Chapter 48

Callista’s POV.

In working that scrying spell, Matilda saw us, all of us, including Calliope, which worries the hell out of me. She may not know how powerful Calliope is, but I’m sure she can figure out that she’s my daughter, especially since she has my eyes.

We’ve been searching for her for a whole week now. Gilbert and Victor are in wolf form while Belinda and I drive over random dirt roads. We found Skip right where Aria said he would be. We only had to search a few caves. We found him passed out, naked in a small crevice. His back was pretty sunburned. Gilbert destroyed him over the course of four days just as he had with Julian’s father. The rest of us stayed away and let him do what needed to be done.

“Victor caught a scent trail,” Belinda informs me as I drive the rental truck. “Go west. Just up ahead there’s a turn.” I see a break in the woods and make the turn. It’s a dirt road only made by tires. I have to slow down because of all the low-hanging limbs.

Gilbert’s emotions overwhelm me and I slam on the brakes. I look at Bells as she’s gripping the door and her eyes are glossy. “They found it,” she whispers.

I feel for Gilbert then an overwhelming sense of dread washes over me. “What’s going on?”

“Damn it.” Belinda doesn’t swear, ever. “She’s not there, but they found everything there to make the LupuSummu. It looks like Matilda created it.”

“Tell the guys we’ll wait for them here. I still can’t believe she’s alive.”

“I can’t either. I felt her die.” Bells' eyes go fuzzy for a moment while she relays the message.

It must be nice being mated and having that link. I can wait though. Julian won’t be the Alpha forever. “Maybe it was her transformation into a dark witch. That does kill your soul. I was too young to remember any of that. But why wouldn’t Daddy tell us? He knew she was alive, that’s a pretty important piece of information.”

“Aria said he couldn’t kill her. Maybe he was ashamed.”

“Maybe, but she killed him instead.” I shake my head. All this time we were told it was rogues. Another lie. My mother is poison. She killed her own sister when she refused to give her my true name. I’m told that I’m a lot like my Aunt Minerva. It would’ve been nice to know her.

Gilbert and Victor show up carrying paperwork and supplies. They store everything in the back, then Gilbert opens my door. “Alright, Sweetheart, hop down. I’m driving.” He tells me then leans in for a kiss.

I push against his chest stopping him. “I can drive just fine.”

“Do you even have a license? You haven’t driven since before we even met. I’m surprised Bell even let you behind the wheel.”

I roll my eyes. “I didn’t kill anyone,” I mumble as I slide out of the front seat.

Gilbert catches me and gives me a quick kiss. “Don’t pout. I just don’t want to die anytime soon.”

I smack his arm and he laughs. He opens the back door for me and helps me climb up. Bells joins me in the back seat so we can continue talking. “Grandmother says Aria is still keeping to herself.”

“I still can’t get over the fact that we have another sister.”

Bells becomes solemn for a moment. “I wonder if she tricked Daddy into being with her or if he did it voluntarily? I don’t think he would’ve tried to get her pregnant knowing what she planned to do with you.”

“He definitely did it voluntarily,” Gilbert answers.

“Why do you think that?” I ask.

“It’s the mate pull. You’ll see one day, sweetheart. If he spent a lot of time away from his mate, knowing she’s alive and well, he would’ve been tormenting himself.”

“He did.” Victor chimes in. “When you two weren’t around, he buried himself in his work to keep distracted. I always knew he was fighting himself, but I thought it was guilt, not the mate pull. It makes so much more sense now. Darren was a great wolf, but I think I have even more respect for him now, knowing what he was going through and never mentioning it to anyone.”

“Do you think grandmother knew?” I ask my sister.

She shakes her head. “She was just as surprised as we were during the spell,” she points out and I agree. “Besides, if she knew, she would not have kept it secret, especially from us.”

“Right, she wouldn’t.”

“So what do we do now, ladies? Her trail went cold and we’re nowhere close to finding her.” Gil asks. I look to Bells.

