Page 77 of Season of the Wolf

“What is it?” he asked.

Elise rushed off with nothing more than a tearful, sympathetic glance that made my heart sink before the door slammed behind her.

My gaze was locked on Hilda, as was Ethan’s.

Her brow creased with worry and I had to bridle my wolf again, feeling her strength rising within.

“There’s a bit of a situation,” she began.

“Where’s Liam?” I didn’t have the patience to wait for her to find the right way to tell me whatever she needed to tell me. When she leveled that same sympathetic stare on me Elise had, I knew I was right.

Something was wrong and they weren’t telling me what they knew.

“Where did Elise go in such a hurry?” Ethan countered when Hilda didn’t readily answermyquestion.

“She received a text. Coordinates,” she clarified.

Frustration brimmed over with being given the runaround.

“Hilda, please!” My voice quivered, feeling my body shake with anticipation for what her real answer would be to my question.Where was Liam?

A firm line creased her forehead when she frowned. “I’m not at liberty to say anything more than I already have,” she answered.

This was unbelievable. She had to have known this was killing me.

“I’m not holding his secret by choice,” she said cryptically. “Magic forbids me.”

My brow quirked, unsure what that meant.

“The furniture in my study is charmed. No one who sits on or touches any piece can lie to me,” she willingly shared. “Liam was aware of the way it worked before he chose to disclose his truths, the ones that lie deep within.”

There was no missing the grave look she now wore.

“In turn, I’m bound by magic not to disclose anything that’s been shared by anyone under the spell’s influence,” she clarified.

So … she knew exactly where Liam was, what he’d done, but wasn’t at liberty to say.

Magic was so tricky. There were so many rules and boundaries.

“Is he in danger?” I asked next.

When Hilda nodded, my heart and stomach sank.

Ethan stepped forward, his expression marking a sudden spike in concern. “Shouldn’t you have gone with Elise then? Isn’t there something you could have done if he’s in trouble?”

More of that solemn look being passed our way when Hilda shook her head.

“No,” she sighed. “If Elise can’t fix this … neither can I.”

First, I needed to sit, so I backed toward the steps. Then, I needed to run, so I pressed toward the door, deciding I’d just … go. I’d comb these woods until I found them.

“Evangeline, don’t.” The stern warning came from Hilda and I wanted to push past her, but didn’t. Instead I listened.

“He sent your mother coordinates,” she hinted, still magically bound from saying too much. “He needsher,specifically, to find him.”

I searched my thoughts, hunting for morsels of information to piece together. Hints he may have left in his letter.

He spoke of wanting me to understand his reasons for whatever action this was he’d taken. He also stated that he was doing this for me, to remedy the fact that he could no longer protect me. Because he’s no longer a … dragon.

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