Wicked Love - Michelle Dare Page 0,230

I’m grateful it’s not the case anymore. Sure, there are still some out there who think shifters should only be with shifters and so on. More and more, paranormals are finding their fated mates with beings of all species.

“She taunted me,” Ari continues. “Kept telling me I was only the appetizer and she was after the main course. That I was for fun. She didn’t say she wouldn’t harm me.” Ari scoffs, “Not like she really could outside of ripping my heart from my chest or severing my head.”

“Which she could have,” Rion cuts in.

“Yeah, yeah.” Ari keeps pacing. She’s not a meek female. Doesn’t like to be told what to do. Part of that is the alpha in her. Of course, she’s mated to another alpha, so there is a battle for control at times. Although, Ari wins the majority of them. When she doesn’t, I think it’s more that she gives in and not so much Rion winning.

“If she’s referring to you as food,” Sol starts from behind me. When the fate did he get here? “That means her real target is someone else.”

“I asked her about Eaton,” Ari mutters. “She said he got in her way and he was never who she was after. So who is, then?”

Sol rubs his hands together as a wicked smile plays on his mouth. “You know what this means, brother?” I do. I really do and am not sure I’m ready for it. I’m also not sure if we’ll be the ones to solve this thing. If we don’t, it won’t be from lack of trying. “It’s time for the Verascue brothers to go on their first case.” He walks over to Ari and lays a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, ma’am,” he says in a formal tone. “We’ll bring her to justice.”

“Remove your hand from me or I’ll rip it from your body,” Ari growls.

Sol does as she says then sighs. “You couldn’t play along, could you?”

6

Solomon

There’s an extra spring in my step as I leave Ari’s house and walk into their front yard. No, I don’t like having my friends targeted, but I love exacting revenge. It’s one of my favorite things. That, loving on my kitten, and being all around fabulous.

“I should have dressed as a detective,” I tell Ford. “I need one of those big magnifying glasses and a pipe. Maybe a hat, too. I’d look distinguished.”

“You’d look ridiculous.”

I turn my nose up at him. “You don’t know what’s good.”

Ari and Rion went to check on their daughter, Phoenix, while I, my brother, and our mates are left to wonder where to go next.

“Whoever this is has someone specific in mind,” Ford states. “If Ari were the appetizer, then she’s just getting started. Makes me wonder who the next target will be.”

“I doubt she’d pick someone from the ballroom,” Sienna adds. “That would be too obvious and give her away. From Ari’s memory of the female, she wouldn’t be easily hidden.”

“You’re forgetting it’s Halloween,” Ford says. “And since she’s part fae she can change her appearance to look like anyone or anything, even one of the pack. This female could easily hide in plain sight.”

“Let’s go back to the pack house and split up,” Lilah suggests. “We’ll walk around the ballroom and slowly dip into everyone’s heads.”

“That could work, kitten,” I murmur. “As long as whoever this is isn’t fae royalty, we should be able to tap into their mind.”

“Won’t they expect that?” Sienna asks.

I shrug. “Probably. I’m not sure what else to do at this point. We have to find them before they hurt someone else. Then again, she could have easily killed Eaton or Ari and didn’t. This is so confusing. It would be easier if we knew the target.”

“Ya think?” Ford asks. “Let’s go.”

The four of us teleport back inside the pack house and split up when we reach the ballroom. Everyone inside is getting impatient. I don’t blame them. I wouldn’t like staying in one room all the time either. However, it’s the safest place for them. Or so I hope.

We each take a corner of the room and slowly work ourselves toward the middle, reading minds as we go. I get hit with so many thoughts, so much anxiety. Then, there are the few where the hatred is strong to see whoever this is brought to justice. Those are the ones I’m glad we have in this room. They won’t hesitate to end the female responsible.

The fact that someone knew about