A Snag in the Plan

A SNAG IN THE PLAN

T he icy wind whips my hair across my face as I shift to face Elias. “I should’ve known a snake like you would find a way to slither out of the Northern Fortress.”

“Oh, but you handed me the key, little witch, when you so recklessly took down the defenses. Stroke of luck, really, that I could slip through the portal right before it closed.” He steps closer. “Your vampire lapdogs didn’t even notice me. But then, they’re all traitors who followed my worthless son, aren’t they?”

Rage flares through me, magic crackling at my fingertips. How dare he speak of Ambros that way. “What do you want?”

“What else?” His tongue sweeps over his dry, cracked lips. “I want the power you stole the last time we tangled.”

I inch toward the hatch, stomping my feet harder than necessary, praying the noise rouses my mates below. “I destroyed that cursed stone. No fancy bat powers for you.”

Elias throws his head back and laughs, the sound sending chills down my spine. “You think I’m after my power of transformation?”

He circles toward me, driving me away from the door. “Once I drain your magic, I’ll gain the ability to steal powers from anyone . I’ll finish what I started, beginning with your precious Hartford Cove.”

He spreads his arms wide, a maniacal glint in his eyes. “I’ll take the powers of everyone in this pitiful town, turn them all into weak, helpless humans. And then I’ll drain them dry, one by one. Thanks to you, I will be the most powerful being in history.”

Nausea churns in my gut at the thought of my found family, my mates, reduced to husks. Ethereal magic surges through my veins, begging for release, and my skin glows with an otherworldly light.

Every instinct screams at me to blast Elias into oblivion, to end his vile existence before he can make good on his threats .

But then I hesitate, the magic sputtering and dimming.

As much as I loathe Elias, as much as I know he deserves to be blasted from existence, I can’t ignore the fact that he’s Ambros’s father. The face that stares at me with such hate and greed resembles my love so much, a sneak peek into a future where we grow old together.

I don’t want Ambros or Delilah to look at me and see the person who killed their father.

Then there are the legal ramifications. I barely escaped one trial for defending myself with magic. If I kill Elias, even in self-defense, even to protect those I love, will I be delivering myself right back to the tribunal?

Sensing my hesitation, Elias lunges, his lips peeled back to expose his fangs.

I sidestep, my body moving on pure instinct as my magic flares to life, fractal patterns shimmering into place between us.

He slams into the barrier, his impact sending shockwaves through the shield, and I grit my teeth, pouring more power into the construct.

“You can’t hide behind your magic forever,” Elias taunts, circling me like a predator stalking its prey. “Sooner or later, you’ll slip up, and then I’ll have everything I need to bring this pathetic town to its knees.”

My heart pounds, breaths heavy as I track his movements. The frigid night air cuts through my pajamas, the snow soaking through them, but I ignore the cold. All my senses focus on the threat before me, on the man who wants to destroy everything and everyone I hold dear.

As Elias presses his attack, a threatening growl pierces the night.

My gaze shifts past Elias to see Owen climbing over the rooftop railing, his eyes blazing red. My heart leaps at the sight of my mate, relief and love surging through me even as fear for his safety takes root.

I meet Elias’s eyes. “There’s just one little snag in your plan.”

“I told you I’d rip your throat out, Elias,” Owen snarls, his voice rough with restrained rage. “And now there are no bars between us.”

Elias laughs, a harsh, grating sound that sets my teeth on edge. “You think you can take me on, pup? I’ll drain you dry and lay your corpse at the feet of your precious mate.”

With a roar that shakes the very foundation of the house, Owen leaps at Elias, fur sprouting over his body, claws and teeth sharpening. The force of their collision sends them sprawling across the rooftop in a tangle of limbs and snarls that send me stumbling backward, my barrier falling.

My breath catches as they grapple for dominance. Owen is a skilled fighter, his movements fluid and precise, but Elias matches him blow for blow. The vampire’s supernatural speed is a force to be reckoned with, and even Owen’s werewolf abilities seem to falter in the face of such raw power.

The rooftop creaks beneath their combined weight as the two roll closer to the new skylights. One wrong move, one misstep, and they’ll crash through to the family room below.

My magic pulses erratically, my panic making it hard to focus enough to slip into the altered state needed to draw from the ethereal power all around me. It’s a wild, untamed thing, yearning to be set free, to aid my mate in this deadly dance.

But I hesitate again, this time worried I’ll hit Owen instead of Elias.

Owen lets out a pained yelp, and my heart leaps into my throat as Elias pins him, his fangs poised over my mate’s throat.

