Page 84 of Rafe

Rafe’s eyes widened as the realization hit him like a sledgehammer. “It’s you she’s after, isn’t it? She’s after you.”

Ilsbeth raised an eyebrow at him, stood and turned towards the fire.

“No, wait. You knew she’d come for me,” Rafe continued.

“Kellan predicted she’d reveal herself to the world.”

Don’t trust Ilsbeth. “Kellan, huh? I guess he’s not here anymore to confirm the prophecy?”

“The fae’s back in Hell where he belongs,” she snapped.

“Fae are always in Hell. He’s dead. What exactly is happening here? Did he tell you? Or did you know?”

“There’s always a deal to be made. I’m skilled at negotiations.”

Rafe shook his head and pounded down his drink, setting the glass onto the end table. He stood and paced, noting the room had no windows. The magick rumbled through the air, Ilsbeth’s energy rolling over him like electricity. But the Alpha within grew stronger, the wolf pushing into his psyche, demanding her submission. If intimidation was a tactic, his wolf practiced it like a fine art.

“I’ll tell you what I believe. I think you knew she’d come after me the second you created me. This thing you call your sister⁠—”

“She’s no longer my family. She’s an abomination!”

“She’s your blood! You and Kade, you knew. You knew what she was capable of. You knew it and goaded Greyson and Logan into believing this prophecy shit. You sent me out there knowing exactly who was causing a problem.”

“Kade has nothing to do with this. He asked for my assistance with the vampires. I didn’t know that it was her.”

“You sent me fishing. You turned me into bait?”

“I would never do that!”

“But you would, wouldn’t you? There’s a reason people tell me not to trust you. We both know that.”

“Fine. I suspected it was her, but how would I really know?”

“Of course you did.” Rage boiled his blood hot, his lips tightened into a line.

Ilsbeth locked her eyes on his, her expression serious. “Since the day you died…the day you were reborn as vampire, I knew that Zyaire would come for you one day.”

Ilsbeth sighed as the blood drained from her already pale face, her expression despondent. She closed her eyes and shook her head, finally training her focus on Rafe. “The truth? I knew she’d come for you the day I saved you. I gave you my blood Rafe, the blood of my ancestors, my mother and grandmother. You probably have no idea the ramifications of what I did that day. To give you my blood?” She gave a halfhearted laugh. “The blood of one of the most powerful high priestesses in this realm? My ancestors know. The Goddess knows. It shook the universe. There is no more precious substance to give without consequence. Viktor knew that when he asked.”

“But you owed him.” It wasn’t a question. Rafe sighed, knowing Viktor well. Clever and lethal, his mentor taught him to tame the bloodthirsty beast Rafe still struggled to control.

“I did. I was weakened from my trip from Hell. My soul was broken, weak. I needed Karma. Good karma. And it worked…until it didn’t.”

“You knew she’d come back from wherever she was, didn’t you? This black magick shit never, ever works. Jesus.” Rafe ran his fingers through his thick locks that had grown past his shoulders.

“You had a hand in whatever was done to her. If she’s your blood, she’s witch. No witch is banished by demons or whatever caused her to be like this. What she’s doing is demonic.” Rafe sensed her before he heard her footsteps. Skylar. Though distracted by her presence, he honed his focus on the high priestess. “If I’m going to fight this diabolical monstrosity, I need to know everything. No generalizations. No more lies.”

“What’s happening?” Skylar asked, her voice soft.

“This isn’t any of your concern.” Greyson appeared next to Ilsbeth.

“No. I disagree. Skylar should know how all of this happened. They went after her. Deliberately. Who knows how far this goes?” Rafe’s mind raced, recalling the details from the past week, piecing together the puzzle.

“Let me guess how this all went down. Zyaire’s been watching me. The night in New Orleans? She was there. She saw me with Skylar that night. Maybe she even sent that guy to Skylar’s door. She already would have known where Greyson lived. Skylar’s job in Hollywood was real, but her firing?” He kept his attention focused on Ilsbeth, continuing to speculate. “How much money would it take to get a newbie actress on the set fired? Not too difficult. And who sent her to Vegas?”

“My agent. I’ve had him for a few years.”

“But someone knew. The Vegas job came up right after you were fired, right? Zyaire knew about Skylar, she somehow knew that I’d protect her.” That my vampire would bond with the human.