Page 59 of Midnight Rules
Iven shuddered. He didn’t want to think about going without his magic for any length of time. That would feel like a sort of death.
Kinnison put his arm around Iven. “Like I said, my son-in-law didn’t do anything but his job, which was investigate a murder and help the family find the witches who cursed us.”
Jones nodded. “Well, then you’re free to go. I’ll be by the farm to round up the perpetrators there soon. Don’t leave town. We might have more questions.” And with that, Jones left them to help escort the witches into a van.
Iven met Kinnison’s gaze. “Thanks.”
Kinnison smirked. “Marric’s been sick up to this point, so his obstinance has been at a minimal level. Once we kill that fucking curse and he’s well again, we’ll find commonality in not wanting to deal with his sassy mouth. Mark my words.”
Iven chuckled. “So you’re okay with the mating?”
“Like I said, I have to be, or I deal with Marric. Gods, help us all if he starts on that ‘down with the dynasty’ crap, as if I want a fucking dynasty.” Kinnison finished dressing. “If you go to prison, it’ll be years without a buffer. Fuck that. I need you.”
Iven got behind the wheel and started the car. “Let’s go see if Riley needs any help.”
Maybe it was the pain that had kept him from feeling his gut twist. He was still recovering from the spell the witches put on him. But the further away he got from them, the more it twisted.
The need to get to Marric deepened.
He sped up.
“We shouldn’t have fucked around so much back there.” He wasn’t sure what he meant by that, only that he blamed himself for leaving Marric at all. He never should have.
“We didn’t,” Cass scowled.
“He’s still sick. I can feel it in my gut.” If something happened to Marric, Iven wouldn’t know how to live without him. “Nothing can happen to him. Never again.”
Kinnison touched his shoulder. “Calm yourself now, before we arrive. If he sees you like this, Marric will try to take care of you even when it should be the other way around.”
Kinnison was right. Iven needed to get his shit together, but how did he do that when Marric was on the verge of death?
Chapter Twenty-Eight
They pulled into the farmyard where it was pure chaos. Wolves attacked wolves. Growling and snarling was all he heard. Wolves clawed each other and ripped flesh from bone.
Blood covered the ground.
“What a way to bring the pack together.” Cass shook his head. He didn’t like the carnage anymore than Iven. His pack fighting for a cohesive purpose wasn’t much of a consolation prize.
There was a small dome in the center of the yard. Iven’s instincts told him Marric was inside and one of his boys was protecting him.
Maggie stood on the porch, plucking off the Timeston’s wolves one at a time as if they were feathers on a goose. “Twelve,” she said. She might have been counting, but she took no satisfaction in killing them. He could tell by the tears rolling down her face.
They exited the car at the same time. Cass stripped and shifted into his third form, throwing himself into the fray.
But it was Kinnison who had the most effect. He shifted only his face. His nose and mouth grew into a snout and hair sprouted all over his face. Ears grew at the top of his head. Hisroar hurt Iven’s eardrums, but it was his strength that stopped everyone in their tracks. It was as efficient as any freezing spell.
Each wolf turned to Kinnison as if waiting for his direction. Even the Fortune Falls wolves seemed to hold their breath.
The barn door banged open. A witch came out with his hands in the air. Blood coated his shirt on his right side. Sweat covered his face. An old lady followed him.
Shards of pointy glass followed them. The witch seemed to understand how dire the situation was. His expression was grim. But the old lady sneered.
“Marie,” Kinnison growled.
Riley followed behind them. He wore a stoic expression. Kinnison’s power didn’t seem to affect Riley the way it did everyone else. He met Kinnison’s gaze with his eyebrows raised, as if deciding if he was a threat. He must have deemed him safe, because Riley waved his hand and everyone froze in place. “Marric is still suffering. We take care of him first.”
Kinnison nodded. His face went back to normal.