“Maybe we should check her hideout, Gelly Bean. You guys are wonderful and we love you, but you’re wolves.”

“We can come back tomorrow. It’s getting late and you need to pump, sweetheart.” Gilbert advises. He’s right, my breasts are full. He probably felt how firm they are when he put me back here.

“I’m pretty hungry,” Bells adds, even though he already turned back toward town.

Gilbert’s phone rings and he answers through the speaker system. “What’s up, Toby?”

“I need you all back at the palace immediately.”

We all look at each other wondering what the problem is. “What’s going on?”

“It’s Annie. I’ll explain everything later, but we’re bringing her back with us. Just get there as soon as you can. I have to go. We’re running late for dinner.” Gilbert presses the gas pedal harder and we quickly pack everything up, taking the next flight out.

It’s early morning when the plane lands. Gilbert is combing his fingers through his hair. Bells and Victor are still asleep so I shake her arm and she stirs then wakes Victor. “Shit,” Gilbert whispers and I turn to face him. He’s scrolling through his messages. “What the…?”

“What is it?”

“Julian is blowing up my phone telling me to get back to the pack.”

“Does it have anything to do with Annie or Toby?”

He shakes his head. “I don’t know.” We grab our carry-on luggage and vacate the plane. Gilbert begins listening to his messages and his brows go to his hairline. “Julian wants to kill Toby,” he tells me then moves to the next message. I can’t hear anything Julian is screaming because Gilbert keeps the volume low, but Victor is listening intently with his jaw clenched. Gilbert tucks his phone away and takes my hand, pulling me along as we rush through the airport. “We need to hurry.”

Once inside the car, Gilbert calls Julian. “Hey. Slow down, what the fuck are you talking about? You what?” Gilbert’s mouth drops open. “Jay, that’s insane, he’ll kill you. Because he’s the fucking king for a reason, dumbass. He’s not just a pretty face, the guy’s been training to fight since he could crawl. You only started fighting ten years ago. What do you mean, so? Alright, challenge the guy if you think you’re so tough, but I don’t even think you could take Gamma Ryker, to be honest.”

Gilbert pinches the bridge of his nose. “No, I’m not saying you’re weak, I’m saying you’re a fucking idiot. Look, go run off some steam, take on a few guards at once, do whatever it is you gotta do, but don’t challenge the fucking king unless you have a death wish.” I hold Gilbert’s hand and watch his shoulders visibly relax. “He what? When?” Gilbert rolls his eyes and Victor chuckles into his hand. “Whatever man, go have fun, he’s all yours. No, I went after Skip. Of course. I’ll call you later, just don’t do anything stupid.” Knowing Julian it’s too late for that.

Gilbert lets his head fall back against the headrest. “Julian wants to challenge Toby, I take it?”

“Yep,” he answers while still staring at the ceiling. “He’s going to take it out on Brayden instead. I think we’re going to have to go back there soon.”

“I guess our holiday is over.” I’m bummed out, I don’t want to go back to hiding. I love having the freedom to be with my mate whenever I want.

We pull into the drive of the palace and Gilbert moves to open the door. “Stop!”

“Oh no!” Bells rushes out of the car.

“Bells, no! Shit.” I climb over Gilbert. “You two be sneaky, it’s Matilda!” I run after Bells, nearly crashing into her just inside the doorway of the palace.

Bells drops to her knees sobbing. “Grandmother.”

I swallow and look around, trying to spot her. I close my eyes and feel for her power. “She’s out back,” I whisper then rush through the castle. Her power is getting stronger, but I quickly realize its not just her power I feel, but Aria’s and Calliope’s. I reach the door and look through the window before calmly opening the door and stepping out.

“You’ve finally arrived, Callista of the White Ash.” My mother says. Aria and Calliope are off to the side. Calliope is on the ground like Grandmother, but Aria is holding onto a force field around the two of them.

“You had us tricked for a long time, Ramona of the Milk Thistle. What do you want?” I ask as I begin pulling power from nature, a skill dark witches are unable to do.

