The Alpha Weredragon's Favorite
CHAPTER 81

Ryan.

Waiting for Wista to show up, I sat in my office, gaze fixed on the window, watching as the sun dipped below the horizon, leaving behind a sky painted with hues of purple and orange. Had I made the right decision after all in not telling Lyra about the magic being used against her?

I had decided to keep it a secret because Lyra had enough on her plate with her school work and the Luna Trials. Besides, after her last attack at the trials, Wista had created an unseen ward around her, a shield against those who wished her harm.

But it wouldn't hold against deep dark magic.

True, the ward was a gray area where the Luna trials were concerned, but I wasn't taking any chances. As an extra precaution, Killian and some of my most trusted men continued to shadow her every move, 24/7.

A chuckle escaped my lips as I imagined Lyra's reaction if she found out I was keeping tabs on her. I could almost see the way her mouth would purse, the fire in her eyes as she hurled saucy words at me. But I would take that, and a lot more, if it meant keeping her safe.

Suddenly, Wista was there, appearing at the window as if out of thin air. Even with my Alpha hearing I hadn't heard her approach. Seemed Wista had a knack for moving quietly, her skills rivaling my own.

I managed to suppress a startled jump, reminding myself that as an Alpha, I didn't jump at surprises.

"You're early," I commented, the moment she entered my office.

Her dark eyes studied me intently. "I have news," she replied, her voice as soft as the rustling leaves outside.

"About the witch you suspect?" I asked, my voice sharp. I had waited for news for what had seemed like forever and I couldn't wait to hear it.

Wista nodded, her expression grave. "Yes, the very one."

I leaned forward, my heart pounding in my chest. "What did you find?"

"The magic she used... it's not just any magic, Alpha. It's dark magic, the kind that leaves destruction in its wake. We should visit her tonight... see if she is innocent or a pawn in a much larger game."

I nodded my head curtly as anger surged through me. I wanted to tear the witch limb from limb, sink my teeth in her throat and drink her blood. Trouble was I had to get to her first, and that wouldn't be easy. Why?

She was the Silver Tail's Witch in the Wood.

Although things weren't exactly friendly between Silver Tail and Moonshadow after Liam broke off his engagement with Whitney, we still had a standing treaty in place. All I had to do was renegotiate the terms. But if Whitney's father was sicking his witch on Lyra like some sort of rabid dog... I would have to put both of them down.

With relish.

***

I crept through the darkness with Wista by my side, our footsteps muffled by the soft earth beneath us. The witch's house loomed ahead, shrouded in an eerie stillness. "Watch your step," Wista whispered, her eyes scanning the surroundings. "There could be traps."

I nodded, my senses on high alert. We approached the house on silent feet despite the pebbles and twigs that could give us away. As we came closer, I took in the dilapidated state of the building. The windows were boarded up, and the roof sagged under the weight of neglect.

"It looks abandoned," I said, frowning. "No one's been here for a while."

Wista stepped closer, holding her palms towards the weathered door. "The wards are weak, almost nonexistent." She chanted under her breath for a moment, then gave me the all clear. "Let's go inside."

We entered the house, the musty smell of decay hitting my nostrils. The interior was in shambles, with broken furniture and cobwebs covering every surface.

"Look at this," Wista called out, pointing to a table. "Remnants of dark magic rituals. See these symbols?"

I moved closer, my eyes narrowing as I studied the intricate patterns etched into the weathered wood.

The symbols were a complex web of swirling lines and arcane glyphs, their edges still tinged with the faint, eerie glow of spent magic. At the center of the design was a large, inverted pentagram, its points sharp and menacing. Runes of an ancient language I couldn't decipher encircled the pentagram, their jagged forms seeming to writhe and shift in the dim light. A sense of unease crept up my spine as I lowered my fingers over the grooves to feel the lingering echoes of dark energy that had once pulsed through them...

"Don't!" Wista said sharply snatching my hand form the magic encrusted boards.

I straightened. It had been a foolish thing to do... reaching out to touch unknown magic. I looked away from their beauty, breaking the enchantment. "What do they mean?"

She shook her head. "I'm not sure, but they're unsettling. Whoever was here, they were deep into something sinister. When we get back to Moonshadow, I'll go to the library and delve into the ancient manuscripts." "Isn't the library closed at this time of night?"

Wista lifted a perfectly arched brow and looked at me like I had sprouted horns. "And your point being?"

I shrugged, guessing Wista didn't mind dabbling into breaking and entering for a good cause.

By the Moon Goddess I didn't mind either.

Wista placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, sensing we had no more answers then when we came here. In fact, the true identity of who was behind the magic was more of a mystery than ever. "Don't lose hope, Ryan. We'll keep searching. Perhaps we should widen our search to neighboring territories."

I sighed, knowing she was right.

As we stepped out of the house, a movement in the trees caught my eye. I squinted, trying to make out the shape in the shadows.

"Did you see that?" I asked Wista, my voice low.

"I-I'm not sure..."

I sniffed, Wista used her magic. Try as we might, we couldn't find a trace of what was out there.

As we headed back to Moonshadow, I scanned the tree line, my heart pounding. Had it been someone watching us from the darkness? Or was it a trick of the moonlight?