Chapter 22

Chapter Twenty-Two

Milo

Of course, it took us all of thirty seconds to regret our fight and apologize to each other. Jared filled me in on what his dad said about mated-but-unmated males, and it suddenly makes a load of sense. My crazy emotions started immediately following the night Lily spent at my house, and now after their night with her, we were at each other's throats.

But not being able to apologize to Lily ate an acidic hole in my stomach. I tried texting and calling, but neither she nor Landon answered. Jared and I spent the night camped out in her suite, dozing off and on, hoping to get a message or see them walking back through the door so we could make amends.

It's not until we're blearily drinking the coffee Mary was kind enough to deliver that my phone vibrates across the table.

I snatch it up and sigh with relief to see it's Lily calling me back. The second I accept the call, the apologies pour out.

"Lily, I'm so sorry for acting like that last night. Jared is too. He's sorry about all of it. We made up right after you left and we waited here all night just so we could catch you as soon as you got back and apologize in person. We-"

"Milo!" She cuts me off. "I know. I listened to your fifteen voice messages, and all of Jared's as well. Apologies accepted, we've got a bigger issue to deal with right now. Is Jared with you?"

That pulls me up short. I tap the phone and lay it on the table. "Okay, I just put you on speaker so Jared can hear. What's going on?"

"The security team called me half an hour ago. Apparently, our upgrades to the magical barrier works, because they found Azalea sitting outside of it, waiting for someone to come around."

" Azalea? " Jared asks, surprised. "What is that witch doing here? She's the one who didn't want to help us, and now she turns up at our border? I doubt she was trying to sneak on our land. If she was, she would have gone when she figured out it was a no-go."

"Yeah, well, that's not the only question I have. But guys, she's not alone."

Cold dread drops in my stomach. "Who's she got with her, Montrose again?"

"No, the security team said she's got a little old lady with her. Guys, she brought Shuya to us."

LILLIANA

Milo and Jared make it to the safety office in record time, and repeat all of their apologies, laying it on rather thick, until I convince them I'm okay and ready to move on.

We have much bigger fish to fry.

As a team, we leave the safety office and drive to the section of the border the security team reported. Sure enough, just beyond the cars with flashing lights stands Azalea's shiny black muscle car, with the witch herself leaning against the chrome bumper, arms crossed. White clouds of exhaust billow from the noisy muffler, and she's wearing a long black fur coat and matching black sunglasses.

When she sees us climb out of Landon's Jeep and walk toward her, she pushes away from the car and strides in our direction with one hand up.

I'm about to question if she's planning to cast a spell when I realize she's feeling for the location of the barrier so she doesn't get too close. It's invisible, of course, and anyone I allow can pass through with no knowledge of its existence. If a car of tourists were to drive by right now, they'd probably assume Azalea had gotten pulled over by the cops and not give it a second thought.

However, we all know the difference.

"Hey there, princess," she drawls, stopping just a few feet away.

Even though I bristle at the stupid nickname, I know better than to react. "What a delightful surprise, Azalea," I reply in a heavily sarcastic tone. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"Well, Grannie and I had a long talk last night, and she thought I had been rude. I mean, I didn't think I was rude, did you? But Grannie's pretty tough, so she insisted we make the trip out here at the crack of dawn."

"That's pretty nice of you, considering how long of a drive it is to come all this way to apologize." Something tells me there's a lot more to this story, but it's good to know Shuya can control Azalea when she wants to.

"It's not just an apology, princess. I brought you a gift, too. I hear that's all the rage in the wealthy elite circles."

"I think I'll pass on any gift you want to give me, thanks. Something tells me it's not a gift I want."

Azalea doesn't seem to take offense. In fact, her reply is suspiciously nonchalant. "Oh, really? Because I was under the impression this is what you came to Grannie's house yesterday for. But if you don't want our help to save Leaf, then I guess we'll be on our way. It's no skin off my back."

"Wait." My body stiffens and I clench my teeth, steeling myself against the instinct telling me to let her keep walking. "How can you help free Derrek?"

"I happen to know a lot of helpful details, princess. I even saw him last night. Didn't look too good, I'm afraid. They worked him over rather hard."

A lump forms in my throat, and I struggle to keep it together. "Okay, you got my attention. What else can you tell me?"

Abruptly her innocently helpful demeanor changes. "You know, I'm not feeling very welcome. It's freezing out here, isn't it? I made Grannie stay in the car to keep warm. Poor dear, she's just not as tough as she used to be. We can't exactly force an old woman to stand outside in the cold for hours. Maybe you have somewhere we can go for a little chat, preferably indoors?" Azalea smiles widely, and it'd almost look friendly if I didn't know better.

She waits, inspecting her nails, while I turn to consult with my mates, then confer with the security team. Finally, I re-approach the barrier. "I'll allow you— temporarily —onto pack land, with a few conditions.

"One, you and Shuya ride with us but in separate cars. Two, you leave the keys to your car with me, so one of my mates can drive it somewhere for safekeeping. You'll get it back when you're ready to leave, assuming you don't pull any tricks. Three, you sign a magically binding agreement that prevents you from using magic against any member of Smoky Falls, and specifies that you'll leave this land and not return without my specific invitation before sunset tonight. Upon pain of death."

