"What did you mean by 'inner circle?", Emily questioned Raul while walking up the stairs to the part of the building she hasn't visited yet.
Teddy's part of the building.
The rest of them were in the West wing.
"It means inner circle.", Raul solely said, pressing forward.
"Fair enough.", Emily rolled her eyes, still following the wolves in front of her.
"Just pray we come out alive out of the meeting chamber.", Teddy's sister added nervously.
"I don't know about you, little wolf, but I'm not that killable at the moment.", Emily told her with a sour smile on her face. "Much to my misfortune, since I ended up in the pup den.", sarcasm slipped through her lips once again.
"Ergh, can you just not do that?"? the girl shouted ruffled.
"Can I just not do what?", Emily playfully glanced at her. Something told her she's gonna have a lot of fun dancing Irish dance on this girl's nerves.
"Selena, calm down. We're here.", Raul threw a considerable look at both of the girls. "Please, be calm. Teddy's not in the mood."
"When was he in the mood last time?", blondie asked, still annoyed. They stood in front of some big, wooden doors. "Probably in kindergarten, the last time I remember.
"Ladies first, Selena.", jumped Emily with cynicism in her voice.
"Since I'm the only lady here...", Selena fired back at her and opened the door.
They infiltrated the chamber and Emily saw the alpha standing in front of them, close to the flames that filled the cabin. Bottle of Jack half-emptied stood on the wooden table behind him.
It was obviously a handy thing to have around when dealing with the active pack of wolves.
"Teddy, we're here.", Raul announced calmingly. "Inner circle only."
"Good.", Teddy nodded his head. "I sense my family's scent down the room.", he proceeded with speaking, turning his back and facing them eventually. "I hope your travel was safe, sister.", he glanced at the blonde girl furiously standing in front of him.
"I would kill you this very moment if I had a chance.", Selena said still looking frantic.
"I know, that's why you are restrained 'till further.", Teddy devilishly grinned.
"Till further?", she asked with resentment in her voice.
"I cannot have you running around in your wolf form right now.", he said. "Please, sit. Let's talk."
"Are you being serious, Teddy?", Emily interfered. "Using a 100 years old punishment method on your sister?"
"This isn't your issue to solve, witch.", he hissed at her.
"Well, it is if you want me as an emissary. I will not tolerate your business with merchant witches.", she raised a finger against him, actually finding herself meaning the words that came out of her mouth.
Unbelievable.
"How did you...?, Raul tried to ask, but Emily cut him off.
"I just know. There was a word on the street that witches started leaving their covens when Hunters offered them money.", Emily calmly said. "But, they also left their ancestors and connection to them. Which is blasphemy. No normal witch would ever be allowed to restrain a wolf. Not in this century, at least.", she stood in front of alpha, eyeing him, seeing him analyzing her. He looked weirdly impressed.
"Ok, we need to get serious.", Teddy suddenly announced, breaking out of gazing at Emily. "You rebels sit the Hell down before I kill you both and let's get this over with. We've got stuff to do."
"
People, let's talk.", Raul said.
"Ok, let's talk.", Emily said. "I'm all ears."
"Knock it with sarcasm.", Teddy demanded.
"Someone finally told her.", Selena added.
"I will ignore this ignorant child for the sake of my mental health leftovers, you were saying?", Emily leaned her head on her head, eyes pointed at Raul.
Selena just rolled her eyes in disgust.
"The pack has been recalled, with Selena as the second in command.", Raul said. "Now, that we have a witch, things will be different."
"You do understand that I am not in full power? It will be a disaster if magic starts draining me.", Emily looked at them seriously.
"Why?", Raul asked.
"One of the perks of being half-vampire is that I can go mad at any time and lose control. I could start killing people."
"That's why we'll fix you.", Teddy I'minned widely, with danger in his eyes. 'Tell us where your other half is."
"You don't understand, I can't fix me.", Emily stood off the chair. "My other half is hidden, well hidden. That's what kept the circle alive. I can't just merge and dissolve everything.", she was upset.
The truth was, she was the only one feeling safe like this. And she knew it.
She was the only one she could trust with secrets all this time.
It was like her comfort zone. She was told afraid to swindle the whole vampirism to Ivan. She couldn't. She would have never forgiven herself for destroying his youth.
He is ignorant. He doesn't know what he wants.
"Find a way, witch. To become a witch.", Teddy curled his eyebrows looking dispersant.
"Ok, Ted, stop. We need to sort things out first.", Raul stood between them, once again playing a diplomat. "Where is your other half?"
"Well hidden.", Emily said shortly., crossing her arms.
"My guess is, it's a person.", Teddy remarked, looking at her wickedly, from behind Raul. "It's a blood relative, someone close to her. She could not survive all these years by putting magic into the box. She needed something alive to keep her human side in shape."
Emily froze. How could he be so clever and nasty? She thought she was the wise guy here.
But Teddy...he overplayed all her cards. She couldn't put Ivan in danger.
She simply dismissed that option. It didn't exist.
"Well, are you going to say something?", Raul asked hastily.
For the first time, Emily looked at Selena for some kind of reassurance. Selena just looked at her with question marks in her eyes.
She was screwed. Both of them were too lost to defy Teddy in any way.
"Two things. Two things I will ask of you before any further talking."
"Do you think you're in a position to ask anything?", Teddy asked nervously.
"Let her talk.", Raul halted him. "None of us is in a position to run from this now.", he glanced warningly at him.
"There is a way.", Emily said. "But, it requires time and strength. And a lot of effort."
"And? Your point is?", Teddy asked.
"No merchant witches. And you will never again ask questions about the person I am locked with. That information is safest with me.", she demanded.
"Okay. So, what's the plan?", Raul asked.
"I will try stepping into contact with one person, a witch able to help me with this matter.", Emily said. "It will take time to find him, but I heard rumors that he was seeking an emissary place. My guess is, he has lowered with somebody already. You could track the info."
"The pack meeting is tomorrow. When we convince them we have finally found a way to survive, we will send our runners.", Teddy said. "Selena, you will be back into the inner circle, like it or not."
"If Peter comes alive and healthy, I will.", she still boycotted against the orders.
"I didn't kill him, God damn it. I need my pack alive.", Teddy yelled at her.
"That's what you said the last time and I found him not able to heal from alpha wounds. I don't trust a word that comes out of your mouth anymore!", Selena screamed back. Emily looked at Raul and discomfort was written all over his face. She could tell, he once cared for Selena.
But, so did she for Michael.
And she left him years ago for the sake of surviving.
How is she going to find him now? He was the only living person able to help her with Ivan.
She'll be lucky if he even decides to answer her calls...