Chapter 0437

Theodore

"That's impossible. How could it not be him?" Athena demands. "I saw him stab you. I watched you kill him. You stabbed him right through the eye!"

"It's..."

"Are you suggesting this was one of his powers?" Caleb asks.

"Yes." I glance at Alexander, hoping he might explain it better than I can. "Are you telling me it's a twin?" Athena searches my expression, desperate for answers.

I turn back to the fire. Not even the slightest scent of burning flesh. That's what I would have expected if it were truly him.

"Alexander?" Athena asks. "I don't get it."

"Theodore didn't kill him." He tells her.

"I was right there. I saw it happen."

"It's called astral projection." Caleb explains.

"Astral projection? He stabbed Theodore!" Athena mutters.

Alexander cups her face and tilts it up until their eyes meet. "Remember how I told you Witches possess different abilities?"

"Yes, but..."

"He was never physically here, Athena. His projection was powerful enough to wield a weapon. That's why there's no smell of burning flesh. It's why when the fire dies, the body will either remain or vanish completely, leaving only the blade behind."

Right on cue, the blade clatters to the ground. I watch the flames slowly die out. Nothing remains but the blade, exactly as Alexander predicted.

"So he can be in two places at once?" Athena asks as Alexander moves toward the blade.

"Yes, though it could be more locations depending on his strength." I reply.

"If he wasn't actually here, how was I able to make him release you?"

"Because you found his weakness. From what I understand, projecting requires immense energy. When he believed he had killed me, it weakened him significantly. The problem is, now he's aware of that vulnerability and will likely find a way to prevent it from happening again."

"So if he wasn't targeting us before, he definitely is now?" Caleb asks.

"Yes. Possibly just me and Evelyn, maybe all of us." I frown and scan our surroundings. "The most concerning part is, I don't even remember how I returned here."

"You were in some kind of trance." Alexander mutters as he removes his tee and wraps it around his hand. He carefully picks up the blade and brings it back to us. "Your eyes turned grey and you could barely walk. I suspect he drugged you."

"He administered something after I confirmed he would meet with you. It suppressed my Wolf, but there was a moment when I started asking questions and he became furious because I figured things out. Everything went black after that, and then I woke up here."

"Athena, Theodore, return to the house." Alexander instructs. "I need to speak with the sister." He examines the blade, turning it over in his hands. "Caleb, alert us if there's any sign of him or anyone else."

Caleb nods. "At least I know what the bastard looks like now."

Athena quickens her pace to match my long strides. "How do you know so much about Witches?"

"Truthfully, I'm not entirely certain."

"What does that mean?"

"Information about Witches is scarce. There are no books about them, similar to the limited knowledge about Lycans. Yet some knowledge feels instinctive, like it's always been there." I press a finger against my temple.

"But you enjoy research, so perhaps you learned it at some point."

"Is the bastard dead?" Luc asks, rising to his feet as we approach the pack house. He crosses his arms over his chest, staring us down. "I assume he must be since you're standing here."

"No." I groan.

"Why not?"

"He projected himself."

"Interesting." He mutters. "Where's Alexander?"

"Gone to question Evelyn." Athena tells him.

"Oh shit, so the bastard lost you and his sister. He's probably furious right now. I know I would be." He purses his lips. "Now can Athena and I go kill him?"

"You just said it yourself. He's beyond angry. Do you really think you can just walk in there and kill him?"

"Who said anything about walking in? I have guns with longer range than a pistol."

My eyes shift to Athena. Ultimately, it wasn't my decision to make, but I hoped she would recognize how reckless this idea was.

She shakes her head. "Luc, I know you think that's the easy solution. But I disagree. What if the person you shoot is just another projection? What if it's a trap? What if it's exactly what he wants us to do?"