Page 108 of Magic's Rise

“I’m not ruining it.” He lifts his chin. “I’m saving them.”

“You’re going to get everyone killed.” I shake my head in disgust. “You don’t know what life is like for werewolves outside of Silver Hollow. The world is bigger and more cruel than you realize.”

“I’m only doing this to force the Alpha’s hand.” He paces in front of me. “Backed into a corner, he’ll have no choice but to share his secret with the rest of the pack.”

“You are vastly overestimating Griffen’s ability to save you.” I kick out at him, but too much distance separates us. “Why am I still alive, huh? If you’re so bent on taking down the barrier, why not kill me and be done with it?”

Jacob stops and turns to face me, his eyes narrowing. “I don’t really want you dead. I’m not that cruel.”

“Aspen might disagree,” I snort. “It was you who put the hemlock in our drinks, wasn’t it? That’s why you cozied up to Kaela that night? And why you’ve been so worried that we’d clear the witches of the poisoning?”

“I don’t want you dead, but that doesn’t mean I won’t do it.” He shrugs. “It’s unfortunate that Levi dragged you and your friends here and turned you into collateral damage in this whole mess.”

“So why did you hold back instead of bashing my head in?” I ask again.

“Because, right now, everyone is so panicked and looking for you that no one cares about the failing barrier.” He peers up at the ceiling as if he can see the people searching for me. “The full moon is coming soon, so all I have to do is keep you here until the barrier finishes collapsing. When that happens, the Alpha will have no choice but to share those precious charms of his or risk releasing death on Silver Hollow.”

“Except that he only has five,” I say, trying to reason with him. “That’s not enough to go around.”

“Liar!” Jacob roars, stepping closer, his eyes blazing. “I know Elana has more. You’re just protecting her.”

“For a giant eavesdropper, you’ve missed critical data,” I tell him. “The charms Elana has don’t work. They’re broken.”

“You expect me to believe that?” he scoffs and pulls a necklace out from under his shirt with a small charm dangling from it. “A few months ago, Elana dropped this in town, and when I picked it up, I knew instantly what it could do. I used it the night you guys arrived and chased you through the woods after the guy I hired took off.”

My head jerks up. “That was you?”

“Surprised, right? Because they couldn’t track my scent and figure out it was me.” He flicks the charm. “This masks my presence, too. It gives me complete control over my curse.”

“That’s not a moon madness charm, Jacob.” My eyes narrow on the cute little wolf head that Aris made. “When you use it, there’s no wolf, only darkness. It won’t save you when the full moon rises if the barrier is gone.”

“Liar!” he shouts again, his face reddening with anger. “You’re trying to trick me, the same as everyone else! The council hates werewolves, and they want to keep us locked up in Silver Hollow!”

“The barrier is to give werewolves a safe space with control of your curse,” I say, shaking my head. “It’s not a prison.”

“Enough!” Jacob roars, shoving the charm back under his shirt. “When the barrier falls and the full moon comes, the Alpha will be forced to share his charms, and everyone will see the truth!”

As Jacob continues to rant, movement behind him catches my attention, and I spot Haut sneaking down the steps. His moss-green eyes meet mine, and my pulse quickens, hope surging through me.

Something in my reaction must alert Jacob, though, and he snarls as he spins to face Haut. He reaches for the charm around his neck, and darkness sweeps over his body as he leaps at my mate, knocking him off balance and sending both of them tumbling down the stairs.

ROUND AND ROUND

“Haut!” I yell as they crash to the cement floor.

Still in human form, he grapples with the shadow monster that Jacob has turned into. Pinned down, he can’t shift, and his arms strain to hold sharp claws away from his throat.

I kick my feet against the bars of my cage, making a racket. “Get off him, you weak ass excuse for a werewolf!”

Jacob snarls, his head lifting toward me, and Haut takes advantage of his momentary distraction to heave the monster to the side. The beast rolls across the floor, comes up on all fours, and pounces on Haut again, shoving him into one of the sheet-draped cages.

Bloody scratches appear on Haut’s chest, and he lets out a grunt as the wolf shines from his eyes. Claws burst from the tips of Haut’s fingers, and his right arm swings, vanishing into the shadows. A heartbeat later, a pain-filled howl bounces off the walls.

“That’s my man!” I tear off my shoes as Haut keeps swinging, driving Jacob back. “Kick his shadow ass!”

“Stop aggravating the monster, mate,” Haut huffs, ducking under a swipe from Jacob’s massive paws. “And work on getting out of that cage.”

“Don’t you think I’m trying?” I rub my sock against my pant leg. “Just… keep beating that brat up.”

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