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“Yes. The runes on this dagger that allowed your mother to absorb your magic kept it stored in the blade. That’s what I sensed.”
Peri grimaced. The stupid dagger was why the miasma had infected her mother and then Destiny. But that didn’t answer why she’d been traveling from small town to small town.
“If that’s true, why didn’t you capture me while I was at the ranch?” Peri asked the obvious question.
Destiny leaned forward, sniffing the air. Like a dog trying to catch the scent of his prey.
“You have a remarkable ability to keep your magic hidden. I doubt anyone has detected more than a fraction of your talent,” she explained. “It wasn’t until I searched through Destiny’s mind that I realized you were the one I was seeking. By then it was too late. You had disappeared.”
Peri leashed the urge to step back. She’d expended a great deal of effort to create her shield; she wasn’t going to ruin it because she couldn’t control her emotions.
Stiffening her spine, Peri tied off her magic. She’d done what she could. Now she had to hope it was enough.
“Why does Destiny believe she’s being controlled by my mother’s spirit?”
“I needed her to obey my commands. An illusion was the simplest way to keep her sane.”
“There’s nothing sane about your killing spree.”
Destiny laughed. It was a strange rasping sound. Like snake scales rubbing together.
“Hardly a spree. I needed to feed, and there was the hope you would come in search of Destiny if you thought she was in danger.”
“Why would I care what happens to Destiny?”
“She’s a member of your coven.”
“Not my coven.” Peri didn’t bother to hide the bitterness in her tone. She’d put what her mother had done to her in the past, but that didn’t mean she didn’t harbor resentment toward Brenda Sanguis and the women who’d watched her stick a dagger in her daughter’s heart. “I walked away a long time ago.”
A sneer twisted Destiny’s features. “That’s your claim, but here you are.”
“I didn’t come for Destiny.” Peri tapped into the magic pulsing in her jade bracelet. “I came to destroy you.”
Chapter 26
Valen’s hand was aching before he grimly conceded defeat. He couldn’t use brute force to battle his way through the seething mist. He needed magic. Luckily, he happened to have a powerful mage at his disposal.
Vaulting off the porch, he crouched next to the unconscious woman and turned her until she was lying flat on her back. Tia’s face was pale, but her breathing was even. She was knocked out cold, but there were no life-threatening injuries.
“Wake,” he commanded, placing his fingertips against her temple. His compulsion couldn’t enter her mind, but he could force her awake. “Tia, hear my voice.” Concentrating on the mage, Valen missed the approaching footsteps that were muffled by the spongy ground. Thankfully, he didn’t miss the scent of demon that suddenly threaded the breeze. Or the sharp tang of metal.
A weapon.
The thought barely had time to form before he was abruptly rolling to the side. Less than a second later there was the crack of a gun and the sizzle of the bullet as it passed inches above his head. He waited until the second shot buzzed past before he shoved himself to his feet with a furious growl. He’d been shot once this week. It damned well wasn’t happening again.
Moving too fast for the demon to track, Valen rushed into the trees. A second later he had his fingers wrapped around the thick neck of a male. Yanking him off the ground, he studied his captive.
The creature was huge with wide shoulders and a shaved head. He’d chosen to wear black jeans and a black motorcyclejacket, the heavy clothing blending in with the night, but they did nothing to hide the dull crimson aura that surrounded him. Valen squeezed his fingers, not bothering to ask the demon questions. There was no doubt he was there with Tia.
Proving his theory, a ring of fire abruptly sprouted around him. The magical flames danced in the thick air, bobbing on the breeze. They wouldn’t kill him, but they would cause enough damage to drain his powers. Something he couldn’t risk when Peri needed him.
“Stop.” Tia appeared through the trees, her steps unsteady as she halted next to the flames. “Lynch was just trying to protect me. Please release him.”
Valen shrugged, tossing the demon to the side. As he’d hoped, Tia swiftly doused the fire to prevent her servant from being injured.
Valen pointed toward Lynch, who’d landed on his knees, his hand pressed against his bruised throat.
“Stay down.”
