Liam met her eyes in the mirror. “Seems rather hypocritical.”

Tara dropped her eyes. “Survival of the fittest. We are weak like humans, yet look like a supernatural. Only a very few have any sort of magic, usually those gotten by a Lighteater.”

Pamela spoke up. “How many of you are there?”

“A few hundred.”

Milly sucked in a sharp breath. “How could so many go unseen for so long?”

Tara met Liam’s eyes again. “People see what they want to see, not what is truly there. You understand, don’t you?”

He of all people did.

They were almost at their destination. A warehouse situated in the industrial part of town. About what he expected of a supposed ‘secret’ hideout.

“I’ll subdue Ingers. Milly, Tara, take out anything that moves. Pamela, you make sure no one slips out.”

They drove to the warehouse’s main door and it slid open to let them in. Milly let out a gasp.

“Bad, this is very, very bad, Liam. You have to trust me on this.”

People moved in and surrounded the vehicle. Liam threw the gear into reverse and hit the gas. But the sedan didn’t move.

Words spilled out of Milly. “Liam, I can get us out of this, but you have to go along with me. Do you understand? You have to trust me.”

Fuck it all, the last thing he wanted was to trust her. “Black Coven?”

“Yes.”

No choice, no fucking choice.

“Pamela, follow her lead. Tara, the same.” The women nodded and then the doors were yanked open.

Milly stepped out, her demeanor immediately that of one who was used to being in charge.

“Sven, fancy seeing you here, Liam, come, my pet.”

Ah, shit. His wolf curled up and he fought not to shift. Aching all over, he slid out of the car and stood, moving to her side.

Biting his tongue, he managed to keep ited thup and together. Milly waved her hand. “This is Pamela, my young protégé, and her companion, Tara.”

“Milly.” An average-looking man strode to her and held out his hands. “I knew you would see the light after we destroyed Terese’s coven. Where were you, we could have used your help?”

The tension in the air rose and Liam moved closer to Milly, looming over Sven. The man went very still, looking up into Liam’s eyes. All Liam saw was darkness around the man, like his very self was made of death and chaos.

Black Coven or not, the man was evil.

Milly waved her hand at Sven, very nearly smacking him in the face. The fury rolled off her, and Liam had no doubt if she had her abilities, she’d go on a rampage.

“I was out of the country, Sven. I told you before I left.”

“True, but one likes to be sure the story told and the story now given are one and the same.”

She stiffened. “Do not push me, Sven.”

“Or what?” His voice was low and the challenge obvious. Not good, this was not good when she couldn’t even—

“I won’t even bother, I’ll let my apprentice wrap you up,” Milly said, beckoning Pamela forward.

Pamela tipped her head toward Milly. “Of course, you have but to ask.”

Sven threw his head back, laughing like it was the best joke of the day. “Please.”

“As you wish,” Pamela said, a wicked grin slipping across her face. She barely moved her hand and Sven went flying, spinning in the air and then sticking face first to the far wall.

The room quieted and Milly put a hand on Pamela’s shoulder. “Leave him there, love. He needs to remember who is the strongest here, and it surely is not him.”

Liam did a quick count. Including Sven, there were ten witches. In that moment, the smell overpowered him, dropping him to his knees.

Pamela reached out and put her hands on his shoulders, whispering softly to him. “Liam, hang on. You can do this, you are strong.”

He focused on her voice, and tried to hang onto thoughts of Rylee. Being out of control was not a luxury he could afford.

“Nice pet, Milly. Looks like you’ll need to collar him to show him some true manners.”

The words seared through the last shreds of his control and he let out a roar, shifting at lighting speed. The witch who’d spoken was in his jaws, her neck snapped before anyone took a breath.

Kill them all.

Chaos erupted around them. Milly was using the crossbow, Tara picked up his guns, and of course, Pamela was laying waste, her power ripping through the warehouse like a forest fire.

But it was not enough; these were not inexperienced witches or Druids who didn’t like to fight.

Liam leapt toward another witch, a male. The spell that hit him rippled across his fur, pain flickering along his nerve endings. But the pain was gone almost as fast as it started and another neck was in his mouth, blood searing his tongue.

“Come on then, Guardian, let’s see what you have.” He turned to see a young man, eyes bright with the fever of battle, sword in hand.

This young pup seeks your life and knows how to end it.

Yes, Liam saw that. He circled the younger man, waiting for his opening. Wiis pupth the battle raging around them, there was not much time. What he didn’t expect was to be pinned down.

Another witch sidled up to the first, her magic swirling around his four legs, binding him tight. She curled a hand around the sword handle.

“Take his front right. We will piece him out and see if that slows these interlopers.”

He was unceremoniously flipped onto his side, his right leg held up as if in sacrifice. He let out a howl, long and rising in power. Pamela would hear him; she would come to his aid.

But it was not Pamela who answered his call.

It was Milly.

A crossbow bolt took the man in chest and he crumpled to the floor, his eyes rolling up in his head. “Let him go, Veronica,” Milly challenged.

Veronica laughed. “Why don’t you make me? Ah, yes, so it seems the great one has been brought low. How lovely.”

Liam could just see Milly, see her crumple to the floor, her face twisting in pain. Veronica stalked past him to stand over her.

“I always hated you, did you know that? Did you know how long I have dreamed of this moment?”

Milly struggled to breathe, her words shocking him. “Let them go. Take me, and then let them go. You don’t need them.”

Veronica shrugged. “It is not up to me, pet.”