298- JAX

298- JAX
POV Jax:

"I owe you."

"Yes, you owe me, and you're going to tell me what the hell you said to that woman to make her run. No wolf should be afraid of their mate. That’s not right. If I think for a second that you’re going to hurt her, one of us is going to die in this cabin tonight. Even if it’s me, at least it will give her more time to escape."

Exhaustion swept over me. "I would never lay a hand on her. Never. She’s running because of another prophecy. A stupid prophecy that I didn’t tell her about. I hid it to protect her, and now I’ve lost her."

Hector grumbled. "I warned you."

"Yes. You warned me."

"She said it’s over. That Maeve is ruined. Not dead, just ruined. Is that true?"

"No," I said honestly. "No. She came here because I didn’t tell her the truth. I didn’t tell her she wasn’t safe."

"What do you plan to do about it?"

"Fix it, whatever it takes."

We slept for four hours before setting out again. Hector had packed our bags, and I asked him to find a safe place in my territory, but he refused.

It was easy to catch Anna’s scent again, and we followed it for two hours until I knew exactly where she was heading. The Darkwyn Den. Perhaps to seek refuge, or perhaps to pay her respects.

I was the one who killed Evalina. I was the one who needed to pay respect to the Mother.

The path to the cave was littered with death. Finn’s work? Could he have driven the wolves into magical traps?

It wasn’t until we reached the cave that I realized I was wrong. Anna would never let Finn invade the den in a way that left her so vulnerable. Something was very wrong.

I stepped cautiously through the entrance, my wolf tense for the fight, and saw a shadow slip past the doorway on the left.

We weren’t alone.

I stalked the figure slowly, fighting the urge to let the stench of death overwhelm me. Yes, Anna’s scent was everywhere, but if she were dead, she wouldn’t be able to hide our bond anymore, and I would know.

If she were hurt, I would find a way to heal her, no matter what it took.

From the doorway of the first room, I peered around the corner while London sniffed the room behind me. The figure moved into the fifth room at the end of the long corridor. I waited until it was completely out of sight before moving.

London and I worked together in silence. With each open room, we stepped inside, and I kept an eye on the hallway to see if the figure would emerge while he searched. In every room, I had to force myself not to react. I could smell Anna in each one of them.

And Evalina. My stomach turned, but my wolf pulled me back into focus. Evalina was dead. I could grieve later. I could grieve all of them later, once Anna was safe in my arms.

When we finally entered the room, I bared my teeth. There was no longer any reason to stay silent. London and I were far too big to hide. I growled, and a soft laugh floated from the other side of a huge hole in the wall.

"Hi, Jax."

That voice. I stepped through the jagged gap and faced the woman who was softly singing over the dead body on the ground.

Saris and the Mother.

When she didn’t rise, I shifted. London followed, and the small room grew even smaller.

"London," I said grimly as I began to dress. "Meet Saris. She’s a fae."

London gasped, and the seemingly young human looked at him, tilting her head. "London. My friends will be happy I met you. We like your beer."

"Where’s Anna?" I demanded. "If you hurt her, I’ll kill you."

"Anna?" Saris’s eyes widened. "Jax, the den was empty when I arrived. I’m not tracking her. Did you lose her?"

Shit. I’d said too much.

"Back up a bit," London growled. "Fae? I thought Jax was wrong, but you really are fae. What’s your talent?"

"It’s rude to ask a fae about their talent," she answered calmly. "And yes, there are a small number of us left. We live hidden in isolated communities around the world. Our numbers are so small we cannot fight, and as you know, many in the wolf and witch community would be happy to eradicate us. For my sake, I hope you’re not one of them."

"I don’t care what you are. I care about you standing there and letting a fucking wolf use your magic to take the mountain," London snarled.

Saris smiled sadly and stroked the Mother’s hair. The witch was dead, and Saris seemed to mourn her. What was their connection?

"When a null is born, we see it in the well. Just a glimpse of a fae talent being born, even when it’s mixed. We rejoice, because we think we’re one step closer to living in harmony, but it’s slow. Fae don’t conceive easily. When Anna was born, the well overflowed."

What well was she talking about? London growled again, but I put a hand on his arm to stop him. I didn’t know much about Saris, but I knew she would only speak if she wished, and she wouldn’t be forced.

"We knew immediately that a ternary had been born. Her null powers wouldn’t hide her from us, but her mother would. Somehow, she realized we were watching and shielded her. Only then did we fear the worst. I wasn’t the only one who tried to get involved. I’m just the only one still alive, and I learned a valuable lesson. Enough to make me wonder if it would have been better if I had stayed away."

I had no idea what she was talking about, but tears streamed down her face as she rocked beside the Mother’s body.

"Who is she to you?" I asked softly.

Saris shook her head. "Why did you lose your mate, wolf? It is imperative that you remain by her side."

"The other prophecy Broderick told me. Anna is pregnant. What do you know about it?"

"Pregnant? I don’t know what you’re talking about."

Losing control, I rushed across the room, grabbed her by the neck, and slammed her against the wall. "Don’t lie to me!" I shouted. "Tell me about the prophecy. Is my child going to kill her?"

"Jax," London said calmly. "For God’s sake, don’t kill her."

Saris didn’t even seem concerned as she grabbed my wrist with her hand. Pain shot through my skin, and I released her, gasping. I had felt this pain before.

Silver—though Saris wasn’t holding any.

"I understand your anger. You lost the woman you love, but I don’t know what you’re talking about. There is no prophecy about the ternary being pregnant."

Dread filled me and I stepped back. "Broderick said their only hope was that the child would kill the mother. He lied."

"Oh, that. No, he didn’t lie. There is a prophecy that says that. One, out of thousands. It was a prophecy spoken a hundred years ago by a drunken witch in a tavern—or at least, that’s how the story goes. No one took it seriously, since it was only heard by the tavern keeper, and the witch died the next day, so it couldn’t be verified. The only reason anyone wrote it down was because the witch was a powerful seer."