Page 88 of A Touch of Flame
She threw her head back as if to scream, but she had no lungs left to deliver the air.
With her mouth wide open and her neck arched, she slid down the wall to the floor. Her chest was a gaping, smoking hole.
He lowered his arm. Maeve did the same. She held her nose. “The smell.”
“Rancid. Just like the woman.”
He took her arm and wheeled her out of the burrow. “I’ll get my wolves to take care of her carcass. I don’t want you near her.”
“Your wolves? You mean in Savage?”
“No. Greg and his crew.”
Once in the spellroom, he closed the door.
His wolves.
Funny how life could change so quickly. He hadn’t mean his Savage wolves at all. He’d meanthiswolves at the Landing.
He still didn’t want Maeve anywhere near the witch’s remains. So, he guided her up the stairs and back to her living room.
He got on his phone and called Greg to let him know the witch was dead and that he needed the pack’s help to remove the body.
Greg gave a shout, then started to howl in celebration.
“We’re on our way.” He could hear the other wolves join in as well. He took Maeve’s arm and piloted her up the second set of spiral stone steps.
By the time he stepped across the purple protection spell, he saw the wolves as a pack coming toward the building. They were still howling and carrying on.
Maeve tugged on his arm. He glanced at her then watched as she got rid of her security spell. “They’ll need access to the stairs.”
“Good thinking.”
As the howling wolves drew closer, Braden threw his own head back and released a long howl punctuated with yips. The wolves joined him. The hallway beyond soon flooded with the rest of the Landing residents.
Word got out and there was more applause and cheers than he’d heard in a long time.
Maeve kept throwing her head back. He understood. “You should howl with us. It’ll feel good. Real good.”
He slid his hand down her arm and slapped his palm against hers, then held on.
She glanced at their clasped hands.But Braden…
We’ll sort things out. Right now, damn, we’re going to celebrate. The witch is dead.
During a lull in the howls, Braden shouted at the top of his lungs, “Veyda is dead!”
A renewed cheering and howling commenced. Maeve joined in, a sound that sent joy piercing Braden’s heart. He understood everything now and he saw his future as clearly as any path he’d ever taken.
The wolves lifted him up onto their shoulders then Maeve. They were fortunate the ceiling was so tall.
More howling, then Greg led the party outside.
After ordering two of his men to take care of Veyda’s remains, Greg shouted for the rest to light the bonfires.
Once on their feet, Braden took Maeve’s hand again and didn’t let go. He wanted her to know he was with her, no matter what.
She had one of her assistants inform Carmen of the good news then to beg for platters of raw meat and buckets of ice cold beer. Greg was already firing up the grills.
