Blood of the Wolf: The Crown (Mackenzie Grey Book 11), Karina Espinosa [top 10 ebook reader txt] 📗

Bash plopped down beside me and sighed. “Possibly. They might have thought it would never be possible for a MacCoinnich to have fae magic in their blood.”

I nodded and picked up the journal again to continue my scan. Bash grabbed one of the others lying beside me and started to skim it. We sat in comfortable silence as we read through the journals together.

I was in the midst of a passage about a Wendigo attack in the village when I noticed something strange in the next day’s passage.

January 28th, 1962

We captured the Wendigo and are keeping it locked in the dungeons located in the outskirts of the village, where we keep most of the creatures.

When I chained the Wendigo, I found a ruby necklace looped around its neck. I asked it what it was, but when it refused to answer me, I took it. I ripped it from its neck, the clasp shattering.

I took the necklace to our local warlock in the village to take a look at it, but he spoke of things I’d never heard of. He spoke of demons and spirits. I concluded the warlock was mad.

Nevertheless, there was magic in that necklace and whatever it was, the pulse was strong. The Wendigo had it for a reason. The village warlock offered me more money than I thought he had for it. I could have sold it, but my instincts told me to keep it. I hid it in the hidden space in my room where no one will ever find it.

I stopped reading and set the book down. So many things were running through my mind at once.

First, apparently there was a secret dungeon on the outskirts of town that held creatures? Second, was the Wendigo he captured the same one I fought during my trial? If so, how long had he been a prisoner? Third, Hamish knew a little about demons, but he wasn’t sure if he believed the tales. And fourth, was the hidden compartment he mentioned what Alexander tried to tell me about when he thought he was dying?

My mouth was agape as I ran through all those thoughts again, opening and closing my mouth like a fish out of water. I turned to Bash and smacked his arm.

He startled. “Ow, what?”

Without saying a word, I handed over the opened journal and pointed to the passage. “Read.”

Bash frowned but did as I asked. After a few minutes, his expression morphed into different stages of confusion. “You don’t think this Wendigo is the one you fought, do you?” He raised a brow. “This is from 1962 … That means he would have been locked up for …”

“Yeah, a really long time. We never asked where they got a damn Wendigo from. It’s not like they’re just roaming the streets of Sheunta Village,” I snorted. I pointed to where I had stopped reading. “When Alexander was shot by Raven’s arrow and he thought he was dying, he was trying to tell me something. Something that was in his room and had to do with my ring.” I held up my hand where the MacCoinnich family ring rested.

Bash’s brows furrowed. “You think the ring opens this hidden space?”

I shrugged. “Possibly. It must be like, a safe or something.”

“Does it say where it is?”

I shook my head. “Nope. We’ll have to find it on our own.”

Nightfall loomed and I knew my time had come to leave for the highlands. Dressed in a pair of jeans, sneakers, and a thick sweater, I grabbed a backpack with supplies and a map and headed out of my bedroom. The others were waiting for me.

“Are ye sure ye want to do this? We can handle it if he comes into the village, Yer Majesty,” Ranulf said. He’d been trying to get me to change my mind all day.

“Let me come with you, Mackenzie,” Bash offered.

I shook my head. “I have to go alone. Let’s follow his rules to avoid any retaliation.”

Alexander paced the room agitatedly. I knew out of everyone, he was the most worried. The first few buttons of his shirt were undone and his tie hung loose. He’d run his hands through his hair so many times it was sticking up. “Are ye sure Fenrir and the Valkyries will be there? Can ye truly count on them, darling?”

My brows furrowed. “I guess we’re about to find out.”

“I’m nae willing to take that gamble,” Alexander let out in a low voice.

“Thankfully there’s such a thing as free will,” I smirked. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Me and the baby will make it back in one piece.” I eyed them all to ease their tension.

With my backpack in place, I walked out of the royal wing with my overprotective menfolk trailing behind me. William stood at the door and followed us out of the castle. We exited through the rear of the castle where a legion of Queen’s guards were waiting for us on the field just as we crossed the drawbridge.

Bash held my hand every step of the way until we reached the edge of Caledonian Forest, where we were to part ways.

“If you don’t return by daybreak, I’m going into that forest and bringing you back myself,” Bash growled as he turned me to face him.

I nodded. “I’ll be back in time. I promise.” I stood on my tippy toes, resting my hands on his shoulders and pressing my lips on his. “You have nothing to fear, Sebastian Steel. I’ll take care of us,” I whispered with a smile. He knew the us I meant.

Before I pulled back, he pulled me in for a bone crushing hug and I let him hold me for however long he needed. We all knew this was a trap, we just didn’t know what kind. It wasn’t odd for Bash to feel fear. I felt it—his fear. It was like a lead weight in my gut.

“It’s time.” Ranulf cleared his throat. “If ye don leave now,