The vampire’s eyes gleam with malice as he sneers at me, his voice dripping with cruel amusement. “What will it be, little witch? Will you let your precious wolf die, or will you find the courage to strike me down?”

Owen’s wild gaze turns to me, and fear for his safety overrides everything else.

My hesitation vanishes, replaced by a fierce determination. I gather my power, letting it build within me into a raging storm.

Before I can strike out, a shot cracks through the air, causing my ears to ring.

Elias flinches, whipping toward the open hatch.

Gun raised, Ambros strides forward, his face a grim mask. The weapon glints in the moonlight, and with a start, I realize he holds my father’s old pistol, loaded with silver bullets forged to kill monsters.

Elias barely has time to react before Ambros fires again, the bullet finding its mark with unerring precision. The vampire staggers back, his grip on Owen loosening, and my mate doesn’t hesitate.

With a surge of strength, Owen throws Elias off, sending him tumbling across the rooftop. And then Ambros is there, standing over his father’s prone form.

He levels the gun at Elias’s head, his finger tightening on the trigger. “This ends now. No more games. No more plots. No more pain. ”

The final shot takes Elias between the eyes, the report hanging in the air for what feels like an eternity. Elias’s body jerks once, then goes still, his sightless eyes staring up at the snowy sky.

For a moment, no one moves. The scent of blood and gunsmoke hangs heavy in the air, a cloying mixture that churns my stomach.

I take a step forward, then another, my legs shaking beneath me as I cross the distance to Owen’s side.

“Are you okay?” I check his throat, but Elias never got his fangs in, and the bruises are already fading.

Owen nods, his eyes never leaving Ambros. “I’m fine. Are you okay, Ambros?”

I turn to my other mate, concern surging through me. He just killed his father, the man who gave him life, who shaped him into the person he is today.

I reach out to him, my fingers brushing against his arm. “Ambros, I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine how hard that must have been…”

He turns to me then, his blue-green eyes haunted by a pain that goes beyond words. “It’s better this way. Better than knowing he’s out there somewhere, locked in a cell, plotting his next move. At least now, it’s over. ”

I nod, understanding all too well.

The relief of knowing that Bryant would never come for me again had given me a huge peace of mind.

The crunch of snow draws my attention, and I turn to see Haut and Tris climbing onto the roof. Tris carries a bat, while Haut’s fingers lengthen into claws.

“Are we too late?” Tris asks as he takes in the scene before him. The wind tousles his sandy blond hair, and he holds the bat in a white-knuckled grip.

Ambros glances at Elias’s lifeless body, his expression a mix of bitterness and resignation. “No, you’re just in time to dig a hole.”

Haut raises an eyebrow, his moss-green eyes filled with understanding. “I’ll grab the shovels.”

He turns to head back down, his tall frame moving with the grace of a predator.

Owen takes on the task of carrying Elias’s body down without being asked, sparing Ambros from having to touch his father’s still form.

As a family, we trek out to the woods, lanterns in hand, where Haut and Tris set to work digging a grave.

I shiver in the cold, holding Ambros’s hand. We stand off to the side, Ros’s gaze fixed on the growing hole.

“You had no choice,” I whisper. “Now he can’t hurt anyone ever again.”

Ambros nods, his eyes still haunted by the weight of his action. “I know. The world is a better place without him.”

I squeeze his fingers. “But it doesn’t make it any easier.”

“No.” He releases my hand to wrap his arms around me. “How do I tell Delilah?”

“Let her believe the fortress fell on him.” I lean against him, offering what comfort I can. “It’s easier that way.”

We stand in silence, watching as Haut and Tris finish digging the hole, then Owen comes forward to lower Elias’s body into the ground. The snow falls softly around us, blanketing the world in a layer of white.

When it’s done, we make our way back inside, our footsteps heavy with the weight of the night. We shower in silence, washing away the blood and grime before falling into bed together, our bodies tangled in a knot of limbs and heartbeats.

Tris breaks the silence first, his voice muffled by the pillow. “Next time adventure comes knocking, whether it’s at the front door or on the roof, we’re not answering.”

A laugh bubbles up in my throat, startling me with its suddenness.

“Agreed.” I press a kiss to his shoulder. “Let’s hope the world takes the hint.”

As I lay there, surrounded by the warmth of my mates, I can’t help but feel a sense of peace wash over me.

We’ve been through hell and back, but we’re still standing. And as long as we have each other, I know we can face whatever the future holds.