Page 36 of Wolf of the Storm
"So each victim wasn't just from the right bloodline—they were also magical themselves. Even if the magic was minor or dormant." My pulse quickens as the pattern clarifies. "That narrows our suspect pool considerably. We're not looking for random descendants. We're looking for the magical descendants of the original seven families."
"That's... actually brilliant." Less hostility colors Tessa's voice now. More assessment. "If we cross-reference family trees with known magical abilities..."
"We can predict who the next targets are." Declan looks at me with something like awe. "How did you see that?"
"Because patterns are what I do." I turn back to the map, studying the four unmarked convergence points. "Where are these located?"
Declan points them out. "North cliffs. East shore near the old lighthouse. West cove by the abandoned fishing village. And here—the standing stones on the northern ridge."
The standing stones. Where Declan and I went. Where he nearly lost control. He tenses beside me as the same realization hits him.
"The summoner chose that location for a reason," I say carefully. "It's the most powerful convergence point, isn't it?"
"The strongest on the island." Finn confirms. "Which means it will likely be saved for last. The final death. The one that frees the entity."
"Then we have time." I start making a list on my phone. "We need to identify the remaining four targets from the Sinclair, Campbell, Morrison, and Ross families. We need to protect them. And we need to figure out who benefits from releasing this Fomori."
"No one benefits." Jax's voice is flat. "It's a chaos entity. It destroys everything."
"Someone thinks they benefit." I've investigated enough conspiracies to know how people think. "Power, revenge, religious fanaticism—there's always a motive. We find the motive, we find the summoner."
"She's right." Finn looks thoughtful. "During the last manifestation, there were cultists. Humans who worshipped the Fomori, believed serving it would grant them power or favor."
"Were any of those cultists captured? Questioned? Are there records?" My mind is already racing ahead, organizing the investigation into manageable pieces.
"My grandfather's journals might have details," Finn says slowly. "But they're in Old Irish. Not many can read them anymore."
"I can learn." I meet his surprised gaze. "Or find someone who can translate. Where are these journals?"
"With the selkie clan, in their archives beneath the sea." Finn's lips quirk. "Not easily accessible for humans."
"But accessible for you. Can you get them?"
"Possibly. But it would take time, and we don't know how much time we have."
"Then we work multiple angles." I'm pacing now, organizing the investigation in my head. "Finn pursues the historical angle—the journals, the original cultists, any records of the last manifestation. Tessa and Jax, you identify and protect the remaining bloodline carriers. Declan and I...”
"Will focus on identifying the summoner." Declan's determination matches my own. "Starting with anyone who's been showing unusual interest in the convergence points or the old families."
"There's one more thing." Finn's voice stops my pacing. "The summoner has to be someone with magical ability themselves. Significant ability. This isn't a ritual any human could perform. They'd need power, knowledge, and access to texts most people don't even know exist."
"So we're looking for a magic user, probably someone connected to the old families or with access to historical records, who has both the knowledge and power to perform blood magic." I add it to my notes. "That should narrow it down considerably."
"Unless it's one of us." Tessa's words are quiet but cut through the room like a blade.
Everyone goes silent.
"You think a shifter is doing this?" Jax's voice turns dangerous. "One of our own?"
"I think we'd be fools to rule it out." Tessa doesn't back down from his glare. "We're not the only supernatural beings on this island. There are selkies, sea witches, minor Fae. Any of them could have the knowledge and power."
"Or a rogue shifter." Finn's voice is grim. "It's been done before. Some wolves believe hiding from humans is cowardice.Some think the old ways—when we were worshipped and feared—were better. A Fomori would certainly bring back that fear."
Declan's reluctance to consider the possibility flows through the bond, but I also sense his acceptance that Tessa's right. "We investigate everyone. No exceptions. No sacred cows."
"Including pack members?" Jax asks, his voice tight.
"Including everyone." Declan's tone carries the weight of command. "Eliza's right. We need to think like investigators, not warriors. That means following the evidence wherever it leads."
