When The Grave Calls (The Veil Diaries #9) - B.L. Brunnemer Page 0,64
we haven’t faced before, and with those staffs from the kid we can do some damage of our own before having to shift for close range.”
“It’s risky,” she reminded him. “The staffs are untested.”
His eyes narrowed. “It’s war. It’s always risky.”
I swallowed hard. He wasn’t wrong, but … I was so in above my head that I couldn’t decide if I was drowning or suffocating. Fight or hold? What the hell do we do?
“What are the pros?” Uma pressed her lips together.
“From what we know, they don’t have any vampires, so they wouldn’t have an advantage,” Brody added.
“We have more shifters than they do,” Uma said. “The advantage would be ours in the twilight and pre-dawn lighting.”
Brody nodded. “Cons?”
“It’s a direct fight.” Uma shook her head. “There’ll be casualties.”
Brody ran his hand over his jaw. “But the longer we draw it out, the more time she has to gather forces, resulting in an even greater risk for loss of life.”
Uma nodded in agreement. “Fine, I’ll get my witches ready to cloak the entire area to keep the humans from hearing the attack. Have you scouted their location?”
“Yeah, they’re on their way back now,” Brody answered.
“Let’s talk strategy.” Uma turned to me. “Lexie, you don’t need to be here for this.”
Nodding solemnly, I got to my feet and left the library. I leaned against the doors and took deep breaths. We were attacking, and I didn’t know what to do. Could I even help? What about the guys? They had been training with the staffs … The guys would be going too.
Oh, hell no. Over my dead body. There was no way in hell I was going to let them go out there. I pushed away from the wall and hurried out the door, looking for them.
Asher
“I’m not joining a pack, Kayley,” I repeated for what seemed like the hundredth time.
“And it’s a mistake,” the werewolf stated. “A pack provides support, guidance—”
“Will control my life,” I countered, my irritation bleeding into my words. “They’ll tell me what I can do and what I can’t. Who I can be with.” They’d forbid me being with Ally. They’d be logical and have reasons. They’d scare me into leaving her. I shook my head. “I’m not giving her up for a pack.”
Kayley looked up at the sky, taking deep, measured breaths before turning back to me. “It doesn’t have to be that way. A healthy pack doesn’t control their wolves’ lives like that.”
I clenched my fist. “Yeah, I know there’s one in Seattle, a few in Massachusetts.”
She nodded.
I shook my head. I didn’t know where Ally was going next year, and I wasn’t about to join some pack that I’d never met. “I still have college to think about and other decisions to make. I don’t want to commit to a pack when I don’t know where I want to go.”
She sighed, face full of understanding. “I know. I just want you to keep it in mind when you do make those decisions.”
“I will,” I muttered.
“Good.” She started to walk away but stopped after a couple of steps. “You know you’ll have to fight tomorrow.”
I shifted on my feet. “Has anyone told Ally yet?”
“She’s probably figured it out by now.”
I sighed. That was a conversation I was not looking forward to. “What about Ethan?”
“Since we know what he is now, yes. It’s his fight too.”
I nodded. “You might want to tell him.”
“He’s the next stop for Brody.” She started towards the back door of the house.
Light footsteps echoed across tile inside. Ally. Kayley glanced at the door to the kitchen then turned back to me.
“She’ll be pissed,” I warned back.
“I’ll hide.” She opened the door and disappeared inside.
I turned and looked down at the pool, dread settling deep inside of me. Fighting witches. Not how I ever thought I’d go out. I shook my head. I wasn’t going to die tomorrow. But I might. If this was my last day on Earth, how did I want to spend it?
The door slammed as I turned. Ally strode out of the house. The rage rolled off her in waves that I could practically see. Her stride was confident, her jaw clenched, and her eyes practically glowed with her will. Her wild hair bounced with every step. Damn, she was stunning.
“No,” she stated before she even reached me. “You are not fighting tomorrow.”
I fought back a grin. Of course she’d fight it. “I’m a shapeshifter, Ally.”
She shook her head as she stopped in front of me. “No.”