Page 97 of Magic's Rise

Outside, we follow Levi down a path that leads to a building behind the Alpha’s cabin. A burly werewolf guards the door, and he dips his head deferentially toward Levi as he steps to the side.

“How have they been?” Levi asks as he unlocks the door.

“No fussing,” the guard rumbles. “They’ve been quiet.”

With a nod, Levi pushes the door inward and enters.

The prison turns out to be a regular cabin with bars on the windows. We find Aris, Kaela, and Mina cuddled up together on an oversized couch, sharing an enormous bowl of popcorn as they watch TV.

“Hey, guys, how’s life on the inside?” I call out.

They startle and turn to stare at us with wide eyes.

“It’s… fine.” Aris’s eyes dart from Levi to me to Tris. “Have we been cleared?”

“Not yet.” I beckon her to join us.

She passes the popcorn bowl to Kaela and stands, brushing off her sweater, the same one she wore yesterday.

Hurrying over to us, she clasps her hands in front of herself. “What can I do for you?”

“We were wondering what happens to the failed moon-madness charms that your coven has tried to make,” I say.

Her fingers wring together, and she looks away. “Is this about the poisoning?”

“It’s tangentially related.” I study her face. “Do you know?”

Aris glances over her shoulder before stepping closer, her voice lowering. “Elana said they were disposed of, but I saw a box of them in the locked cabinet once.”

“Interesting.” I tap my chin in thought. “You know, Elana is out in the woods right now, and we’ve got some time to kill…”

I peer up at Levi. “If only we had a witch who has mastered the art of opening any lock in town.”

He runs a hand down his face. “I should have expected this.”

When I glance at Aris, she giggles and raises a hand. “I know someone.”

Levi sighs deeply. “This is dangerously close to a shenanigan, Rowe. You know that’s on Haut’s no-no list.”

“Come on.” Tris bats his lashes. “It’s for the sake of the village!”

“Besides, Haut never needs to know.” I cup my hand to the side of my mouth and whisper loudly, “It can be our secret.”

Clearly unimpressed, Levi narrows his eyes at us. “I see now how you two end up in trouble so often.”

I press my hands together and widen my eyes at him, doing my best to look like an innocent angel.

“Fine,” he grumbles. “But you only have an hour, starting now.”

“Excellent!” I grab Aris’s hand and pull her out the door. “Let’s get this show on the road!”

Once Levi locks the others up again, we hurry to his Jeep. I crawl into the back, tugging Aris in with me, and Tris takes the front seat.

“We’ll need to stop at my house for my charms, first,” Aris explains as she buckles in.

“No problem.” The engine rumbles to life, and Levi pulls back out of the pack compound.

As we bump down the road toward town, I turn to Aris. “How’s life in prison treating you? You’re not being mistreated, are you?”

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