Elaine POV
“You killed my Mother?” Nikolas yelled. His face turned red, veins on his forehead and neck popped out. He marched towards Avena.
Mom slipped away and ushered us to the other corner of the room, opposite the throne.
“What are you two doing here? I was fine!” she scolded.
“They came for us. It wasn’t worth fighting. Isaura’s safe.”
Mom placed a hand on her heart and nodded. “Thank you.”
“What are you doing? Are you trying to get killed?” I hissed.
She shook her head. “They have to be stopped. We can’t allow them to see the full moon and perform that ritual. If it’s not you and your siblings, it will be other innocent souls.”
“So you’re turning them against each other? Did Avena even kill Bianca?” I questioned.
“She hasn’t denied it. Avena’s always been obsessed with Laiken. I’m not surprised if she did do it.”
“You bitch,” Avena spat.
Nik outstretched his arms and reached for her but Avena lazily lifted a hand and sent Nik flying into the wall. He struggled to free himself but he was glued to the concrete wall.
“What are you guys doing here?” I asked Blazer. “Where’s everyone else?”
“Rae took Isaura and proceeded. I couldn’t let you guys do this alone. I felt like a coward.”
“You’re not a coward, Blazer,” I pressed.
“Avena, put him down,” Dad threatened.
In the blink of an eye, Dad had a hand around Avena’s neck and waist but Nik remained glued to the wall.
“I’m not scared of you,” Avena replied.
“Did you kill Bianca? Did you murder her and frame the Blood Moon Pack?” Dad trembled with emotions.
My wolf nudged her head and came out of the forced coma.
“Azaire,” Dove said.
He was on the staircase. His scent was strong and enticing like a hot meal.
“Back away slowly,” Azaire said through our link.
“So what if I did? Don’t you think she would have slowed you down? She never believed in you like I did. Framing the Blood Moon Pack made you realize your true enemies,” Avena spat.
Nik burst into sobs. He buried his face in his shoulder but couldn’t contain his pain. My heart shattered.
“She was my wife!”
“And you cheated on her twice,” Avena rolled her eyes.
“I loved her! She was my queen, my everything. You had no right!”
“Spare me the emotional crap! You’re on your way to being the moon god and you wouldn’t have done that without me. I kept you and your Pack House in line. I deserve all the praise and all your love. Not her or Gail!” Avena screamed.
Nik slipped down the wall. Lawrence and I froze.
Avena turned her hand to my Mother.
“No!” I screamed.
In a split second, Dad ripped his hand off Avena’s neck. Lawrence yanked me to his chest, shielding me from the bloody scene. Her body hit the ground with a thud and the room turned dead silent.
An army marched downstairs. The dark witches flooded the basement. Now we’re royally screwed.
“Subdue them all,” Dad ordered but no one moved.
He scowled. “I killed your leader I’m sure that makes me your leader! Do as I say.”
The witches sprung into action. I don’t know where Azaire went but they missed him. Lynn blended among the dark witches as they cast spells that made Blazer scream and clutch his head. Lawrence dropped to his knees and battled to keep control of his mind.
I waited for the pain but nothing happened. That was when I saw my Mother casting two different spells at once. She kept a shield over me and fought off dark witches with her other hand.
She couldn’t keep it up forever. I drew energy from my wolf and woke my magic from the forced coma Verena put me in. The first spell I cast hit her in the head, and she landed on a warlock.
“Hang in there, boys,” I told my brothers.
Dismantling a group of witch’s magic was harder than I thought! I was sweating with each shot I deflected. I could barely keep up.
“Elaine, get over here. Together we can take them,” Mom said.
I inched closer to her but my shield for my brothers got weak. I’d have to put it down if I wanted to get to my Mother.
Where was Lynn? I thought she was helping!
I broke the shields and ran to my mother but an arm wrapped around my neck and dragged me backwards. I was forced to the throne.
“Leave her alone, Laiken!” Mom cried.
“Surrender and I won’t hurt. I need her alive but only barely!” he roared.
Mom’s eyes filled with tears. She couldn’t lose me twice!
I kicked and struggled resulting in Dad sticking his claws into my back. He pressed a small dose of venom into my body. It burned like hell but I refused to scream.
“Stop,” I rasped.
“Tell your Mother that,” he spat.
We were focused on my Mother, who didn’t stop battling the dark magic for a second, but I noticed Lynn out of the corner of my eye move towards Avena’s dead body. The basement was huge. While the group of dark witches had their backs towards the door and stairs, forcing my Mother towards the corner, Dad had me near the other corner where his throne was facing my Mother. Avena was behind us. Whatever Lynn was doing, I needed to help her.”
“Haven’t you done enough!” I screamed. “Where will your witches stand when you become moon god? They want me to be the leader of the coven. Will they let you waste my magic?” I questioned.
A few witches dropped their hands and stared at each other.
“With Avena gone, I think I’d make a great leader!”
Verena growled at me. “We made a deal with Laiken. We don’t need you!”
Oh crap.
“Elaine’s right, she would make a great leader,” Lynn said. “But I have the power now. The coven’s mine.” Her hands were stained with Avena’s blood.
Lynn threw her arms in the air and bolts of lightning hit the ceiling and scattered all over the room. When the blinding light vanished, the dark witches and Lynn were gone.
“Get off of her!” Azaire shouted.
Dad scratched me as Azaire tackled him to the ground. I fell forward as Dad’s Alpha venom travelled through my body. I can’t heal myself and I’m not strong enough to fight the venom.
“Elaine, look at me.” Azaire pulled me into his arms and pushed my hair out of my face.
“What took you?” I smiled. I stroked the cut on his cheek. “You’re hurt.”
“It’s nothing.”
I couldn’t save myself. My limbs burned and my bones cried out each second.
“Hold on, honey,” Mom’s voice sounded so distant.
“Stay with me, Elaine. It’s over now and we have stuff to do,” Azaire pleaded.
“Over how?” I murmured.
“Just over, babe.”
“It hurts, Azaire.”
“No, no, move everyone!” Azaire ordered.
I didn’t know what he wanted to do but I closed my eyes and welcomed the darkness and sleep.