-voltage current. The magic is different from mine, but it’s also familiar. It’s the same magic Ash used to mark me as his fated mate, and its smoky rush lights me up.
I throw my hands out to the sides, releasing my power shielded by dragon magic to avoid the binding curse. Elle and Franco smash against the gray cement walls on either side of the dining room. I almost laugh at the stunned shock frozen on their faces. Surprise bitches. But they’re not without their own magic, and I know they won’t be down for long.
Shifting to focus my powers solely on Elle, I fling her high into the air and slam her against the wall once, twice, three times, as payback for attempting to kill me and steal my children.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spot movement in the shadows just in time to see the doctor throwing a scalpel at me. Dropping Elle, I whirl and redirect my magic to catch the scalpel as it flips end over end toward me. Stopping the scalpel in midair, I send it straight back to the doctor and use it to slit his throat.
Clutching at the gaping wound across his neck, the doctor falls to his knees before face planting on the tiled floor, blood quickly pooling under him.
Ash is on Franco, grabbing him by the throat. Franco uses his vampire speed and strength to break the hold and then delivers a right hook to Ash’s jaw. Ash retaliates with several jabs in quick succession, knocking Franco back, but not out. Franco is a master vampire, he’s not going to go down without a serious fight.
They stand toe to toe, trading punches to the face and blows to the body with an unbroken tempo, like they’re each working a speed bag. They’re both moving so fast, it’s hard to tell who has the upper hand. Neither of them seem to tire or give an inch.
Ash lands a devastating cross but Franco comes back with an uppercut that catches Ash under the chin and seems to momentarily shake him. Franco doesn’t waste the opportunity. He throws an elbow into Ash’s nose and then pulls Ash toward him. With his fangs exposed, Franco lunges for Ash’s jugular.
Ash dodges Franco’s attack and in the same fluid movement punches a hand right through his chest. When Ash pulls his hand out from between Franco’s ribs with a wet, sucking noise, he has Franco’s black heart in it. Ash crushes the heart like a plum tomato, black gore dripping down the sides of his hand. Then he rips Franco’s head off his shoulders with a bellow and throws it across the room.
From her position on the floor, Elle watches the gruesome scene play out, giving her a little preview of her fate. Using my power, I pull the gold amulet she always wears from around her neck and toss it to Ash, breaking the spell that makes her appear human.
Elle immediately morphs into an old crone, her red hair turning wiry and gray, her pixielike face and voluptuous body wrinkling and withering.
A gray-uniformed guard rushes into the room and I turn to confront him. The guard’s eyes jerk around the scene—the doctor facedown in his own blood, Franco with a gaping hole in his chest and Elle, an almost unrecognizable hag, crumpled on the floor. The guard quickly turns around and runs back out of the room.
Pivoting back to Elle, I see her lips mutter an incantation while her hands move in an M-shaped pattern with her index and middle fingers crossed and her ring and pinkie finger down, casting a spell.
A black web of magic slithers around my breastplate as if looking for a way to get to my babies, but it’s unable to break through. With a flick of my wrist, I break all of Elle’s fingers like brittle twigs just as Ash vaults over the dining room table and lands right beside her. He reaches for her but before he can wrap his hands around her throat, I snap her neck with a thrust of my power; the loud crack indicating the end of the fight.
Elle’s web of magic vaporizes and fades harmlessly away.
With Elle’s death, the binding curse dies, too. After we exit the subbasement of the school, Ash and I walk across the grounds hand in hand, letting the sun warm our faces.
In the shade of the covered bridge, we meet Edmund and two of his pack members, followed closely by Ben. “What the fuck is going on here, Dolly?” Edmund flexes the bulky muscles of his shoulders under his suit coat.
I flick my eyes to Ben in silent question.
“We haven’t told Edmund anything,” Ben says.
“Thank you, Ben,” I say. “Would you mind taking Edmund’s escorts up to wait with the Gorm? We’ll be up in just a minute.”
Edmund lifts his chin in a signal for his wolves to follow Ben who turns on his heel and leads Edmund’s pack members back up the laneway.
“Answer me, Dolly. I felt the magic of your small army enter my territory. What’s going on?” Edmund demands.
Peering into the eyes of my mother’s oldest ally, I have to believe he doesn’t know what Elle is. My mother would never have tolerated a traitor as a friend or business partner. Edmund is rough around the edges and not above putting his interests first but he isn’t duplicitous.
Beside me, Ash takes a step forward, aggression radiating off him. With his need to protect me and adrenaline still pumping through him from the fight, Ash might hurt or even kill Edmund first and ask questions later. But that would be a mistake. Ash can’t attack a Council of Seven member and hope to live. Even his father wouldn’t be able to save him. Trusting my instincts about Edmund, I opt for diplomacy.
Placing my hand in the center of Ash’s chest to stop his advance, I turn my attention to Edmund. “It was Elle. She kidnapped me and held me hostage here, all this time.”
“She’s a human. How could she possibly kidnap and hold you?” Edmund asks, deep furrows forming across his brow.
“She isn’t—wasn’t human. She was a practicing black witch. The school was a cover. She used the blood of the girls she was supposed to be protecting to fuel her spells. She murdered countless girls at this school. She tried to murder me, too. But I was able to escape and then come back to finish her off.”
Ash pulls Elle’s amulet out of his pocket and lobs it at Edmund.
