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

things I can do,” he whispered. “And if you think you’re safe because this is a vision, you’re absolutely wrong.” He reached out and caressed my face.

I jerked back, stunned when I felt his touch. His fingers were scorching hot and they burned my skin. I flinched and resisted the urge to touch my face.

“You’re not real,” I murmured.

“Am I not?” He grinned. “I’m inside your head, Mackenzie. I’m as real as you are.”

I closed my eyes for a moment and tried to think rationally. I’d never interacted with anyone in a vision before, but Abaddon wasn’t just anyone. His specialty was the mind. All of this was plausible. But if it was, that meant he had to be nearby, right? I couldn’t imagine him projecting himself this clearly from the Highlands. He had to be close.

“Where are you?” I demanded as I opened my eyes.

He smirked. “Now you’re thinking. Where could I possibly be? You watched me come from the village.”

The panic that coursed through me as I imagined the chaos he could have caused on his way there sent a surge of dread plummeting to the pit of my stomach. I had to wake up. I had to extricate myself from the vision but didn’t know how. I’d never been trapped inside one before.

I pinched my arm and shook my hands, trying to think what I could possibly do to get out of this God forsaken nightmare. All the while, Abaddon laughed at my struggle.

“I’ll let you go … but you must catch me,” he taunted. He grinned and his eyes twinkled in mischief.

“Is this a game to you?” I shouted.

“See you later …” He waved goodbye and the world around me spun, his figure fading until it disappeared altogether.

My vision gradually cleared and the dark scene disappeared. I blinked a few times and found myself lying on the dining table, surrounded by the concerned faces of Bash, Fenrir, Raven, and Bobby.

I gasped and shot up to a sitting position. “He’s in the village!” I searched the hall for my guards, making eye contact with Liam who stood by the wall. “Get Asher’s team and search the village!”

“Aye, Yer Majesty.” Liam bowed and hurried out of the dining hall.

I tried to scramble off the table, but Bash stopped me. “Whoa, where do you think you’re going?”

“He told me to go find him,” I muttered.

Fenrir grabbed my arm and turned me to face him. “What do you mean he told you?”

I shook my head as if confused. “I don’t know … he could talk to me in my vision. He controlled it. I couldn’t get out until he released me.”

Bash’s blue eyes widened, and I saw the fresh resolve in his eyes. Being an oracle was dangerous for my well-being. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea to get rid of my abilities.

“You can’t go out there,” Bash said. “It’s another trap.”

“I agree with blue eyes.” Raven jabbed her thumb in Bash’s direction. “Abaddon’s just baiting you. If you go out there, you don’t know what he has in store for you.”

“Then don’t let me go alone,” I challenged.

Raven laughed. “And save your ass again? You’re running a pretty high tab there, Your Majesty.” She gave me a sarcastic bow.

I snorted. “Let’s just say I’ll owe you one.”

Raven clapped her hands together and looked at the guys. “All right, then. Let’s do this.”

“You can’t be serious!” Fenrir glared at her.

“As serious as a heart attack,” she smirked. “If you don’t want to tag along, that’s fine.” She shrugged nonchalantly and stretched out a hand toward me.

I clasped my hand in hers and let her help me down from the table.

“Wait just a second!” Bash shouted.

Raven waved him off. “Don’t worry, baby daddy, I won’t let anything happen to her.”

Bash growled, not liking her informality one bit. “I’m coming with you,” he snarled.

She grinned. “The more the merrier!”

“Damnit,” Fenrir sighed as he followed us out of the room.

“Aw,” I smirked and looked back at the grumpy guys. “It’s like date night. We’re double dating.”

“Don’t forget about me! I’m the fifth wheel here,” Bobby said as he hurried to catch up.

“Quiet, little wolf,” Fenrir glowered. “I highly doubt getting our asses kicked by the demon Abaddon is considered a date night.”

I sighed. “A girl can dream.”

We walked out of the castle, storming across the drawbridge and into the village. Guards were already spread out, searching for Abaddon as instructed, but what the demon really wanted was for me to find him. I knew he wouldn’t make himself known until I did.

“Did he give you any clues as to where he would be?” Raven asked as we scoured the cobbled streets.

I shook my head. “He only said he came from the village. I doubt he’d be in the southwest sector again, so that’s one area we don’t need to search.”

“Where did you meet him in your vision?” Bash asked.

“On the drawbridge. Front entrance,” I said as I scanned the streets.

“Let’s just wait for him there,” Fenrir suggested.

I stopped walking and turned on him. “And let him run wild in the streets of Sheunta Village, allowing him to wreak havoc and destruction in his wake? Really?”

“Okay … maybe not.” Fenrir looked away.

We continued walking down darkened streets and alleyways, occasionally cutting through residential areas and running into guards who were patrolling. Unfortunately, or more like fortunately, it was extremely quiet. After about an hour, we found ourselves deep within the village with no luck whatsoever.

Had I been tricked?

“Wait a second,” Bash said and stopped walking, making us all pause with him. Our attention snapped to him. “What if this is a trap—”

Fenrir rolled his eyes dramatically. “Duh, where have you been? Are all lycans this stupid? Of course it’s a trap!”

Bash growled, “Let me finish. What if he wanted to lure you away from the castle, tempting you to go on a wild goose chase to find him, when he’s really headed straight for the castle?”

My stomach plummeted.

Alexander …

“We have to go back!”