‘I promise you’ll be provided for after what you’ve suffered.’ Cynthia’s delicate shoulders were hard angles, her voice redolent with power and promise. ‘My bastard of a husband owes you an unpayable debt, far more than I can give. But money I can provide.’
‘We don’t want yer charity, Mrs ’igh-and-Mighty. You lot ’ave done enough.’ Lippert’s long strides ate the space between himself and Cynthia too quickly for Helena to react. He grabbed Cynthia’s hands and wrenched them from his daughter’s. ‘Leave me girl alone.’ He leaned closer, his finger jabbing into her chest with blunt force. ‘She’ll carry the stain of your ’usband’s actions for the rest of ’er life. No amount of money can fix that.’
Cynthia stepped back, rubbing where his finger had poked.
‘Touch her again, and you won’t live long enough to see that baby born.’ The need to protect Cynthia nearly swept Helena away. She was a light witch. She never used her magic for violence. She had taken an oath with her coven to do no harm. But it would only take a flick of her wrists to destroy this man. Water brought life, but it could also herald death. Lippert’s death if he dared touch Cynthia again.
Dear goddess, I’m becoming just likeher.
It was the second time in as many hours she felt her mother’s sickness in her blood. It would be so easy to twist her magic into something cruel and lethal. To focus on destroying Lippert instead of trying to solve Hubert’s murder and free Cynthia from this hideous mess.
She was becoming far too infatuated with the woman. It was unforgiveable.
Clenching her fist and reining in her power, she refused to let her emotions hold sway when they were as volatile as a violent sea.
Lippert swung his head to Helena. Whatever he saw in her face caused his cheeks to pale from ruddy red to ghostly white.
She’s the very Devil!
Fear amplified his thoughts, making them easy to hear.
‘Is that why you did it? Is that why you killed Hubert? Because of what he did to Lily?’ Cynthia didn’t flinch. She didn’t pull away. She faced him, brave as any soldier readying to battle a man thrice her size. And just as stubbornly stupid.
Lippert turned back to Cynthia.
What can she possibly know?
Lily gasped, pressing her fingers against her lips as her eyes filled with tears. ‘Father, you didn’t. Please tell me that you didn’t kill ’im. ’is life isn’t worth yours.’
Helena would bet her favourite moon-charged crystals that George Lippert, like any good father, wanted to protect his little girl and make her happy. Hubert’s death had done both.
She tipped her head down to focus her magic on him. His thoughts of love for Lily dissolved into vicious rage as he looked at Cynthia. He hated her. Hated Hubert even more. But as Helena sank deeper into his mind, it was hatred for himself that eclipsed all else. Not because he had taken a man’s life. But because he hadn’t.
Damnation!
George Lippert despised himself for being too late to kill Hubert Burrows.
An image flashed, pulled from Lippert’s thoughts. Hubert, dead on the floor of his study, blood pooled around him like a dark-red halo as Lippert cursed God for denying him the chance to claim his justified vengeance.
‘You were there when Hubert died.’
Lippert’s face flushed red as he let go of his daughter’s hands and turned to her. His large body vibrated with barely leashed rage.
‘You don’t know anyfink,’ he bellowed, taking huge strides towards her.
‘Father!’ Lily lunged for his arm, but he shook his daughter off like a rabid dog and kept moving until he was almost toe to toe with Helena. He was too blinded by red to see her eyes turn silver. But not so enraged he would do her any real harm. Even as he advanced, she heard his mind screaming at him not to frighten Lily. Scare off Helena and Cynthia, yes. But Lippert didn’t want to hurt these women. He just wanted to keep his daughter safe.
Refusing to be intimidated by a man she was beginning to realise was more bark than bite, Helena forced calm into her voice. ‘I know you saw him there. Dead on the floor. Lying in a pool of his own blood. I don’t think you killed him, George. But I’m guessing you have a good idea who might have done the deed. Help us find Hubert’s killer, and we will leave here and never return.’
Cynthia stiffened.
Lippert froze and blinked several times. A name surfaced in his mind. As clear as a shiny penny glinting at the bottom of a wishing well. But it was impossible.
‘I ’aven’t a clue.’
‘You’re lying.’ Helena’s words carried the bite of conviction.
Lippert flinched.
