Page 50 of Sweaty Nights & Gator Bites

“This is a formidable gathering,” Xinar said, his voice low and commanding. “Let’s make sure we use it to our advantage.”

Adèle, as always, coordinated the efforts telepathically. Her voice in our minds was a soothing, guiding presence. “We need to focus on our strengths and create a unified front. Let’s share what we know.”

I took a deep breath and began. “We’ve confirmed that the Montclairs are using dark magic. Kaveh has proof that they have the magic set up to siphon power from spirits and manipulate energies. We don’t know exactly how this ties into the deaths in the swamp. But we received information suggesting more will die and the families will ultimately win.”

Dre leaned forward, her eyes intense. “Garrick is powerful, and the Montclairs are determined. They’ll stop at nothing to achieve their goals. Not to mention that they are way ahead of us. It’s like they have a seer that told them what to anticipate.”

Kaitlyn nodded thoughtfully. “We can provide counter-spells and defensive magic to protect against the Dark magic. But we’ll need to know exactly what we’re up against.”

Cyran added, “Our light magic can also help disrupt theirdark energies. We’ve faced similar threats before, and we know how to handle them.”

Kaveh spoke up next. “We’ll need to coordinate our efforts closely. Every move we make must be strategic. We can’t afford any mistakes.”

Xinar’s gaze was steady as he said, “I’ll handle the logistics and ensure our defenses are impenetrable. Where will you need us? Here?”

I shared a look with Dre and shook my head. “The reunion isn’t for a few days. The murders will occur in the swamp. That’s where we need to go. And if we’re lucky, we will find Garrick’s home base and stop him.”

CHAPTER 17

DEANDRA

Xinar inclined his head. “Right. We need to stop him from killing anyone else.”

Lia was nodding in agreement when her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, her brow furrowing as she answered. “Hello?”

We all watched as her expression shifted from curiosity to concern. “When? We’ll be right there.”

She hung up and met our eyes with urgency. “There’s been another attack in the swamp. They need us.”

Dani’s expression hardened. “Let’s move. We can’t waste any time.”

Cyran, Xinar, Kaveh, Kaitlyn, and Talindra all said they were going with us. It would be nice to have allies at our side when we went back to the swamp. We quickly gathered our things and headed out.

“Stay focused and trust in each other. Use your allies.” Adèle’s voice guided us as we made our way toour vehicles.

The drive to the swamp was a tense conga line of cars. This was one of those times I wished my empathic powers weren’t so strong. I could have done without feeling what our friends were experiencing. The silence in Lia’s car was filled with unspoken fears and questions just like the rest. As we approached the familiar, murky landscape, my sense of dread grew stronger.

We parked at the edge of the swamp, the thick foliage and dark waters greeting us like old foes. The others stopped beside us. “Dea, what can you sense?” Lia’s voice interrupted my thoughts and helped me focus away from the raging emotions around me.

I closed my eyes, reaching out with my spiritual connection. I reached for the ebb and flow of energies around us. Garrick’s presence was a dark stain on the ethereal plane. It was a trail of malevolence that left blight in its wake.

“I can feel Garrick’s essence, moving southward," I said as I opened my eyes. “He seems to be moving fast.”

The bayou was dark and foreboding as we navigated our way through the dense foliage, the air was thick with humidity and the scent of earth. Lucas and Noah led our group. They had the sense of smell that would get us there faster.

I spotted a disturbance in the undergrowth a few feet ahead. “Over here!” I called.

Someone was sprawled on the ground. To our surprise and relief, he was still alive. “It a selkie,” Lucas observed.

Remy joined us and was breathing hard. “It’s Melanie’s brother, Dennis,” he said, bracing his hands on his knees. “We managed to stop that evil asshole before he killed him.”

Dennis’s eyes fluttered open. There was pain etched on his face. “Help me,” he whispered in a hoarse voice.

“Hang in there,” Dani said, her voice soothing as she assessed his injuries. “We’re going to get you to safety.”

Lia turned to the coven members who had accompanied us. “We need to get him to Kip for healing. Can a couple of you take him?”

Two young witches nodded at the same time their hands shot into the air. “We will,” the pair said.

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