Chapter 195

Xavier went scarily still. I squeezed Maisie's hand. "How long did you stay after?"

"One more day." Her laugh was hollow. "Stupid, right? I knew better but... he said he'd come back."

A chill crawled down my spine. "What happened that night?"

"The knocking started." Maisie's pupils dilated at the memory. "Luca had a key. I didn't answer."

Xavier frowned. "Good. Those doors are spelled. No wolf could—"

"They broke it down." Maisie's whisper cut through him.

Impossible. Those safehouses could withstand a charging rhino. "How many?" I asked.

Maisie shuddered. "A dozen. Maybe two."

"Two dozen werewolves strong enough to break spelled doors," Xavier repeated slowly.

I wrapped an arm around Maisie's shoulders as she trembled. "You're safe now. We've got you."

But Xavier's gaze had turned glacial. "Maisie." His voice could've frozen hell. "How did you escape that?"

The room temperature seemed to drop. Maisie shrank under his stare.

"Xavier!" I snapped. "Back off."

He ignored me, leaning in.