61. Anna

61

Anna

"No!" Racing toward Lunessa, I pulled her back down and placed my hand on her chest.

The magic was there, buried deep, but I couldn't draw it out fast enough.

Jax shifted and launched himself at Amaya's twin, whatever her name was. He knocked her out of the air and sank his teeth into her. I focused on drawing the magic away from Lunessa, and when I was done, Lunessa gasped for breath. Jax yelped and flew through the air.

"A null," the black witch hissed. "How interesting. A null and a wolf. Where did you come from, darling?"

She hadn't known?

Lunessa stood, but the black witch shook her head. "Don't bother. I'm already done here."

She disappeared, and I ran to Jax's side. He was slowly shifting back. "I'm fine," he muttered. "I'm already healing."

Turning, I raced to Cam. As soon as I knelt down by her, wolves shot out of the trees.

Some of them were from Jax's pack. Jenson came with Irene in his arms.

London. Emerson. Maeve and all her guards.

I should have known that Lunessa's scream would have woken them up and called to them. Her magic had pulled them all from their beds.

"No," Maeve roared. "Cam!"

"She's dead," I said shakily.

"You," she hissed. "You did this."

Immediately, Jax was between the two of us. "I know what your guards think, but Anna was with me all night and all morning. She did not take your witch. Another witch is responsible."

"What witch? I don't see a witch here," Maeve hissed. "Have you heard from the guards you sent to Amaya's house?"

"I have not."

Jenson cleared his throat. "I took the call. They found wolf hairs in her house."

"Did it smell familiar?"

Jenson looked at me but didn't say anything.

Maeve growled. "So you are going to protect her. That's two witches of mine dead, and I have the right to take her head. Give her to me, and you won't start a war."

"No," Jax snarled. "She is not the one killing your witches."

"Then you start a war." Maeve turned other guards. "Take her and kill any wolf who stands in your way. Even if it's the alpha himself."

My heart caught in my throat, and I slowly backed up as I studied the wolves against me.

Would London join? Emerson?

I bumped into a body and turned. Emerson. "See what it's come to? An entire pack at risk all for you."

"Did you do this?"

"I did not. It's interesting, though. I wouldn't worry about it. Maeve doesn't have enough guards to take Jax, although she could kill quite a few wolves of your pack to make it happen."

He paused. "You could come with me. I'll keep you safe."

Pausing, I turned to him. "Did you really think that would work? That I would just casually walk away with you? Maeve would just turn on you in order to kill me."

"I could manage Maeve. Certainly better than Jax can. Besides, if you come with me, you won't have to watch Jax's own pack slaughtering him. They're watching him now, to see who he will choose, and if he chooses you, I promise that he will lose his pack within the month."

My gut squeezed. He was right. His wolves were watching him. So hard that nobody saw the figure rise over the woods behind Maeve.

"No," I screamed. Amaya's twin cackled and hurled a spell at Irene. I raced just in time to intercept it, and the spell hit me like a train, throwing me into a tree. Everyone turned and gasped, and the witches collectively rose into action with Lunessa leading the pack. Dimly, I watched Amaya's twin scream and fall.

And the world went black.

"I do not like having you as a patient because you are not a good patient."

Saul's voice cut through the darkness, and I grimaced. Suddenly, I didn't want to open my eyes.

"There are four furious alphas outside all blaming the other for teaming up with a witch, and your alpha might draw blood soon if you aren't on your feet."

That had my eyes flying open and I stood up. Pain shot down my neck and I growled.

"Ow."

"Easy. You slammed into a tree. You're going to feel some pain," he chuckled. "I wanted you awake so I can evaluate your pain, but you can't go anywhere yet."

"Jax…"

"Is alive and keeping the other alphas at bay. They, and every wolf watching in the woods, saw you saving Irene and Jenson with your null powers. They all want to talk to you. And they all suspect the other of teaming up with the witches."

I groaned and shrugged my shoulders. Pain still ebbed. "Does that mean that Maeve no longer wants me dead?"

"No. Apparently the ghost of a witch was enough to convince her. Slowly rotate your head to the right. Good, and to the left. Excellent. Extend your arm out."

Glaring at him, I hopped off the hospital bed. "I'm fine. First chance I get, I'll even shift to heal completely."

"You are in a hurry if you're promising that."

Saul's voice drifted behind me as I hurried out the door. There was a sea of shifters standing around the infirmary, and none of them were looking at me or the infirmary. The silence was deafening.

"Excuse me." I started pushing my way through, but hands grabbed me before I reached the edge. "Let me go." I turned around and realized that I didn't recognize the wolf holding me.

In fact, I didn't recognize any of the wolves.

"Let her go," Jax growled.

"If she wants me to, I certainly will," Emerson said as he walked toward me. "But if she wants to come with me, she will."

"Is that why half your pack has invaded my land?" Jax snarled. "To give her a choice?"

What the hell had happened while I was out? There was no Maeve or London in sight.

Only Emerson. "Jax, what's going on?"

"Emerson has this insane idea that you'll go with him. We both know that he's lying. Just come to me, and we'll be done with all of this."

"Where are Maeve and London?"

"They left."

Great. So no one to witness whatever the hell Emerson was up to. I turned to him. "Look, obviously, I'm not going to…"

Emerson put a finger to my lips, and I nearly bit it off in anger. Then, I heard his voice.

In my head.

"Hello, darling. You can thank my witch for this little conversation," Emerson said. "I thought it might be best if we spoke in private."

I glared at him, "I have nothing to say to you."

"But I have plenty to say to you. You see, while my witch was here, she was piggy backing on Irene's little spell. If you do not come with me, I will have her reverse the magic. Violently.

Jax and all of his woods will be kicked off their own land and never be able to return."

What? I jerked my head around, desperately searching for Irene or Lunessa or something to tell me that Emerson was bluffing.

"She's not wanted here," Emerson said out loud. "Your own wolves hate her. You kept her imprisoned in a bar for three years. You're manipulating her by keeping her here to use her null powers. You've all seen it. Your wolves may be mated, but she loves me. You always have, and she always will. Come back with me, Anna. I will keep you safe in a way that he cannot. You are no longer stuck here. I am your out, Anna. I am your exit."

My heart hammered in my chest. He was lying. He had to be lying.

I stared at Jax.

If Emerson wasn't lying, then Jax would lose everything. His pack. His land.

"I'm going with Emerson."

Pain scoured through my mating bond, and blood rushed in my ears. I looked at Jax and desperately hoped he would do something. Lunge toward us. Object. Shout that he will come save me.

He just stood there, and with a chuckle, Emerson took my hand and led me away.