Page 102 of The Alpha's Stealthy Daughter and Her Commander
Before I could answer I felt Cassie fighting. I frowned asking, “Micah, how does Max feel in your bond?” Micah answered, “Umm fine. Why?” I replied, “Because Cassie is fighting someone, and she’s not here.”
I opened my door shouting, “Hendrix, did you see Cassie?” He nodded, “Yeah, she stopped by a while ago. She said she’d see you later.” I ordered, “Micah, track her phone.” Then I went down in pain. My dad yelled, “CAYDEN!”
I knew Cassie had been hit with iron based on the type of pain she felt. I pulled as much of her pain to me as I could. Someone in her family was doing the same thing because the pain was lessening. I ordered, “Get people to the Conners pack. NOW!”
I couldn’t stand to do it myself right now. I just kept pulling her pain away from her. She needed to stand and fight. I ground out, “MICAH, WHERE IS SHE?!” Micah linked me, “Her phone is off.” She was in the fucking field?! Why the FUCK didn’t I know that?! Out loud he said, “I don’t have her location yet.”
I looked at my dad because he’d know from my feelings Cassie was in the field. He quietly said, “I have no idea where she is.” I told my dad with my eyes I needed him to take charge right now. I felt Cassie slowing down. Panic filled me. I screamed, “NO! KEEP GOING!” The gym somehow became even more tense.
I pulled bits of pain from my mate that I could. She had to keep fighting until I could find her. She was my mate and my wife. Hell, she was my whole damn world. She had to keep fighting until I could get there to her side.
Silas announced, “Cassie’s not in the Conners territory.” I had figured that out. I felt her continue to fight. I felt like I might pass out or throw up. Whatever they’d hit her with was rough. I screamed in rage when I felt Cassie’s pain hit me again.
I shouted, “Someone cut her. Someone is going to die.” Hendrix squeezed my shoulder saying, “She’ll make it through this, man. She’s our fiery redhead. Just keep pulling her pain. We are going to find her.” My dad shouted, “MICAH!”
Micah shot back, “I’m trying! Her goddamn phone is off. So are Aunt Astrid, Aunt Torvi, and Milana’s.” Hendrix groaned, “MOTHER FUCKER!” He told my dad, “She’s not in pain…” Then he went down beside me.
I felt Cassie’s shock then static. I jumped up screaming, “NO!” I began to pace. One of my men got in my way. I grabbed him by the collar, “WHERE IS SHE?!” He looked panicked but didn’t answer me. My dad put his hand on my shoulder, “Cayden, he doesn’t know.”
My phone started ringing so I ran into my office where I’d left it. A burner that Cassie had used in the past was calling me. I answered, “Cass?” I heard someone breathing. I ordered, “CASSIE VERONICA SHAYLA CRAWFORD, TALK TO ME DAMMIT!” I registered the sound of footsteps in my brain. It sounded like someone was running away.
I called, “MICAH I SWEAR TO GOD YOU BETTER HAVE HER LOCATION NOW!” He was on the phone. He declared, “I got it! She’s in Louisiana! Just give me another second for the exact coordinates.” I heard rustling on the other end.
I begged, “Cass.” Nothing. “Cassie, answer me. My Duchess. Come on Cass, say something! Please.” She didn’t. Micah opened a portal that I went through it in the next second.The first thing that struck me was Alexander had a girl in his arms.
My bond and body told me it was, but it didn’t look like her. I saw a ring on her hand I’d bet had a charm on it. I ripped her away from Alexander and took it off. Her auburn hair was back, her appearance restored to her own.
My heart was pounding in my chest as I held onto her tightly. She was ok and in my arms. She told us where Aunt Astrid, Torvi and Milana were. People took off for them, but I couldn’t move. Eric asked her what happened.
I was shocked to find out she’d come to make a buy. Why the FUCK didn’t I know she was coming out into the field? The drug Rings were working with Fairies who’d told them she had a charm which was brand new information. So, they didn’t know who she was either.
