I was given very few directions of where to go once I got into the woods. I’m shocked that Ambrose didn’t give me more instructions after the attack by the vampires and Nyx, but then again, I get this sense that every step I take is being watched. I know I’m not alone. I’m safe—well, as safe as I can be considering the hell the pack is about to put me through.
A glow at the base of a tree draws my attention, and I walk closer. I stumble as I see more of the yellow glowing marks.
Magic.
Runes.
Something I’ve never seen before but only heard about in fairytales marks the base of the tree.
My heart races, unsure of how magic plays into this. A sense of dread overwhelms me as I stare at them.
I can feel him close—Ambrose. I scan the bushes and trees, but I don’t see him.
“Look up,”a tiny voice says, but it doesn’t belong to Ambrose.
When I do, I gasp.
Ambrose is bound high in the tree. Blood drips from a gash on his neck. And two vampires guard either side of him.
It’s clear to me what happened. They got news that I was to be initiated tonight. They knew everyone was focused on that instead of watching for an attack, and they took advantage. And now Ambrose is going to pay the price.
Chapter 31
Lumi
“What do I do?”I ask Ambrose through our bond.
Silence greets me.
Ambrose’s eyes don’t change, nor do they acknowledge that I spoke to him. And I don’t feel any of the fire in my belly that I often feel when I’m connected to him.
I stare at the glowing marks at the base of the tree he’s in. Runes by witches. My eyes scan over them quickly. I don’t know much about witches, but I do know the runes are impacting Ambrose and my ability to speak to each other.
“Ambrose, talk to me. Tell me what to do,”I try again, hoping against all odds that I’m wrong.
Ambrose stiffens as if he realizes what I’m doing, but I don’t think the message went through.
Fuck, what do I do?
I don’t recognize the vampires holding onto Ambrose. I don’t know why they have him, but I suspect they want what all of us magical creatures want—to break the curse.
“Don’t hurt him. He’s your best chance at breaking the curse. He’s my mate. And I came here tonight to initiate into the Moonlight pack so I can complete the marking ceremony at the next full moon and break the curse.”
The vampires just stare at me with their blood-red eyes. One raises his upper lip so I get a clear view of his lethal fangs. But neither of them speaks or moves an inch as if they are frozen in stone.
I frown as I scan the woods for the rest of the Moonlight wolves. They have to be here if they were expecting me to initiate tonight.Did other vampires and witches grab them? Or are they safe?
I don’t sense anyone else near. At the moment, at least, I’m on my own.
Fear rolls through me. I don’t stand a chance on my own against vampires. I don’t know how to reason with them, and I don’t know how to free Ambrose from the runes that seem to be silencing our connection and keeping him bound high up in a tree.
What are they waiting for?
“What do you want?”
The vampires barely even glance in my direction when I speak, but I swear I see Ambrose’s jaw tick. And then he mouths a single word that slams into me as hard as the fear—run.
I glance behind me just in time to see the glow of yellow eyes in the darkness behind me. I don’t hesitate. I run.
