Page 61 of Beastkin
I forced myself to take a breath, trying so hard not to let the beast inside me take hold. I wanted to save Phoenix, to hold him in my arms once again. But I knew if I lost control, I’d never get him back. It was the hardest thing I’d ever done, swallowing that anger, but after a moment or two of effort and concentration, my heart rate finally began to slow.
That’s when I caught sight of the ring on my finger. The one Atlas had given me.
“Alright,” I said at last, my voice as steady as it was going to get. “If we’re dealing with the Purity Front, we should call in the experts.” I lifted my hand in front of my face, turning the ring three times on my finger. On the third pass it grew warm, and I felt the magic connect. “Atlas,” I said. “Bring everyone. The Purity Front kidnapped my mate. Help me.”
In less than three seconds, I heard a response in my mind.
“We’re on our way. Meet us in the library.”
Chapter 24
Karrick
Professor Blackwood, thanks to their position, was able to let Lila and I into the library after hours. Together the three of us snuck down into the basement where I let them to the far end of a dead-end hallway. As soon as we reached the far wall, I lifted my hairy knuckles to knock, the sound echoing through the silent building almost too loudly.
“What is this?” Professor Blackwood asked, her eyes sharp even in the dark. “I can sense magic here, but I’m not sure what it is.”
“It smells like werewolf,” Lila commented. “What are we doing here, Karrick? Where are your friends?”
I didn’t get a chance to answer her before the wall suddenly swung inward, revealing a large chamber stuffed with comfortable furniture beyond. There in the doorway was Atlas, his golden eyes shining in the dim light. Behind him I could see a shorter man with blonde hair that I’d met before. It was his mate, Caden. But beyond them was another pair. One of them was Wild, a fae that was attacked around the same time I was by Damien Cromwell. But the man beside him I didn’t recognize, although I could feel the magic pouring off of him. He was definitelya witch.
“Karrick,” Atlas said, gesturing for me to come inside. “And Professor Blackwood.” He turned to Lila, his body stiffening. “And I don’t think I know you,vampire.”
“Oh, don’t say it like that,” Lila replied, pushing her way past him. “Our kind haven’t been at war for at least a century. Don’t get your tail in a knot.”
“This is Lila,” I answered, all three of us inside the room now. “She is friends with Phoenix… my…mate.”
Atlas’s eyebrows shot up at my words. “Is he really your mate?” His golden eyes narrowed as he studied me more carefully. “That explains why you’re so stressed. I can smell it rolling off of you.”
“I need your help,” I said, struggling to keep my voice steady. My claws kept extending and retracting involuntarily as waves of panic washed over me. “Phoenix is gone. We think his parents took him. They’re part of the Purity Front.”
Wild stepped forward, his ginger hair catching the light like flames. “Why do they keep doing this?” His usually playful expression had hardened into something dangerous. “Those assholes never learn when to quit.”
“They tethered their own son,” Professor Blackwood explained, her voice calm but urgent. “And I helped Mr. Emberwood remove it by swapping it onto a golem. Then we reversed their memory modification magic.” She looked up at the man standing next to Wild. “I thought the golem would keep him safe, Mr. Thorne. I did everything I could think of to keep him hidden.”
The witch beside Wild shook his head. “Tethering spells are dark magic. Using them on your own child...” He shook his head in disgust before turning to me. “You said his last name was Emberwood?”
“Yeah,” I nodded. “Phoenix Emberwood.”
Mr. Thorne didn’t look happy about that piece of information. “Yeah,” he sighed. “They’re part of the Purity Front. I can remember seeing them at my parent’s parties while I was growing up. I think I remember a little firebug of a witch with them too, although they usually kept him close to their side.”
“That’s Phoenix!” I nearly shouted. “You know him?”
“Not really,” the man said. “I just met him a few times in passing. We exchanged pleasantries, but nothing else. Purity Front parties are for the adults, and the kids are supposed to stay silent.” He took a step forward, holding out his hand. “I’m Elias by the way. Elias Thorne.”
I shook his hand. “Do you know where the Emberwoods live?”
“Yep. They’ve lived in the same mansion for the past six or seven years. It’s not far from my parent’s house, actually.” He glanced over at Wild, his eyes filled with worry. “Their house is warded up the ass. It’s gonna be hard as hell to get in there.”
“We’ve taken down Purity Front leaders before,” Wild replied, his voice full of bloodlust. “We can do it again.”
“I can’t be involved,” Professor Blackwood interjected. “My position at the academy is precarious as it is. There’s several in the witch community calling for my resignation, among other things.” She shook her head. “I need to be around in case there are other students like Phoenix that need help. If I go with you this time… I might not have a position to come back to.”
Atlas nodded. “We understand.”
“You four are more than capable anyway,” she added with a glance to Lila and I. “They are bonded in a tetrad. There is nothing stronger in this dimension or beyond. If anyone can get you into the Emberwood Estate, it’ll be these four.” She looked back to the others. “Now, I must go. Do you need me to leave the library open?”
“No,” Caden replied. “We have another way out.”