“It’s a concession. Weakness.”
“Ah, were you or one ofyourwitches flexing your strength earlier with Terran?” I searched his face for the answer because I doubted he’d provide the truth verbally.
“We aren’thiswitches.” A ruddy-faced woman with ash-blond hair stacked into a disheveled bun had appeared to my left. Giving her a placating nod, I slipped my hand into my pocket, keeping a careful eye on the silver thread of energy that reminded me of lightning. As it hovered over her fingertips, she smiled just enough to display the edges of her teeth. The beady eyes and elongated features of a ferret were incongruous with her stout, powerful stature. When Jonah stepped aside, she crowded me. Her smile widened when I increased the space between us.
“It would make me feel more comfortable if you put that away.” I nudged my chin in the direction of her lightning toy.
Scoffing, she answered, “Because your comfort is my priority.”
“I’m a guest in your home. Shouldn’t it be?”
“I believe your vampires have inflated your sense of entitlement. Their pet doesn’t have any authority in the House of Nigh.”
Jonah shot her a look that chipped at some of her enmity. They were going byhouserather thancoven. I packed that information away to explore later.
“If you insist on making me feel uncomfortable, then I have no other choice than to return the favor.”
Dodging sideways as the silver flash of magic soared toward me, I lunged forward and swept her legs out from under her, sending her crashing face down onto the floor. Before she could recover, I was on her. With my legs pinning hers down, one arm locked around her throat, I pressed my chunky iridium ring against her skin to block her magic. Clawing at my hand, she gurgled and choked for breath.
Meeting Jonah’s calculating stare as he searched for a way to rescue his witch without harming her, I said, “My position with the vampires has earned me some influence and garnered favors with some friendly and some not so friendly supernaturals. I’d find leveraging those relationships against you distasteful.ButI’ll wade into the mud if you force my hand. Don’t make me.”
My little speech didn’t seem to deter him. He was not nearly as fearful of the vampires as he should be, or maybe there was a reason for him not to be.
“Terran and I were attacked earlier today by a witch. I’m used to people wanting me dead, but he isn’t as forgiving. You know what’s worse than an arrogant Alpha? One who believes he was a target without cause. Unless I cancel the scheduled text namingyou as the culprit in… Well, I’m not sure. It was scheduled to be sent thirty minutes from the time I entered your home. If I can’t cancel it, you’d better be prepared to contend with his pack.”
Gripping the witch tighter, I hissed, “Stop struggling,” as blood welled from the crescent-shaped nail marks she’d left in my skin. My vision blurred from the pain. “You might feel confident about being enemies of the Houses of Hollows and Knight, although I’d strongly suggest you rethink that. Do you believe the House of Nigh will survive adding the werewolves, too?”
Jonah didn’t appear confident about that. “Release her,” he demanded, his voice tremulous.
The sting of her unprovoked attack lingered. Not feeling amicable about responding to his demands, my grip tightened.
“Please,” he tacked on. “And you”—he addressed the witch—“need to leave this room.”
When the secured witch tapped pitifully at my arm, I released her. As soon as she moved away, I rolled to my feet. Rubbing her neck, the witch leveled a dagger-sharp glare in my direction before lumbering down the hall. Moments later, a door slammed.
Jonah stared at me, an onslaught of judgment in his eyes. “The vampires are sucking out your soul.”
“Yeah, because defending myself against an attack shows a lack of soul.”
“Not at all. The expression on your face was pitiless.”
His comment made me question whether three years with the vampires had changed me. But I didn’t think that was it. The witch’s attack had triggered memories of my assassination attempt.
Magicless in a world where magic would benefit me, and forced to call in favors from unscrupulous witches to break a spell, was making my grasp on humanity tenuous.
My eyes sharpened on him. “I’ll show mercy when it is deserved, and I’ll deliver retribution when I have no choice. My friend is dying. You can’t imagine what I’ve done to keep her alive. You’re one of the few people who can save her. I need your help.”
“Help to do what?”
I pulled out the version of the spell without Cirrian’s snarky commentary.
Studying the paper, his eyes were narrowed when they lifted to meet mine. “Your relationship with the vampires must be impressive, or you’re exceptionally skilled at persuasion if you’re able to get them to agree to this.” His lips curled into a cruel smile. “More than a pet,” he muttered to himself.
I was getting really fed up with that little title.
“You want me to perform the spell?”
“I don’t have magic.”
