“Who’s name?”
Moe keened, doubling over, both in her mind and in the holding cell.
“Raven, we have to get out of his head!”
Trance-like, Ray moved toward the swirling black and red mist. “No!” Gabrielle pulled her back from edge. “You can’t go there!”
“I have to. Can’t you see it?”
“What?”
“The light. Purple and pulsing. I recognize it, Gabs. It’s just like mine.” She turned as they stood in her swirling gray mists.
“It’s a trick, Ray. Why else would Moe be in pain?”
“No, it’s his original essence. It’s buried so deep. If I can get to it, I can save him.”
Gabrielle shook her. “He’s not human, Ray! And he’s not a victim. There are pieces of souls trapped in his psyche. Souls he stole to feed his demon hunger. You heard the cries.”
A choked sob welled. “He truly was an angel, Gabs. I sense it. It’s like sensing myself.”
“Ray, there’s nothing you can do now. C’mon!”
“Break your link, Raven. Sever it now!” Luke’s voice was urgent. “Aiden says the demon doesn’t look good.”
The link severed, cut clean and dry, and Gabby sucked in a breath, coughing. “Jesus! It’s like being underwater for ages and then suddenly you’re on the surface.”
“You’ll get used to that.” Tanya patted her shoulder.
“Luke?” Gabrielle didn’t mean to ignore Tanya, but the look on his face made her heart hurt.
He gathered her to him. “It’s Tim, Gabs. Evie’s boyfriend. I don’t know how I’m going to tell her.”
“We couldn’t see you, but you saw us and everything the demon showed. You’re going to have to use your familial link to show your mother and father, and even Josee.”
“Evangeline is so headstrong. She won’t believe it. She’ll say the demon lied, and what’s more, my father will most likely side with her rather than see her hurt.”
Gabrielle ran a soothing hand over his back. “You’re right, but your mother won’t allow that. She’ll make him see that Tim puts her in grave danger.”
“You’re right.” He stepped back from her, but held her hand. “If anything can trump my father’s need to make Evie happy, it’s her safety.”
Luke kissed her knuckles and then let go of her hand to talk to Aiden, Jared and Alain.
“Is he okay?”
Gabby looked from the men and their pow wow to Tanya. “He will be. Tim is his sister Evangeline’s boyfriend, so the situation is a little sticky. Especially with her being their father’s baby girl.”
“I know it’s immaterial to what we have to do next, but I’m curious why this guy teamed up with Aaron to do something as reckless as summoning demons.”
Shrugging, Gabby ran a hand through her hair. “I don’t know. Especially since Tim knew better. Or I’m assuming he did. He’s not Laval pack, but must have known about the Sentinel Brotherhood and what—” She stopped short, jerking her eyes to Luke deep in conversation with the sentinel leadership.
“What is it?” Tanya asked.
Gabrielle made a face, thinking. “I’m not sure.” She chewed on her lip. “Get everyone together upstairs. I have a plan.”
***
Moe was weak, but settled. Aiden even allowed an old couch and some books to be moved into the holding cell while the rest gathered in the chateau’s great room waiting for Luke. This was far from over, and they needed the demon alive, but isolated.
“It’s not a lie, Dad! Can’t you see that?”
Gregory shook his head. “I won’t believe it. Timothée Brodeur is an upstanding young man. Hell, he’s Milo and Celine’s son! They’re friends of mine and your mother’s, for chrissake!”
“It’s true, Gregory.” Marie took his hand on the couch. “The evidence all points to it being so. We must face facts.”
He exhaled, still disbelieving. “I need to make some calls. Get to the bottom of this.” Greg looked at his wife. “And what about Evangeline, Marie? She’ll be crushed.”
“Or it might force her to be stronger. Since she was little, you’ve shielded her from distress, and I allowed it. It’s made her dependent and weak. It’s no wonder she never shifted. It may be part of our nature, but facing that unknown takes courage. We have no choice, Greg. This young man is a danger. Not only to our clan, but to Evangeline. We need to protect her, as well as the pack.”
Gabrielle shared a look with Luke. He called it, and his mother didn’t disappoint.
The look on Greg’s face said it all. Marie hit the nail dead on with one word. Protect. He got up and left the great room, sparing a nod to both Luke and his mother before he left.
Marie exhaled. “I hope he comes back. Evie won’t believe a word unless your father says it’s so. You know how she worships him.”
Luke made a face, but his sister Josee smacked his arm. “This is no time for your sour grapes. Besides, you know where Dad went. He’s in his office right now making a call to Milo Brodeur. If he the answers he gets vet what we’ve told him, then you will have accomplished in one night what you’ve tried to do all your life.”
“Really, Jo? And what’s that?”
Gabrielle smacked his other arm. “Be nice.” Josee was becoming a fast friend, and Luke needed to chill.
“Earn Dad’s respect. I don’t know why he can’t see you for all you’ve done in your life. Who knows?” Josee shrugged. “Maybe he sees your life as a mirror against his own and doesn’t like the reflection.”
“Enough. Whatever his faults, your father is a good man. He loves you, despite the fact you’re both so stubborn. Your life isn’t a mirror, Luke. You are cut from the same cloth, and he doesn’t want you to make his mistakes.”
They sat in awkward silence waiting for Greg
