Page 102 of Rejected By the Alpha King

Even worse, I could see the magic. That was a little harder to ignore.

“Ladies,” I greeted with a nod of my head. “I need to borrow Irene for a few minutes.”

“It seems like everyone is borrowing Irene,” Ava interrupted as she stood. “If there is something that’s happening, I think we all have a right to know. We are all in danger.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Irene is our pack witch. I’m certain you’re just as busy, and wanted, in your pack as she is here. If this was a matter that pertained to you, then I would share. This is a personal matter.”

“Really? I thought Irene didn’t have any magic,” Cam said smugly. “Is there something you’d like to share with the rest of us, Irene?”

Narrowing my eyes, I pulled on the mate bond and borrowed some of Jax’s power. “This is our land and our witch. You are under our protection, and you are here to help. If I discover that you are spending your entire time needling Irene and bringing up fresh trauma, I will have you removed.”

“You can’t do that,” Cam said. “Only Jax can.”

Janelle cleared her throat. “Please ignore her. She is a young witch who has never experienced an alpha with a mate. We are here to help, and we understand that Irene has her own personal duties. We are also scared, so please forgive us if we lash out.”

Calm. Empowering. Even comforting. Emerson’s witch was everything that Emerson was not. The other’s turned a shade of pink at her gentle chastising. Irene followed Amelia and me out of the cottage, but then she took my hand and led us closer to the river before stopping suddenly.

“Protection wards,” she said as she pointed to the trees. Sure enough, I could see marks etched into the bark. “As long as we stay between these four trees, no one can hear us. I know that Lunessa is here, but my magic isn’t strong enough to reach her.”

I hated to do that, but I had to ask. “Irene, one of the witches is insinuating that you’re back to full strength but hiding your magic. I understand if you want to hide from them…”

“They are sowing discord,” Irene said in a hard voice. “They are poking to see what rustles out of the bushes. I am not at full strength. It took me two damn hours just to power those wards.”

“All right. I’m sorry.” I believed her. “I need to ask you about a spell and see if you recognize it.”

Quickly, I brought her up to speed on Bridget and Finn. I tried to explain what I’d seen in the spell, but I doubted it would help her. She wouldn’t see the same thing, but she had to know the effects. Or at least how it was administered.”

“And Lunessa didn’t know? The crone might, although I do not know if they’ll help now that Lunessa has come to us. She’ll be furious. I’d have to look through some books, but most spells are cobbled together. To override wolf magic is concerning. Jenson shifted last night, so it doesn’t affect him.”

“What if it doesn’t activate until there’s an injury? A life-threatening injury,” Amelia popped up. “Can we test for that?”

“You want someone to gravely injure Jenson and see if he can shift?” Irene said slowly, and then she grinned. “I’ll do it, but I need Lunessa there to undo the spell if it does affect him. The witches will return to their alphas at dinner. We’ll do it then.”

Suddenly, her eyes widened, and she gasped.

I whirled my head around, but I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. “Irene?”

“Yesterday, there was a swarm of black butterflies at my door when I woke up in the morning. Last night, I dreamt of owls. And now, there is a murder of crows in the trees.”

Glancing up, I counted. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. They flapped their arms and hopped from branch to branch. A group of black birds in the trees didn’t seem all that alarming to me. “And that means?”

“Three signs of death omens. Before the sun rises tomorrow morning, something I know will be dead.”

46

Jax

When Anna pulled on my power, I didn’t even blink, but pride swelled up inside of me. She was getting more comfortable relying on the bond.

Whatever she needed from me, I was happy to give, and it was a source of comfort to feel her inside me. Sitting across the table, Emerson had donned his innocent and humbling persona. All I wanted to do was plow my fist into his face.

Maeve was sitting as still as a statue, her power wrapped around her like an icy mask.

London had gotten antsy a few minutes ago and was pacing and staring at the woods. He wanted out of this room.

We all did, but we’d gotten nowhere. Not that we expected to. Until the witches had evidence of what we were facing, all we could discuss was strategies, and because our territories were different, our defenses were different.

“Have you received any reports back from the guards you sent to investigate the rogues who attacked me?” Emerson asked innocently. “I’m eager to know what you found.”

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