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If you wish to know the names of your greatest enemies, repeat these words nine times, and nine names will appear in your mind, the last name the one you must fear the most. Even now, after all these years, he could hear his mother’s voice.
“Thank you, Mother,” Cael said, then spoke the ancient words of a potent spell she had taught him when he was only a small boy.
He waited for the names to appear, until slowly as if imprinted on a puff of gray smoke, the first name appeared, and then the second, the third and the fourth. All were names of council members loyal to Judah. The fifth appeared. Nadine. Then the sixth. Claude. The seventh was Sidra. No surprises.
But the eighth name puzzled Cael.
Judah.
He believed his brother to be his greatest enemy. How could there be someone of more danger to him than the Dranir?
And then the ninth name appeared, a name Cael did not recognize.
Eve.
Who was Eve?
The spell-induced vision ended, and Cael’s mind cleared.
Eve, who are you? If you can hear me, open your mind to me.
A vigorous surge of mental energy shot through him, bringing him to his knees. As the pain radiated through him and then quickly dispersed, he cursed loudly, damning whatever force had attacked him.
Someone did not want him contacting Eve. Could that someone be Eve herself?
You caught me off guard, Cael said. I am more powerful than any Ansara. You cannot win in a fight against me. Do you hear me, Eve?
Another blow zapped Cael, sending him flying halfway across the room and landing him in a heap against the far wall.
Damn you! I warn you. Don’t make an enemy of me. You will regret it.
I’m not afraid of you, a child’s voice replied. I will not let you hurt my daddy.
Cael’s heartbeat accelerated. Who is your father?
I am Eve, and I hate you!
Tapping into the child’s anger, Cael returned a psychic blow and laughed when he heard the little girl’s screams.
Screaming, Eve doubled over in pain, then dropped to the ground as if she’d been hit by a giant fist. Sidonia, who had been sitting in the swing watching Eve as she raced around in the yard, playing with Magnus and Rufus, rushed to the child as quickly as her old legs would carry her. Mercy, who had been picking peaches from the lower branches of one of the many trees in the fruit orchard, saw in her mind’s eye what happened to her child the instant it occurred. Someone had attacked Eve! Running as fast as possible from the orchard, Mercy sent several powerful bursts of retaliation energy, disrupting the flow attacking her child and reversing the blows so that they would strike their sender.
When Mercy reached Eve, she found her wrapped in Sidonia’s comforting arms.
Her old nanny looked right at her and said, “This is Ansara evil.”
“Mommy…” Eve’s voice was a mere whisper.
“I’m here, baby. Mommy’s here.” She took Eve from Sidonia and held her close.
“He’s a very evil man.”
“Who is, baby? Who attacked you?”
“The man who wants to kill my daddy.”
Mercy’s heart sank. No! Please, God, no. How had Judah’s half brother, his former business partner and now his enemy, found out about Eve? Did it really matter? Apparently this man, whatever his name was, thought he could somehow get to Judah through his daughter.
Half an hour later, when Eve had calmed somewhat, Mercy questioned her about what had happened. There was only one way anyone could have gotten past the protective barrier that Mercy kept around Eve.
