Page 60 of Bonded and Betrayed
“I don’t know about that,” she murmurs. “I swear you’re going to give me an ulcer one of these days.”
“So dramatic,” I scoff. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
“At least text me when you’re done.”
“Sorry, you’re cutting out, bye,” I say quickly, and press the end button before she tries to talk me into waiting for her.
Silence sweeps in as I pull up to the ancient castle, the stone arches and towers intimidating even from the road. I turn onto the cobblestone driveway and make my way through the sprawling estate. The lawn is perfectly manicured, not a leaf out of place. I search for a guard or someone, but to my surprise, there’s no one around, and I nearly think I must have the wrong house, but light flashes before me. A wall of magic made from blue and silver sparkles shimmers through the air the moment I reach it, slowing the car a fraction as it sweeps over me as though it’s scanning me.
Of course, a witch this powerful doesn’t need a guard on duty, they have barriers and spells to keep anyone they want out.
Some of the tension radiating through my chest eases as the mist allows me to pass through, and I shift the car into park just outside of the large ancient door. The castle looks like it was yanked straight from Europe, with its hand carved stone and intricate towers—who knows, maybe it was.
I pocket my phone and reach for the door when a glimmer of rainbow tinged light catches my eye. I look up at the multicolored glass inset into the smooth stone and marvel at the beauty of such a place. The Hart coven has protected their home, and Endcliffe, throughout the centuries; surely they’ll help, right?
Iliftmyhand,about to knock on the door, when it swings inward. Taking a step back, I move into a defensive position as the door creaks, revealing Glenda Hart, the leader of the elders on the other side.
“Skylar Draven, what brings you to my humble home?”
I nearly scoff at her description but swallow the words at the tip of my tongue. If she thinks a literal castle is a humble home, she really doesn’t get out much.
“I was hoping we could talk for a moment about what’s been happening in town,” I say, forcing a smile. Unease rocks through me at the nearly imperceptible way her eyes narrow on me. Forcing the feeling down, I do my best to ignore the prickle of discomfort at the back of my mind, chalking it up to my pride.
“Of course,” she breathes stiffly, checking behind me before she opens the door for me. I take a hesitant step forward, the hair on the back of my neck standing on edge as I force myself to continue into the foyer.
Electricity zaps up my spine as the door squeaks closed behind me, and I wait for Glenda to lead me to her office.
“I have a lot going on right now, so I have to keep this brief,” Glenda says curtly, her shrewd gaze assessing me as she stands in the middle of the foyer and crosses her arms over her chest. A stray piece of her grey hair comes loose from her updo as she plants her feet, apparently unwilling to let me take another step into her home.
“I understand,” I say, keeping my face a pleasant blank mask, not letting her see just how unnerved I am right now.
We could use her help, I remind myself, and clear my throat before launching into the struggle with the bears. I only cover the basics, not letting her know any specific details as a voice at the back of my head screams not to trust her, nearly catching me off guard.
I thought this was a good idea, I thought it had just been my ego causing me distress, but it’s something else, something about this woman that I don’t trust.
“So if you ally with us, we can truly make a stand worthy of our ancestors,” I say, hoping to sway her as I pull on our family ties.
But as I watch her, her right eye twitching, lips thinned into a stern line, silently taking the situation in, I know what her answer will be.
“I have more than enough trouble at my doorstep right now,” she snaps, her blue-green eyes narrowing on me. “If you can’t take care of a few bears, then you don’t deserve to be here.”
“Excuse me?” I growl, forcing myself not to lunge forward and snap her neck. This might be her house, but this amulet puts us on an even playing field.
“The wolves have been the ruling shifters since Endcliffe was established, but maybe it’s about time we shake things up—see if the bears can run things smoother than your father did.” Glenda sneers, the disgusting curl of her lips only making my temper burn hotter.
“You would turn your back on your town? On the shifters who banded together with your ancestors to create this place? All in favor of a people who killed witches amongst other shifters, which was the entire reason your mother helped to banish them in the first place?” I ask incredulously. My jaw grinds and I clench my fists at my sides, my wolf vision flashing in and out with the fight to hold on to control.
“I’m doing no such thing.” She snorts, but I don’t miss the bob of her throat as she eyes me warily. “It’s the circle of life. If the wolves aren’t up to the challenge, then you deserve to be taken out like the trash you are.”
A lethal calm sweeps over me as I study her. I swear a thousand eyes are on me at this moment, watching and waiting for my next move. My wolf knows exactly where to attack. I picture sinking my canines into her weathered skin, ripping a gaping hole in her carotid artery, but that calm keeps me at bay.
Not yet.
I swear the voice at the back of my mind isn’t my own, as though the goddess whispers to me, reminding me that she has plans greater than us all.
“You’ve made an enemy, Glenda Hart,” I say smoothly, my eyes spewing all the vitriol I wish I could unleash on her. “We’ll take on the bears, and we’ll win, and I’ll be sure to leave that carnage on your doorstep as a warning.”
“Is that a threat?” she snaps, her eyes narrowing into a glare as they flash with fury.
