Ruby walked back inside the house with her arms folded across her chest. Zachary and Deak were in the parlor room looking over something when they both heard the slamming of the front door.
“Well, you’re in luck,” Ruby said to both of them.
They both looked at her confused. “What do you mean?” Zachary asked first.
Ruby let out a sigh before she responded. “Amanda is on her way here.”
Zachary didn’t know how to respond to this exactly. He was relieved to hear that Amanda was on her way, but he believed Ruby was still peeved over the fact that they wanted to use her niece’s magic to help locate Vita.
“Did you call her?” Deak asked.
Ruby closed her eyes as she shook her head. “No, she called me. I can’t give you the exact details of what happened. Amanda wants to explain things herself when she gets here. I still don’t like any of this. But as long as this is Amanda’s choice to help find Vita, I will support her decision.”
Ruby turned and walked out of the room. Zachary let out a sigh of relief.
“You should go and talk with Ruby,” Deak suggested.
Zachary immediately shook his head. “I learned a long time ago that you let Ruby settle before attempting to talk to her. She’ll say things in a heated moment and refuse to apologize for them whether she was right or wrong about it.”
Deak chuckled. “Ah, she has fire inside her. That’s good.”
“Why is that good?”
“We are going to need a lot of help if there are more players in this game than just the witches. I have a feeling there is more to this than we think,” Deak explained.
Zachary took in what Deak just said and thought about it; typically, covens didn’t connect with other factions unless they needed to. So why were there wolves waiting for them at that coven? Could they be working together? If so, why?
“So, what are you thinking?” Zachary asked. He wanted to get Deak’s perspective on this.
Before Deak could respond, his phone began to buzz in his pocket. He pulled out his phone and rolled his eyes when he saw who was calling: his uncle’s lawyer.
“Give me one moment,” Deak said as he walked out of the parlor room and headed for the front door.
“Igen (Yes),” he said as he answered the phone as he opened the door, and stepped outside.
“I have been trying to get a hold of you for some time since your Uncle’s passing.”
“I’ve been busy,” Deak replied.
“We need to set up a time to go over your uncle’s will.”
“What’s there to go over? My uncle didn’t care about me. He wouldn’t leave anything to me.”
“I beg to differ, Mr. Duvall. We need to go over this very soon.”
“I’ll be back in town in a few days.”
“Very well. Come see me once you’ve returned.”
“Birsag (fine),” Deak said before ending the call.
He took a moment before he went back inside. He didn’t understand why he needed to be there when his uncle’s will was being read. They didn’t get along. His uncle wasn’t happy when he changed his surname to his mother’s but that was because he never felt like he was a Kiraly. He could feel his anxiety grow when thinking about his uncle.
He closed his eyes and took deep breaths to calm down. He needed to stay in control. Deak walked back into the house.
“Everything okay?” Zachary asked as Deak walked back into the room.
“It’s fine,” Deak answered as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Where were we?”
“You were going to tell me about your thoughts on why you think we are going to need all the help we can get.”
Deak nodded. “I believe the coven is working with the wolf pack. But not just any pack, it has to be pack with same views on other factions.”
It both came to them at the same moment.
“Amanda.” They both said aloud.
Being a hybrid was rare and uncommon between the factions. If a wolf mated with a witch, typically the result was one or the other and, and then the couple would be shunned by both factions back years ago. But as times changed, so did the people—at least some.
Zachary remembered how hard it was for Lily when her family found out that she was mated to Robby. Her family always thought it was just high school love and once Robby found his mate, Lily would be able to find someone within the coven to marry. They were not happy when they found out that she was pregnant. e time when the coven was splitting apart because people’s views were changing, it was shortly after Lily’s death that the coven disbanded and went their separate ways.
“We’re going to have to figure out which package or packs are in alliance with Persephone,” Zachary said as he rubbed the back of his neck.
Deak nodded in agreement, then looked down the hall when he saw a shadow of movement. Madeline was slowly making her way down the hall. “How are you feeling?” he asked as he walked over to her and offered his arm to help her.
She smiled at the gesture and slipped her arm through his. “Thank you, Deak. So, what did I miss?”
Deak chuckled and walked slowly with Madeline on his arm until he got into the parlor room where Zachary was. “You’ll get to meet a small girl,” he told her as he helped her sit down in a chair.
Her eyes widened and she smiled when she heard this. “She’s on her way?” she asked.
“Yes, Mother. Ruby just spoke with her and she’s on her way here,” Zachary confirmed.
“I’m happy to get a chance to meet her. Is she coming to help?” Madeline asked.
Deak nodded. “We think so, but we haven’t heard how.”
Madeline nodded in understanding. She looked around. “Where’s Ruby?”
“She went upstairs to her room. She’s not too happy about Amanda helping us,” Zachary answered.
“She’s young, and only recently came into her power and discovered her wolf. I can understand Ruby’s uneasiness. She just wants to protect her from getting hurt,” Madeline them.
Deak and Zachary nodded. Deak understood about getting a handle on their magic. He was still having a hard time controlling his, especially when his temper got the best of him and Malakai tried to take over. “Hopefully she can help us find the clue we need to find Vita,” Deak said.
There was the crunching of tries against the gravel outside. Deak and Zachary both went to the window to check who was there just as two vehicles pulled up.
“I don’t think that’s small girl,” Deak announced as eight men stepped out of the two vehicles.
“No, looks like we’ve got some company and not the good kind either. Ruby, get down here now!” Zachary yelled.
They were going to have some trouble.
Fighting for my Mate
Mated to my Bully (Book 1)