Chapter 299: JAX

POV Jax:

London examined my wrists and frowned at the burns. "You’re telling me all these prophecies are written down?"

"How else do you think we keep them? Is that what Broderick told you? And you’re afraid it’s your child who’s going to kill her?" Saris grimaced. "I suppose it could be about Anna, though no one ever tried to see that path. As I said, no one believed it. That witch had several visions about the ternary, which explains why Broderick thought it was connected. He was also an idiot. You’ll need another seer to see that path. Evalina is dead."

"Jax killed her," London supplied.

"I didn’t love her, but she was of our fae line. And powerful, so it’s a shame she’s dead—especially because I think we’re close to the end."

"What do you mean by that?"

"When you see Anna, you must warn her that the spell can only be attempted once. It was made that way. A safeguard."

I blinked. "The spell is a safeguard?"

"It was created in case the ternary became too powerful. The spell was designed to use the mountain’s magic to wipe them out. The creator was paranoid, but Anna is proof that ternaries aren’t inherently dangerous. Or powerful. It’s true she has power, but it won’t take the mountain’s magic to kill her. Casting the spell will probably kill her. Just like driving a knife through her heart. She doesn’t heal on her own."

"The spell will kill her?" I rasped. "How do you know all this?"

Saris sighed. "My great-grandfather was the one who created it. The spell was written in our blood. He’s been dead for a long time, but I can feel that someone is preparing to cast it."

I shook my head. "Maeve doesn’t know Lunessa is Evalina’s granddaughter. She thinks Anna’s last living relative is dead. She won’t keep preparing this. The only ones who know about Lunessa are bound by secrecy."

"The most powerful clan on the mountain has been raided, and the Elder’s heir is dead," Saris said coldly. "Look around, wolf. Even I can see this was a planned attack. Where is Lunessa?"

Power exploded through the room as London’s wolf roared. I didn’t pay attention to him. "She’s safe in the heart of my territory. Another alpha, my second, my third, and my entire pack, along with three witches, are guarding her."

"I’m sorry, wolf. I wish I had better news for you, but I can feel the spell is being prepared. Maeve already has two of the three ingredients."

"Help us," I said slowly to Saris. "You can’t let this happen."

"I already told you; I’m not permitted to interfere. I’ve already violated fae laws by infiltrating the cult and helping them. I’m only here to reclaim what was stolen from us." Slowly, she leaned down and gathered the dead witch into her arms. "I’m sorry."

Then, she vanished.

London’s wolf burst out of him in fury, and I quickly blocked his path before he bolted. "If something had happened to my pack, I would know. I would feel it through the bonds. I can feel Jenson and Kenzi. They’re fine."

London growled, and I shook my head. "She’s lying to us, London, and it could very well be to separate us. Control your wolf. I’ll get the satellite phone and call."

London lowered his head, reached into the pack, and tossed it toward me. The message was clear. If I made the call and he didn’t like what he heard, he would leave—and it would be my responsibility to catch him.

The phone was double-sealed in a waterproof case. I pulled it out and made the call. Kenzi answered. "Did you find her?" she asked.

"No, I’m still tracking, but I have reason to believe Maeve has discovered who Lunessa is. When was the last time you saw her?"

"A few hours ago. Jenson’s with her now."

"Call him. Check that she’s all right."

If Kenzi thought that was strange, she didn’t say anything. We listened to her make the call and heard Jenson confirm that both Lunessa and Irene were with him. "Anything else?"

"Warn her, as gently as you can, that the third witch of their clan is dead. Anticipate trouble, and remember, Maeve has a helicopter and access to dozens of witches."

"As if I could forget."

I hung up, and London slowly returned to his human form. "Sorry," he muttered.

"No problem. I lose my head too when it comes to my mate," I said casually. For the first time, he didn’t deny who Lunessa was to him. Instead, there was only relief on his face.

"Why would she lie to us?"

"To make us act faster? I don’t know. What I do know is that Anna was here. Give me an hour to search the place, and then we can leave."

London nodded briefly, and we split up. If Maeve had been there, it was possible she had left something behind, or that I might get a sense of where Anna was headed next. There weren’t many places on the mountain where she could find refuge.

Her scent lingered on many of the books I found scattered across the floor. Some were neatly stacked to the side, and I glanced at the titles. Journals. No doubt she was searching for answers about the prophecy.

"Jax," London called. "Come see this."

I followed his voice down the hallway into a room with a shattered door. Whoever had been there hadn’t left a single stone unturned. Every room had been ransacked.

"What is it?"

"Do you recognize this?" London asked, holding up a pale blue crystal. "It’s for communication."

I frowned. "How do you know? It looks like any other crystal I’ve seen."

"Ava uses them to talk to other witches. It has a chip, like a phone, but it’s symbolic." He lifted it up for me to see. "And it’s heavily enchanted."

I took the crystal. "Do you think this will help us? If we use it to contact another witch?"

London rolled his eyes. "It doesn’t work like a phone. I said the chip is symbolic. With the right spell, whoever holds it can connect to anyone. You can connect with Anna."

"Anna’s a null. Magic won’t reach her."

"It will if you use your bond. Call Lunessa and Irene. See if I’m right."

I half-suspected he just wanted to hear Lunessa’s voice, but it was worth a try. If I could just reach Anna, maybe I could make her see the danger she was in and bring her back. We could sort out everything else later.

It took a while—too long, in my opinion—before Kenzi connected us with Lunessa and Irene. But as soon as London heard Lunessa’s voice, he relaxed immediately.