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Chatper 381
Chatper 381
Chatper 381
Chapter 0381
After Julian’s report of Jane being missing, I insisted that I go see for myself if the body was gone.
Nicholas agreed only if he could carry me, so I ended up in his arms in a bridal carry. Due to the gory
state of my ruined dress, we avoided any areas with crowds as we made our way downstairs.
Soon, Julian, Veronica, Nicholas, and I joined Brian and a handful of other guards loyal to Julian who
were standing directly under the balcony where we had been. This was where Jane’s body should have
landed.
But Julian’s report appeared correct. Even with my new werewolf senses, I couldn’t detect any
indications that someone had dropped here. There was no blood splatter. No broken tiles. No kicked up
dirt. No… anything. It was like she never hit the ground.
It was impossible.
“I saw her fall,” I said. “She slipped out of my hands and…” I couldn’t say the
rest.
No one pushed me to,
“Could she have survived?” Nicholas asked.
“A fall from that height?” Julian said. “Unlikely,”
“But if she never hit the ground…”
The idea made me uneasy. I didn’t want my sister dead, but for her to have vanished…
The others seemed as troubled as me. Even Veronica appeared somewhat puzzled, Julian faced her.
“Could she have been rescued magically, somehow?” Julian asked.
Veronica gave the words serious thought. She crossed her arms. “Magic like that would come at a high
cost. Someone would have to be very powerful and have excessive resources,”
“So it is possible?” I asked.
Veronica looked at me. A touch of concern darkened her eyes. “There are very few people in existence
with the magical ability necessary for teleportation. Even within the underground organization, I can
think of only one.”
“Who?” Julian asked.
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Veronica’s face hardened. “Hawk himself.” o
“The Boss?” Julian groaned. “Great.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Nicholas said. “We should check the perimeter. Teleportation is one
thing, but she could have had a magical item to cus hion her fall.”
Julian glanced around. I didn’t know what he was looking for until he spotted a partially hidden camera
overhead. He nodded toward it. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and find some footage.” He nodded to Brian,
who moved at once toward the doors.
“I’ll stay here and meditate,” Veronica said. “If it was teleportation, magic that powerful would have left
traces. I may be able to feel them if I concentrate.”
“Good,” Julian said. He motioned to two of his guard. “Keep them with you.” Then Julian looked at
Nicholas and me. “You should get her cleaned up. She looks like hell.”
“I’m right here,” I said.
“I was being polite. Hell is a compliment compared to what I really think,” Julian said, flashing a grin. It
fell quickly. “The sight of you in all that blood is unsettling, Piper.”
I understood what he meant. It was unsettling for me as well. Every time I looked down, I had to remind
myself that I was alive, and that thanks to my wolf, my wound was healing.
I barely felt any pain anymore. I could probably even walk by myself except I wanted to stay in Nichola
s’s arms just a moment longer.
But, even so, I wasn’t ready to return to my room yet. I was full of anxious energy. I’d never be able to
sleep. Instead, I would spend the entire night pacing like a caged animal.
I jostled some in Nichola s’s arms, and he seemed to notice my anxiety.
“We’ll go talk to with the wolves first,” Nicholas said. “If anyone crossed through the forest tonight, they
will know about it,”
Julian nodded, and we went our separate ways. Julian toward the house, and Nicholas and I toward
the forest.
I was relieved to be able to stay in the cool fresh air.
As Nicholas carried me across the lawn, I started to feel a bit guilty. “I can walk
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than anything.”
Nicholas didn’t make move to stop. In fact, he tightened his embrace, pressing me more firmly against
his chest.
“When we reach the trees, I will lower you,” he said. “But for now, for me. Let me have this.”
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