Page 57 of Fated Alpha Baby

I’m surprised by how much comfort it gives me, but I allow it. Though we haven’t had much time to really talk through our issues, we’ve been clinging to each other for support during this time. None of it matters when it’s our daughter who’s in danger, and we’ve suddenly become a united force that will stop at nothing to uncover the truth.

The chanting begins moments later. Low. Ancient. Powerful.

A sacred ritual to find Nico, since the witches have made no progress with interrogating Marcus Hale. He refuses to speak, even now. And just when Amalia was on the brink of using a ritual to uncover the truth from him, Nico turned up missing.

Magic crackles through the chamber as Amalia kneels inside the circle, her palms pressed flat against the stone floor. The candles flare violently all at once, plunging the room into eerie golden light.

Then Amalia gasps.

Her back arches sharply as magic explodes outward from the circle in a violent pulse. Annika cries out beside me, clutching Heinrich’s arm as the vision force ripples through the room.

“Amalia!” Shanice shouts, and Milly holds her arm to stop her from approaching the High Sister. Nothing should break the circle, or the ritual will be useless.

The older witch doesn’t respond, her eyes turning completely white as she stares up at the ceiling. And then she screams.

The sound tears through the hall with enough terror to freeze every person in place.

I stumble backward instinctively while Conan grips my arm to steady me.

“Children…” Amalia chokes out weakly. “Dear Goddess…” Blood trickles from her nose as the vision continues assaulting her. “They’re using the children…” she whispers brokenly. “The hybrids…”

The room goes deathly still as she continues to murmur the truth.

“The hybrid children are what they need to power the portal.”

A cold wave of horror crashes through me.

“No…” I breathe, and Conan clings to me.

Amalia trembles violently now, tears streaming down her face. “Their magic…their blood…it feeds the gateway between worlds. It keeps the portal stable long enough for the demons to cross over.”

My stomach twists so violently I nearly collapse.

Clarissa.

Nico.

Every hybrid child who exists in this world is in danger.

“They’re harvesting them,” Amalia sobs. “Like batteries for their dark cause, their dark magic.”

Orlando makes a strangled sound of rage somewhere behind us.

Conan’s arm wraps around my waist instantly as my knees weaken beneath me. His grip tightens possessively, protectively, like he’s terrified I’ll break apart.

And maybe I already have, because all I can think about is Clarissa sleeping peacefully in Red Moon territory while monsters hunt children like her.

Amalia suddenly jerks again, her voice turning frantic. “They’re running out of time. The portal is unstable. That’s why they need more power. More children.”

Shanice pales. “How many?”

Amalia looks up slowly, horror consuming every inch of her face. “Enough,” she whispers, “to tear the veil between worlds completely open. We have to move fast. And we have to know who is behind this. Annika was right. The portal will be opened in Milford.”

“I’m on it,” Alpha William says before he leaves the hall.

Alpha Theodore Haines from the Goldfang Pack steps forward. “We need to go. Now,” he says to Orlando, gripping his shoulder. “My wolves are ready.”

“We are ready, too,” Conan announces, and turns to me. “Don’t worry, Hannah. Clarissa is safe.”