Chapter 73 Chapter Seventy-three

Chapter 73 Chapter Seventy-three
Ridiculous. That was what their plan was. Plain fucking ridiculous. Even Kieran who was all for taking risks knew this was futile. Killing Amara? That witch wasn't even human.

“Amara is…a special case,” Tobias was saying to Alaric. “She's been around for over a hundred years and she still looks forty at most.”

“How is that even possible?” Wren asked from where she was perched on Kallum's lap.

“Magic, probably?”Brooke offered. She stood beside Azriel,a hand on his shoulder.

Alaric paced the room, restless. “It's more than that. Something that's making her that way.” he stopped. “You and Kieran will find out.”

“Wait, what? How?”

Kieran didn't care about the how. He was finally getting some action after days of being cooped up in Kallum's mansion. Plus it was a reason to be with Tobias. Ever since the incident with the alchemist,he had been walking on eggshells around Tobias.

“One of her witches should know. Glamour yourselves and get close to them. Find out what you can.”

Tobias frowned. He didn't bother hiding the fact that he didn't want to do this, much less with him.

“What about us?” Azriel asked.

“There is no ‘us’. You aren't coming.”said Alaric.

Azriel stood with so much force that he nearly knocked his chair over. “Like hell I am. I lost some parts of my wings. So what? Doesn't mean you should treat me like a fucking invalid. I can still throw a punch.”

Alaric walked up to him,so close their noses were almost touching trying to intimidate but Azriel didn't back down. Impressive. Alaric had one of the most intimidating stares known to man.

“I get that you're only thinking of yourself but think of Brooke too. How would she feel if anything happened to you?”

“Don't do that. Don't make it seem like I'm doing something wrong. You kept me in Kaelindor against my will. You're not doing it again.”

Alaric growled.

“I also want to help free my sister,” Brooke said in a small voice.

Alaric heaved a breath. “Fine. We're going to ask the werewolves for help.”

“What?!” Wren blurted, her mouth agape.

Alaric tossed her a withering look. “We have a common enemy. It would be wise to work with them.”

“The werewolves, especially the ones from Stone Haven, hate us. They're not likely to accept any form of apology from us,”said Kallum.

“I know that. We'll have to appease them. Wren, you'll give them the Amulet of protection.”

Wren's hand went to the Amulet on her throat. “No way. It was a gift from my mother. I'm not giving it to them.”

“I didn't ask.”

“And I don't care,” her head whipped to Kallum. “Tell him please.”

Kallum looked conflicted, an exasperated look on his face.

“Alaric, if I may,” said Tobias. “We can't afford to be desperate about this. The damage we've already done to the werewolves is too much. I don't see a future where werewolves and vampires can work together.”

Alaric continued pacing. He'd been more than restless ever since Briar’s capture, lashing out at everyone and everything that got in his way.

“I have an idea.” Kieran said.

All heads turned to him.

“Oh no,” Kallum remarked.

Alaric looked at him warily. “This is serious, Kieran.”

“Have you all no faith in me? I'm not a total dumbass.”

“Some would argue but go on. What do you have in mind?”

“Almost all of Kaelindor’s been deserted. We have an entire horde of vampires that can come to our aid. I propose that we send out a message to both the vampires and Amara. We'll tell our vampires to actively hunt down the witches and kill them. Maybe that'll force her hand.”

Tobias shook his head. “Too reckless. It'll be Kora all over again.”

The first thing he'd said to Kieran in days. He saw it as a win.

Tobias turned to Alaric. “You should…lay low. Let Kieran and I find out Amara's weakness.”

“You don't expect me to sit down and do nothing when…”

“Guys,”Kallum interrupted. His eyes were still trained on his phone screen when he said, “Amara is the new monarch of Diamond Ridge.”

“The fuck?” Wren grimaced.

“It says here that the King and Queen were assassinated yesterday night in the party that was held at the castle. Cause of death I'd unknown. They just slumped…blood pouring from their mouths.”

Briar, then.

“Fuck.” Alaric breathed, raking a hand through his hair. “You all still think we shouldn't ask the werewolves for help? Amara is strong because of two things;, the moonstone and her ability to cheat death. Until we take these two things from her, we'll be mincemeat soon enough. I don't care if I have to fucking kneel. The werewolves are our only option.”

Desperate times really called for desperate measures. Apart from Wren, no one hated the wolves more than Alaric, yet he was willing to stoop so low to ask for their help after everything.

“If the werewolves are the only way we can get the moonstone and save my sister then I'm with you, Alaric.” Brooke said, breaking the silence.

“Whatever Brooke wants,” said Azriel. Simp.

Wren looked away. Kallum cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Whatever world, I guess.” Fool.

Wren had been harbouring plans to kill him ever since he arrived. She wanted revenge for killing the alchemist. She planned to do it with a silver dagger, just so it could be slow and painful. She didn't even bother hiding her thoughts around him. Kieran smiled internally.

Tell your slut that if she comes anywhere near me, I'll carve out a part of her heart and eat it while she watches, he said into Kallum's mind.

Kallum's eyes widened, his mouth going slack. Kieran grinned.

“What's so funny?” Tobais asked, staring at him sourly.

He shrugged. “Nothing. I'm hungry.”

“It's settled then.” Alaric said. “We'll work with the wolves for real this time. Kieran and Tobias, I'm counting on you two.”

“We won't disappoint you.” Tobias said.

Alaric looked at him, expectation in his eyes.

“Amara is immortal,yes," Kieran said, "but not for long.”