Page 66 of Assisting the Alpha
“I don’t think so, why?”
“Because I saw the shifter who attacked me. It’s kind of a blur, but maybe there’s something about her that would trigger a memory. It’s a long shot because she’s the right species and fur colour, but…”
“Hey, anything that would help at this point. I’ll see if I can track a photo down. One of my people might have one, although we tend to avoid being photographed in our cat forms.”
“Thanks, Teo.”
“Stay safe, li’l bro.”
As soon as Ayo hangs up, I look around at the determined faces of the team who are relying on me. They’ve followed me into hellish situations so many times, and I refuse to let them down. It doesn’t matter how bleak this looks for us. We will figure it out. Together.
“Right, we have a few hours to review this evidence,” I say. “Tonight, we stick to the plan.”
The team all straighten in their seats. Even Jet perks up a bit, which doesn’t surprise me. Infiltration is one of his favourite parts of the job. Mine too, if I’m honest. And the idea of infiltrating Nyoka’s home? Yeah, I can’t deny I’m looking forward to it. After all, swiping a possible answer to the case right from under his nose, one he’s overlooked, isn’t just the right thing to do.
It’ll also be satisfying as hell.
Chapter Eighteen
AYO
Sneaking into the place I called home for most of my life is not something I ever thought I’d be doing. The problem is, I can’t just ask Nyoka for the family grimoires without him wanting to know why, and there’s too much risk that whoever did this would find out and realise we’re onto them.
I keep going over the reality that it has to be someone who regularly spends time in the manor. Either someone who lives there—looking at you, Lola—or works there. The task force is made up of the most powerful mages in the coven, for obvious reasons, which means any one of them has enough magical ability to be a suspect.
The ward around the coven estate is enormous and complex, so it takes several minutes for me to convince it that Ethan and the team are members of the coven and should be allowed through.
“Why is this ward making all the hair on my body stand on end?” Jet whispers as I work.
I keep my voice as quiet as I can. “They used five mages and eight witches to weave it. In order to make the patchwork into a usable ward, they grounded it in the soil. That means it vibrates at a frequency supes can pick up on.”
It’s really a collection of cobbled-together localised wards instead of the one large one my dad erected and maintained before that. If they’d grounded it in rock instead of soil it would have been less sticky, but there’s no hiding the messy nature of its construction. It was amateur hour at the ward building school when they constructed this thing, seriously.
“Why didn’t they just get you to do it once you became an adult?” Skye asks, standing barefoot in nothing but joggers, ready to shift as soon as the team are clear. “You could do a ward this size, right?
“It would take a few days, but yes. Unfortunately, my magic was unreliable before I started working with you guys. Nyoka didn’t want to depend on it.”
Literally everyone looks at me like I’m crazy.
“Your wards have never been unreliable,” Ethan points out.
“They’re the most seamless wards I’ve ever encountered,” Cal agrees.
I shrug, not sure what to say. “I’ve been building wards since I was four.”
I don’t know why my magic was temperamental before. I’m just relieved it’s stable now.
“Nyoka is an idiot,” Kit declares. “His loss, our gain.”
“Your fireballs alone are epic,” Jet says.
I’m unable to contain my smile. “Come through.”
By prior agreement, I cast night vision spells on myself, Kit, and Skye since we can’t see in the dark like the others can and we’re about to move away from the nearby street lights.
Skye’s face lights up. “This is just like military tech. Cheers, Ayo.”
Kit looks around in every direction. “More greyscale, less green, but yes. Thanks, Ayo.”
