Page 20 of Sweaty Nights & Gator Bites

Everly nodded. “The Montclairs, the Dubois, and the Rousseaus. They've been planning this for years. And I would be willing to bet they could be using the gator shifters to create chaos and split your attention.”

I felt a chill run down my spine. “They're orchestrating the attacks to destabilize us?”

"That’s the rumor," Everly confirmed. "They have resources and connections that go deep. Be careful. These families shouldn’t be underestimated." Everly was twitchy, and her gaze spun in a circle before she finally said she had no more information. She took off before she even finished talking. We didn’t even have a chance to thank her.

"This changes things," Lia said. "We need to approach the reunion with more cunning. We should ask Adèle for help changing the wards."

"We'll need to set traps of our own," Kota suggested. "Use their tactics against them."

Dani nodded. "Agreed. We need to play the long game. Gather more intel, set up surveillance, and prepare for a strategic strike."

“But we can’t assume they killed Melanie,” Dre pointed out. “We have to keep investigating. This entire story could be made up to make us stop looking into her death.”

“Let’s get back and see if we can learn anything about those symbols,” Phi interjected. “That might tell us if Dre is right.”

Lia drove us back and Adèle was waiting in the kitchen when we got there. Phi pulled up the images taken in the swamp and showed them to our familiar. "Do you know what any of these mean?” Phi asked Adèle.

Adèle examined the engraved patterns. “This relic is part ofa larger artifact. The other parts are scattered across different locations in the bayou. The symbols here,” her paw touched a section of the image, “form a puzzle. It's a key component of the magic infiltrating the bayou. This is not just about the reunion or Marie’s enemies. Something else wants the power in this land."

Dani, always practical, crossed her arms. “How do you know that? This looks like it’s really old."

Adèle hopped onto the table and sat looking at us all. “From what I can decipher, these inscriptions suggest that the relic is meant to harness the natural energies of the bayou. This is designed to create a barrier or a shield and by separating the pieces, they can access more of the power."

Lia leaned in closer, her eyes narrowed in concentration. “Could the shifters reassemble this artifact and use it to protect their territory?”

Adèle nodded. “I would say the chances are good they can use it to do that.” She continued to study the relic, the lines on her face deepening with concentration. "These symbols here," she pointed, "mention a ritual. It's ancient magic, meant to draw from the bayou itself. They can use this process to draw on the energy. It is unique and rich. It almost feels alive. You should try to tap into that to create a safe haven for the shifters."

Dani nodded, her mind clearly racing with possibilities. "If we could find the rest of the pieces, maybe we could pull this off for them.”

"How many pieces are we talking about?" I asked, feeling the weight of our task.

Adèle started licking her haunches while she said, “That is hard to say. The inscriptions here suggest at least four, but there could be more."

Lia rubbed her hands together. “We need to go on a scavenger hunt in a swamp filled with hostile magic. Sounds like a great time.”

Kota grinned and nudged Lia. "Hey, look at it this way. Ifwe can get to these pieces, we might have a bargaining chip. We can provide protection and take away victims from this magical entity.”

Phi nodded, her eyes returning to the relic. "It's worth a shot. But we'll need to be careful. The magic involved here is powerful and potentially volatile. One wrong move and we could set off a chain reaction."

I placed a hand on Phi’s shoulder. “That’s why we have you, Phi. We trust your expertise. Just guide us through this in the swamps.” The bayou held countless secrets, and this artifact was just one of them. The path ahead was fraught with danger that could come back to bite us in the ass, but that wouldn’t stop us.

CHAPTER 7

DAHLIA

Achill settled over me despite the oppressive heat in the bayou. It cut through the humid air like a knife. The swamp was eerily silent the further in we got. The usual chorus of nocturnal creatures became muted and then vanished. It was as if the critters sensed the impending danger.

My heart pounded in my chest as I led the way with Dre. My senses were on high alert. Beside me, Dani, Dre, Dea, Phi, and Kota moved cautiously. Their movements were stilted thanks to the tension gripping their bodies. Despite the fear coursing through me, I garnered courage from the presence of my sisters. I could face anything with them by my side. They’d been there for me through the hardest moments in my life, so I didn’t doubt that they would always have my back.

"We’re getting close," I whispered. My voice was barely audible above the rustling of the underbrush. "Stay sharp."

Suddenly, the air around us crackled with energy that made it feel as if ants were crawling beneath my skin. I felt it before I saw anything. A heartbeat later there was an oppressive weight of a powerful presence bearing down on us. A low, sinister laugh echoed through the trees next and sent a shiver down my spine.

"Welcome, sisters," a disembodied voice purred. It was resonant with dark magic. "I am Garrick. I’ve been expecting you."

My blood ran cold. Garrick’s presence was shrouded in darkness and cloaked with powerful concealment spells. I could see a person standing about twenty feet in front of us. However, we couldn't see him clearly thanks to the malevolent energy swirling around his body.

"Spread out," Dre ordered in a steady voice. "We need to make him reveal himself and track his movements."

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