Winter's War (Her Guardians series Book 4)(4)
“How many?” I ask Wyatt as I walk into the entrance hall where he is talking to a vampire who doesn’t look impressed. They are talking in French, which I don’t understand a word of, and Wyatt changes the conversation to English when I stop next to them.
“The witches need help, and as your king, I’m saying you will help them. They are mainly women and children, are you that heartless?” Wyatt shouts, and there is silence as the old vampire bows his head and walks away. I’m surprised he didn’t use his power to command them, but then he has never been that kind of vampire. Or king.
“Atti called,” Wyatt taps the side of his head, not answering my question, but I can tell from the little witches that are here that it is bad. The demons must have killed thousands today, and Winter is gone. How did a day of celebration of Atti becoming the king we knew he was meant to be and mating with Winter, become a day we, and the witches, will never forget? I follow Wyatt up the stairs, stepping over the witches sitting huddled up and watch as they bow their heads to us as we pass. They shouldn’t bow to us, we have done nothing but let the demon king take our queen. Plus, their city has been destroyed. We go up the four flights of stairs until we get to our rooms that are on one long corridor. Wyatt walks straight to Winter’s room, and I shut the doors behind us. Jaxson is sitting on the bed speaking quietly to Freddy, who looks over at Wyatt and nods at him.
“I can’t be long as more people need to be healed,” I tell Atti who turns to face us with Milo on his shoulder. Milo has some strange, green outfit on that looks made of leather. I bet some doll, somewhere, is missing an outfit. Milo almost makes me smile until I look at his blue hair and memories of winter come to me.
“We have a way to get Winter back. Well, Milo does,” Jaxson says.
“Me,” Milo replies and points at his chest.
“Freddy and Milo were talking about the ward around the vampire castle,” Atti says, and relief fills me as I see Atti’s nod. The annoying little creature who eats Wyatt’s Oreos is a demon after all, he might be able to help us. We haven’t been able to think of any way to get her back at all. It’s seeming hopeless, as we can’t fight the demon king as he hides behind his army and the ward.
“Tell me how,” I ask Atti.
“I can walk through my blood ward,” Milo says and then flies over to sit on my shoulder. He’s not making much sense, as he hasn’t quite learnt how to put sentences together right yet.
“What Milo means, is that he can pull one person through the ward around the vampire castle,” Jaxson says, standing up and walking over with Freddy following.
“Who and what’s the point? We can’t fight the demon king and his army on our own. He could hold a knife to Winter’s throat, and we would put our weapons down for her,” I say and groan when I realise Freddy is young to be hearing this about someone he loves.
“Winter is going to be okay, right, uncle J?” Freddy asks Jaxson who puts a hand on his shoulder.
“We are going to get her back, we love her as much as you do. Why don’t you go and watch some movies?” Jaxson suggests.
“I’m not a kid, I’m not watching movies when everything is going wrong,” Freddy snaps, pushing Jaxson away.
“No, you’re not a kid. No kid should have to live what you have gone through already at such a young age. Jaxson only wants to protect you,” Wyatt says to him.
“I don’t need advice or sympathy from you,” Freddy growls out, and Wyatt steps closer, not one bit fazed by his show of aggression.
“Look, Harris and the others are going to need some help sorting out the witches and finding them rooms. Why don’t you go and help the beta?” Wyatt suggests, and I see Jaxson nod.
“I will send a message to him. They need help,” Jaxson says, and Freddy looks down at the ground before meeting Wyatt’s gaze.
“Fine, but save her. I won’t forgive you if you don’t,” he says and walks out of the room.
“The kid is growing up and getting balls to speak to all of us like that,” Atti says, making us laugh a little despite the situation.
“Balls? Do humans have balls?” Milo asks, and Atti laughs.
“One day I will explain that, but not now,” I tell Milo, who nods with an innocent face. I bet the little demon is winding us up.
“Right I have an idea for Winter. I’m going; as her mate, I can try to push my magic into her, and hopefully it will snap her out of it. It’s the best chance we have, but I’m going to need a distraction,” Atti says, making it clear it will be him that goes in after her. I want to suggest I should, but I know it’s not what’s best for Winter. I have no way of getting her out of his control, whereas Atti does, and I trust him to save her.
“I suggest we take fifty wolves and vampires, and attack the castle,” Wyatt says, and we all nod. It’s the best way to make a distraction, hopefully the demon king won’t take Winter with him.
“I can get fifty witches to appear and take everyone back to the castle after twenty minutes,” Atti offers.
“If we time it right, that should be all you and Milo will need to get Winter and get out,” Jaxson says, pacing the room.
“She might not come willingly, and you might need to knock her out and bring her here,” I say, remembering how she looked at us, how she reacted. She is under his control, and it’s going to be a fight. I can’t even think about what the demon king might be getting her to do, even in the one day he has had her. If we attack tomorrow, that’s two days she will be alone with him and completely under his control. The thought just makes me want to kill him.