Page 42 of Rising Reign (The Wolves of Crescent Creek #3)

WREN

“Oh, hell no,” Puck said, pushing to his feet from his spot at the kitchen table. “You can’t be involved with this.”

Franco stood with enough force to send his stool rocking. “I’m already a part of it. They brainwashed me.”

“Spelled you,” Clara corrected, taking another sip of coffee.

“Whatever. They messed with my head and made me try to kill one of my best friends. That’s going to haunt me for the rest of my days,” Franco snapped.

Guilt washed through me. It was my fault that this had happened to him. My choice to have friends in the human world. My power and gifts the dark mages were after.

“Don’t,” Locke said, moving to my side as he picked up on my thoughts. “This isn’t on you.”

Clara’s gaze moved to me as Locke pulled me into his arms. “ He’s right,” she began. “I took you as someone with brains, and it would be moronic to take the actions of the dark mages on yourself.”

I stared back at her. “You said they tried to kill you.”

She sent me a tired smile. “Fun times.”

“Don’t joke,” Puck clipped.

“Relax, Pucker. I’m fine.” But she lifted her shirt to reveal a star mark similar to Ender’s. “My attacker missed my heart, and I was able to…incapacitate him.”

“You mean kill him,” Franco cut in.

Clara winced. “Yes. But we didn’t know him. What he was or what had happened to him. Not until I researched the blade.”

“What were they trying to get from you?” Kingston asked. That was a damn good question.

“Alpha,” Eliza warned.

Clara held up a hand to quiet her. “They have entrusted us with their secrets. I can do the same.” She steeled her shoulders.

“What Eliza did to the humans at the gym… That was my gift, passed to her because she is one of my enforcers. I can share it with those I have a blood bond with. It only works on the human race, but I can impact their minds. Tell them what to do.”

I shared a look with my bondmates. Dark magic could create the same effect, but it required a great sacrifice. If the dark mages had Clara’s power, they would no longer need that. They’d be able to make an entire army.

“Are they still hunting you?” Puck demanded.

Clara smiled, but it was a cold one. “I killed every member of their coven. They will not come for me again.”

I shivered. While it might’ve been necessary, I still ached for the loss of life.

“This coven, the one that spelled Franco, they know about Wren and her empath gifts,” Kingston said, his voice going hard. “We’ll have to take them on as well as Red River.”

The sheer number of people was beyond daunting. Even with Clara and her guards helping, it would be nearly impossible .

Clyde stood from his chair and sauntered toward King. “It looks like you’ll be needing us.”

“Clyde—”

“Listen here, boy. You’re as close to a son as I’ve had, and I’m not about to let you get slaughtered because you’re outmanned and outgunned,” Clyde clipped. “We may not be some super species, but maybe that’s exactly what these monsters won’t expect.”

Kingston went quiet as he mulled that over. “You might have a point there.”

Juan popped a piece of egg casserole into his mouth. “You won’t keep us out. We’ll just keep meddling.” He glanced at Clara. “And don’t think about using that mind meld mumbo jumbo on us, hottie.”

Hera’s lips twitched. “I actually have something that will protect you all from supernatural mind control.” She fished in her pocket and came out with four amber amulets on leather cords. “Here.” She began handing them out, but when she reached Clyde, she gave him two. “For your Dina.”

Clyde’s smile was soft. “Thank you.”

“Are you sure about this?” Brix asked King. “They don’t have the same protections we do.”

“I—”

King’s words were cut off as Rhys grabbed the counter to steady himself. His eyes bled of all color, leaving them completely white.

“What’s happening?” I yelled. “Is he having a seizure?”

“Don’t touch him,” Ender barked. “It’s a vision.”

We waited in pained silence as Rhys’s entire form looked like it had been struck by lightning. And then he suddenly collapsed.

Ender cursed, rushing in to catch him before he hit the floor. Rhys’s chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath. “Thank you,” he wheezed.

I stared at the vampire, who was clearly still in pain. “Is that what happens every time you have a vision? ”

His gaze cut to me. “Not all sunshine and rainbows, Little Vixen. It’s why I normally try to avoid them like the plague.”

My brow furrowed. “Can you stop them from coming?”

Rhys nodded. “I have to take certain herbs, but then I don’t get information that could be helpful. It’s a difficult balance to strike.”

He was forcing himself to live through this pain for Ender. For all of us. I moved closer, taking his hand and squeezing. “Thank you. For everything you’re doing.”

Rhys’s gaze locked with mine. “You’re welcome.” He squeezed my hand in return, and images filled my mind as he did. Rhys running through the woods. Pain blooming, blood seeping from his chest.

“What happened to you?” I rasped.

Rhys jerked his hand from mine. “Nothing. Not a damn thing.”

But I’d felt the pain. The sheer devastation pouring out of him. Something had happened to Rhys, and it was something horrific.