7: Three Days

I almost choked on my wine. "Three days? Ava, please tell me you meant thirteen, or better yet, thirty."

"I mean three."

"Hecate's hairy tits, child!" I cursed as I slammed my glass onto the table. "Do you have any idea what you're asking me to pull out of my ass in three fucking days?"

Ava rubbed her forehead, clearly expecting that reaction from me. "Alastor leaves in three days for his yearly hunt with his men, and he'll be gone for seven days."

I stopped complaining immediately because now she had my attention.

"Seven whole days?" I asked, and when she nodded, I sat forward.

"Sometimes eight. They travel far outside pack territory, so once he leaves, that will be my best opportunity. If I wait until he comes back, I don't know when I'll get another chance."

Damn it.

I hated when people came to me with stupid ideas that actually made sense.

"And what about Trenton?" I asked. "Surely both Drexel brothers don't go gallivanting through the woods together hunting Goddess knows what."

"He isn't going."

"You're sure?"

"I'm positive."

That made things slightly easier, but I wasn't ready to start celebrating yet. Alastor might have been the bigger monster, but Trenton was still a Beta and Ava's second mate. If anyone was going to notice something strange about her behaviour while his brother was gone, it would be him.

"Does he suspect anything?" I asked.

Ava hesitated, and that little pause told me everything I needed to know.

"Ava," I warned, narrowing my eyes at her.

"He asked me if Rachel was his."

"Shit!" I hissed, sitting back in my chair. "And what the hell did you tell him?"

"I told him no."

"And did he believe you?"

"I don't know."

"Hecate's hairy tits!"

"You already said that," Ava pointed out.

"And I'll say it again if you keep giving me reasons to."

I pushed myself out of the chair and began pacing because sitting still wasn't helping me think. Three days. Three fucking days to prepare an escape that should have taken at least two weeks, and somehow, this woman had walked into my house before sunrise and made it my problem.

Wonderful.

Absolutely fucking wonderful.

Still, she was right about one thing. Seven days without Alastor breathing down her neck was probably the best opportunity she would ever get.

I grabbed my wine and finished what was left in the glass.

"Fine."

Ava blinked. "Are you sure?"

"I said fine, didn't I?" I placed the empty glass on the table. "Three nights. Hecate help me, but we'll do it in three nights."

Her entire face changed as though I had just handed her the moon.

"Really?"

"Don't make me regret it."

She jumped out of the chair and wrapped her arms around me so quickly that my robe nearly abandoned my body altogether.

"Thank you, Winnie!"

"Careful with the robe!" I squealed, grabbing the front before one of my tits decided to join the conversation.

"Sorry." Ava immediately released me.

I pulled my robe closed and tightened the belt this time. "I'll contact my sister and tell her we're coming earlier than expected. I'll get the supplies together, strengthen the protection spells we'll need for the journey, and I'll start brewing another batch of your serum today."

"I don't know how I'll ever repay you," Ava said, and the happiness on her face disappeared when I looked her straight in the eyes.

"Survive."

I meant that one.

"Get your daughter out of that house and survive, Ava. You can worry about repaying me when you're old, wrinkled, and complaining about your knees."

She nodded before glancing towards the window. The sky was already getting brighter, and I could see the worry returning to her face.

"I need to go. If I'm gone for too long, somebody might notice."

"Fine, go. I'll send the serum with my hawk once it's ready. You don't need to risk coming back here before we leave."

"OK." Ava hurried towards the door, but before she could step outside, I called her name.

She stopped and looked back at me.

"Three nights," I reminded her. "Don't be late, and don't change your fucking mind between now and then. More importantly, don't tell anyone what we're doing."

"I won't."

"Not even Trenton."

Something shifted in her expression before she nodded. "Especially not Trenton."

Good girl.

She slipped through the door, and I walked onto the porch to watch her disappear between the trees. Within seconds, the swamp swallowed her completely, leaving nothing behind but mist and the sound of birds beginning to wake.

Three days.

What the fuck had I gotten myself into?

"Did I hear right?"

My entire body stiffened.

Slowly, I turned around and found Opal standing in the doorway leading to my bedroom. She was wearing one of my shirts with her long legs completely bare, while her dark hair was tangled around her shoulders from what we had been doing before Ava so rudely interrupted us.

Shit.

I'd forgotten she was here.

"How long have you been standing there?" I asked as I walked back inside.

"Long enough to know that was Alastor Drexel's Luna."

"No, it wasn't."

Opal folded her arms. "Winnie, I have eyes."

"Then close them."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

The amusement disappeared from her face as I shut the door behind me. Opal might have been a low-level witch who could barely move a drinking glass across a table with her telekinesis, but she wasn't stupid. She knew enough about the supernatural world to understand exactly how dangerous the conversation she'd just overheard was.

"She's planning to leave him," Opal said quietly. "And you're helping her."

"Keep your voice down."

"There's nobody here."

"I don't give a shit. Whisper it to the ants if you have to, but don't ever say those words loudly."

Opal stared at me for several seconds before walking farther into the room. "You know he's going to kill her if he catches her."

"I know."