19. Pike

Chapter 19

Pike

I wake to a shivering Lark, which should be impossible. Frankie and I generate a lot of heat. If anything, Lark should be sweating.

"Darling, are you okay?" I smooth pink hair from his face only to notice the color is too pale. "Sweetheart?" He wheezes when he breathes and my heart races. Something is wrong. I pull him up with me when I sit against the wall, but he's floppy.

Frankie whines and noses at Lark's shoulder.

"Darling, can you wake up for me?" I rub his sternum with no response.

Frankie whines louder and I can't think. Drake wouldn't kill Lark because he needs him. Unless?—

The door to the basement slams open, and Drake marches downstairs. "I knew you were getting in. Trick seemed too happy lately."

"What have you done to him?" I push to my feet, bringing Lark with me in a bridal carry. Frankie growls, showing Drake her teeth. Her flames growing brighter by the second.

"Nothing that'll hurt him too long. Just needed a little boost. The coven's been complaining my brews aren't as strong as they used to be. Can't have them knowing?—"

"That your power is really Trick's and you're weak?"

Drake's eyes glow golden. "Exactly." He snaps, and it takes me a blink to realize Lark's gone.

Frankie howls when she notices Lark's not in my arms anymore.

Drake lifts a hand. "I let you three play long enough, but he's mine. You can't have him."

"Dissolve the soul tether and I'll make whatever deal you want."

"No, thank you. I'd rather not make a deal with a devil." Drake spits, and I keep my mouth shut about being a demon, not a devil. "I don't owe you anything. The little Fae agreed to be my servant for eternity, and I'll use him how I want."

"He didn't understand your language."

"Magic doesn't care, he agreed. He's mine. And I thank you for making me realize that letting him have sun makes him more powerful. Maybe I'll give him a rooftop cage. Who knows?"

My stomach churns. "He needs freedom."

"He needs to know his place. Like you." Drake turns to go back up the stairs. "You're no longer welcome here."

I have to grab Frankie's harness when she lunges for him. I'm sure she doesn't understand why I don't immediately go after Drake, but we have to bide our time. If Drake doesn't know his tether is weak, we can use that to our advantage.

I follow Drake's lead up the stairs, if only to keep him afraid of Frankie. Her warning growls keep rumbling from her and I pet her side.

"Get the dog out of here and never step foot in Flutter again."

"It's not that easy. You insisted on lawyers. I'm a partial owner, so you have to buy me out." I pat his shoulder. "Should I call up my attorney?"

Drake's face turns red, and he purses his lips. "Perhaps."

"Things could get messy. Are you sure you want to do that?"

"I'm sure I want you out of my place," Drake grumbles.

"I'll let you cool down. Expect me back in a few days." And with that, Frankie and I stand in my living room. "We have to come up with a plan." I start to pace. "Lark is probably at Drake's house, and Drake probably expects me to just show up." That's what I want too, but I have to be strategic about this.

I wave my hand in front of me and cover my face for the pop of light when I open the communication portal to talk to Van. He and Warwick sit in Van's kitchen and both look up to the portal.

"Drake took Trick." I use his fake name because he trusts me not to share his true name.

"What do you mean, Drake took my brother?"

I whip around to find Wren with a tomato halfway to his mouth.

"One minute he's in my arms, the next Drake finds us together and poof, he's not there anymore."

"Who is this delightful morsel?" Van purrs as he pops into my living room with Wick. "He looks a lot like your Trick."

I grab Van's arm as he steps closer to Wren. "Don't get all flirty. We need a plan." I introduce everyone quickly and explain the gravity of the situation.

"This Drake is using my brother to power up his magic." Wren paces the floor, alternating between squeezing the tomato and passing it between his hands.

"Yes." I take the tomato and put it on the end table beside the couch. "And I have no idea what he has planned or why he took Trick in the first place all those years ago."

"I hate that name for him," Wren says. "Trick. That's not my brother."

I squeeze Wren's shoulder. "We'll get him back."

He nods and snatches up the tomato again. He opens his mouth wide and chomps on the juicy red skin.

"What can we do to help?" Wick asks. If I'm a romantic, he's a super romantic holding out for Ethan to show up again. They fell in love as young teens when Ethan summoned Wick for the first time at twelve. Poor Wick started at fifteen as a punishment for Van.

"Brainstorm with me. Drake is more clever than I give him credit for. I thought he was clueless to my sleeping over every night, but seems we weren't good at hiding it."

Van shrugs as he plops down onto my couch. "That's because your little Fae always has a smile on his face now compared to that first night I saw him at Flutter."

"Yeah," Wick says. "He's glowing from the inside out instead of forcing his wings to shine."

Wren stops eating. "They're forcing him to glow?"

We all nod.

"That's…" Wren paces again. "That's barbaric. And disgusting. Our light is… ours. It's not a parlor trick. It's sacred." He clutches a fist to his chest. "Poor Lar—Trick. I can't imagine living through that."

"It's worse," Wick says as he picks at the hem of his shirt.

Wren meets his eyes. "Tell me."

I wipe a hand down my face as Frankie noses me towards the couch. "I wasn't going to say anything because I never witnessed it. But in the past, Drake has beaten him if he doesn't glow."

"No." Wren fists his hands. "We have to do something. Now." His wings flitter harshly behind him.

"We need a plan. We can't just show up and snatch him. That's what Drake expects, so I'm sure he's powered up whatever wards he has. Plus, we have Ava to factor in. She's a prisoner, just like Trick. We need to make sure whatever we do for Trick doesn't give Ava a punishment. That's what happened the last time he got free. Drake ripped out her fangs."

My friends's eyes go wide. Van and Wick slap their hands to their mouths as if to make sure they still have fangs. Wren grits his teeth.

"So you see how this is a delicate operation? We have two people to save."

Wren nods. "Of course we need to help her, too. But my brother is a priority."

Frankie whines and paces.

"I know, girl. I know." I hold out my hand to pet her. "So, do I have anyone here that's not interested in taking down a witch that's gotten too big for his britches?"

"I'm in," Van says.

"Me, too," Wick answers.

"Whatever it takes to free my brother, I'm doing it." Wren cracks his knuckles.

"Alrighty, let's get to it!" I say.