Page 91 of Quintus

Quintus’ eyes flared in anger. Hunter fell back into his seat, releasing a loud sigh. The fucking fae was right about one thing. The Alpha struggled, and Quintus suspected he’d been unable to shift.

“This is Gabriella. She’s a hybrid,” Quintus told Kellan.

“I’m a witch,” Gabriella offered, her voice shaking.

Kellan tilted his beer bottle and nodded. “That explains the magick. Tricky little hybrids. Mother Nature is a delight.”

“We seek your assistance in exchange for payment.” Quintus leaned toward Kellan, his eyebrows narrowed.

“What is the favor?” Kellan smiled at Gabriella.

“A purist coven. Specifically, a high priestess. We believe she’s working demonic magick. She’s been trying to kill Gabby since she was a kid.”

“When I was thirteen, I shifted,” Gabriella divulged the private information to the fae. “I’ve been on the run ever since.”

“Her name is Lilitu. All I can share is that she’s able to break wards,” Quintus explained.

“Not here she can’t.” Kellan gave a proud smile. “The fae run the show.”

“You haven’t seen this bitch in action. I know you think you have it all figured out but she’s the real deal.” Hunter coughed, his arm held to his chest.

“At first we suspected black magick, but it’s more than that. My home in New York? She somehow managed to break wards and set it on fire. Broke through wards at Kade’s estate as well. And I suspect she’s somehow involved with necromancy. There was someone once. We’d begun the bond but never completed it. She died. And when I say she died, I’m talking well over a thousand years ago. But a demon, goes by the name of Thorn…long story short she’s back from the dead.”

“Perhaps he’s the one who reanimated her. I assume she’s not exactly the same, huh?” Kellan laughed.

“The demon. He’s a half-breed, and doesn’t appear to have anything to do with the necromancy. But you’re right in that Mao, she’s not the same. Looks the same but clearly isn’t. I suspect she’s a Jiangshi.”

“You don’t see that every day, do you? Someone wanted to create the indestructible. Ah but for what?” Kellan asked, his tone thoughtful. His gaze settled onto Gabriella. “The wolf hybrid is your mate, yes?”

“She is.”

“And this Jiangshi shows up at the same time you meet her?”

“Shortly after, yes.”

“It’s almost as if someone knew. A prophesy. Why does a demon create a Jiangshi? Why does one show up more than a thousand years later? And this high priestess? Instead of letting you run off, she continues in pursuit.” Kellan pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead, humming quietly, then continued. “No…something about this. A high priestess who breaks wards can easily find the mouse. She tracks the mouse. She plays with the mouse. She was waiting.”

“But she almost killed me. The other day, she tried to kill a baby. Her knife went clear through me. The poison.”

A mischievous grin crossed his face, his eyes darting to Hunter then back to Quintus. “Poison. We know what ails the wolf. But no mind. The wolf is but a casualty in the game. Many battles, many battles, but only one war. This high priestess has been patient. Waiting, waiting,” Kellan sang. “But she’s so close…close to what? What is it that she wants? How is the Jiangshi related?”

“They’ve been seen together but never spoke. Lilitu never even acknowledged Mao’s presence the other day,” Quintus noted.

“But what? What does she want? What is so special about you, little wolf?” Kellan stared into Gabriella’s eyes, rubbing his palms together.

“I…I…nothing,” she responded. “I’m a hybrid. She killed my mother.”

“No, no, no. You’re lying,” he accused.

“I’m not lying. There’s nothing special,” she insisted.

“Liar!”

“What the fuck, Kellan!” Quintus jumped to his feet, resisting the urge to punch the fae.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Hunter asked. “She just answered you.”

“She. Is. Lying.” Kellan sat back into his chair and steepled his fingers.