章 64: Chapter 64: A Trap For Melisande

Ravyn POV

Patch's scorn and his disguised voice took Ravyn aback. "You! You scum. Don't you even think of escaping!"

How incredible her son looked, even with a little dirt and some makeup on his face to make him appear rougher! Anneliese also looked rough and disreputable. She probably enjoyed every minute of that.

"I serve the master." Ravyn put her hands up in surrender. "I was wrong to oppose her! Please, leave me alone."

Anyone who knew Patch knew he was secretly enjoying acting like a scoundrel. All of his brothers would regularly gripe about the pranks he'd played on them over the years. Replacing Kyon's paints with jellies was one of his most notorious moments–although, as Jiro admitted, the jellies were particularly good that season, and the painting was delicious.

Patch got in Dane's face. "You call yourself an Alpha? Why, a sick gnoll with a bad arm could beat you!"

Anneliese turned on Lilia. "And you! How did they let you out of witch school? You can't even do card tricks! Same for HER!" She pointed at Ravyn.

Jude bared his teeth, and his eyes blazed like golden suns. "Insolent fools!"

Ravyn bit back her laughter. Jude had thrown himself into the part, just like the artists in the dwarf operas they both adored. The hyper-practical and earthy dwarves showed another side when they performed in their operas. They loved grand and even over-the-top emotions and gestures. They devoured drama–and scenery.

Dane even managed to put on a worried look. "Both of you, I wouldn't make Alpha Jude angry if I were you!"

Menacing Patch and Anneliese with all his muscle and sheer presence, he seemed to impress Melisande, who whirled on the pair with fury. "You two! Behave, or I'll let my man loose on you. You won't like it, I can promise you that. As it is, you are all in trouble for letting the royal guard get close to this sacred tower."

Intimidating and bossing people around was what Melisande did best, apart from magic. Ravyn could admire her, if she weren't such a thoroughly unpleasant person. When the woman first became the Senior Healer, Ravyn had once respected Melisande. Sad how, in just a few short years, she'd managed to tarnish the position and alienate a large portion of the witch circle.

Patch bristled. "But, Master–"

"No buts! No more lip out of you." Melisande looked more serious, if that were possible.

Anneliese snarled, "They were trying to escape."

SMACK. Anneliese staggered back, reeling from Melisande's slap across the face. The senior witch whirled on Patch. "Do you have anything more to say?"

Ravyn seized her chance, holding her head and wailing. "Please! They're so nasty. Master, please make them stop!"

She turned on the waterworks, crying like one of the heroines in the dwarf operas. Releasing all the built-up tension, she wailed, sobbed, and had a complete breakdown.

SMACK. SMACK. Melisande was shouting at Patch and Anneliese, scorching them with her temper. It wouldn't hurt Patch, and Anneliese would be fine. They'd wear Melisande's slaps and scolding like badges of honor. Ravyn sobbed harder to hide her pride in her family.

Jude hauled her to her feet. "Up you get." His voice was full Alpha. "Let's take you away until you can compose yourself."

The warmth of his touch, and the love flowing through the bond, strengthened her. If she'd truly been in distress, he would have been the cure.

"What an excellent idea, Jude," Melisande said. "Take Ravyn to the top of the tower. The view should be quite spectacular and calm her down. As for these two unruly rogues, maybe a night spent on patrol outside will give them time to think about their behavior."

Jude escorted Ravyn out of the room, and they only lasted a few minutes before she shook with something that was definitely not sadness. She pulled him into the nearest room and they both laughed until tears rolled down their cheeks.

"You missed your calling," Ravyn wheezed. "You could be an understudy for that dwarf tenor. If you can carry a tune."

"Not well. But you, my love, could fill in for the leading dwarf soprano and breathe new life into that heroine whose actions you criticized as unrealistic. You do have a decent singing voice."

Playfully, Ravyn said, "Perhaps we should perform selections from that opera in the privacy of our bedroom when this is all over."

He kissed her gently. "And if that isn't additional motivation to get ourselves out of this in one piece, I don't know what is. Daxius and Marieke are searching for proof of some connection between Melisande and our enemies, but it's a big place to search."

