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Destiny hung her head. She must have been stuck between a rock and a hard place to get to this point. She was taking advantage of a good witch friend, a sociopathic wolf, and the dire circumstances of her situation.
“I also borrowed money,” Destiny explained in a low, shamed voice, “from a vampire…who she works for…” Her voice cracked.
I turned my irritated glare to Teresa again. “What have you done to her?”
“Nothing that wasn’t invited.” She reached for Destiny, who flinched without even knowing that Teresa was reaching for her. “She’s the one who signed the contract. She’s the one responsible for payment.”
“What’s the payment?” I asked.
If anyone knew I was missing, I had to give them time to find me. Stalling Teresa was my best bet. And seeing as Teresa wanted two specific things in this world, I had to assume that she had contacted Eric to gloat about holding me hostage for ransom.
Teresa shrugged her left shoulder pompously. “Her services, you twat.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“I don’t care what you want to be called because you won’t be my problem once the ransom is paid.”
I stared at Destiny. “Does that mean I get released?”
Teresa cackled while wandering into the next room. “Destiny, be a doll and explain to our little hostage what’s going to happen when I get my goddamn amulet.”
Her laughter trailed after her, a haunting sound in a dim magic shop tucked away from everything else. An odd sense of foreboding washed over me. It was the same feeling I got from an incoming thunderstorm. I knew the clouds were hovering above, and I knew they would soon break.
Something was heading my way, something as dark and thick as those clouds.
I tried to breathe as calmly as possible. “Destiny, what is she talking about?”
Sorrowful eyes met mine. Goddess, please let that just be the guilt from kidnapping me and helping a deranged wolf.
She swallowed loudly and restarted her rosary from the center bead. “That amulet is precious to a lot more than just Ander. When I saw you give it to him, I knew what kind of token you had to offer.”
“That’s absurd. Why would you set up a meeting here for me to return it to Ander if you just wanted it for yourself?”
“I tried to steal it from him before he left but couldn’t get my hands on it. The damn thing is resistant to being taken. I don’t know how it works.”
I sighed. “So, why bother going through me or Eric?”
“Because you have a relationship with vampires I don’t have.”
“That’s not true, Destiny.”
Her brows knotted together as her features contorted with anger. “They call you Mistress Artemis. They give you so much respect, and for what? Because your daddy was so nice to them during and after the war?” She spat on the ground. “You have no idea what it’s like to scratch and scramble your way through this world, do you?”
My heart hurt from the things she said, and from the pain I knew she was feeling right now. “If you had just come to me—”
“You would have talked me out of everything if I had done that. And it doesn’t matter, really. Because Teresa would have followed me to your stupid trailer anyway.”
“I could have helped you. I could have submitted a proposal to the local vampire council and—”
She laughed bitterly. “And what? Win them over like you always do? I’m just in your shadow, Mistress, and I’m sick of it.” She stood up while feverishly shaking her head. “No, this is the perfect way to gain the proper respect I need. Me, the fiery Destiny, slaying the Mistress and absorbing all her power.”
My face drooped as my heart dropped into my stomach. “D, no. That’s darkness unlike anything else. You can’t—”
“Oh, but I can, GG. I give the wolf what she wants, who delivers it to her vampire, and then I get to kill you and take all your power.” She raised her hands like they were on fire with an expression of mixed fascination and terror. “I get to take your place. My debt will be paid, and I’ll be unstoppable.”
I tried to shake free of my binds. “D, please. You’ll start another war. You can’t do it. Our community has suffered so much. It’s not fair.”
“You don’t get to say what’s fair when your father has supported you this entire time. Now that you don’t have him, you don’t get to fall back on anything.”
