Page 62 of Beastkin
“Alright.” She headed for the door, pausing only for a moment in the threshold. “Good luck.”
As soon as Professor Blackwood left, I started pacing the room, my claws digging into my palms. The pain helped keep me grounded, but just barely. Every second we wasted felt like torture.
“So what’s the plan?” I growled, looking at Atlas. “We need to move fast. If they’ve already taken him back to the estate, they could be running again?—”
“Slow down, big guy,” Wild interrupted, hopping onto one of the plush armchairs and crossing his legs beneath him. “Rushing in half-cocked is how people get killed.”
I whirled on him, a snarl building in my throat. “Every minute we wait is another minute Phoenix is with those monsters!”
“I understand,” Elias said, his voice calm and measured. “But Wild is right. The Emberwood Estate isn’t just some house we can break into. It’s a fortress.”
“I don’t care how many wards they have,” I snapped, my tusks extending slightly as my control slipped. Sparks flew from my fingertips. “I’ll tear through them with my bare hands if I have to.”
Atlas stepped between us, his golden eyes flashing with authority. “Karrick. Breathe.”
I wanted to argue, but something in his voice, that commanding presence of an Alpha I respected, made me take a deep breath. My chest heaved as I struggled to contain the beast clawing at my insides and the magic that threatened to burst free.
“The Emberwoods aren’t just any witches,” Elias continued, watching me carefully. “They’re old money, old power. Their estate has been in the family for generations, and each generation has added their own protections.”
“What kind of protections are we talking about?” Lila asked, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.
Elias ran a hand through his dark hair. “Blood wards, detection spells, containment hexes. Not to mention the physical security. Golems, enchanted weapons, and more besides.”
“Can you get us through them?” I asked, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice.
“Maybe,” Elias said, but he didn’t sound confident. “My family has similar protections. I know the theory behind most of them, but each family has their own unique variations.”
Wild sprang to his feet with fae-like grace. “That’s where I come in, darling.” He winked at me. “Fae magic works differently than witch magic. Sometimes we can slip through the cracks they don’teven know exist.” He gave me a wink. “Kinda like cockroaches, but way sexier.”
“Right…,” Elias said, shaking his head. “The Purity Front is nothing if not predictable in their paranoia. That means we can expect them to be overcautious and with regular patrols.”
Caden, who had been quietly observing until now, stepped forward. “We’ll need a distraction. Something to draw their attention away from the house for a moment to allow Wild to slip inside.”
“Ooh, I love slipping inside,” Wild chuckled.
“I can help with the distraction,” Lila added, holding in her laughter. “Vampires make excellent distractions. Especially when they’ve been actively surveying the Purity Front for decades.”
Atlas nodded slowly, a plan forming. “Alright. Well, there’s no time to waste. We’ll have to go tonight. But we’ll have to make the jump from the mansion.”
“Mansion?” I asked, looking up at my old roommate. “Like your parent’s house?”
Atlas just grinned. “Nope. We’ve got somethingwaybetter now. And nearly impossible to track.”
My ears perked up, and I felt the first spark of hope I’d had all night. “Better? What do you mean better?”
“We’ll show you,” Caden said with a mysterious smile. “But first, we need to gather some supplies. Elias, what will you need for breaking through their wards?”
Elias was already mentally cataloguing what we’d need. “Salt, silver dust, rowan wood if we can find it. Maybe some protective amulets. I think I have a couple back at the house.” He paused, looking uncomfortable. “And... well, I hate to say it, but we might need something of Phoenix’s. Something personal that carries his magical signature.”
My heart clenched. “I don’t have anything like that.” We’d been so careful to keep our relationship secret that we’d never exchanged personal items.
“I might,” Lila said quietly. “I found his scarf while we werelooking for him. The one with the little pumpkins on it that he wore to the game tonight.”
The memory of seeing Phoenix in the stands in his adorable scarf, so proud of his new clothes and so excited to watch me play, hit me like a physical blow. I had to grip the back of a chair to keep from doubling over.
“That’ll work,” Elias said gently, clearly sensing my distress. “Personal items hold powerful connections, even if they haven’t been around long.”
“Alright,” Atlas said, taking charge again. “We better get back to the mansion then and get what we need.”