Midnight Moonrising (Moonrising #2)(75)
My wolf was smiling, but the instant our flesh touched, a surge of energy passed between us and my wolf immediately jerked away. It hadn't hurt, but it had stunned us both, and I was well aware that my wolf didn't have any intentions of letting her touch us again.
"Chill out. It was probably just static electricity," I said through my thoughts, but she only shook my head then laced my fingers together behind my back.
The woman smiled apologetically. "I am sorry, my dear. That is just my way of getting to know you. It's harmless, I promise."
"Yeah, well, I hope we're good and acquainted now, because you're not doing that to me again."
Sweet smile still in place, her head dipped into a slow nod of agreement. "Very well. My name is Meridia, and these are my sisters." She took a step back as a fiery redhead joined us. She was also very pretty, elegant even.
She didn't try to touch me, and I was grateful for that. I didn't know how much more touchy-feely my wolf could take without showing her hairy side. "I… am Mag… na… laaayna. It is… so nice… to meet you." A proud smile graced her pretty face, lighting up her eyes.
I knew right away the girl was deaf. I was raised with only one sibling, and he had been deaf from the age of ten. Their speech was slower than and not as clear as someone who could hear.
With every ounce of energy I had in me, I pushed my wolf out and took full control. Being fluent in ASL, I used my hands to tell her that it was lovely to meet her, too, and to thank her for inviting me into their home.
Magnalayna's mouth fell agape as excitement filled her features, and she signed back that the pleasure was all theirs and she hoped I came to visit again soon.
"I could have learned how to do American Sign Language from your memory in less than a minute, Mena. There was no need to be so pushy," my wolf said through my mind.
"I communicate a lot better with people than you do. I'm definitely nicer," I said as I nodded to Magnalayna, and then signed that I would love to come back for a visit.
"Being nice will only get you challengers for my position as Alpha."
I ignored her, and smiled when a pretty blonde walked up beside Magnalayna and only looked at her, anxiety clear in her petite body. My smile faded when she turned her head to look at me. Shimmering tears filled her eyes, but she didn't say a word as the tears cascaded over her cheeks and fell to the floor.
My hand flew up to cover my mouth, and after a moment I lowered it to speak to her. "Did I say something to offend you? I apologize if I did—"
I stopped short when Magnalayna leaned over and whispered something in Meridia's ear. The black-haired beauty inhaled deeply then let it slowly seep out.
"What's wrong?" Alex said, but Meridia didn't answer him as she turned her head toward Phoenix, rage coloring her pale cheeks a shade of red that wasn't very becoming, and fury filled her eyes. That's when I realized what was so off about her. She didn't have pupils. A light blue haze covered them and her irises. She was blind. Somehow I knew she wouldn't have to see to strike us all down. I did the first thing that came to me; I twisted and threw myself against the front of Phoenix's chest, shielding him from any nasty spell she might decide to cast upon him.
"How dare you come into my home and make me look like a fool!" Meridia said.
I heard him sigh, and barely caught the stern look of disapproval in his eyes and the shake of his head before I was swiftly shoved behind him.
"Meridia, I don't know what you think I've done, but—"
His intake of breath was brief before he reached toward her, but it was too late; she clapped her hands together and power swept through the room.
Chapter 39
Phoenix
Phoenix's eyes grew wide as he stared in horror at the unconscious bodies scattered on the living room floor of the witches' cottage. And he knew they were only unconscious—not dead—because he was breathing and Mena was still standing, but all the others, besides the witches, were out cold.
"What did you do to them?" he finally managed to say.
"Quiet, vampire. I had to make it believable," Meridia said as she closed the distance between herself and Mena then brought her hands up to place on either side of Mena's face. After drawing in and letting out a relieved breath, she nodded. "The wolf is asleep, too. We don't have long, maybe five minutes, at best, before she and everyone else wakes up, so we have to make this fast. Mena, dear, I've put a block on this conversation, so your wolf won't know what is said here unless you deliberately think about it. Let Phoenix and the few pack members you are linked to try and fix this. I left you conscious because I felt you had a right to know what your fate may be if their efforts fail." Angling her head toward another room in the house, she spoke to her sisters. "One of you bring me a wolf's bane elixir."
Mena blinked in confusion. "What—what has happened? I don't understand."
Meridia huffed as she hurriedly spoke to Phoenix. "Only another Alpha wolf can find out what the wolf has named herself. When the time is right, Phoenix will give you the elixir to drink. It will only put your wolf to sleep long enough for you to do what is necessary to save yourself."
"What?" Phoenix shouted in disbelief. "We'll never find an Alpha willing to cooperate with her pack and my clan. There has to be another way, Meridia. Find another way."