"The lab." Ravyn's eyes lit up.

Jude howled softly. "Yes! Yes!"

"If anyone stops us, we'll just explain that I need a potion to calm my nerves," Ravyn added.

Although she freely admitted that being close to him felt better than any potion!

* * * * *

Anneliese POV

Her face felt hot and tender. She'd heard the novice wizards and witches whisper about Melisande slapping people, but she dismissed all the talk as the kind of story that novices told about their elder witches and wizards since the beginning of magic.

Her aching cheek was all the proof she needed. But she didn't care about the pain. It was for a good cause. And she and her family, and the entire witch circle, would have the last laugh.

Melisande glared at her. "Are you stupid and witless? I said to go on patrol!"

"You won't be giving any more orders to anyone, Melisande Sinsworth Bracknell."

Her jaw dropping in shock, Melisande whirled around to see Morgana and Bram. "You!"

"Us," Bram growled, his hair like a fiery halo. "You have ten seconds to release my father and the rest of our family from whatever spell you've cast on them."

Tossing her long brown hair, Melisande sniffed. "Go back to your wallowing and carousing, boy. This is no place for you."

Bram's fangs came out. "Beg to differ. I'm the heir to the Silverpaw Pack."

"And we know who YOU are, Melisande."

Morgana's loaded tone was quiet, but Anneliese shivered. She wouldn't want to be the target of Morgana's displeasure.

Melisande raised her hands and crafted a rune. The rune for "silver," combined with the rune for "storm."

Anneliese had seen those before, in battle with Hades and his followers.

"Duck," she shouted.

Morgana's eyes narrowed. "Bram, Patch, be ready!"

Raising her arms, Morgana crafted the rune for "barrier," and the silver rain splattered on the barrier, creating a streaky pattern. Patch and Bram stepped back. But for someone who had been handling silver, flaunting it, Melisande retreated, too, looking afraid.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

Melisande's shriek sounded less commanding and powerful.

Narrowing her eyes, Anneliese asked, "Why are you afraid of the silver?"

Melisande glared at her suspiciously. "Who are you?"

Anneliese pulled the hood off her face and glared at Melisande. "My MOTHER will have something to say about what you've done here–including killing royal soldiers!"

"You've meddled for the last time, Anneliese–AAAGH!"

Electrified cords shot out from Morgana's fingers and wrapped themselves around Melisande.

"Why are you suddenly squeamish about silver?" Anneliese demanded. "Is it because you're Hades' descendant?"

"Don't … be … ridiculous."

A weak denial, and Anneliese felt a sick confirmation in her stomach.

The power from the crackling supercharged cords made Melisande writhe and gasp. "No! No! You b*tch, Morgana! Pay me back like this? THIS WAS MINE!"

A chill swept Anneliese.

"Answer the question," Morgana said, her lips pulled back from her teeth. "Tell us the truth, and we'll release you."

Her hands flailing, Melisande pulled at the cords. Patch and Bram grabbed her and stuffed a rag soaked with potion in her mouth. Slowly, she ceased struggling and slumped in their arms.

Anneliese felt a deep triumph. The potion they used would knock Melisande out for hours, at least, and a day if they were lucky. Staring at the woman, Anneliese struggled with pity and satisfaction. They finally captured her.

Making the barrier and the silver vanish, Morgana smiled at Patch and Bram. "Nicely done."

"That spell was something," Bram said with awe.

Morgana smiled darkly. "It takes a great deal of power–and there's a certain wonderful irony in using it on Melisande. After all, Hades was the one who taught it to me."

Patch's teeth sharpened. "What did she mean about the spell being hers?"

Bram paled, his red hair and blue eyes stark against his creamy skin. "I don't think I'll like what you're about to tell us, Morgana."

Anneliese gripped Patch's arm, taking comfort in holding him. "But we had better hear it anyway."

Morgana met their gazes, and walked over and stroked Melisande's hair wistfully. "He really must be desperate to fulfill the demon's wishes and be free. Hades may have picked the body of a non-shifter and a woman this time."