“The double Alpha blood,” Grant Anderson said. “We need to secure you and Adrianna,” he said to Lucas.
A grave expression passed over the Alpha’s face. “That’s what I was trying to tell you when you came in. They already have it.”
“Adrianna?” Anderson’s eyes glowed.
“No. It’s Reed Wakefield. Elise said he was taken about an hour ago.”
Cross spoke in a somber voice. “I think … I think I know what they’re planning to do.” His ocean-colored eyes turned stormy. “They’re going to revive Magus Aurelius and restore his power using the dagger, the ring, and the necklace. Then, he’ll continue whatever ritual he had planned with the Lycan and human sacrifices all those centuries ago.”
“There’s no time to waste,” Lucas said. “We need to move in on the mages.”
“We’ve already run through several plans and drills,” Mika added. “Including one with hostages, but just not this many. But we can certainly modify our plans.”
“Good. We’ll have to figure out a way to free the sacrifices and stall the exchange of the dagger. We’re not letting them complete the artifacts,” Lucas said. “If Cross’s theory is right, then they still need the dagger to execute their final plan.”
“What about Evan?” Isabelle piped up.
“We’ll get him back, Isabelle,” Ransom said. “Even if I have to rip every one of those mages apart.”
“So, what’s the plan?” Duncan asked.
“The mages want us to exchange the dagger for Evan,” Lucas said. “We have,” he checked his watch, “an hour and thirty minutes.” His mismatched eyes turned hard as steel. “And they want Isabelle to make the exchange.”
“Fuck no!” Ransom objected. “You can’t be serious. No way. You’re not going to—”
“Of course I’m going to do it!” Isabelle countered. “He’s my son.”
“And mine too!” he growled. “I’m not going to lose either of you. Alpha, why is Isabelle even here? She should be at The Enclave, where it’s safe.”
Lucas’s expression remained impassive. “I know. She’s my sister. Do you think I want her in danger any more than you do? Or my mother?” He nodded at Frankie. “But this is the end of the world as we know it, Ransom. It’s all hands on deck.”
“She’ll be fine,” Julianna said. “She’s—”
“I need to do it.” She sent what looked like a warning glare at her sister. “The mages were clear on their instructions. They want me. And they warned us if Cross or Daric was anywhere near there or attempted to steal the dagger or Evan away, there would be consequences.”
“But what’s the plan then?” Ransom asked.
“We’ll need her to stall as long as possible,” Mika said. “We’ll create a diversion to draw out the human troops. They have the numbers, but we do have two big guns on our side, plus our forces and those of our alliances.” She looked at Daric and Cross. “They’re ready when you are.”
“We’ll start moving them into position now.” Father and son nodded at each other, and then disappeared.
“I’m still not letting you do this alone,” Ransom said.
“There’s no more time for debate, we’re running out of time,” Isabelle retorted.
His chest tightened. She was not facing those mages alone. “You’ll need me there.”
“Oh yeah? Why?”
“Because I’m the only one Joanie will listen to.”
“You don’t even know if she’ll be there,” she reminded him. “It could just be the mages.”
“Of course she’ll be there,” Ransom said. “Why do you think you’re the one to make the exchange? She wants to see you suffer.”
She opened her mouth, then closed it again. “You’re not wrong there,” she conceded.
“There’s only one thing my mother wants out of this,” Ransom began. “You.” He looked at Grant Anderson. “Specifically, your death. If we give her what she wants—”
“No!” Frankie cried. “You can’t—”
“Sweetheart,” Anderson began. “He’s … he’s right. If anything, we can use this to our advantage.”
“I’m not losing you,” she said.
He smiled at her. “And you won’t. The mages couldn’t stop me from spending the rest of my life with you, what makes you think that’s any different now?”
“I have an idea,” Julianna said. “But we’ll need some extra help from our other secret weapons.” She looked at Mika meaningfully.
“The clock’s ticking,” Lucas said. “Let’s get ready. Tonight, we end this war.”
Ransom clenched his fists. He agreed with Lucas on one thing. One way or another, it would all end.
Chapter Twenty-One
As she stood just outside the stairwell that led to the Fenrir Corporation building rooftop, Isabelle held Magus Aurelius’s dagger in her hand. Definitely heavier than it looked, she mused.
The long, silver weapon was about the size of her forearm and had a large green jewel in its pommel. A shudder went through her, knowing how it was made and what it was capable of. Everything weighed on this one object—Evan, and the fate of the world—and her actions tonight.
Years ago, she never would have thought she would be in this position. She was the party girl, the one with the pretty face and nice clothes and not much else beneath the surface. Everything had changed since Evan. Since meeting Ransom.
“Really, Belle?” Julianna whispered. “Him?” She nodded at Ransom, who was deep in thought, hands in his pockets and leaning against the wall. “I always thought preppy boys were more your type. Not tattooed bikers.”
Her sister was trying to help her lighten up, and it was working. She couldn’t help the bubble of laughter that rose from her throat. “He’s my True Mate, how was I supposed to resist him, Jules?” Elbowing her sister, she nodded at Duncan. “And you? A Scottish laird? I thought you hated those trashy bodice-ripper novels.”
“Duncan’s not a laird. He’s a viscount.” Julianne rolled her eyes. “But that doesn’t matter because I’m still going to rip Ransom a new asshole when this is all done.”
“Jules …”
“What?” her sister asked innocently. “Not everyone’s here yet, which is what I was hoping for. You’re going to get Evan back, we’re going to win against the mages,
