Page 44 of Shadows of the Soul

Dave sighed and ran a hand down his face. He looked tired. “Let me get this straight. You are saying the wildies, the blood magic, the roses, and your aunt’s kidnapping are all linked to you?”

“Yes.”

“For what purpose?”

I bit my bottom lip, attempting to find an explanation that was the truth without exposing me. “I hold a specific power. A lock really.” I looked at the cubs as everyone but them remained silent. “It would take a substantial amount of magic to overpower me and take it. It’s linked to both me and this house.”

Norbert broke the silence. “Is your power evil in nature?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“Is it dangerous?” Dave asked.

“Only if it falls into the hands of those that wield it with malevolence.”

“So we protect you and the house,” Hudson growled.

“You make it sound so simple.”

“It is.”

“Would your protection involve wrapping me up in cotton wool and locking me inside this house?”

He shrugged. “Maybe.”

“I can’t live like that. It’s my enemy, and a Roberts woman never runs from her enemy.”

“You have a lot of enemies,” Dave stated.

“It’s not a bad thing, Dave. Having enemies means you’ve got standards, lines that can’t be crossed. It means you have principles and values that are unmoved by evil, even if it’s more powerful than you.”

“And if that enemy destroys you?”

“Then I die knowing the color of my soul.”

Chapter 16

Chapter Sixteen

The top of the food chain.

“You said you didn’t have a dungeon,” Dave muttered behind me.

I rolled my eyes as I lifted back the heavy wooden doors. They flopped open, tearing some vines that covered them.

“Not a dungeon,” I stated as I led the way down the creaky steps. I flicked on the light to show the brick archways. Seven in total, two of which were covered in bars as opposed to steel vaulted doors.

“Welcome to the Roberts personal vaults,” I said with a wave of my hand. “We can hold Frank and Fred in one of those.” I pointed at the barred arches.

“What’s in there?” Dave said, swiping his hand close to the steel. He snapped it back as magic sizzled against his palm.

“I’m already trusting you with information about the location of these vaults. Don’t push your luck.”

“And we are grateful for that trust,” Hudson said, eyeballing Dave with astand downlook.

Dave folded his arms and settled a firm frown on his face. Ugh, he wouldn’t let this go.

“The cubs will need to be monitored,” I said.

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