18: Gods-Send

"What do you mean she should take me to Mount Hecate?" Ashley asked.

"I'll explain later, Ashley," Opal said as she carefully helped her back onto the tiny bed. "Right now, I need to take the Luna to her Alpha. We've already been here too long."

Ashley looked between the two of us, clearly confused, but I didn't have time to explain something I didn't completely understand myself.

Especially since I had a few questions of my own.

We left Ashley crying in her room, and the second Opal closed the door behind us, I followed her down the corridor.

For the first few minutes, we walked in silence. Opal moved quickly through the confusing hallways while I stayed close behind her, trying to memorize the turns in case I ever needed to find my way out of this damn fortress again.

Then she started talking.

Or, better yet, she talked and I listened.

"I know you're wondering how I know about your plans," she whispered, glancing over her shoulder. "But Winifred didn't betray you. I was there this morning."

I almost stopped walking. "What?"

"Winnie and I are kind of seeing each other."

I stared at the back of her head. "Kind of?"

"It's nothing serious. We hook up mostly on Tuesdays."

Of course.

I had arrived at Winifred's cabin this morning to find her in a purple robe with wetness around her mouth and another woman hiding somewhere in her bedroom.

Apparently, Tuesdays had a name.

Opal.

"I was in the bedroom when you came," she continued. "I overheard you talking about leaving your Alpha in three days and going to Mount Hecate."

"Shhh!"

I grabbed her arm and looked around the hallway.

Good Goddess, did this woman want to announce it over dinner too?

"It's okay," she whispered. "I won't tell anyone."

"You're already telling me."

"Well, you already know."

I stared at her.

She gave me a small, nervous smile.

I could definitely see what Winifred liked about her.

"Keep your voice down," I warned.

"I will. I swear. I already swore to Winnie on Hecate that I wouldn't tell anyone about you or what you're planning."

That made me feel slightly better.

Slightly.

Opal continued walking, and I followed.

"Ashley has no one else to protect her," she said quietly. "Her wolf has been bound to keep her weak, and the Vampire King will come for her in a fortnight. I have to save her, Luna. Going with you is the only way."

I sighed. "Her wolf is bound?"

"Roland had a witch bind her after she tried to escape the first time. She can't shift, and she barely heals anymore. That's why she looks the way she does."

That explained the smell of sickness.

It also explained why an Alpha's daughter, who should have been strong enough to put up one hell of a fight, was curled up on a tiny bed looking as though she was slowly dying.

"Why are you so concerned about her?"

Opal's steps slowed.

For the first time since we'd left the room, she didn't immediately answer.

"Her mother saved my life."

I waited.

"Years ago," she continued. "Before Luna Shirley. Before most of this place became what it is now. Ashley's mother saved me when she didn't have to, and when she was dying, I promised her I would take care of her daughter."

"How did she die?"

Opal looked at me. "That's a story for another day."

Fair enough.

I already had enough stories for one night.

We turned another corner, and I could hear voices somewhere ahead. I caught the scent of wolves too, which meant we were getting closer to the main entrance.

I stopped walking.

Opal turned. "What's wrong?"

"You shouldn't come any farther."

"What?"

"If Alastor is waiting outside for me as you said, the last thing I need is for him to see me walking out of some hidden hallway with Roland's witch."

Her eyes widened slightly.

"He'll ask questions," I continued. "And right now, questions are the last fucking thing I need."

Opal nodded. "You're right."

I looked back the way we'd come.

Ashley.

I didn't know her.

An hour ago, I hadn't even known she existed.

Now I knew she'd been beaten, had her wolf bound, was being sold to the Vampire King and had just discovered that her brother murdered the woman she loved.

I already had Rachel to worry about.

I had Alastor.

I had an escape plan that depended on everything going exactly as planned, and bringing another person along was definitely not part of that fucking plan.

Winifred had gotten Safe Haven for two people.

Rachel and me.

Not three.

Kennedy stirred inside me. 'We can't leave her here.'

I closed my eyes. 'I know.'

That was the problem.

I knew exactly what it felt like to have everyone around you know what was happening and still leave you there.

Trenton had taught me that lesson better than anyone.

"Send word to Winnie," I said.

Opal blinked. "What?"

"Tell her there are three of us travelling now instead of two."

Her mouth fell open. "You're serious?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

"No."

"Then close your mouth before a fly gets in."

She snapped it shut.

I sighed. "Tell Winifred I'm not leaving Ashley here. I don't know how the hell we're going to get her out yet, and I don't know what the Witch Elders are going to say about us showing up with someone they didn't approve, but I'm not leaving her here to be sold."

Opal's eyes filled with tears again.

Good Goddess.

I'd had enough crying for one night.

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet."

"You're a Gods-send, Luna."

"I'm really not."

"You are to me... to us."

I looked away because I didn't particularly want that responsibility sitting on my shoulders.

"Keep this under wraps, Opal. Nobody can know. Not Roland, not RJ, not another servant, not another witch and definitely not my husband."

"I understand."

"And tell Winnie exactly what I said."

"I will. And if she says no..."

I stopped.

What the hell would I do if Winifred said no?

I didn't know.

That sounded like a problem for tomorrow.

"For now, just tell her."

Opal nodded.

She pointed towards the end of the corridor. "Go straight, turn left at the large staircase and keep walking. You'll see the main doors."

I nodded and started walking.

"Luna Ava?"

I looked back.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

This time I didn't answer.

I just kept walking.

The moment I stepped outside, I knew I was in trouble.

Alastor was standing beside the carriage with his arms folded across his chest, and even from several feet away, I could see the anger carved into every part of his face.

His eyes were red.

Not glowing.

Just red enough to let me know Venom was close.

Wonderful.

Dwight stood several feet away, but the second carriage was gone.

My heart dropped.

Rachel.

I looked around quickly, searching for golden curls, a yellow dress, anything.

Nothing.

There was only Alastor, Dwight and, for some strange reason, Pussy standing beside the carriage wearing considerably less clothing than I thought necessary for public eyes.

"Where's Rachel?"

Alastor's jaw tightened. "Get in the carriage."

"Where is my daughter?"

"Shut up and get in the fucking carriage, Ava."

I stepped towards him. "I'm not getting into anything until you tell me where Rachel is."

"She went ahead with Trenton."

I stopped. "What?"

"You heard me."

I immediately reached through the pack link.

'Trenton?'

His answer came almost instantly. 'I'm here.'

'Rachel?'

'She's with me. She's safe, Ava.'

I closed my eyes for half a second.

Thank Goddess.

'Don't let her out of your sight.'

'I won't.'

I cut the link before he could say anything else.

Alastor was still watching me.

"Finished?"

I ignored him and climbed into the carriage.

I had barely settled onto the seat when Alastor climbed in behind me.

Then Pussy climbed in too.

I stared at her.

Then at him.

Then back at her.

"She's coming too?"

"No."

Alastor sat across from me and stretched one arm along the back of the seat as though this had been the most normal evening of his life.

"But she's giving me a proper goodbye."