Page 3 of Of Flame and Fury
“Yes.” Gemini reaches for my hand and escorts me through the door. “He won’t hold back tonight.”
All right, now it makes sense. “Anything out to get Celia will presume she’s with him,” I determine. “He’s making himself a target.”
I barely shut the door with how fast Gemini stalks forward. “Yes,” he responds, keeping his voice quiet. “It will divert attention away from Celia.”
I grind to a stop. Gemini could easily keep going with my hand still attached. Thankfully, he’s always careful not to hurt me. “How bad is it?” I ask.
His gaze darkens as it meets mine. “Worse than we could have imagined.”
Chapter Two
My feet tentatively move forward, stepping lightly over the dark wooden floors. Based on Gemini’s tone, I’m waiting for something to break through the ivory-painted walls and attack. Gemini doesn’t reach for my hand. He’s too busy eyeing Sparky as the magic within us charges. He leads me forward with a gentle press of his hand to the small of my back. My tone isn’t so gentle. “What’s going on?” I ask.
“We’re not entirely sure.”
“So not making me feel better, babe,” I reply when he doesn’t answer right away.
He looks around, taking me into a small alcove and further dropping his voice. “Remember when we spoke about Genevieve feeling a change in Lake Tahoe since the arrival of the other head witches?”
“Yes,” I say. Celia felt it too. She’s not as sensitive to magic as I am, but since moving here, she’s always shared an odd kinship with the lake.
God, I don’t like how Gemini quiets. “You told me the power of Lake Tahoe is stronger and purer than it’s been in centuries. You said it was a good thing,” I remind him. I shake my head when he doesn’t reply, knowing things are headed from bad to hell. “The evil ante blew up big time, didn’t it?”
The muscles along his shoulders clench as if readying to pounce. “Yes.”
Son of a bitch. Can’t evil just chill for once? “Babe, just tell me what’s up.”
Gemini stops, turning to face me. “The shift in the lake’s supremacy is too severe and rising unusually fast. Genevieve no longer believes it’s the witches’ arrival stirring it. She feels it’s counterbalancing a presence that’s invaded the area.”
“Why am I just hearing about this now?” I press.
“I only just learned myself. Genevieve informed me an hour ago.”
His admission gives me pause and a touch of attitude. Gemini doesn’t mean Vieve hit him up on his phone. Oh, no. Wolvescalleach other by howling. Thosecallsare loud and clear. As the liaison between theweresand Tahoe’s head witch, Gemini hears Vieve’s tender and seductive voice whisper along his ear whenever she sees fit.
“An hour ago?” I ask. He replies with a stiff nod. He knows I’m pissed off. “And you didn’t tell me.”
He raises his eyebrows. He doesn’t like my accusatory tone. Poor, hot, deadly werewolf. “If you recall what we were doing at the time,” he begins, doing his best to remain calm, “it wasn’t the best time to tell youorreply to her.”
“Oh, I recall.” I reel away from him and stomp down the hall overlooking the massive foyer.
The hem of my gown smacks against the iron balusters when I whip around. We’ve reached the open walkway that leads from the west wing, where the majority of the guest suites were constructed, to the east side dedicated to students and their learning areas.
From here, I can see the entirety of the foyer and the large archway that opens into the ballroom. I don’t waste time admiring all the details put into this opulent structure. Uh-uh. I’m too busy fuming over Genevieve and pointing a lightning-charged finger at Gemini.
“Youshould have told me, andsheshouldn’t speak to you when we’re naked in bed.” I storm ahead, showering the floors with blue and white sparks as I wave my arms. “Or when you have me up against the wall, or on top of the vanity, and especiallynotwhen I’m bent over a terrace.”
“Taran,wait,” Gemini snarls.
Of course, I don’t. It is kind of cute that he thinks I might listen for once.
My gown ruffles along the stark-white marble steps as I make my way to the first level. I don’t have to turn to know Gemini isn’t far behind. The strain between us crawls up my back, demanding I turn around. Several vamps halt their elbow-rubbing to grin and flash us some fang. The few I recognize snag the champagne glasses levitating in the air and toast our clearly adoring relationship. “Oh, shut up,” I snap.
Gemini’s movements can be as subtle as air. Not now. He marches behind me, gaining ground as easily as I blink. “You’re doing this now?”
“You’re damn right I’m doing this now.” More sparks. Followed by a zap of lightning that leaves a nasty mark on Vieve’s new floors. Sorry, not sorry.
I cross the foyer. It’s lit in candlelight and adorned with expensive artwork and paintings of the most famous witches in history. The foyer is so ridiculously large, it takes a hot minute to reach the ballroom. The moment I step through the archway, I scan the room.