Page 447 of Flirting with Darkness

“Death,” I said, my voice ethereal sounding as I turned to face the enemy. “All I will give you is death.”

“Momma?” Caleb whispered.

“I will ensure you are dead and can never hurt my family again,” I continued. Reaching down the bonds I held with the werewolves through Deryn, I sent them all anger, fueling their minds and bodies and allowing them to harness it to take on stronger forms.

Dan howled and the hairs on the nape of my neck stood on end at the sound of death I knew it to be.

I dropped to a crouch, pressed my hands to the dirt, and closed my eyes. Using the connection I held with the werewolves, I focused on all the enemies, then tapping into my connection with Fox and the elves, I channeled earth powers and sent roots shooting up out of the ground, right through the chest of any wolf who wasn’t connected to me, wasn’t tied to my pack. The roots rose higher, raising the dead bodies up into a forest of death.

“The darkness in you is immense,” the original kidnapper said as he teleported in front of me. His previously impenetrable mask now full of fear as he looked at the bodies of his allies hanging in the sky.

I tethered him to the ground just as he had done to me, and watched him struggle fruitlessly.

“Jolie!” Deryn and Fox called out to me.

I ignored them all, focused on the man before me. “You kidnapped my son, attacked my mates, attacked my pack, and tell me my darkness is immense? You tried to kidnap a child! Your ally was going to harm my niece!Youare darkness. You must be destroyed.”

“Jolie, we need to interrogate him,” Dan said behind me.

Walking closer to the man, I wrapped my hand around his throat and glared down into his wide eyes. “Who is your leader?”

“I am the leader,” he answered immediately.

“Why did you try to take my son?”

“We only seek to help hybrids, to teach them they are not disgusting, that they are the natural progression of this world.”

“My son is cherished by all,” I snarled. “You would only have taken him from his family, from his pack, and hurt him in doing so. You knownothing!”

“Your alphas have done nothing, but try to kill and hide hybrids for generations!” he yelled, eyes widening in madness. “They would destroy him once he realizes his true powers.”

“My alphas, the kings, love my son. He is their flesh and blood. And if they even considered harming him, I would tear their hearts from their chests,” I snarled.

“Who told you he was in danger?” Dan asked.

“Rumor of his upcoming destruction reached me,” the man said. “They’re planning to kill him.”

I looked over my shoulder at Dan. He loved Caleb, played with him constantly, and let him get away with more than he would have his own son.

He couldn’t be planning to kill him, right?

“I would burn the world to the ground before I’d hurt my grandson,” Dan snapped, his teeth elongating as his fury rose.

Nico walked up to me. “Jolie, let us take it from here.”

“No.” Facing the kidnapper again, I shook my head. “He must die.”

“Jolie!” Emrys yelled as he joined us.

I opened my mouth, preparing to burn him to death, but two little hands touched my right forearm, stopping me.

“Momma,” Caleb whispered. “Momma, calm down.”

Fox wrapped an arm around my waist, his calming presence spreading over me. “My queen, come back to us. Let the darkness go.”

Caleb looked up at the man who had kidnapped him and said, “My papas would never kill me. They are training me to be the strongest, to be able to take their place. I am not disgusting. I am strong, smart, and funny. It’s sad you were picked on. I hate people who bully others. I wish I could have stopped them from picking on you. I don’t want you to teach me. I’m going to school soon. I’m going to be with others like me—well, kids of all clans. I will protect them. I will make sure they know it doesn’t matter what you are, but what kind of heart you have. I will keep everyone safe, including my momma.” He looked up at me and smiled. “Momma was picked on, too, but my dads saved her.” He looked back at the man. “So, no thank you on joining your school. I will go to the combined school and learn to protect them all. Even from themselves.”

Nico set his hand on the man’s shoulder and they disappeared.

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