Page 69

Chapter 18

Deep in the forest, the trees grew close together, cutting out the moonlight, so Caleb and Catrin moved through near-darkness. Their initial fast pace slowed to a walk, but the hounds never faltered, keeping their noses to the ground. They’d barked madly when they first caught Regan’s scent, but now they were silent. Caleb gripped the leash tightly in his hand and fought down the need to urge them to move faster. He knew it was impossible in these conditions, but the panic clawed at his gut.

He tried to tell himself his father wouldn’t harm Regan—she was too valuable. But he couldn’t help but remember the warnings he’d been given, first by Tom, then Kelly, that his father was no longer entirely sane.

He had killed his mate in a fit of temper. What would he do if Regan wound him up? As she no doubt would—she wasn’t very good at not saying what she thought, and sensible just didn’t figure in her character.

Behind him, Catrin moved easily, and it occurred to him that this time Regan had been sensible. This time she hadn’t gone in alone, she had called for help.

Diablo came to an abrupt halt in front of him. Straight ahead, the land rose steeply. The trees had thinned a little, and in the dim light, the hound stood stiff-legged, tension in every line of his body. Caleb turned to Catrin and put his finger to his lips. She nodded once.

He listened. Up ahead the muted sound of voices floated down on the night air.

“I think they’re up there,” he whispered to Catrin.

“Do we wait for the Council?” she asked.

He shook his head. “I need to make sure Regan is all right—I don’t trust my father. I’m not convinced he’s entirely stable anymore.”

“So, what’s the plan?”

Caleb frowned. “The plan is we go in there, get Regan, and get the hell out as fast as we can.”

“That’s not what Regan wants. She needs to find out who’s behind this.” She came up beside him and put her hand on his arm. “That’s why she’s here, Caleb. I think we should go check, then wait for the others.”

“That won’t be an option. Once we get any closer, they’ll sense us straight away. “

She nibbled on her lower lip, obviously not happy, but after a minute, she nodded. “Okay, let’s go.”

For a brief moment, guilt flared in his mind. He had no right to take Catrin into this. “Perhaps you should go back and wait by the car,” he said.

“Are you mad?'' Her silver eyes flared at him and for the first time, he saw the resemblance to Regan. There was obviously no point in arguing. He sighed.

“Okay. But keep out of the way.”

Catrin scowled. “I’m not exactly helpless, you know. I am a witch—I have powers.”

“They don’t seem to have done Regan much good.”

She pursed her lips but didn’t answer. Caleb turned away and headed up the hill. Even the hounds were cautious now, stepping softly on the forest floor, noses raised to the air. Caleb took a deep breath and realized why.

Wolves.

And a lot of them. Was the whole pack here?

He came to a halt at the edge of a clearing and peered in, trying to make sense of the scene, searching for Regan.

He found her in wolf form; tethered to a small tree by a rope around her neck. At the sight of her, his own wolf woke, straining to be free.

Regan raised her head and looked straight at him. Her silver eyes held his, and he was sure he saw real human emotion in there—fury. Her gaze flickered past him to where Catrin stood at his side, and the wolf’s eyes narrowed.

“She doesn’t look particularly pleased to see us,” Caleb murmured.

“I think it’s you she’s not happy about—I’m supposed to be here.”

His eyes moved on from Regan, looking for his father. There were a large number of wolves milling around the clearing, but he finally located Ethan standing not far from Regan, beside a large pyre of stacked wood. He held something in his hand, and looking closer, Caleb realized it was a lighter—he was about to set fire to the wood.

Catrin touched his arm. He jumped and turned to look at her. “What?”