Natalie kept true to her word. By the ti Violet and the others returned to the shack, there was already a package waiting for them.
They carried it inside and opened it, finding not just one but two recording devices that were so small and sophisticated that Violet knew she could never have acquired such a model on the open market. If they hid these properly, no one would ever realize they were there unless they looked closely.
"I’ll plant it in her room tomorrow after she leaves for school," Lila offered at once. "I’ll use my ability to conceal myself. Not even a shadow would notice going in or out of her room."
"I’ll guide Lila enough to ensure we get the best view," Daisy contributed, grinning.
And just like that, their plan for the next day was sealed. They’d have their mont, and it would be perfect.
Then they had dinner, their stomachs growling after the day’s events. The whirlwind of gossip about Roman’s mishap had so consud the school that none of the other students paid much attention to them grabbing food in the dining hall. Even so, the girls were too pleased by their own successful sche to eat much.
"So, I guess Asher’s next," Daisy said, eyes twinkling with intrigue.
Violet hesitated for only a second. "We can’t strike at Asher the sa way we did to Roman," she said with a deep exhale. "Besides, he didn’t hurt like the fox did. Not to ntion, the guy’s too careful and smart. We’d only be shooting ourselves in the foot if we tried. The best we can do is use Lucille’s matter against him when the ti cos. The world needs to see the kind of gas he plays with his power. He needs to be curbed. He needs to learn restraint. Consent."
"I’m all for that," Ivy said. "I definitely don’t want Alpha Asher’s wrath pointed at us. He’s scary."
"Fine. Alaric, then?" Daisy asked.
At the ntion of his na, Violet’s expression darkened. Her shoulders stiffened, and her jaw set. "We’ll go ahead as planned. He hurt , I hurt back."
"Fair enough. I’ve prepared his punishnt." Lila pulled out a white paper covered in strange symbols.
Violet raised a brow. "What is that?"
Lila’s eyes glinted with mischief. "So humans think talismans confer only things like good luck, health, or power. What they don’t know is that it can work the opposite way. This hex is from my people and it’s designed to bring bad luck for an entire day."
She said in a lowered tone. "I could stretch the effect to weeks, maybe even a month, but I don’t think you’d want that..."
Violet’s heart picked up speed. "A day is more than enough. Thank you," she said, feeling both grateful and a little frightened. Lila could be terrifying at tis.
Clearly, Violet wasn’t alone in thinking that, because Daisy said ominously, "Remind never to get on your bad side."
Lila blinked. Why were they overreacting? It was just a little hex.
"What’s the catch?" Violet prodded, knowing there usually was one. Roman’s hex had required his DNA, after all.
Lila explained. "This paper has to stay in close contact with the intended target for at least three hours for the bad luck to fully settle in. Since it’s nightti, the best place would be his bed, but you’ve told that Alaric rarely spends ti at the North house."
"Yeah. He spends most of his ti at his lab, especially when his head is full of ideas or if he’s stressed and needs to distract himself with work." Violet said.
Lila tapped the edge of the paper thoughtfully. "So, we can’t know for sure if he’s at ho or in the lab. Breaking into his lab would be difficult, to say the least."
"So, how do we get him to sleep in his bed? If he’s not ho, the hex won’t work. Even if he is, he could leave before the three hours are up unless we... I don’t know, drug him or sothing, but that’s basically impossible. How do we pull this off?" Daisy asked.
"Maybe we think of sothing else," Ivy suggested. "A different hex?"
"We don’t have ti." Violet groaned and pressed her palms to her face. "Parents Week is almost here."
"Well, if it doesn’t work, we can—" Daisy was mid-sentence when Lila suddenly raised a hand to her lips, hushing her imdiately. The room went still.
An abrupt seriousness took over Lila’s face as she tilted her head, ear cocked as though listening intently to sothing outside.
Without saying a word, Lila picked up her phone and typed sothing. Then she lifted the screen to their faces, the sentence reading : Talk naturally.
Violet’s brows furrowed slightly, but she trusted Lila’s instincts and right now, it seems sothing wasn’t right.
So she cleared her throat and said casually, "What happened to Roman today was quite unfortunate."
Daisy caught on quickly. "Quite unfortunate indeed," she echoed, nodding along.
Ivy added with lodramatic flair, "Poor Roman."
Right then, a knock ca at the door and all of them tensed, their thoughts leaping to worst-case scenarios. Then again, if soone ant them true harm, would they knock? Most of the ti, no.
They rose to their feet and Lila signaled for Violet to stay behind her. She strode to the entrance and swung it open, fearlessly, only to feel her jaw drop.
"Oh," was all she managed.
"Who is it...?" Violet unable to resist, stepped closer and peeked out.
Her breath caught because standing outside was the last person she expected to see. The one person who had betrayed her in front of everyone. The North Alpha.
Alaric Storm.
But instead of anger, a strange calm settled over Violet. Because at that mont, all she could think was one thing.
The gods were on their side.
"Hello," Alaric Storm swallowed nervously as four pairs of angry eyes pinned him on the spot.
User Comments
0 comments from readers