We got some answers before my Uncle Bjourn opened a portal. I knew immediately it was him who had sent her. Micah linked me, “We had people going to ask him if he knew where she was. I’m guessing he felt the same thing from your aunt.” I’m sure he did.
I saw Marcus come charging through the portal and go straight to Torvi. I couldn’t let go of Cassie. My arms literally wouldn’t move, and my heart was still pounding. My mate was still bleeding. My dad was sending me the intense need to know if I was ok. I definitely was NOT ok.
Thankfully, Alexander popped over and healed Cassie. He’d even made sure there was no blood on her shirt. I linked him, “Thanks, Alexander.” He replied, “I didn’t like this anymore than you did.” I was pretty sure that I liked this FAR less than he did.
I added, “I know you threw strength at her and took the pain you could. Words don’t really express my gratitude here.” He replied, “I’ll always help my sister, and I know you know that.” I knew that the two of us pulling her pain meant she was able to stand. One day I’d return the favor, somehow, with Melanie if she ever needed help.
Haley got the Conners out of there clearly knowing there was more to the story. Eric linked, “My Angel may be your realms Princess, but my little girl is MY Princess. I know from the look on your face you didn’t know about this. Keep eyes on her, please.” I agreed, “I will.”He added, “And have a chat with her about communication. Haley is stubborn and my daughter got that from her mother and me. Alpha blood and all.” I assured him, “I will.”
My eyes were still blazing when they left. She’d been hurt, and I’d had no fucking clue where she was. Cassie popped away. My Uncle said, “Not unlike her mother, she does not understand…” Before he could finish his sentence Cassie popped back with some paintball style gun.
I linked Micah, “Does Max do this shit?” He answered, “Yes.” God damn it. I grumbled, “I can’t have him tell her then because he’d do the same thing.” Micah sighed, “We need a Conners mate support group.” I pointed out, “Eric has one.” We should definitely all join it. Or forge our own.
I studied the gun Cassie had brought to us. This wasn’t like the guns I’d seen our people collecting. I linked Micah again, “Of course The Resistance were here.” He said, “That’s probably the least shocking information coming out right now.”
I linked my uncle, “How did The Resistance know who Cassie was? How did they know to call me?” He asked, “Do you know they did?” I replied, “Someone called me, and I heard the pounding of feet running away. Which means someone else was running away after calling me while Cass was passed out. Who would do that?” The answer flashed in my mind. Ashley.
He said, “You seem to think you know.” I replied, “The obvious answer is Ashley. That doesn’t answer how she knew Cassie was Cassie.” He reasoned, “She might not have. She might have just thought it was a partial Hackura with Fairy and Wolf blood.” I snorted, “Which leaves more than Cassie.” He inclined his head acknowledging it was all the Conners and there were a lot of them.
Cassie walked everyone through what happened. Micah linked, “Ashley can ride a motorcycle.” I pointed out again, “As I said, so can a lot of people.” Micah reasoned, “But Cassie said Bravo One shot her with that gel pack paintball thing and her powers came back. Ashley rides a motorcycle and is SUPER into science.” It was a stronger link, but not proof. Just add some more speculation to the pile.
Cassie asked more questions that made stronger links to Ashley. Micah said, “The links are getting stronger. Ashley is close friends with a Witch named Paige, Virgil, and Valentina.” The last two were Demons not Witches.
Paige was rather talented in the Witch department, and I wanted to get her in touch with the Cambridge Warlocks, but she refused. I told Micah, “Again, a lot of people know Witches and Demons.” Micah chuckled, “Yes, but the holoports everywhere reeks of Paige.” It did. She might be the most powerful Witch I’d ever met. She had raw talent and was all self-taught since she had suffered from memory loss.
The Resistance must have holoports set up all over the damn place at this point. Were they for when Virgil and Valentina couldn’t shimmer them in and out? Of course they’d have escape plans for their escape plans. Why was Ashley so goddamn smart? One mistake was all I needed. Just one. For god’s sake when could I catch a break?!
