Page 17 of Of Flame and Fate
“It was a simple snag and dump,” I say, speaking softly. “Two vampires, three of us. We didn’t think anything could go wrong.”
“But it did.”
“I know it did. But as an Alliance member, it’s my duty to protect.”
“No,” he says. “Your duty requires you to help the Alliance as a whole, should your powers be needed. That’s not the same thing as being the leeches’ go-to.”
I open my mouth and quickly shut it. I’m not going to win this one, not with the bruises scattered along my body.
“Why did he call you?” he asks, speaking of Misha. “If it was so simple, why not just send his own?”
“His vampires are known by face and by scent, they bear his mark. We don’t. We had the best chance of rounding them up and assuring the human populace would stay safe.”
Gemini doesn’t budge, his focus intense and straight ahead.
My words release carefully. I’m not blind to his anger nor can I dismiss the damage the vamp inflicted. “You said they weren’t regular rogues,” I remind him. “What did you mean by that?”
“The Alliance has learned that the Dark Legion isn’t just targeting Celia.” He squares his jaw. “They’re recruiting rogue vamps in addition to loneweresand witches.”
“For an army? Like before?”
“No,” he says. “As Assassins. They’re trying to infiltrate and wipe out the most elite in our circles. Earlier this week, one of Genevieve’s bodyguards killed a witch who tried to poison her.”
Genevieve is Tahoe’s head witch, absurdly beautiful and as powerful as an encroaching tornado. I know from personal experience. More than once our magic has clashed, and more than once we’ve come close to blows.
“We would have dismissed it as an isolated incident had our former Elder in Colorado not been ambushed during a hunt early today.”
“By anotherwere?” I guess.
“No. By several young witches who’d camouflaged themselves as trees.”
My eyes widen. Having had my stint in witch school, assuming another form is a torturous undertaking that takes a great deal of strong magic.
“Why?” I ask. “I mean, I get that the elite are more of a threat than the average supernatural. But their supreme strength and abilities makes them more lethal and dangerous. They’re not exactly easy targets.”
“They’re not easy targets,” he agrees. “But the assassins are formidable. From what we’ve learned, they’re not willing to fight alongside the Dark Legion, but they are willing to take their money and do their dirty work.”
“Was the Elder harmed?” I curse at the stoic way Gemini nods.
“He gained the upper hand and killed the witches who attacked him, but he didn’t walk away unscathed. He’s healing slowly, not as rapidly as we hoped or expected.”
I flex my hands when I realize how hard I’m clenching them. “That means the injuries he sustained were laced with curses.”
“They were,” he replies. “Anotherwerewouldn’t have survived the attack, and if he had, the magical damage the witches inflicted would have finished him off.” His stare cuts my way. “Genevieve took the poison, her protection spells and the speed in which her bodyguard reacted were what saved her. Otherwise, we would have lost her.”
My fingers trail involuntarily to my throat. The vamp who attacked me was absurdly fast. There was more to him than either me or my arm were ready for.
I pause when a thought occurs to me. “The Elders and the Head Witches were targets,” I say. “What about the master vamps?”
“Uri was attacked an hour ago.”
“Misha’s master?” He nods. Holy shit. Even I try not to piss him off. “Why? Going after Uri is like going after a world leader.”
Only silence greets me. “Just tell me,” I urge. “Why are only the best being stalked?”
His breath releases in a huff. “Because regardless of our differences aswereand witch, and our continued distrust and conflicts with the vampires, all in the Alliance agree on one thing: Celia must be protected in order for her children to live and fulfill the prophecy.”
His response pisses me off. “They’re trying to make it easier to kill Celia.”