Page 69 of Mage Massacres

14

Sloane

Thursday, June 11th

Afternoon

The putrid smell of old fear made me nauseous. The entire street was covered in the lingering stench, but underneath it was the fresh floral aroma of new fear.

It was coming from in front of us.

I didn’t know why it was there, but it was, and I needed to know if that was our location. We wouldn’t find Annette so easily, but locating her lair—or whatever she wanted to call it—would be a step in the right direction.

I froze mid-thought.

My feet felt as if they were glued to the sidewalk as I surveyed the smiling older woman at the end of the alley. York stopped at my right, watching her as closely as I was.

“Barbie? What’s wrong?” Briggs questioned, his mental voice worried as he glanced down from the rooftop.

I didn’t answer him. Couldn’t.

Her stance appeared relaxed, but her hands twitched at her sides. When I studied her expression, I noticed that it was forced. She’d been waiting for someone and seeing us was a shock to her. I didn’t know why.

I had no idea who she was, just that she set my teeth on edge and made the hairs on my arms stand straight up. Power tingled across the surface of my skin, and I narrowed my eyes.

Why was she provoking me?

York’s hand tightening on my elbow as I lifted my foot to move toward her.

Novak eased into my mind, whispering like he was concerned she’d hear us. “That’s Annette.”

And that was all I needed to hear.

The frustrations and emotions had been building for too long, and no matter how many times I thought I could expel them, they never left. That paired with the fear-drenched air was serving my system one Hell of a cocktail.

I felt restless and reckless.

I was pissed off and ready for a day off.

Done. That was what I was. I was fucking done.

I’d long exceeded my maximum limit for bullshit, but I knew as soon as I changed my direction to face her, she’d run.

I did love a good chase before catching my prey.

I gazed down at York’s hand, knowing that he was permanently in my head as much as Novak was. He’d heard the quiet admittance, could feel the adrenaline coursing through me.

My druid’s hand casually slipped away as he hummed under his breath. “You know not all of us can keep up with you, right?”

“Yes.”

“Are you going after her on your own?”

“No. Vaughn can keep up. Misting is quicker than taking the Void. He has a tracker.”

I didn’t say another word to my guys as I zoomed forward, my feet gliding over the concrete and taking me straight to Annette. Short, graying hair flowed in the breeze as I came to a stop behind her. She tilted her head to the right, tipping her chin as if to acknowledge my presence.

“I’ve heard you’re quick, Little King,” she murmured, her almost English accent catching me off guard. “But can you keep up?”