Page 16 of Beautiful Madness

“Talk to Nell,” one of theothers murmured, glancing around as though Eli might be standing in the shadowslistening. “She’ll know more than we do.”

“That’s where I was headed whenyou stopped me,” I said. “Now I’m going to need you all to move aside.” And Ishowed them my badge.

“The council’s wolf,” someonemuttered, but there was relief in his voice, as well.

And they moved out of my way.

Nell was waiting at the doorwhen Joe and I hurried toward the house, the tightness in her face relaxingonly a little when she saw me. “I’d heard you were on your way,” she said,urging us to the pristine living room. “Please,” she said. “Sit.” But before wecould, she blurted, “Something’s badly wrong, Kait. You have to find him beforeit’s too late. I felt his weakness and his rage, but it faded and grew insubstantial,like wispy fog, and I couldn’t hold on to it.”

I took her hands but couldn’tadmit to her that I couldn’t feel him either. We both knew why the bond betweenus might be so weak. “Tell me what you know.”

She pulled her hands away andunable to stand still, she began to pace. “The last time I saw him, he and Eliwere closed up in his office. Any sounds from inside are muffled, so I couldn’thear much, no matter how hard I pressed my ear to the door.” She dabbed at hereyes. “He and Eli were arguing. Eli hasn’t been the same since they broughtthat…thatwomanhere. Jared should have killed her, but it wasn’t myplace to say so. He had his reasons for waiting.”

“What did you hear?” I askedgently. “Anything will help, Nell.”

“Eli had possession of thewitchwolf’s wand,” she said. “And Jared forced him to hand it over.”

“Do you know where he put it?”I asked. “I’d like to make sure it’s still there.”

“I know a lot,” she said, “butI don’t know that. No one but Jared knows that.”

“Not even Eli?” Joe asked.

“Especially not Eli.” Shetightened her lips and glared at no one. “He gave the wand up because he had nochoice. He didn’t want to, though. When he came out of the alpha’s office hewas full of rage and…” She sighed, somewhat regretfully, her emotions changinglightning fast. “Full of pain. Lennon broke his heart, you know.”

I nodded. “Eli is loyal to thealpha, but he’s hurting over Lennon’s situation. I knew he was in love withher.”

“He was obsessed with her,” shesaid. “Who could blame him? She was unbelievably beautiful. She didn’t look athim that way, but he couldn’t see it. Lennon wanted only Jared. She told meonce that Jared was the only person who didn’t cause her pain when he touchedher.” I must have made some sound because she focused her stare on me. “Not inasexualway,” she hurried to assure me. “Jared didn’t see her asanything other than a sister. But any touch, no matter how brief or innocent,could cause her to feel things she did not want to feel.” She shook her head.“What a mess.”

“What happened to him,” Joegrowled, not seeing any value in talking about love and obsession. “Who couldhave overpowered the most powerful man in Shadowfield?”

“I don’t know,” she whispered.“I just know that when it happened, whatever it was, we all felt it. We allfelt it.” She thumped her chest hard. “And then there was nothing.”

“What would cause there to benothing?” Joe asked.

Nell and I answered him at thesame time. “Silver.”

Joe nodded. “Someone took apage out of Adam Thorne’s book and made him drink it?”

“No,” I said. “Jared would nothave done that, not for any reason.” Unlike me. I swallowed past the dryness inmy throat and continued. “His attackers would have somehow managed to stab himin the back, literally. With silver spikes. They’d have got him through theheart, which would immediately weaken a wolf.”

“And then,” Nell said, her lipstrembling, “before he could react or attempt to discharge the spike, they’dhave shoved more into him until he was well and truly caught. Not even an alphacan withstand silver inside him.”

“While he was sleeping, maybe?”Joe asked. “Someone broke into the house and—”

“No,” I said, even as Nellshook her head. “No one could sneak up on Jared. Which means it was likelysomeone he trusted.”

“Someone like…Eli?” Joe asked.

“Eli was angry andheartbroken,” Nell said. “He wanted that wand. He wanted, even after what she’ddone, for Lennon to be freed. He would have gone away with her, I believe. Butnever in a million years would Jared’s beta take silver spikes and drive themthrough his alpha’s heart. I know that without a single doubt. Eli is not theone who attacked Jared.”

“But that’s not to say,” Imurmured, “that Eli doesn’t know who did.”

She nodded soberly. “You’llwant to see inside Jared’s office. Come with me.”

“I need to see Lennon, aswell,” I said, following her from the room. “Where is she, Nell?”

“She’s below,” she told me.“Beneath the house is a rarely used…dungeon, of sorts. Jared’sgreat-grandfather had it built. Without her wand, there is no way Lennon—evenif she weren’t frozen in that strange way—could escape it. The walls are wrappedin silver, she’s locked in, and there are guards posted at all times.”