Page 42 of Captive Hybrid
Chapter Fifteen
Mordecai
I can’t handle a conversation with my mother about leaving the pack in her and Vale’s hands, so we do the really mature thing and sneak out early in the morning, just as the sun breaks over the horizon. As we all pile into the truck, a low, familiar growl sets my senses on edge. I turn, a reprimand already on my lips.
Vale raises a hand. ‘Do not even bother arguing. I am coming with you. I’m not letting you mess this up again.’
Divina snickers openly.
Jana raises a blonde brow, gaze sliding over my Second.
‘Mess what up, exactly?’ I snap.
Jana rolls her eyes, elbowing me. ‘Zenna, dummy.’ She smiles at Vale. ‘Good, another wolf. Maybe you can knock some sense into him. Come on. We don’t have all day.’
Vale smiles tentatively. ‘Looks like I’m invited. I want to help. I care about Zenna, too. Sarah has the pack and the witches well in hand. They’ll continue on to Noah’s pack.’
‘Fine, but only because I’m too tired to argue.’ I climb in the driver’s seat of the bright blue truck, which I’ve already grown fond of. My old pick up was running on fumes.
‘Sure.’ Vale climbs into the back. ‘Divina, you’re up front.’
‘Why?’ the Dark Witch asks.
‘Because I’m not sitting with you,’ Jana snaps.
We pile in and I pull out of the motel’s parking lot with just a hint of guilt.
‘How, exactly, are we going to find Zenna?’ Detective Jaken asks.
I keep my gaze locked on the road before me, anger, pain and betrayal simmering low in my gut, remembering my mate’s last telepathic message. I can’t trust you. ‘We share a bond. I can find her anywhere.’
‘That’s a tad creepy.’ Jana sweeps her hair up into a long, blonde-pink ponytail.
I catch exchanged glances between her and Vale.
‘It’s what it is.’ I’d never thought of it as creepy. It’s useful. Practical. We share a bond. We’re supposed to know where each other are. I don’t know if Zenna can sense where I am, especially from underground, but I will find her.
‘Keep checking in with her,’ Divina says beside me.
Vale leans forward. ‘But the connection, it’s painful for them, isn’t it?’ He looks between me and Divina for an answer.
I won’t be the one to give it.
Finally, Divina nods. ‘Indeed. But I think it’s necessary to have Zenna as prepared as possible. She’s alone down there.’
A pang of jealously stabs at me. Zenna talked about a witch named Aidan. From what I learned, he was nice, big, and perfect for her. If she was into witches. Apart from the fact that he belongs to a vampire, I guess. I close my eyes, wishing there were so much I could change between Zenna and I. ‘Divina’s right. It’s worth it.’
Jana scowls. ‘But we’re coming for her. What other ways are there to kill a vampire? Or maybe she could…’ She bites her lip.
Jaken turns to face her. ‘What is it? If you think she has another tactical or magical advantage, tell us. It could be the difference between life and death,’ he presses.
Jana finds Vale’s gaze. ‘She could kill Aidan.’
‘What? Why would she do that?’ I ask.
Vale tilts his head, considering. ‘I mean, yeah, she could, but then she’d have an angry vampire to deal with.’
‘And Zenna wouldn’t do that,’ I add, as though no one else had considered it.