Edmond catches it in a brawny fist. “Elle’s dead? She was a witch?” Edmund rubs the amulet thoughtfully between his fingers. “I didn’t know. Had no idea. She completely snookered me. Pulled the wool over my eyes. I was blinded by her beauty and sweet nature.”
“Do you want to see her body? Do you need proof of what she was?” Ash asks. “When Nina removed that amulet, Elle’s true form was revealed. She wasn’t the innocent, young human she pretended to be. She was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
“No, I don’t need to see the body. I trust you’re telling the truth and can feel the magic in the charm. Tell me what happened?” Edmund says, his shoulders falling as the weight of truth settles over him.
“Elle was working with Franco Rossi. They were business associates. Did you know that, Edmund?” I ask.
Edmund shakes his head. “No, I never sensed his presence in my territory. I would’ve run him off. I know he has an axe to grind against you.”
“He’s dead now, too. I killed him,” Ash says.
“Franco was able to jump directly into the school using a portal Elle created. He was bringing Elle trafficked human girls, and she was killing them to fuel her spells, including the one that made her appear human and the curse that kept me bound to the school.”
“Why would she do that? Why did she want you?” Edmund’s brows lower over his eyes.
“She needed a high-profile sacrifice to join a coven. At first, she planned to kill you. But when I accepted your invitation to visit Kilkenny Keep, she set her sights on me. She was going to offer my blood to the coven tonight at a ceremony. She was desperate. When I revealed her true form, it didn’t look like she had a lot of time left. Her life and chances were slipping away.”
“She was under my nose the entire time, and I didn’t see it. She killed helpless humans in my territory. Held you hostage for months.” Edmund looks out over the lake. “I had no bloody idea she was capable of any of this.”
“Elle was convincing. She fooled us all. She wove a powerful spell,” I say. “She was ruthless in her ambitions.”
“Elle would have killed me and almost did kill you,” Edmund says gruffly. “You saved my life, Dolly. I owe you a debt of honor that must be paid. Tell me how can I do that? Make this right between us.”
“Help me make sure the girls that survived are safe and cared for. And once again be an ally of Avalon. That’s all I want,” I say, asking for the two most important items on my wish list.
“Agreed. Kilkenny Keep and Avalon will once again be allies. As for the girls, my pack will see to their medical care, find them a place in my territory or help them reunite with their families, if they desire.” Edmund takes my forearm in a warrior handshake and then Ash’s. “I’d also like to gift you this land.” He looks toward the school. “The island, the lake, the covered bridge—all of it—for saving my life and for putting yours in danger.”
I stare unblinking at him. “You don’t have to do that, Edmund. This land is in the heart of your territory.”
“I do. You’ve proven yourself to be a strong and caring queen, so I would have formed an alliance with you regardless. I still have to settle the debt of honor.” Edmund’s rough accent is threaded with respect.
“I accept your generous gift as a sign of your friendship and allegiance. Your debt of honor to me is paid. Maybe I’ll build a real sanctuary here. A real place for girls to come and get help,” I say.
“That’s a grand idea. I’ll support you however I can.” Edmund gives me a shallow bow.
I return his bow before facing the school. “Since the school is now mine, there’s something I need to do.” Stirring up my power, I launch it at the building with the force of ten thousand sticks of dynamite. The building shudders, and after several loud creaks and bangs from its internal structures, collapses in on itself, dust mushrooming out from the foundation. Ash wraps an arm around me, and we watch the destruction of this symbol of death and despair.
We hear cheering from the road through the trees. The others must have heard the building cave in on itself and seen the plumes of dust rising in the air.
“Nicely done, Nina.” Ash takes my hand and brings it to his lips.
Edmund finally notices the rounded shape of my breastplate. “I see you’re in the family way, Dolly. Congratulations.”
“Thank you, Edmund. Do you think my mother will be happy when she hears the news?”
“She’ll be very pleased indeed. Her enchantress line continues,” he says with a laugh.
The three of us walk up the long driveway to join the others. The Gorm are standing in a large circle, the guard dogs leashed and muzzled at their sides. The girls are in the center of the circle with Luke and Ben, giving Northstar, Steel and Silver lots of love and attention. Sofie and Kat comfort the girls who look shaken and have tears in their eyes.
“Send for the cars. We’ll take all of these girls to the hospital,” Edmund calls to his pack members.
Within thirty minutes, Edmund’s fleet of green Range Rovers meets us on the road, and the girls pile into the cars. Sofie and Kat announce they’ll accompany the girls to the hospital.
When it’s time to say goodbye to Danny, she throws her arms around me in a tight hug. “Thank you,” she whispers. The words are simple, but the gratitude is immeasurable.
“You going on to have a full life is all the thanks I need, Danny. Let Edmund help you and the girls. You can trust him, and I’ll check in on you all.”
“Promise?” she asks.
“I promise.”
After the Range Rovers pull away, Ash looks at Max and Luke. “Take the guard dogs back to Avalon to Dr. Morrison so he can examine them and start their rehabilitation. Bad owners do not necessarily mean bad dogs.”
I swing up onto Northstar’s back and whistle for Steel and Silver. “Well, Ash, a deal’s a deal. Let’s go home so I can put my feet up and you can pamper me.” I’m actually looking forward to a little R and R.
“You’re going to accept our deal without a fight?” he asks, sounding as if he doesn’t believe it’s going to be that easy.
“I’m done fighting. At least for the next few months.” I smile down at him from Northstar’s back, and we all jump home.
