Werewolves Be Damned - By Stacey Kennedy Page 0,62
to find him. Hunt New York and Salt Lake City for any remaining Texas wolves. Go out in pairs to be safe, as anything less will likely get you killed. These wolves have proved to be brutal and fierce. Do what you must to find Kyden and show no mercy in the face of what has happened tonight.”
The wolf known as Thor stepped in next to him, his blue eyes surveying the crowd. “As alpha of Texas, you have my authority to destroy any of my wolves who’ve assisted in this treason. If you have the ability to bring any back to me, then do so, so I can deliver their punishment personally.”
A nudge on Nexi’s elbow had her glancing to the left and she discovered a grief-stricken Briggs next to her. Without thought, acting on pure instinct, she threw herself into his arms and he caught her, holding her close.
Somehow being near the supernaturals dearest to Kyden relieved her. “We’ll find him, darlin’,” Briggs whispered into her neck. “We’ve got many to help with this. The wolves, and Lazarus, will have nowhere to hide.”
Nexi leaned away from Briggs and his wolfish scent remained fixed in her nostrils, as Zia told the crowd, “I’ll send a witch along with each group to assist in casting wards. Boundaries, so if Lazarus crosses them, we’ll be instantly notified.”
She turned to Briggs. “How did you know what happened?”
“We were contacted by Thor immediately after the news broke. I came right away hoping I could offer my aid in the search.”
The news…
We’ll find him…
The wolves, and Lazarus, will have nowhere to hide…
Her thoughts spun with the realization of her reality. So lost in her anguish over Kyden, she hadn’t really considered all the reasons this situation troubled her. Not only was Kyden gone. Lazarus had taken him. The vampire had already taken so much from her. How dare he take more? The torment that had nearly crippled her now melted into pure rage.
Briggs brushed his finger over her arm, and concern dripped off his voice at whatever had crossed her expression. “You all right, darlin’?”
“No. I’m. Not,” she said through clenched teeth.
She couldn’t stand in one place, shifting her weight and pacing in front of their group. How had this happened? Who was this vampire so intent on destroying her life? How dare he take so much from her? What gave him that right?
Scanning the room as she continued to pace, she noticed someone was absent. To Finn, she asked, “Where’s Drake?” He should’ve been here. He would’ve known she needed him.
Finn scanned the crowd then shrugged. “Don’t see him.”
Talon continued to set out rules, offered instruction on the best way to deal with the wolves, and any co-conspirators that might be involved. Nexi couldn’t hear it. She couldn’t get past the red-hot fury burning in the depths of her soul.
Inhaling and attempting to control her rage, she was overwhelmed with the scent of so many werewolves, reminding her of the werewolves that attempted to kill Kyden…and the ones at her parents’ home.
Right when her anger threatened to detonate, a deep growl, followed by many more, sounded from the entrance of the Council’s Hall. She turned to discover that Trefan—Finn’s younger brother and fellow guardian—dragged a man by the throat.
She’d met Trefan only once when she first arrived to the Otherworld, and after that, she saw him every now and again. He looked much like Finn, with blond hair, blue eyes, and had an easygoing way about him, but being in his early twenties, he ran with a younger crowd.
Trefan threw the man at Thor’s feet. “He’s one of yours. I hope you get more out of him than I did.”
Talon grasped the man’s throat and lifted him an inch off the ground. “What’s your name?”
He groaned. “Bayne.”
“You’ll answer me truthfully, Bayne.” Talon brought the wolf close to his face. “Why has Lazarus taken the guardian Kyden?”
“I don’t know.” Bayne gasped, his voice sounding strangled. “Lazarus never told me anything. I already told the other guardian that, but he wouldn’t listen.”
“He’s not lying to you,” Thor stated. “As his alpha, I know him well enough to detect such a thing.”
Nexi’s fingernails bit into her palms, and she stayed that way for the next ten minutes as she endured time-wasting questions. Her patience fled with each passing second. They needed to find Kyden and they were asking all the wrong things.
Her frustration built to the extreme and the thin line holding her control together snapped