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I STOOD ON THEfar side of the living room near the window, Kilter next to me with his arm possessively around my waist. Keir, Anstice, Danni, and Balen stood over by the mantel talking quietly. Hack sat cross-legged on the couch, fingers tapping on his cell phone, and Jedrik lounged on a chair, one leg bent over the other looking bored, but from the way his narrowed eyes constantly shifted to the door, he wasn’t.
The front door open and closed, then came the click of high heels on the hardwood floor. I sensed the immediate change in everyone as chatting stopped and heads turned to the approaching woman—including me.
Kilter whispered, “Trinity. She’s a witch with her own coven outside the city. She’s also a fuckin’ bitch. Don’t trust a word out of her mouth.”
Even with my ability shielded, the energy in the room was so tense it leaked into me. And the second she appeared, I saw why. Trinity looked like a deadly panther, long sleek legs that covered the ground with quiet stealth. Ebony hair with a hint of blue hung straight and thick down her arched back to the cusp of her butt. Shoulders straight and narrow, matched her unusual height for a woman of maybe five ten.
“Where is that stupid girl?” Trinity asked in a honeyed voice as she stopped in the archway into the living room. “I swear I will cast a gilded web around her and lock her in the basement for the next fifty years.”
I flinched and Kilter tightened his hold.
Trinity cocked her hip, hand resting on it, lips blazing bold red that matched her long fingernails. Her blueberry eyes careened around the room, shifting to each of us until they landed on me.
Kilter stiffened as Trinity’s eyes swept over me from head to toe. She licked her lower lip and raised her thin, exaggerated brows. I wanted to slink under Kilter’s arm, but another side of me—the new strong and confident side—met Trinity’s gaze head-on. It helped having one of the most dangerous and fearless men standing beside me.
Her vision moved to Jedrik and Keir, then to Anstice and her expression changed from haughty to warm as she smiled openly at her. That was interesting.
Trinity strolled over to her, arms outstretched. “Anstice, you look lovely as always.” They hugged—Keir rolled his eyes—then the witch reached down and patted Finn on the head.
“Trinity helped save Anstice’s life,” Kilter informed me as if he could read my thoughts. I checked my shields, but they were strong, meaning Kilter was getting to know what I was thinking without penetrating my mind.
Waleron entered the room and moved off to the far side where no one else was. He leaned against the wall, one foot resting on it, arms crossed, eyes on Trinity who chatted with Anstice. He gave the impression he was bored, but from my encounter with Waleron, I suspected he was anything but. I noticed he’d taken out a duck-head candy container twice in the last minute and eaten whatever was in it.
“Well?” Trinity strolled away from Anstice and her gaze settled on Waleron. Her tongue slid slowly over her lower lip and it glistened with wetness. “What has Abigail done this time? I’m guessing she’s caused a mess. Otherwise, you’d have never called me here.”
Jedrik grumbled something I couldn’t make out.
Trinity tapped her long fingernails on her hip where she had her hand resting. “She left the coven nearly a year ago with the scent of a Scar all over her. Is that what this is about? Did she fuck one of you?” Her eyes shot to Jedrik, who immediately met her gaze and winked. Trinity laughed. “You’d never sleep with a witch, Jedrik, even one as delectable as Abigail. I do believe it was a witch who had you—”
“Piss off, Trinity,” Jedrik interrupted.
Waleron pushed away from the wall and all eyes turned toward him. I suspected that was his intention. “Rayne was attacked last night by one of Liam’s underlings.”
“Ah, the new girl. So what.” Trinity glanced at me and shrugged. Yeah, she was a complete bitch.
Waleron ignored her and continued. “Also, the Grit from the compound has been seen asking questions about her.” My breath hitched and Kilter’s hand on my hip flinched. Waleron directed his ice-blue eyes to Trinity. “And Abigail drank Liam’s blood and is presently in detox.”
Trinity’s composure broke and her eyes widened, mouth gaped. Then just as suddenly as the shock came, it was gone. “Stupid child. Just like her mother,” Trinity said with a wave of her hand with a dramatic sigh. “Ungrateful wench. Where is she?”
“She’s at an undisclosed location and will remain there until she either dies or survives detox,” Waleron said.
“I will be responsible for my witches,” Trinity shot back.
“You haven’t been responsible for your witch for over a fuckin’ year,” Jedrik said. “Haven’t even been looking for her.”
Waleron continued, “She was pregnant with Damien’s child, which subsequently she’s lost. She cannot be moved.”
Who was Damien?
“Damien?” Trinity said. “I find that difficult to believe. He detests women.”
Waleron’s brows twitched. “Liam is behind both women’s situations and I want to know why.”
“Abigail is rebellious just like her mother,” Trinity said. “And now, she will die from her own foolishness. Like mother, like daughter.”
“You’re a coldhearted bitch,” Jedrik sneered.
Trinity smiled. “Yes. And I get what and who I desire because of it.”
