Page 46 of Cruel Alpha Beast
“Oh, Dani,please,” Violet says once the laughter subsides. “With Willow’s help, I’ll be the most powerful witch this forest has ever seen.”
Withwhosehelp?
I see Danielle’s brave face falter when she hears that name, too, and I realize that my ears are not deceiving me.
Violet casually examines her fingernails. “Of course, I’m still working on turning the rest of the coven against you two and Penelope—not that I’ll need the extra power. Just because it will be more fun to me to have the people who love you crush you like the bugs you three are.”
“Peneloperaisedyou!” Monroe explodes. “And this is how you repay her?”
But Violet has already turned around and disappeared into the trees. Still, the second twin shakes in quiet rage. Danielle puts her arm around her protectively, then turns to us, as if she’s just remembering that we were there, watching it all.
“Where’s Lacey?” Danielle’s voice wavers.
“At home,” I tell her, “with Shea.”
“I wish she were here right now.” Danielle swallows hard, then meets all of our eyes. “Even with her, we’d still be outnumbered by all of you shifters. It’s, uh, it’s a little intimidating.”
“We all just saw you take that bitch down by yourself,” Ellis cuts in. “I think we should be the ones intimidated.”
I turn over my shoulder to him, surprised that he said something like that. It was the closest I’ve ever heard him compliment someone, especially a witch.
“Could you tell her to come?” Danielle asks. “I’d just really like to see her.”
As would I, I think to myself. “Yeah,” I say out loud. “Yeah, I’ll give her a call.”
Greg steps forward, offering the sisters a gentle smile. “So, you two are the twins I’ve heard so much about.”
“And you must betheGreg,” Danielle responds somewhat pleasantly.
“So, which one of you is which?”
I turn around and pull out my phone, calling Lacey’s number. She picks up on the second ring, and I’m so pleased to hear her sweet voice.
“Is everything alright?” she asks immediately.
“Hey,” I reply. “Yeah, Violet showed up and threatened Danielle and Monroe, but they held their own.”
“Oh, good.”
“I mean, Violet’s up to something, we just don’t know what yet,” I tell her.
“Do you think we’re any closer to figuring it out?” Lacey asks.
“I don’t know,” I say. “But she did mention someone helping her out.”
“Who?”
“That’s the thing. She said her name was… It’sWillow.”
There’s silence on the line. I want to hear Lacey’s voice again. It’s the only thing providing me with any happiness in this situation right now.
“Oh, that doesn’t sound good,” Lacey finally says.
“No, it doesn’t.” I sigh. “Anyway, the reason I called you is because the twins would feel a lot more comfortable if you were here right now.”
“I’d be there in a heartbeat, but I have Shea, and I don’t want to bring her into this mess any more than she already is,” Lacey points out.
“No, me either,” I say. “Well, why don’t you just drop Shea off with my dad?”
