"No, but a thousand souls really are tied to that tree. That's what the dark ones used to bless it. If you use your white magic on it, you'll release more hell on earth than Pandora's box ever thought about, and you'll have nothing in return."
"Where is she?" I interrupt, holding Frankie back when he starts to do something foolish.
Thad keeps a wary eye on Frankie for a moment before answering me.
"That, I don't know. I do know you're not going to find her this way, but I'll help you find her the right way."
I glance at the dark tree that seems to be taunting me right now, a silent plea for me to free the mayhem begging to wreak havoc, whispering its desires to me. I cut away before I get too entranced by the fucked up chaos living inside of it.
"How did you know?" I ask, suspicion oozing from my tone.
"About your mother's disappearance or the fact you're a witch?"
"Both."
He cracks his neck to the side, and then looks around before speaking.
"I'm here as a servant to... Drackus. If I can't help you, he'll get involved. No one from either side wants that," he almost whispers, making the others lower their eyes.
"My father?" I gasp.
Frankie takes a step back once he hears the name that has struck fear in so many for so long. Thad nods.
"Believe it or not, he's been keeping tabs on you since you were a child. He sent me to watch after you after he learned you had branched out on your own."
I'd be touched if my father wasn't a psychotic asshole with too much power for any one person to hold.
"Where do you suggest we start?"
"I suggest you let me take over the legwork from here. I didn't mean to get this involved, but now that I am, it's time to let us seek her out. I'll call you if I find anything."
He turns to walk off with his entourage, but I race to get in front of him.
"Hell no. She's my mother, and I want to be there."
He gives me a look filled with condescension, and I refrain from using my magic on his alpha ass.
“Alyssa, you're looking at old world relics and falling into obvious traps. You can't expect me to let you come. You have no idea the things your father would do to me if anything happens to you."
"Nothing will happen. Please. She's my mom. She's all I've got," I whimper, and his eyes soften, his arrogance slowly subsiding and fading into sympathy.
"I'm really, really going to regret this, but... fine."
Without thinking, I throw my arms around his neck and he staggers back lightly from the unexpected hug. Tears stroll down as the last couple of days full of exhaustion and overwhelming fear catch up with me.
I'm hugging a changer. So fucking stupid.
"Thank you," I murmur through my tears.
He sighs as he gently returns the embrace, and the he pulls free to walk over beside a tree. I gasp as he turns into a hawk, slipping out of his clothes, and then he shifts into an enormous white wolf in front of my eyes.
"You're gonna want to hold on tight," a guy says as he lifts me to be on top of the wolf - on top of Thad rather.
"Alyssa, I don't like this," Frankie murmurs hesitantly while looking around at the new assembly that certainly out numbers our sad little duo.
"It's better than going at this alone," I counter, while straddling the beast more comfortably.
I've never seen a wolf smile until now, and my mind flashes back to Kane calling him a wolf. He'd flip the hell out if he knew how literal that was.