“What do I want?” she chuckles with a sinister sneer. Her ruby-red lips part to reveal her perfect white teeth. “I want werewolves to be eradicated. They’re disgusting dogs with no sense of loyalty or love.”

“Wow, you’re crazy, but I always knew that. What’s changed now? Why come here instead of hiding out like you’ve done all this time.” I open my hands toward the ground, drawing in more energy.

“You sent for me.”

“Well, having you here is easier than searching the entire continent. What is your plan with my daughter?” I ask, stealing a glance at her still form lying in the grass. Her cloak covers her tiny body so I can only see her curls and one chubby little hand.

“I plan on taking her power, of course, but that’s only after I take the power from all of my daughters.”

I roll my eyes. “Please. You think you can just waltz in here and take my power, just like that? Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not about to let that happen.”

The back door opens behind me and her eyes flick to the sound. I take the opportunity to zap her like I do Julian. It’s the most basic of skills, but it does the trick… for a moment. Matilda raises her hands to work a spell, but I change tactics and pin her arms down, preventing her from throwing anything at me. She shatters the spell and forces her hands at me. I block a fireball, then absorb the power just in time for her to send a zap at me, but I absorb it and latch on to her power.

She groans then starts shooting bolts of lightning at me. Throwing up a force field to reflect it, I take the second to look over Calliope. Aria is kneeling beside her, holding her head in her lap. Matilda fires toward them. “No!” I yell and cover them with the force field. Matilda hits me in the gut with a blast of energy and I double over in pain. She’s much stronger than I anticipated.

Pulling the energy from all around me, I send a blast at her. She blocks it, but I push harder, shattering the force field and striking her in the chest. The blast took a lot of energy and in the moment I take a breath, she zaps me with a dark power. My lungs struggle to take in a breath. Bell comes up behind me and sends a ball of fire toward Matilda. She blocks, but in doing so, she releases her hold on me. Bells and I shoot blast after blast, causing him to stumble back.

“You can’t win against me. I have the power of many witches. My own mother couldn’t beat me. My daughters won't either.” Her power increases and I know she’s giving us everything she has. Bells takes a shot to the shoulder and I send a blast aimed at her head.

This battle is going back and forth, but I’m getting tired. Dark magic surrounds us and from the corner of my eye, I see the most beautiful wolf. He charges her from behind, gripping her neck. I see him strain against her power, his charm shatters, but the grip on her neck tightens and he shakes his head, snapping her neck in two. Bells and I rush forward. We hold hands and take her power before it dissipates into oblivion. We both hold our knees catching our breath. “Grandmother?” I ask between breaths.

She shakes her head and her eyes glaze over. “She didn’t make it.”

I close my eyes and shake my head. Grandmother, I’m so sorry. Gilbert whimpers and I look his way. He’s nuzzling Calliope. Bells and I kneel beside her, she’s still breathing. I run my hand over her head and release the energy clouding her power. She takes a deep breath. Giving Gilbert comfort, I run my fingers through his soft, thick fur. “She’s alright.” Gilbert makes a high-pitched whine, then falls to the ground.

“He must’ve taken a lot of power.” Bells says as she checks him over. “He’s alive, but he’s weak.”

“He had a charm, but it shattered.”

“It’s a good thing. He would’ve died otherwise.” I nod agreeing with her assessment. I’ll have to remember to smack him for that later.

Aria is kneeling beside Matilda. I lock eyes with Bells and she nods. She kneels beside her and wraps her arm around her shoulders. “Thank you for protecting Callie.”

She looks up with tears streaming down her face. “What do I do now? She was all I had.”

“You have all of us now. I’m sorry for your pain of losing your mother, I felt that same pain a long time ago. I’ll help you overcome it.” Aria nods and wipes her eyes.

Victor joins us in his shorts. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to help. I laid grandmother in her bed. Callen is in his crib. I’ll carry Gilbert to your room if one of you with get little Callie.”

“Thank you, Victor,” I tell him then scoop up my little girl. My family all lays in bed for some much needed rest.