If I'd expected that she'd balk at the extreme elements of my proposal, I would have been very disappointed.

But I know better. Azalea wants something from us, badly, and in order to get it, she's decided to play ball.

Once the contract is drawn up and signed, and Shuya confirms that it's magically binding, I issue the carefully worded decree allowing them to pass through the barrier.

"Here you go, princess," Azalea tosses me the keys. "Don't get too attached. Oh, and if you don't mind, fill her up before you return her? Premium, if you please."

Jared takes the keys and Landon follows the retro sports car in his Jeep, promising they'll meet us in about half an hour.

Once the security team has Azalea tucked in the back of one vehicle, I escort Shuya to the second one and help her inside.

"It's good to see you again, Lilliana." She pats my hand and smiles.

"It's nice to see you again too, Shuya. We'll go have some coffee and something to eat, unless you'd prefer tea?"

"Tea would be lovely, dear. Dandelion, if you have it." She settles in her seat and tugs on the seatbelt.

"I'll see what I can do," I promise, then close the door.

Once Milo and I climb into the third vehicle, we make our way back to the safety office, where a room has already been prepared for us.

It's a bland, corporate-feeling space, but it holds a reasonably sized conference table and comfortable chairs. Minutes after we sit, a delivery arrives from the Painted Moose. I offer Shuya and Azalea a variety of breakfast sandwiches and treats, and once they've made their selection, I encourage the security team to help themselves. Milo snatches a few things quickly, pulling them close to his chest.

When I fix him with a raised eyebrow stare, he replies, "For Jared and Landon!" I'm not convinced the entire pile is for them, but I'm glad he's thinking of my other two mates.

The Painted Moose didn't have dandelion tea, but Shuya seems happy enough with chamomile. The security team pours steaming cups of black coffee from the paper carafe box, and once everyone's received their food and drink—including Milo with his flat white and my mocha—it's time to get down to business.

"Alright Azalea, you claim to want to help Derrek, so let's hear it."

"Listen princess, I haven't even had my coffee yet. Why don't you-"

My patience thins. "I'm not here to entertain you, witch , and I certainly don't intend to hang around all day. You may call me alpha, Lilliana, or Lily. If you can't stick to one of those three, I'll have the security team take you back to the barrier right now."

She smirks to herself, pleased to have gotten under my skin. "Sheesh, I didn't mean anything by it. Sorry to have offended Lily. My sincerest apologies."

"Let's cut the bullshit already," Milo interjects cooly. "No one here is under the delusion that we're all friends. You're clearly here because you want something, and you've offered us something we want to get it. So let's lay it all on the table, shall we?"

Shuya continues sipping her tea, her eyes darting between her granddaughter and me and Milo.

There's a very pregnant pause, and then Azalea affects a half-hearted sob. She lifts her gaze to mine, tears welling in her eyes and a sorrowful expression on her face. "I'm sorry, alright? Sometimes I get so turned around I can't tell the enemy from a friend. I didn't exactly have a great upbringing, and I don't trust anyone.

"But Grannie likes you, and she wants to help you. And I feel terrible for helping them take Derrek. Believe me, I didn't know what I was doing. And I didn't have a choice. I'd already signed the contract with them, and I have to honor it. But I thought Nielsen just wanted to recover his missing son and make him his heir. How would I know they were going to lock him in the dungeon and torture him like that? I had to fight my way into that house yesterday because Nielsen didn't want me to see what he was doing. And then he threatened me!"

I am one-hundred percent convinced that this is all an act. "If you ‘didn't know what you were doing', it's interesting that you've helped so much. I've heard some interesting things about what's happened to Derrek since he left here."

Her expression goes neutral in a nanosecond. "What have you heard?"

I fix her with an indulgent grin. "Why don't you just admit to what you've done, and assume I know everything."

Sipping my coffee, I wait patiently for her to decide what to say. I can practically see the gears turning in her head, wondering how much I could know.

Abruptly she sighs, dropping her head with apparent shame. "I made him a collar that basically prevents him from using magic against Nielsen or any of his cronies. I admit it! And I'm not proud of it, but like I said, I had no choice. As the pack witch, I'm bound to follow orders and protect Nielsen. I can't even turn my magic against him. So I had to."

"You may have been told to stop him from using magic, but somehow I don't believe you really had to be so sadistic about it," I reply in disgust. Turning my gaze to Shuya, I continue, "Do you know what she did? What she really did? Anytime Derrek so much as tries to clear his throat, that collar magically shocks him. He's locked up in some dungeon torture chamber with a shock collar around his throat, thanks to her."

Shuya's eyes narrow, and she turns angrily to Azalea. "You did not tell me some things, it seems. Why would you do that to Leaf? He's always been a good cousin to you!"

Azalea's voice is even more remorseful now. "I know, Grannie, I'm sorry. It seemed like the simplest solution to give Nielsen what he wanted. I wasn't trying to be sadistic."

"Save your apologies for your cousin. We're here so you can make amends and help them rescue Leaf from that horrid man. So tell them what you know."