Page 56 of Of Flame and Fury

“Uri,” she says.

Uri kicks the foot away. A Lesser witch shrinks away when it lands near her feet. She survived the attack physically, but emotionally, she’s not doing so hot. She shakes violently, gaping at the foot as it might somehow hurt her.

Uri storms forward, baring his fangs at Genevieve. “This is your doing,” he hisses.

I launch myself at him. Shayna clutches my waist and drags me back. Uri is milliseconds from tearing out Vieve’s throat. Despite our differences, Genevieve is not the enemy, and I’ll be damned if I let him harm her.

“Dude,” Shayna says. “This isn’t our fight. Not yet.”

Genevieve returns Uri’s anger, the magic building within her curling the tiny hairs on my neck inward. “I amnotto blame.”

“This is your home, your wards, your invitation. You did this to me.”

I roll my eyes. “Yes, let’s make this all about you, Uri.”

Growls erupt from everywerepresent when Uri trains his sights on me. Everyone is taking a side and casting fault. This was not the goal of the night.

“Everyone had lost someone this evening,” I remind everyone. I ignore the group of vampires edging closer to Uri. “Enough of your bitchiness. We can’t leave, and this isn’t over.”

“You will not keep me here,” he hollers. His gaze travels around the room, making a point to stop on every alpha, head witch, and anyone else with an inkling of his power. “None of you will.”

“Trust me when I say I’d rather you leave, princess,” I bite out. Hisses mix with approving grunts. I dismiss the rather scathing death glare Uri throws my way and focus on Genevieve. “Does he know that the wards are being used against us?”

“What?” Uri demands.

Hmm. Guess not. “Oh, yeah, Uri. Instead of keeping things out, they’re keeping us in.”

Call me nuts, but I don’t think Genevieve appreciates the ever-so-gentle way I break the news to Uri. She regards me as if slapped. Uri screams at us, the anger he emits in his magic cracking the walls further. “This is impossible.” He sneers at Genevieve. “Only a pathetic and simpleton of a witch would allow this.”

“Okay. Now you’re just being mean,” I say over Genevieve’s furious, “How dare you?”

Genevieve’s magic clashes with Uri’s, the sheer power crumbling what remains of the hearth.

I edge in front of Genevieve when Uri takes a step forward, his irises freaking glowing red. I was never subjected to this side of him (thank Christ!). The tumult radiating in his features gives me serious pause and the urge to bolt.

“Knock it off, Uri,” I say, feigning a shit-ton more courage than I feel. “Yeah, I get it, wards of this caliber should be impossible to manipulate. But guess what? These creatures aren’t supposed to be possible either.”

“Then how are they so?” Uri asks through clenched fangs.

“It’s Fate,” I say.

Uri stiffens, his fangs and that of his family dissolving and resuming their human form. “Johnny Fate,” he says.

“Yes,” I tell him. “He’s invaded the premises and claimed the witch’s power.”

“He’s supposed to be with the shifters or dead by their hands,” Uri says.

Shapeshifters are the most frightening supernatural creatures on Earth and carry the power of hell within them. Born witches, they spend their human lives making blood sacrifices to their deity. Once their deity is satisfied and deems them worthy, they sacrifice their souls in exchange for the power to transform into any creature living or dead.

Celia killed one once, with a lot of damn help. I killed the half-form of another. Our actions, while upping our street cred, only made us larger targets.

“Johnny Fate,” Uri repeats. He scoffs, thumbing his nose.

Uri doesn’t respect weakness. No predator like him should. The way he speaks, he counted on Johnny’s lack of spine to work against him with the shifters. In a way, I did too.

I often pondered how Johnny’s initial meeting with these ghastly beings would go. They’re not nurturing or welcoming. They’re ruthless and cruel, and just as selfish as Johnny. More than once, I pictured them eating him and sucking down all his magic right to the marrow.

“Tell me what you know, second of the Wird sisters,” Uri orders me.