It was a perfect move. Glissane had studied his quarry. He must have known both she and Warren would have moved heaven and earth to rescue the tortured wolves.
Focusing on the wizard, she began to know and understand him.
Somewhere deep in Kiara’s spir
it, now both wolf and witch, she sensed that what would happen right now wasn’t an end-game, but something Glissane needed to have happen. She was sure he didn’t even care about the outcome. The wizard had a reputation for experiments, dark works that ended in death for his victims. Julio, crippled by his lust for power, couldn’t know that he was a victim as surely as Glissane had put a collar of iron around his neck and marched him around on a heavy chain.
A resolve entered her bones, both witch and wolf. Glissane must die. His kind of evil rotted out the marrow of anyone he touched. Julio was a shell forged of that rot and used solely for Glissane’s purposes. The shell would be cast aside as soon as it was no longer needed.
She used her telepathy. Glissane doesn’t care whether Julio lives or dies.
He glanced at her. I’m getting that as well.
Kiara forced herself into a state of deep relaxation. So much more would be needed to survive what was waiting for them beyond the doors than just the brawn Warren wielded. Julio was a physically powerful man for one thing, but Glissane had a wizard’s arsenal he kept well-hidden.
Warren said, We’ll have to leave your security shield.
Her heart began to pound. She knew he was right. Whatever needed to happen had to begin with a barefaced confrontation.
Ready? She asked.
Do it.
She could feel that he’d eased himself into a receptive physical state. She connected with the spell and removed the shield.
Let’s step away from the doors. As he spoke, he slid his hand beneath her elbow and drew her off to the side of the room.
She followed him without hesitation. When he dropped to a crouch, she did as well. She planted her hand on his shoulder, but not out of affection. Her instincts, again wolf and witch, ran like small flashes of lightning through her blood. It was almost as though she could see the future in brief glimpses and she needed to be connected to Warren to survive.
The doors suddenly flew wide and Julio appeared in the doorway, his AR-15 at his shoulder. He fired several rounds in quick bursts into the living room.
Warren had his pistol in hand and within a split-second of the first shot, blasted away at Julio.
Kiara watched as Julio’s arm flew backward and the weapon dropped from his hand. Julio was hit. Still, Warren didn’t move.
Julio suddenly disappeared from their sightline. She said, Glissane must have pulled him into his shield.
Agreed.
Yet here they were, sitting ducks.
She watched for any sign of Glissane’s aura, but nothing appeared.
Kiara heard one of the female wolves whimpering in pain. Warren’s hair began to float at the tips. Because her hand was still pressed to Warren’s back, she could feel the rise of electricity on his skin.
Yes, she said. Bring your storm forward, but stay connected to me no matter what happens. Don’t let Glissane separate us.
Seconds ticked by, then a minute.
Warren’s hair settled down and he slowly rose to his feet. “They’re no longer in any of these rooms.”
Kiara rose as well, though she quickly took hold of his hand. She could feel their absence, too. But if they weren’t in the room, then where were they? “I didn’t see anything, no shimmering aura, nothing. Did you?”
He shook his head then headed to the bedroom doors.
Once inside, he went to the nearest chained-up wolf. “I can’t break these.” He turned toward her, scowling. He drew his phone from the pocket of his leathers.
Kiara’s heart again set up a racket. She’d been prepared for a battle. Instead, Glissane had taken Julio out of his suite of rooms.