“That doesn’t mean she couldn’t be misled or manipulated or threatened,” I said. “All we know is that she’s working with Trinity. We have no idea what her situation is, but at the end of the day—”
“God, I hate that phrase,” Haley said. “At the end of the day? We’re talking about rightnow, Gray. Our sister is in trouble, and you want to sentence her before we’ve even—”
“I think what Gray is trying to say,” Addie said gently, reaching out to touch Haley’s hand, “is that even if Georgieisn’tevil, she’s still fighting on the wrong side, whether she realizes it or not.”
“Thank you,” I said, blowing out a breath. “That’s all I—”
“And,” she went on, cutting me off with a kind smile, “I think Haley is trying to remind us that no matter whose team Georgie is on, she’s still our sister, and we owe it to her to give her the benefit of the doubt. To try to help her, just like you guys helped me. Just like you’re helping each other.”
I looked into Addie’s eyes, my momentary annoyance at Haley floating away.
Haley sighed. “Addie’s right. Look, Gray, the last thing I want to do is fight with you.”
“Same,” I admitted. “I get what you’re saying about Georgie.”
“And I get whatyou’resaying,” Haley said. “I think we just… We can’t make assumptions either way. But we also can’t abandon her without trying to figure it out.
“Agreed,” I said, and Addie smiled.
“Guys,” she said, “I think I just broke up my first sister fight.”
I nudged her in the ribs. “Don’t let it go to your head just yet.”
Magical or not, I was starting to think that her gifts went well beyond foresight. Addie was a natural peacemaker.
“So where do we go from here?” I asked.
Both of my sisters opened their mouths to respond, but the voice that reached my ears wasn’t from either of them.
It was the dark, deadly, deep-fried twang of the only man I hated worse than the hunters.
“I’ll tell you where you’renotgoing, Miss Desario,” Sebastian drawled. “How about we start there?”
With fire in his eyes, he snapped his fingers, and every witch in the kitchen disappeared.
Twelve
GRAY
Instinct took over.
In a blur of movement, I grabbed my knife and leaped over the counter, lunging for him, fangs and blade bared.
But even with my vamp speed, I was no match for the prince of hell. A single raised hand, and I slammed into an invisible wall, my knife clattering to the floor.
I scrambled to my feet. “What have you done with them?”
“Relax,” he said. “I’ve safely relocated them to another part of the lodge, where they will remain, none the wiser, so long as you give me the right answers.”
“I’m not answering anything until I know for sure they’re safe.”
His eyes turned completely red, the vein at his temple throbbing with barely-contained rage. “I’m sorry, bloodsucker. Have I given you the impression that you’re in any position to negotiate?”
I backed off, but I didn’t back down. I had no idea how he’d found out about my vampire transition, but now that he had, I had to play this very carefully.
“What can I do for you, prince?” I asked, folding my arms across my chest.
“See? Civility. That’s much better.” Patting his stomach, he glanced around the kitchen, his eyes returning to normal. “I suppose I can’t expect hospitality, though. What have you got to drink in this dreadful establishment?”
