Midnight Moonrising (Moonrising #2)(74)

"I imagine it's the same spell blocking her that is blocking me," Meridia said.

Phoenix growled in frustration. "Some news surfaced today, and we have a bigger problem on our hands than finding the wolves who are trying to kill Mena, but that is still a massive issue, I'm sure you know."

Meridia grinned devilishly. "There is a bigger issue than the Master Vampire and Alpha Wolf of Montgomery dying at the same time? Do tell."

He huffed as he thought of how to phrase something he was still sort of in denial about. "You're already aware that the previous Alpha bit Mena, turning her into one of them, and that she put a silver bullet through his heart immediately after, making her Alpha, right?"

She nodded once, and he continued.

"Well, that's never happened before, that we're aware of. Most shifters challenge the Alpha for position, already knowing most of what they need to know about what they are. Mena didn't know anything, and her pack forgot to mention that she needed to name her wolf within two days of being bitten or the thing inside her would start to take over her body."


A barely audible gasp issued from Morgana's mouth as she grabbed Magnalayna's arm, her cheeks flushing pink and her eyes growing wide as she stared at her sisters in horror.

"What is it, Morgana?" Meridia said, panicked.

"She gets it. Took me a lot longer to figure it out," Phoenix said.

Meridia turned her head in his direction. "What does she get?"

"Mena never named her wolf. The bitch is taking over, and if Mena doesn't find out what the wolf has named herself and call it out by the next full moon, she will be gone, completely imprisoned in her own mind, and the Alpha moonrising wolf will wreak havoc on the world, turning every mortal it comes in contact with. Hell will pretty much be unleashed on Earth."

Troubled now, Meridia wrung her hands together, twisting and entwining her fingers until they were bone white. "This is bad," she said as she turned toward her sisters. "Morgana, check the book. See if there is anything in it about moonrising shifters." Moving her attention back to Phoenix, she said, "Tell your friends to join us. Maybe I can get a feel for a solution if I meet her. Act as if everything is normal. If the moonrising wolf suspects we are trying to overcome her, we may all be in jeopardy."

He stood and walked to the door without commenting. What could he say? He already knew this was bad, but he was happy the witches were on his side for once.

Forcing a smile into place, Phoenix opened the door and cheerfully said, "Everything is fine. Come on in. Watch that first step."

"I said to act normal," Meridia moodily mumbled from her seat, "not like a bloomin' idiot."





Mena





Relief flushed through me when Phoenix opened the door, but my happiness quickly faded when his eyes avoided looking at anyone directly. Something was wrong. He was hiding something, and he was usually better at being discrete when he had a secret. Maybe the witches had located the dagger and he just didn't want Alex to find out about it. I was still a murderer, and the weapon belonged to my boyfriend. What if it was even worse news? What if they couldn't find the rogue shifters?

Ugh! I hated waiting for bad news.

Alex took my hand and led me to the steps leading up to the porch, but just before I placed my foot on the first step, he whisked me up in his arms and jogged the rest of the way up them.

He was smiling as he released me to stand on my own again, but he held me tightly to his body as he glanced down at the others. Roel grabbed a broom propped against the rail and touched the bottom step with the handle. I jumped in surprise when hundreds of tiny spikes shot up through the board.

The others skipped the step and came up to join us.

As we walked into the house, Phoenix caught my arm and leaned in by my ear, whispering so only I could hear, "They're silver."

My brow lifted as my wolf took note of that, and she nodded. Instead of thanking Phoenix for that important piece of information, she clung tighter to Alex's side and smiled at him when he wrapped an arm around me, pulling me even closer.

"Thank you for saving me," she said.

"Stop trying to piss Phoenix off!" I said through my thoughts. "He told everyone to watch the first step. He deserves credit, too."

Huffing loudly as she rolled her eyes back toward Phoenix, she snarled out one word, "Thanks."

Alex chuckled. "You really don't like him, do you?"

Grinning slyly at Phoenix, she answered Alex's question. "Not even a little. I was actually thinking of staying with you full-time, you know, until we find the killer and all this blows over. Would that be all right with you, Alex?"

I barely caught a glimpse of Phoenix's red face and clenched jaw before Alex spun me around and planted a big kiss on my lips. She hummed her approval as she wrapped my arms around his neck and opened my mouth, inviting him in for a brief make-out session in front of everybody.

I was just about to start screaming through my thoughts at her when a woman's voice interrupted them.

"You must be Mena."

A stunning woman with long, black hair and a thin frame practically danced across the room, her hand outstretched for a greeting. With all her physical perfection, I sensed there was something off about her; I just couldn't put my finger on it.