Sherman twiddled his fingers and leaned toward Rafe as he tapped the side of his nose. “I get you, Rafe. That bastard deserves all he gets and your lovely lady, well, I can’t even begin to know how she must be feeling. If that’s what she wants then I’ll do whatever I can to make it happen. No promises, of course, because I don’t know exactly what we’re walking into, but if this lame ass spell he’s got going on here is anything to go by then I feel confident that I can deliver him up on a platter to you. After that you can do what you wish with him and good riddance is what I say.”
Rafe grinned, then winked at the Witch. “Thanks, I really appreciate that.”
He took off, running back through the throng of bodies that now barred his way.
Annoyance at being held up by Zohar’s men, he finally reached Jacy and Tasha, finding the rest of his men waiting too. His Beta pacing back and forth muttering under his breath. When he saw Rafe he relaxed. “Thank goodness! I thought you’d pulled a fast one and left us behind.”
His hand flew to his mouth, eyes wide as he looked around. “Shit, I said that aloud didn’t I?”
Tasha laughed. “Yeah, you did, but it’s what we were all thinking.”
“What?” Rafe sidled up to his mate, chucking her under the chin. “You really thought I’d do that?”
“Yes, no, not really,” she mumbled, refusing to look him in the eye.
“I admit the thought crossed my mind but I gave you my word and I don’t break that, Tasha. Not if I can help it.”
“Sorry,” she said, raising her eyes to meet his. “I can feel your reluctance about having me here so I thought you’d maybe taken the opportunity to leave me behind.”
“I don’t like that you’re here but you are. It is what it is but my men all know they’re to keep you safe at all costs. I trust them so let’s get moving.”
Rafe looked around, spying Myrtle. “Stay close, Myrtle. I might need you.”
Tasha nodded giving him a tight smile before he wrapped her small hand in his, tugging her along as he jogged back toward Zohar and Sherman. The Council’s men heeding what they’d been ordered and staying well away from the road, spreading out into the trees that ran alongside. They moved quietly, with stealth and purpose, Rafe and his men reaching Sherman quickly.
The diminutive man strode purposely forward, his fingers intertwined across his chest and muttering low with words that Rafe couldn’t understand. He whispered to Myrtle behind him, “What’s he doing?”
She shook her head and shrugged. “Magic but it’s far beyond anything I know.”
So much for having his own Witch. He couldn’t be annoyed at her though. She was more Wolf than Witch and never hid the fact she never courted the power her mother wielded. Myrtle was happier healing than anything else and focused any magical abilities in those directions. Rarely did she use her Witch side in anger, although it had been known.
A smirk slid across his face as he recalled a time when she’d come across a young Wolf bullying some pups. She’d lit his hair up, sending streaks of sparks to give him a jolt or two, not enough to do any real damage. It was enough to scare the hell out of him and when his parents came to complain Rafe growled that they were lucky it wasn’t him that had caught their son and if they didn’t get the little shit under control then he’d do it for them. That soon shut them up.
His nose twitched, jolting him out of the memory, alerting him to a change around them. What the hell was it? Inhaling deeply he almost gagged on a scent he’d never encountered before. Foul, definitely, but it was more than that. It was almost as if it were alive, sliding over his skin and seeping inside. Shivering involuntarily as the malevolent force passed over him a second before Sherman’s hand shot up halting them.
It wasn’t just Rafe that was affected. Everyone that was in front, or in line with him, shook their heads, or swiped at their arms as if trying to wipe something away. He reached behind him, pushing Tasha back. “Stay behind me.”
“Hold up, guys.” Sherman shook his head. “Crafty so and so. I’ll get rid of this in just a moment.”
Zohar snarled, shaking his head violently as if a bee had made its way inside, swiping at his ear. Rafe fought to still his own hands from scratching at the skin on his neck. The feeling of a snake slithering around it and winding tightly to cut off his air. He knew there was no such thing but the feeling was there just the same. His beast howled in his head, pawing at the ground, desperate to be free to attack the non-existent threat.
Barely containing his shift as Sherman babbled words that held no meaning, his arms flying skywards and a moment later the sensations dissipated. Collective sighs of relief rang out all around, Rafe’s included.
“Looks like he doesn’t want visitors.” Sherman chuckled.
“No shit,” Zohar grumbled as they trudged on. “Can you tell how far away he is now?”
“Close, that’s all I can say.” Sherman shrugged. “There’s no magic nearby so you can send a scout ahead if you wish but I’d urge caution.”
Zohar pointed to the man nearest him. “Take one of your best men and go ahead. See if you can locate any kind of house, cabin, anything that this fucker could be holed up in. If you see anything at all, get your asses back here and let us know. Go.”
Tasha’s hand grabbed Rafe’s, holding on tight. “What was that?”
“Hell if I know, obviously magic.” Rafe saw her worried face upturned in the moonlight. Her pale grey eyes wide, darting side to side as if
