“Raven,” Gregory signaled. “C’est vous plait.”
Gabrielle took her friend’s hand, linking with her as they had in the basement. Usually a blood witch took the anchored position, but this was a family matter, and for better or worse, she was Luke’s mate.
“Aiden, you’re the head of the Brotherhood, you need to see what Raven sees and give us a play by play,” Gregory nodded. “Luke could do it, but his sister needs him more, right now.
Evangeline clung to her mother, with Luke on her opposite side. From the look on the girl’s face, she still didn’t grasp the gravity of the situation.
“Ready when you are, Ray.” Gabby squeezed her friend’s hand, but then looked at Aiden. “No heroics unless necessary. Got it, big guy?”
Aiden nodded, but didn’t comment. He was in complete alpha mode.
Alain raised Timothée’s aura and Raven delved through the shimmering miasma. It was dingy in color and feel, and Gabby gagged.
“Residual demon scent,” Aiden replied to her reaction. “When you whore yourself to a demon, its scent clings to the core.”
Gabrielle hung back, staying within reach in case there was a boobytrap buried in Timothée’s mind same as the others. Images formed connecting him with Aaron. The two as pubescent boys, then later in college. Fraternity brothers.
“Didn’t I say my gut felt this was selfish and immature? Rash, even?”
“Gabs, shush. I’m trying to concentrate.” Raven filtered memories, scrolling through them like flash cards until she found the one that pinpointed it all.
“Dude, I can’t believe you’re dating Evie Laval. Bro, she’s a child.”
Tim snorted, draining his beer. “Tell me about it. That shit is locked tighter than my father’s ass.”
“If she won’t put out, then why bother? Hasn’t her family fucked you over enough?” Aaron spat. “Fucked us both, for that matter. My mother tried some lame ass story on me that old man Laval’s brother-in-law was my real father, but I knew the bitch lied. My mother is one sad slag. In her head she thought she deserved to be alpha female, but the dude didn’t even know she was alive, let alone her name. Besides, she’s a witch, and you know Laval and his boys would rather fuck a tree than muddy their bloodline.”
“Man, don’t talk about your mother that way. Fathers can be dicks, but mothers are sacrosanct.” He pointed to the cooler. “Toss me another brew.”
“Really, now. And what about the Virgin Evie? Her mother won’t appreciate you screwing with her daughter’s head just to dip yours between her legs.”
Tim shook his head. “Evie’s okay. She’s a means to an end. Nailing her is the ultimate way to get even with her old man and his Sentinel Brotherhood.”
Aaron snorted beer through his nose. “Oh, man, I’d love a piece of that.”
“Sorry, bro. I ain’t into sharing.”
“Nah, I mean getting even. Wouldn’t it be a gas if we set a couple of demons on their ass? The elite shifter demon-hunting force chasing their tails courtesy of you and me.”
Timothée sat up, interested. “Could we? I mean, is it possible?”
“My mother’s a witch. She’s got tons of books, so yeah.”
Tim held up his beer and then belched. “Let’s do it, man. Let’s teach the old man a lesson he’ll never forget.”
Aaron tipped his bottle, as well. “Bet.”
Raven released the memory and then released Tim’s mind. With a nod, Alain closed his aura.
“All this misery for a stupid frat boy prank,” Gabrielle ground out.
Gregory’s shoulders slumped. “The sad truth is Tim could’ve been a sentinel. He passed every test.” He shrugged. “Aaron, no. Besides being a half-breed, he was as dumb as a bag of hair. But Timothée Brodeur? His father called me the night before the new sentinel training was set to commence and asked me to take Timothée off the list.
“Tim wasn’t Laval, and his pack wasn’t part of our triad clan, but I thought he showed potential.” Greg dropped his face to his hands. “How could I be so wrong about so many things?”
Luke’s hand went to his father’s shoulder. “It’s about evolution, Dad. Not perpetuation. Your instincts were right. New blood is good.”
He lifted his face and looked at his son and then his nephews. “Can you forgive an old fool?”
“This family can forgive anything, Uncle Greg,” Jared replied, but what do we do with him?” He gave Tim’s limp shoulder a shake.
Greg spared a look for Alain, and the elder nodded. “Clan law is very clear. The sentence is death.”
Evangeline cried out. The channel she shared with her mother was still open and she saw everything Tim and Aaron did. Their disdain for her and her family. The demons. The deaths.
She sobbed so hard her entire body shook. Throwing her mother’s arms off, she stood on shaky legs, but then fell to all fours with a scream. Her body writhed, muscles rippling under her skin.
“Good God! Evie!” Marie rushed to her side. “It’s okay, baby. Just go with it. I’ve got you. Papa is here, and so are Josee and Luke. We’ve all got you. Just let the magic wash over you like a wave.”
Josee scrambled to her sister’s side as well. In seconds, Evangeline’s clothes shredded, and with a cry turned growl, Evie phased to a gorgeous cream-colored wolf with bright green eyes.
Marie hugged the wolf’s neck. “Brava, my darling!”
The animal whined, nosing her father. He scratched behind her ears, whispering softly.
“We still have to deal with Tim,” Josee said. “Personally, I’d like Luke to thrash him within an inch of his life.”
Gabrielle nodded. “I’d help. A few well-placed lightning bolts just for fun. Too bad we can’t strip his powers the way we can when witches cross the line.”
“Who says we
