42. Anna

42

Anna

"You can't do anything to me," I whispered as I stared at the powerful witch. "Your magic can't touch me."

The Crone rolled her eyes. "You're many things, Anna, but mostly you seem to be an idiot. If I wanted you dead, I could have stabbed you through your pretty little eyeballs when you were unconscious in my day room."

Keep an eye on her, I wrapped the towel around my body. "Jax might kill you for trespassing."

"I strongly suspect that pup will be the death of me, but it will not be today. You're too curious about your mother, and I'm the only one with answers. Unless you'd like to ask Maeve Frost." A cold smile spread over her etched and withered face. "I'll let you get dressed and alert your mate. I'll be with the witches when you're ready to find me."

She evaporated with the steam, and I sagged against the sink. "Anna," Jax bellowed as he broke down the door. "Are you all right? I felt your panic."

Could I not even get one quiet day with my mate? "The Crone was here. She said she waits for us with the witches."

Jax bared his teeth. "Then that is where she'll die."

He didn't jaunt off immediately to kill her, which I appreciated. Slowly, I dressed and tried to figure out what I wanted from the Crone. Did it matter that she could tell me of my mother? Of my lineage? Was it better to simply ignore my magic and witchcraft?

"Come here, Anna," Jax said suddenly and pulled me into his lap. I'd managed to pull on a pair of jeans and a tank-top, and instead of looking for shoes, I was clutching a hoodie.

His hoodie.

"You don't have to see her again if you don't want to," he reminded me in a soft voice. "Say the word and I will pull every witch at my disposal and find a way to ward some sort of perimeter around you so she can't come within a mile of you."

"A moving perimeter?" I chuckled as I melted into him. "That will definitely piss her off."

"Good. I'm in no mood to cater to her." There was a knock at the door. "That will probably be your food. Before we go see anyone, you're going to eat. Then you're going to check-in with Saul."

"Lunessa, Irene, and Janelle might have a problem with us making them wait," I said as I rested my head on his chest. "You know, she's probably had years to research how to strip me of magic. Do you think she's found a way?"

"Is that what you want?"

"Yes."

A chuckle rumbled in his chest. "That was a quick answer."

"If I don't have magic, Maeve's plans fall apart. I can just be a wolf, and we can all live a normal life. I can start over with the pack. Maybe we can have a mating ceremony. We could breathe again. Just be."

"Anna, you didn't know your magic was there, but it was still a part of you. You need to take time to get to know it. If Maeve wanted to use your wolf, you wouldn't cut her out of you, would you?"

"No, but that's different." Even as I said it, I thought of how she refused to come to me when we were surrounded by wolves. She refused because she knew she was not the answer. She forced me to accept my magic, to take them both as they were.

A fucking magical werewolf. I still couldn't believe my father hadn't sold me to the circus.

"It's different because you've accepted her. Given a chance, you'll accept your magic too. Nobody, especially Maeve, deserves to take that away from you."

He sounded so confident; I wished I felt the same. "The Crone can answer any questions I have about my mother. I guess that might be useful," I conceded.

"Then I won't kill her just yet. Do you think you can eat something?"

My stomach rumbled in answer, and I slid off his lap. After a hearty meal of beef stew, Saul's orders I was certain, I went in search of him. Jax returned to his office to finish his video conference with Elonso and London, and I found Saul not in the infirmary, but in the library with Finn.

As soon as I stepped in, both of them raced to my side. I felt the difference in them immediately. "Jax reinstated your bonds."

"While he stood at your bedside," Finn grinned as he reached me and pulled me into a hug. Saul cleared his throat, and he immediately stepped back. "Shit, sorry. I didn't hurt you, did I? Are you all right?"

"I'm not certain how I'm supposed to be," I admitted. "But I feel okay. I would have liked to have eaten more than stew."

"By now, you should know the drill," the healer said as he gave me a disapproving look. "You've been fed with an IV. When your stomach is more used to soups and stews, you can have solid food. Shall we head to the infirmary so I can examine you?"

That was the last thing I wanted. The library was dark and cozy. When Jax had installed me, unwillingly, into his home, I spent a lot of time here. Escaping. It felt so welcoming.

I hopped up on the table and spread out of my arms. "Investigate away, but I can tell you that nothing is wrong with me."

Rolling his eyes, he walked over and placed his hand first on my forehead and then at the pulse on my neck. I couldn't help but grin. "There was a time when you would have dragged my butt to the infirmary no matter what I said."

"That was before the cute little IT girl got into his office and turned it upside down. Why do you think he's hiding out here?"

"Researching," Saul snapped. "I am hardly hiding. You didn't sustain any injuries during the fight, so all I'm interested in right now is your vitals. Let me get the blood pressure cuff. My bag is around here somewhere."

While he busied himself with the rest of my vitals, I studied him and Finn both. "I wanted to ask Jax, but I wasn't even sure if he'd tell the truth. Were there any ill effects to me using magic on you?"

Saul glanced at the gauge. "For a few days, everything tasted of iron and dirt. Irene explained that an intense blast of powerful magic can sometimes have that effect. Also, I don't believe any of us slept for a few days. Our heart rates were higher than normal, and our wolves were, for lack of a better word, intoxicated for a few hours after our first shift."

My eyes widened. "Holy shit. Really?"

"Everything returned to normal, and there were no ill-effects." Saul removed the cuff. "I felt my spine snap, Anna. I know where I would be right now if it were not for you. If you are looking for someone to reprimand you or tell you that your magic is dangerous, you will not find it here with us."

"No, that's not…" I deflated a little under his intense look. "All right, maybe that's what I was looking for. The Crone is here."

Finn immediately stiffened. "I need to find Jax," he muttered and turned and ran.

I lifted an eyebrow. "What was that all about?"

"Jenson and Finn have been butting heads ever since Finn returned. Thus, news that should trickle down to our powerful wolf here has not been, and Jax is trying hard not to favor Finn. Despite all he's done for you and this pack, he is still low man on the totem pole, and that is how Jenson wants to treat him."

"Pack politics," I grimaced. "I have quite a bit to learn. Starting with my relationship with Jenson. We aren't exactly buddies. He's been waiting for me to leave."

"And you are not. I am aware."

"In any case, Finn can't blame Jenson for this one. She showed up like twenty minutes ago. Once I get the all clear from you, I can go see her. Maybe try to get a hold of my magic and learn more about my mother."

Saul packed away his items. "Your enthusiasm is overwhelming," he pointed out dryly. "Would you like me to recommend that you stay in bed for another day so you can think about it?"

"It sounds nice, but I can't hide from this. Maeve is likely to strike again at any moment, and I should be ready. I'm starting to think that the Crone was right when I was child. Kill me before I became a problem."

I hopped off the table, and Saul snagged my chin. "You do not believe that" he said coldly. "I will not allow it. Destiny is a fickle mistress, Anna. If it was not you, it would be someone else. We would all still be here, and I, for one, am damn grateful that you are the one by our side."

It felt good to hear him say that but also a little terrifying. I'd formed relationships. Attachments. Friends and love. People I would die for.

And Maeve knew that.

She was going to use that to her advantage.