Midnight Moonrising (Moonrising #2)(120)

"Alex!" I said, and started to go to him, but he wasn't smiling. My happiness faltered. Surely he wasn't upset with me because I couldn't be with him. That didn't seem to be the cause of his mood, though. "What is it?"

"He thought I was dead or I'm certain he never would have left me there," Alex said.

"Who did that shit to you?" Brad said.

"Daryn."

I gasped as I shook my head. "No! He wouldn't do that. We're meeting him in just a few minutes. He said he knew where Jessica and the other rogues were hiding."

Betrayal washed through me with each word he spoke, and my stomach tightened into knots. Ace scooted closer, his proximity reassuring me, but at the same time, reminding me why he was a necessity. Daryn had betrayed me.

"Daryn is your only rogue, Mena," Alex said. "He's some kind of witch or warlock or whatever male witches are called. He has your whole pack freaking brainwashed or something. None of them turned against you. He has been taking them a little at a time and using them to try and kill you."

"Jaxon," Phoenix said, with a far off look in his eyes. "He did something to Jaxon when we were on our way to see the witch sisters. He didn't remember anything he said or did during that time. And the witches couldn't locate the missing dagger or the rogue shifters because he has a spell blocking them from seeing anything."

"No, I can't believe this," I said. "Daryn had plenty of opportunities to kill me. He never even tried." I tried desperately to wrap my head around what was happening, but the emotions were too busy warring with each other. Betrayal. Anger. Guilt that I'd fallen for it. Remorse for all the lives lost.

"It's because he was waiting for the moonrising wolf to take over during the full moon. He wanted to spell her to do his bidding."

"Son of a bitch!" I shouted, and started for the door. Anger won.

"Mena," Phoenix said, "where are you going?"

"To kill a werewolf witch and get my pack back! You coming?"

"Wait," he said, and I stopped and looked over my shoulder as my hand grabbed the door handle. "We don't know what we're dealing with, Mena. He is strong enough in his magic to block three very powerful witches. He knows we're coming. He's leading you into a trap. Shouldn't we ask the sisters for their advice?"

I nodded. "Good idea. Maybe they can help. I just hope they don't have a problem with me beating his ass, because I'm going to. Let's go."





Chapter 60



Mena





As it turned out, Magnalayna, Morgana and Meridia were dressed in their best and waiting for our arrival.

Meridia kissed my left cheek then my right. "It's lovely to see you again, my dear. I'm so happy you got control of that wretched beast inside of you." She waved her hand through the air, expelling an unattractive noise. I giggled.

I had finally realized what was off about all three women. Meridia was blind, Magnalayna was deaf and Morgana was mute. Were these three women where the 'hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil' originated from? Hmmm…

"She is well in control, I assure you." I said, and then I was swept up in Magnalayna's arms and hugged like an old friend.


She signed to me after she stopped trying to squeeze me to death. I was guessing she didn't get to communicate with other people very much "We've missed you so. I'm happy you need our help again."

I signed back. "I'm pleased you want to help."

The smile damn near split her face in two. "We are thrilled to help! None of us have been out of the house in months!"

Months? I thought. How the hell did they get their food?

"Meridia," Phoenix said, "the three of you really don't have to go with us. It could be dangerous. In fact, I'm—"

"Nonsense, vampire! We're overdue for a little excitement. Besides, we're not going for you anyway." She lovingly touched my cheek as she walked passed me. "We're going to help Mena. Now, be a gentleman and open the door of the black Escalade for us."

I blinked in confusion. How the hell does she know what he drives?

"I believe she can see through her sisters' eyes, Andra," Ace said though my mind.

"That makes sense."

Phoenix's shoulders slumped as he looked at me. "Yes, ma'am."

The ride to our destination was entertaining, to say the least. Although Morgana couldn't speak, she seemed to be able to communicate through the mind of her sister, Magnalayna, and I learned a lot about the sisters through ASL from her.

Speaking to her like this made me miss my brother, and I prayed we'd all make it through this alive, so I could see him again. He'd sent me several texts over the last few weeks We communicated that way on most occasions, since he was constantly traveling and helping deaf children learn how to speak their thoughts through their hands.

I couldn't wait for him to meet Ace, since my new-found soul mate picked up ASL quickly through my memory and verbalized his thoughts and ideas through hand gestures. Sometimes he would get hung up on what he wanted to say but, since I could read his mind, I helped him out. The sisters loved him.

I hadn't laughed so much in weeks.