Chapter 19 AURORA My blood ? I backed toward where I thought the door was .


    Why ? The temperature in the room was dropping .


    The air was getting frigid .


    There was a scent like wet stone and something rotting deep beneath the earth .


    There are two , the puppet of Violet Mannering said in a whispery voice .


    Her head hung at a strange angle , like it couldnt support itself .


    The sage and the sentinel .


    The priestess and the knight .


    The wise one and the warrior .


    Their blood together is the key .


    My brows furrowed .


    Trajan backed up so he was right in front of me .


    Whatever this creature was , it wasnt acting like a vampire , and I had no idea what it was talking about .


    I reached into my pocket .


    It would have been stupid to walk into the home of a vampire unprepared , but I had no idea if the blessed water in the vial in my pocket would work on this thing .


    Blessed water didnt have toe from a church it coulde from anyone pure who worshipped greater spirits .


    Wed found a green witch living in a cottage not too far from us , and shed been more than happy to provide .


    Chapter 19 2/6 Let us leave , Imanded .


    I pulled the vial from my pocket .


    In front of me , I saw Trajans ws elongate .


    His body grew , the seams of his clothes popping as he started to take his lycan form .


    There are two ! the thing screamed .


    It flew at us .


    I lifted the vial of blessed water and threw it right in the creatures face .


    It shrieked in pain .


    Steam burst from it as it fell backwards .


    The other shadows wavered .


    The darkness lifted for just a moment .


    Just long enough for me to see the door .


    Run ! I shouted at Trajan .


    I grabbed for the doorknob and tried to open it .


    It was locked .


    Behind me , the thing started tough .


    ***** DANE When I pulled up to the abandoned mansion , Auroras car was outside .


    It was empty .


    Chapter 19 Shit ! I jumped out of my own car and ran to the door .


    It takes some wolves time to transform .


    It makes them clumsy , vulnerable for a few seconds .


    I threw off my shoes and shifted while I ran .


    3/6 By the time I got to the door , I had fully taken my lycan shape .


    Huge , muscled , with ws that could gut another wolf with one swipe .


    As I reached the door , I heard Auroras muffled shout from the other side .


    Disgusting waves of corrupt magic oozed out of the house .


    It wont open ! I heard her yell .


    Her voice was tight and controlled .


    Terse instead of terrified .


    The doorknob shook , like someone was trying to turn it from the other side , but whatever magic was in the house had locked it .


    There was a simple solution to that .


    The door couldnt be locked if there was no door .


    Back up ! I roared .


    I didnt have time to wait and wonder if she would listen .


    I grabbed the doorknob , smashed my ws into the rotting wood to get a handhold , and ripped the thing off its hinges .


    The wood screamed and creaked .


    Then it crumbled in my hands .


    Chapter 19 4/6 On the other side , I saw Aurora , pale and disheveled .


    Trajan was behind her fighting … something .


    Something that looked like pure darkness .


    Something that raised a primal rage in me .


    An instinct to fight like Id never known .


    Get outside , I growled .


    For once in her life , Aurora immediately obeyed .


    I strode to where Trajan was fighting for his life and attacked .


    Power gathered around me , something like my Alpha magic , but more .


    I concentrated it , using it to swipe and w .


    I didnt expect this darkness to feel solid , but it did .


    And when I hit it , it tore .


    Shredded .


    Bled .


    It screamed , then it shrank back .


    I grabbed Trajan and shoved him toward the door .


    He ran , and I followed .


    We made it outside .


    He kept going , all the way to Aurora , who grabbed him and immediately started tending his wounds .


    I faced the house , waiting for the darkness to surge through the door .


    Toe after us .


    It didnt .


    The night was still and quicl .


    Chapter 19 5/6 Get in the car , Imanded Aurora as I moved to the drivers side of her car .


    And get him in .


    She didnt argue , just tossed me the keys and got in the back seat with Trajan .


    I shifted back into my human form and drove us to her house .


    I helped Trajan inside and shouted for Celia , one of the older warriors Id sent with Piper to guard this ce .


    She was a healer .


    The way way Aurora hovered over his bed , fussing over him , made feelings of ugly jealousy rise inside me .


    I shoved them down .


    There was no room for that .


    Not when I was going to marry Evelyn .


    The door to Trajans room creaked .


    A small clear voice said , They said Uncle Trajan is hurt ! That voice gripped my heart in a fist like steel .


    Slowly , I turned .


    There were two children standing in the doorway .


    A little boy with blond hair and brown eyes , and a little girl with ck hair and eyes of pale lc .


    The children from my vision .


    My children .