90. Jax

90

Jax

I stalked the figure slowly, fighting hard not to let the scent of death panic me. Yes, Anna's smell was all over the place, if she was dead, she couldn't cloak our bonds anymore, and I would know.

If she was hurt, I would find a way to make her better. No matter what it took.

From the doorway out of the first room, I glanced around the corner while London sniffed the room behind me. The figure moved into the fifth room down the long hall. I waited until it was full out of sight before I moved.

London and I worked silently together. Each open room, we slipped in, and I kept an eye on the hall to see if the figure left while he searched the room. Each room, I had to keep from reacting. I smelled Anna in each of them.

And Evalina. My stomach twisted, but my wolf pulled my focus back. Evalina was dead. I could mourn her later. I could mourn them all later. Once Anna was safely back in my arms.

When we finally entered the room, I bared my teeth. There was no point in staying silent anymore. London and I were both too big to hide. I growled, and a soft chuckle floated out from the other side of a gaping hole in the wall. "Hello, Jax."

That voice. I made my way through the large, jagged hole and stared at the woman humming over the dead body on the floor.

Saris and the Mother.

When she didn't get up, I shifted. London followed through behind me, and the small room grew even smaller. "London," I said darkly as I started to dress. "Meet Saris. She's Fae."

London inhaled sharply, and the seemingly young human looked at him and cocked her head. "London. My friends will be thrilled that I met you. We enjoy your beer."

"Where's Anna," I demanded. "If you've hurt her, I will kill you."

"Anna?" Saris's eyes rounded. "Jax, the coven was empty when I arrived. I'm not tracking her. Have you lost her?"

Shit. I'd said too much.

"Back it up," London growled. "Fae? I thought Jax was wrong, but you're actually Fae. What's your talent?"

"It's rude to ask a Fae about their talent," she said coolly. "And yes, there are a small number of us left. We've been hiding in pocket communities all over the world. Our numbers are too small to fight back, and as you know, there are many in the wolf and witch community who would only be too happy to eradicate the rest of us. For my sake, I hope you are not one of them."

"I don't give a fuck what you are. I give a fuck about you sitting back and letting a goddamn wolf use your magic to take over the mountain," London snarled.

Saris smiled sadly and stroked her hand over the Mother's hair. The witch was dead, and Saris seemed to be mourning her. What was their connection?

"Whenever a null is born, we can see it in the well. Just a glimpse of a Fae talent being born, even if it's mixed. We rejoice because we think we're one step closer to being able to come out of the woodwork and living in harmony, but it's slow. Fae don't conceive easily. When Anna was born, the well bubbled over."

What kind of well was she talking about? London growled again, but I put a hand on his arm to stop him. I didn't know much about Saris, but I knew she'd only speak if she wanted to and couldn't be coerced into it.

"We knew immediately that a ternary had been born. Her null powers didn't hide her from us, but her mother did. Somehow, she sensed that we were watching her, and she cloaked her. It was only then that we feared the worst. I wasn't the only one who tried to get involved. I'm just the only one who is still alive, and I've already learned a valuable lesson. Enough to make me wonder if it had been best if I'd just stayed away."

I had no idea what the hell she was talking about, but tears streamed down her face as she continued to rock next to the Mother's body.

"Who is she to you?" I asked softly.

Saris shook her head. "Why have you lost your mate, wolf? It is imperative that you remain by her side."

"The other prophecy that Broderick told me. Anna is pregnant. What do you know of it?"

"Pregnant? I don't know what you're talking about."

Snapping, I raced across the room and hauled her up by her neck, pushing her against the wall. "Don't lie to me," I roared. "Tell me about the prophecy. Will my child kill her?"

"Jax," London said in an even voice. "For fuck's sake, don't kill her."

Saris didn't even look worried as she reached up and wrapped her hand around my wrist. Pain seared through my skin, and I hissed and dropped her. I'd felt that kind of pain before.

Silver, although Saris wasn't holding any in her hand.

"I understand your anger. You've lost the woman that you love, but I do not know what you're talking about. There's no prophecy about the ternary being pregnant."

Dread filled me, and I stumbled back. "Broderick said their one hope was that the son would kill the mother. He lied."

"Oh. That. No, he didn't lie. There is a prophecy that says that. One, out of thousands. A prophecy uttered a hundred years ago by a drunk witch in a tavern, or at least, that's how the story goes. Nobody put any credence into it because it was only heard by the barkeep, and the witch who said it died the next day so it couldn't be verified. The only reason anyone wrote it down was because the witch was a powerful seer."

London examined my wrists and frowned at the burns. "You're telling me all these prophecies are written down?"

"How do you think we keep track? This is what Broderick told you? And you fear it is your own son that will kill her?" Saris pursed her lips. "I suppose it could be about Anna, although I don't think anyone has tried to see down that path. As I said, most people didn't put any stock in it. This particular witch did have several sights about the ternary, so that explains why Broderick thought it was connected. He was also an idiot. You'll need another seer to see down that path. Evalina is dead."

"Jax killed her," London said helpfully.

"I didn't love her, but she was of our Fae line. And powerful, so it is a shame that she's dead, especially since I believe we are close to the end."

"What do you mean?"

"When you do see Anna, you need to let her know that the spell can only be tried once. It was designed that way. A fail safe."

I blinked. "The spell as a fail safe?"

"It's designed if the ternary gets too powerful. The spell is designed to use the magic of the mountain to end them. The creator was paranoid, but Anna is proof that ternaries aren't inherently dangerous. Or powerful. It's true that she has power, but it won't take the magic of the mountain to kill her. Casting the spell itself will likely kill her. So would stabbing her in the heart. She's not self-healing."

"The spell is going to kill her?" I said hoarsely. "How do you know all of this?"

Saris sighed. "My great-grandfather was the one who created it. The spell was written in our blood. He's long dead, but I can feel someone preparing to cast it."

I shook my head. "Maeve doesn't know that Lunessa is Evalina's granddaughter. She thinks Anna's last living relative is dead. She won't still be prepping it. The only ones who know it are bound to secrecy."

"The most powerful coven den on the mountain has been ransacked, and the Crone's heir is dead," Saris said coldly. "Look around, wolf. Even I can see that this is a planned attack. Where is Lunessa?"

Power blasted through the room as London's wolf roared. I paid him no attention. "She's safely guarded in the middle of my territory. Another alpha, my second, my third, and my entire pack as well as three witches are guarding her."

"I'm sorry, wolf. I wish I had better news for you, but I can feel the spell being prepped. Maeve has two of the three ingredients already."