“I did?” he replied. “Then why does it feel as if I’ve taken bits out and had them blended and stuffed back in?” He rolled over and got up on all fours. “Have we arrived, then?”
“The abbey is just over the hill,” Leo confirmed, his wings fully expanded and glorious. The sun was getting ready to rise, and I knew that once the first rays hit his feathers, it would be like nothing any of us had ever seen. “Enid is cloaking herself well, no doubt trying to keep her location secret. But I’m picking up on something nearby.” He walked up the crest of a short hill.
“So she doesn’t know we’re here at all?” I asked, following him. “She can’t even scent us?”
“It is like we do not exist,” Leo answered, glancing over his shoulder. “Although, she will infer that we are already somewhere nearby, as she’s given us directions. She knows my method of travel.”
Rourke came up behind us. I’m not handing you over to Enid without a fight, he told me. It can’t come to that.
I don’t think it will, I replied. But there’s a good chance we won’t have a choice in the matter. Whatever happens today, Naomi and Jax go free. We won’t get another opportunity. If we try to run away or fight, she will kill them. And then eventually she’ll catch up to me. There’s no use running. It’s time to face her.
We could have brought an army of wolves with us, Rourke growled. We could have at least given a show of power.
It wouldn’t have mattered. I knew this to be true. Enid is not your typical supernatural, much like Leo is not anything close to something we can fight. If Leo decided that he wanted to incinerate us, he would. And that would be the end of it. My only chance right now is to convince Enid that there is a way to bring her sister back.
And what way is that? Rourke asked. We haven’t been given any clues about how to go about doing that.
I know, I said. But I have to trust Juanita. She said I had to sacrifice something, and if I did, things would right themselves. I’m ready to do whatever it takes.
What if that sacrifice is yourself? Rourke asked. What then?
I shook my head. It can’t be, I told him. With my death comes chaos, remember? I’ve already thought of that. It has to be something else. I’m hoping Juanita will give me some guidance once I confront Enid. Or at least a hint of what I’m supposed to tell her. We’ll have to wait and see.
Rourke grunted. Let your brother know where we are. Have him leave the Compound immediately, if he hasn’t already. If we need backup, at least they can be here quickly.
Tyler, I called in my mind. Are you up?
Yep, we’re ready to go. Julian is nowhere to be found, but we discovered a van with keys in the garage.
It wasn’t surprising that Julian had bailed. He was probably out trying to cover up his deceitful tracks or cook up something with Ceres. Talk to Ray, Marcy, and James before you leave and let them know Julian’s gone and to be careful when they snoop around. We’re approximately two hours south of you. I don’t know where Dad ended up staying last night, but when you meet up with him, let him know. I’m not going to give you our specific coordinates right now, because Enid can’t see us. I don’t want anybody else to have that information.
What’s the plan? Tyler asked. Are you going to break Naomi and Jax out?
No, I answered. We have another strategy, but again, I can’t tell you what it is. Just know that when we’re all done with today, I will have done my very best to try to ensure a positive outcome.
Be careful, Jess. Tyler’s voice became serious. I don’t like not being there, but I’m glad you are protected. We’ll be rendezvousing with Dad as soon as we can. If I have to, I can shift and make it to you in record time. My brother was known for his speed.
My goal is to come out of this alive, I reassured him. Tell Dad there was no way to avoid this. I love you both.
Stay safe, he said. Kayla wants me to thank you. She’s happy Jax is coming home.
I smiled. Tell her all will be well and that she’ll be reunited with her brother shortly.
Leo stood on the top of a knoll. We had to make our way around his wings so we could see the valley below us. “I’m getting a very faint signal from that church. It’s about a half a mile from the abbey where your friends are located.” He gestured to a dilapidated stone building in the distance. “Try as she might, Enid can’t keep herself fully cloaked. It’s because she’s still practicing magic by keeping her prisoners in a cell they can’t escape from and scrying for you. If she ceased all magic, I would have a hard time locating her.”
“How angry is she going to be when we show up on her doorstep?” I asked. “Will I have time to negotiate, or will she strike me down the moment she sees me?”
“You will not approach her alone,” Leo said. “That would be folly. When we get close enough, I will drop my cloak and call out to her.”
“Can you protect Jessica from Enid’s magic?” Rourke asked. “I need to know before we reach her.”
Leo appraised my mate. “You are a mighty warrior from the days of old,” Leo said. “You are from the fiercest clan of the fiercest cats. That is why you—and you alone—have endured. Between us, we could hold Enid back. But she will not negotiate with us. Her terms will be with Jessica alone. It is unknown if she will allow us to accompany Jessica inside. We must wait and see.”
Rourke tensed. “Are you telling me there’s no real way to back her up if Enid wants to talk to her alone?”
“I’m not saying that exactly,” Leo answered carefully. “Jessica is a warrior in her own right, with great power. Her wolf will help fortify her, and she will be able to fend for herself until we can arrive to back her up. I would not allow a lamb to walk willingly into slaughter. That said, there are no guarantees. Enid is a powerful being. But there is no other way around this.”
I agreed. “I can’t keep running. This meeting has to come eventually, and I’m glad I get to have it on my terms.”