Page 51 of Revenge of the Blood Pack

I look back at him and give him a small smile. “Thank you.” Thank you for saying what most people wouldn’t, that it was about the fact that he was a half breed. That my pack member died unfairly.

But Max? His hands just tighten on the steering wheel. And for some reason, I’m disappointed.

I want to say something, although I don’t know what. It hurts. Max and I might be coworkers, but it feels like we’ve become more than that. But in this situation, it seems he’s siding with the Enforcers rather than me. It’s logical, but it’s upsetting. More than I would have imagined.

My skin starts to… buzz. I look down at it, frowning. But it’s like I’m touching an electric current. Something is wrong. Something that I can’t put my finger on, and I don’t like it. And then, a raw hunger awakens inside of me and saliva fills my mouth. But it’s not blood or meat that’s doing this to me. I’m not sure what it is.

Dark magic.The words curl awake in my mind, like an evil dragon stretching awake. I’m sensing dark magic that’s got all the allure of a dangerous, beautiful man.

And I want it. Desperately.

Shaking my head, I say, “Dark magic. Really powerful dark magic.”

Both men look at me. I sense it, but I’m busy rubbing my skin while searching outside my window for the source of thefeeling, but there’s nothing. Then, the road turns sharply in front of us, concealing the next step of our journey with huge trees. I look ahead eagerly, knowing we’re going closer and closer to the powerful magic.

Up ahead, we see the road blocked off in front of us with barricades and police cars. A grim-looking man in a police uniform stands in front of us glaring, then gestures to turn around. Instead, Max unrolls his window. The police officer looks even angrier as he storms up to our window.

“Listen, shithole, no one goes and no one comes here, so turn the fuck around!” He’s practically spitting as he glares at Max.

To his credit, Max never even flinches. He simply pulls what looks to be a wallet out of his jacket pocket and flips it open to reveal his badge. It looks similar to that of the FBI, but has a big E in the middle. And from what I’ve seen so far, all law enforcement responds to it. They might not know exactly what we do, technically, but they know who the Enforcers are.

And this man is no different. When he sees the badge, his eyes widen, and he stutters out, “O-oh, s-sorry, sir. I didn’t realize. We’ll move the blockade and get you in.”

Max puts his badge away and thanks the man, but then says, “We appreciate your help, officer, but I do want to remind you that even if I had been a civilian, you shouldn’t be speaking to anyone like that. People need to feel safe coming to us, and the second that they don’t feel that way, we’ve lost.”

The man gives a deep nod, then hurries away.

“Is that what you really think?” I ask Max.

He doesn’t look at me. “Of course. If I ever became a prick like him, I’d quit.” And it’s nice to actually see this human-like side of him. I guess the robot does have more layers.

They move so we can get through, and we take the curvy road to a town called Safehaven. It has a pretty wooden side beside the road with a man fishing. It’s similar to most small towns,but I like the sign, and I like how well-cared-for the smaller road is. And yet, it’s obvious that’s where the overwhelming feeling of dark magic is coming from.

We round another corner, and I gasp. It wasn’t visible a moment before, but now it’s all I can see. A giant, shimmering black net over a massive part of the woods somewhere up ahead. It towers above the trees and radiates dark magic so strongly that it’s almost hard to take deep breaths. Half of me is tempted by the call of that dark magic, and half of me is terrified. I don’t want to go closer to that. I don’t want to listen to it call to me. I don’t wantanythingto do with it.

“What’s wrong?” Max asks, sounding troubled.

“Don’t you see it?” I ask in a hushed voice.

“What?” Braxton asks, leaning forward and peering out the front window.

I can’t believe they can’t see it. It’s that powerful, that overwhelming. Like watching a nuke go off and not noticing it. “The dark magic web. It’s… surrounding some woods up ahead.”

Max swears softly. “Probably the thing keeping help out of Safehaven.”

I turn to Max, confused.

He notices and continues. “The reports were confusing, but apparently, our people have been unable to get into the town of Safehaven and no one is able to get out. And… inside the town, people are being tortured, killed left and right. They seem terrified, but our officers can’t tell why. They did, however, spot a Blood Mage at one point.”

Okay, fuck. This is more than we’ve dealt with before.There will also be the temptation of a massive amount of dark magic, as well as a powerful Blood Mage to deal with. More powerful than I am.

It’s a sobering thought.

“So, just like Clinton’s web, but much larger.”

I’m speaking to myself, but Max answers, “I think so.” Which further gives credit to the idea that a Blood Mage is responsible for this. Even though I kind of wish it wasn’t.

We reach a bunch of police vehicles, dark cars, and SUVs. They’ve set up a make-shift area to work out of, tents, a canopied area with tables and papers strewn across it on tables. There are people working on laptops. And, sure enough, Grim and his team are there.

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