Turns out trouble finds me more quickly than I want to admit. Everyone is downstairs in the formal dining room. We have actually turned it into our version of a war room from the warrior house. There are maps and lists everywhere. Nathaniel hung a large screen to show surveillance videos in here. When we walk in, all eyes fall on us and Jena is pale.
I rushed to her in an instant. “What? What happened?” I look around for my brother, thinking something might have happened to him while I was out cold. But, he’s right there beside her. There’s only one other thing that would put that look on her face. “What. Happened?”
I look around and my whole team looks sick, like physically ill. Everyone else is worried, I’m sure, based on their reactions.
“We found something early this morning on patrol near the spot where we got Gentry back.” Wyatt starts, but doesn’t go on right away.
“Seriously! Somebody start talking now!” Every bad emotion I have is running through my body right now. Fear, anger, dread, shame. What could they have possibly found that would make every single person in this room look like they have seen a ghost?
“You got a delivery.” Lil says, pushing a white box at me. I’m going to f*cking kill him and shove these white boxes down his throat. Anger surges through me.
“WHOA, Bitty. Take a breath.
“We got another box of who knows whose body parts and you’re telling me to take a breath?!?” I turn and yell at Oliver.
“No, I’m telling you to take a breath because you might set the house on fire.”
“WHAT!” I yell, How can he make jokes right now? Dakota is the one for jokes, not him.
“Baby, take a breath, please. I would hug you, but I’m kind of afraid right now.” Now, Kota decides to step in.
“What are you talking about?”
“Look at your hands, Bitty.” I look down.
“What the f*ck is happening?!” I looked surprised and scared. My hands are on fire. I can’t feel it, but they are on fire. The flames are licking up my arms, but I can’t feel a thing. I’m not even warm. “Is it just my hands?” I look at Oliver, he will tell me the truth.
“Uh, your eyes are red and glowing, but your hands are the only thing on fire.”
“New power unlocked.”
“Shut up Sam.” My brother smacks him upside the head and I laugh. I let the anger go and laugh.
“No! Sam, keep it up. Whatever stupid you have going makes her happy. It’s calming her down.” Lil points to me and I look down too. The flames are receding.
I can feel myself calming down, but, “What the actual f*ck was that?! I catch fire now?!?! Is this common or some other bullsh*t reserved just for me?” I run my fingers through my hair and take a deep breath. “Are my eyes normal at least?” I look to Oliver again. He’s my go-to for straight answers.
“Yeah, Bitty, your stormy gray is back.” He gives me a half smile.
“Fine, add it to the list of things somebody is explaining to me later. What’s in the box?” Lil slides it towards me. “And how do you know it’s for me?”
“We think they have all been for you Sky.” Kyle says from the corner of the room.
I reach for it and flip the top. I know there’s a body part of some kind in here. I can smell the blood. It’s not anyone I know, but it’s still familiar somehow. I take a deep breath and Cam, Dakota and Oliver are at my side in an instant.
“It’s the Luna’s hands…from the first drop two years ago. The fingers where the mark from the Luna ceremony were in the first package we received. It was the first contact we had from… Who sent this?” “There’s a card.” Lil slides a white cardstock rectangle towards me. The edges are purposefully frayed and there is a gold border embossed, like an invitation or announcement.
I picked it up and read out loud. ‘It’s time we finished what we started. I’m ready for my Luna to come home.’
“What the f*ck does that mean? You’re our Luna, no one else can have you. Who else thinks they can have you?”
Jena and I say it together looking right at each other. “Mike.”
“We need to get the rest of these pentagram points taken care of. He’s coming.”
“And he seems to be coming for you.” Cameron growls, wrapping an arm around my waist.
I look at Gentry and Elena. “What can we do? This is taking so long. I pass out after every clearing. How do I do better?”
“You are already doing everything you can. You take on the full power of the spell. It is literally filtering through your body while we transform the spell to something we can use. We can’t push you any further, you are barely healing as it is.” Elena looks concerned.
“It’s not enough, we need to get these last three before Mike gets here and I have a feeling he has gone off the reservation. If he was working for the Rogue King, he isn’t any more, or he’s working some side agenda. He’s crazy, but I’m sure he will attack around Cam and Kota’s birthday. We have to prepare for that to be the attack day.
