Queen Marion & Her Band of Witches (The Hybrid Series) Book 9

Chapter 32: Band of Witches Part 2

Pedro

I had been working long hours and feeling the weight of what I did many years ago when I was drunk and hurt, I accidentally conjured up ghouls. They were what you would consider leeches feeding off of souls, their way of eating and staying alive, they feed whether good or bad, it doesn't matter. I tried calling it off but it was locked and loaded, they won't stop unless they kill my wife, and if I don't deliver, they will go after my kids as p*****t. I was hurt and thought she was cheating on me, I had loved her from the moment I met her but I was too prideful to admit it, she was a beauty and I figured I wasn't in her league which made me paranoid. I treated her badly in the beginning, hoping to break her spirit but I had time to reflect when I was locked up, got the help I needed, and never again cheated or laid a hand on her.

She had forgiven me, which I didn't deserve, and when I thought she was the King's mistress, I made a deadly mistake and now I can't stop it. I tried to change the deal so they would take me instead but they beat me up and left me to die, they wanted Alma and nothing was going to get in their way. We were level one witches barely using potions and harmless spells, I don't know how I made that mistake when I was drunk but it will cost me the love of my life, my mate, my wife, the mother of my children. I was scared to ask Dragu for help, he already hated me for abusing Alma and they were best friends now, how do I fix this? I was brought out of my thoughts when Prince Phillip barged into my office, grabbed me by the neck, and yelled, "What did you do?" I knew then that they figured out it was me who caused this, I was waiting to feel my bond snap when they killed her.

She was scared I could feel it, I was a coward. Phillip was angry because his wife was caught up in this mess and I don't blame him. Levi walked in, he was angry because his fiance was also trapped in that cabin and they dragged me out to go there with them. I felt an energy in the area, I saw King Dragu looking at me, his eyes were solid white, and he was about to rip the barrier open to help the women trapped in the cabin. I saw a strange man emerge behind the trees after Dragu asked, "What did you do, Pedro?" I was frozen in fear when I was made to kneel by Prince Levi as Dragu walked up to me and said, "I ask you a question, Pedro, speak before I rip your throat out." I briefly explained what I did and he was furious so were Luc and Philip, Luc had me handcuffed while Dragu went back to remove the barrier.

The area lit up, he started to levitate, and the barrier around the cabin glowed before disappearing, his men headed inside to help the ladies. Prince Mendai showed up through another portal looked at me and headed inside the cabin, I knew I was royally screwed, they would probably kill me for this as the Queen was inside that cabin. I waited hearing the noises of the gunfire, I heard screams and then silence, the door flew open and I saw everything. I saw Luc holding Nola's hand before he kissed her, Lenora was behind Phillip and Polly-Anne ran over to Levi, I saw Hilary being followed by Dragu and Marion. Mendai told his men, "Clean up this mess," I looked at Alma, she was angry, and she walked up to me and slapped me in the face. I looked at her with tears in my eyes and said, "I am sorry, I love you," she slapped me again. I didn't know what else to say, I was a poor excuse of a mate because of my insecurities and now, I will lose her forever, I don't know if there is any coming back from this if they spare my life.

*****

Marion

The ghouls kept coming, they were after Alma and she was helping us cast a few spells as Polly changed into her bear, Hilary was helping fight them off, and I closed portals but they kept opening at different intervals of the room. This was insane but my magic was keeping them at bay with us in our magical cocoon in the center of the living room. They were circling us looking for a way in when the leader looked at me and said, "I will spare the rest of you if you give us the cute blonde," looking at Alma. Alma was trying to hold in her fear, she didn't know why they kept coming after her so I asked, "Why do you want Alma?" He smiled and as the rest backed off, he looked into her eyes and said, "To have a little fun, of course," and motioned a kiss at her with his lips.

He turned to Polly because she roared at him blocking his view of Alma, he said, "We were paid to kill this one but she is cute, I might keep this one for myself." I was confused and asked Alma, "Who would pay to have you killed? This is insane," Lenora looked at her asking, "What did you do? Who did you piss off? Maybe, we can negotiate," Alma said, "I don't think I have any enemies," and looked at the ghoul leader who was attractive by the way. He was enjoying scaring the s**t out of her, one of the traits they used to capture and kill their prey, I asked him his name and he told me that it was Mags. Hilary asked, "Who paid you, maybe, we can strike a deal?" He looked at Alma again and closed his eyes saying but she is so pretty, she is fertile, I need an heir, what can you offer that tops this?"

He turned to me and said, "Her husband paid in blood to have her gone because she gave her body to another," and we gasped in shock. Alma started to cry as her hands shook, I turned to him and before I could offer him a better deal, the boys barged in. They started to off the ghouls, I told them to capture their leader, a little present for Balthazar. I saw my husband with his gun in his hand and he walked over to me and pulled me in for a kiss, he rested his forehead against mine breathing me in, I felt his panic and love for me through our bond. He linked me, "I love you, don't scare me like that again," I smiled pulling him in for another kiss when Mendai cleared his throat, I smiled hugging him, thanking him for looking out for me. Mendai stared at me and said, "I will always have your back, Marion, you know this," Dru mind-linked me, "Is there something you want to tell me," I smiled at him lovingly before Mendai walked off.

We held hands walking out of the cabin after Dru told me about what Pedro said, I was shocked and so was Alma, she loved Pedro and was deeply hurt about this. She didn't think he would stoop this low and thought they had ironed out their differences years ago, she gave him another chance after his imprisonment. I watched him beg her for forgiveness as she slapped the taste out of his mouth, she was crying and yelled, "Why would you do this to me?" The prisoner said, "Come over to me, I can treat you better," as he looked at her before Levi had him taken away. Polly hugged and kissed Levi, we headed back to our hotel because camping was over. I couldn't believe what our retreat had turned into, our plans were spoiled, and it was going to be a long night.

******

The next morning, the guys decided to finish our retreat with us, Hilary went back home to be with Laurel and Alma couldn't stay here feeling the loss of her mating. Pedro was imprisoned back home until we tried him in court, I don't know what he was thinking but he needed a good lawyer. Emile offered us a beach house where we could all enjoy ourselves for the next two days, we are currently getting ready to hang out on the beach. Polly is back at the Palace with Levi, Lenora is wrapped up in Phillip's arms kissing him and Luc is staring at Nola's barely there bikini and I smile. Dru said, "You look nice," kissing my lips, I smiled getting my beach hat, and headed down the trail with my mate by my side. I looked at us all enjoying the moment as friends, the war drew near and hopefully, none of my friends would fall.