My mother sucks in a breath as her eyes go from worry to narrow slits of fury. “Why do you ask of dark elves?”
“I was going to ask the same?” Leon demands, stepping forward from nowhere, lowering the phone from his ear.
I do the same since both people I need to speak with are now in front of me. I give them both a rundown on what accruedtonight with Holstein and what he said about the dark elf offering repayment for helping him.
“A dark elf released Kinley?” Herja’s voice is far too gentle for my liking.
“That’s what Holstein stated.” I nod.
“This isn’t good, son.”
I know it’s not good. None of it is.
“Prez,” Brimstone announces his presence as he joins us. “Herja, Leon.”
“Brimstone, you need to contact your mother. She can help?—”
“I’m not contacting any of them, Herja,” Brimstone states, cutting Herja off. “But now that I know what’s at play here, I can do what you believe she could do.”
“Good.” Herja gives a curt nod. “What do you need for the spells?”
“I have the white sage and jasmine roots, but I need the black roots of a lotus flower. Preferably from the Garden of the Gods. My blood mixed with it will do for what needs to be done,” Brimstone grunts.
“I can get you the black roots,” Leon says. “But would a black lotus flower work instead of a white?”
“Black lotus flower.” Brimstone’s eyes shoot wide at the mention of it. “Bring the whole flower and root combined would be a hell of a lot better. They are just uncommon to find over any other.”
“That would be because they only grow in certain realms,” Leon points out, like it’s common knowledge. “I’ll speak to Hel about getting it for you.”
“Appreciate it.” Brimstone nods and looks to me. “Once I have that, I’ll get Kinley the help she needs and then upgrade the wards around the clubhouse.”
“That would be good,” I grunt and return to what I originally wanted to talk about. “Do you know of any dark elves that would target McKenna?”
“Oh, I know of one,” Leon grinds out. “Tarron Faerya. He’s at the nightclub all the time and watches her dance. He’s approached her for dates. She’s refused. To her, he’s no more than a friend. She’s never known of him being a dark elf. He hides it from all those around. I know because Hel told me. He’s even able to shield it from me, and I’m a damn demi-god.”
Fuck.
“How do we find this fucker?” I demand. I wanted him out of my woman’s life once and for all. The best way to do that was to take this shit to him and get it over with.
“You don’t. He finds you,” Leon grumbles. “But I’ll talk to Hel about this as well and see what can be done. The full moon is in two days. I suggest you keep her locked away until after.”
“Full moon will intensify the dark elf’s power,” Herja states, disgruntledly. “You cannot let this woman out of your sight. I mean it, Heat. You lock yourself away with her and keep her out of sight until after the full moon.”
“You know who she is, don’t you?” I demand shooting a glare in her direction.
“Of course, I do. I did warn you before I left. Now, be happy. I love you and will be back as soon as I can. Remember, if you need me, use your phone.” With that said, Herja whistles, and the shadows of the night swirl around her, turning into a giant ghostly steed.
That would be my mom and her dramatics. Always looking the Valkyrie that she is.
“I’ll be back shortly,” Leon says, getting my attention. “As much as I hate to admit, Herja is right. Dark elves are tricksters. More cunning than others. If he’s after her for her powers or justher, he’ll stop at nothing to get her. It makes sense now with the games he’s been playing. He’s luring her in.”
“Strange way of going about getting a date when you want one.”
I didn’t want to think about it, so I wasn’t going to. What I am going to do is get back to my woman and do what I’ve already decided I was going to do. Make her mine. In every way there is.
SIXTEEN
MCKENNA