Page 26 of Winterfall Destiny

"Always the selfish angle, Andrei," comments Ash.

"Uh. That was a joke? Bloody hell. As if."

"Um. I think the topic of future motherhood isn't important right now," says Maeve tersely. "What is important is discovering how powerful Andrei is. The creature could snap any of us in two or use magic I swear we haven't seen yet. How much of that did Andrei inherit?"

"Ha!" I smirk and they throw confused looks my way. Leaning forward, I place my arms on my knees. "I'm a hybrid now. Not a witch-vampire hybrid, but something more."

"I suppose so," says Tobias cautiously.

Sinking back again, my mouth tips at one corner. "I'll look forward to Dorian's next visit."

"Andrei!" says Jamie in horror. "No."

"I won't hurt him, but I'm gonna show him."

"We need his help still, Andrei, so don't start trouble," says Maeve, hand closing over my leg. "We all need to band together to take down Gabriella before she spreads this blood further."

"And kill her," adds Ash gruffly.

"Try and fucking stop me," I mutter. "Where is she?"

"Good question," says Ash gruffly.

"We've learned Gabriella is in London and likely looking to get a boat out of the country sometime soon," explains Tobias. "We're looking into shipping companies for links to supes."

"Ethan thinks the dragons are helping her," says Ash. "They've a lot of activity in London—much of it illegal. One of their syndicates would have overseas contacts."

"Dominion are everywhere in the world and spreading," says Tobias flatly. "Gabriella will find a safe haven somewhere."

"No, she fucking won't," I growl. "Because we're going to kill her. And if we don't, the First will."

Jamie shifts in his seat and looks away. "And then?"

"What do you mean?" asks Maeve.

"Are we helping with Dorian's crusade as well?"

Ah. Now I know why he isn't looking at me. "Kill my grandfather, you mean?"

"Take down the Confederacy," he replies, looking back.

"I understand that they're corrupt," says Maeve in a small voice, "but that isn't our fight."

Tobias and I exchange glances. Maeve isn't thinking straight. She's as in demand by the Confederacy as she is by the Dominion.

Maeve catches our look. "Yes, I know we're in danger too, but when Andrei and Ash are safe—when we're all safe, I want to disappear."

"And let Dorian take down the Confederacy." I snort a laugh. "Imagine if he put himself in charge."

"Better the devil you know," says Tobias.

"Are you serious?" I gawk.

"The only person who'll ever be in charge is that creature," says Maeve.

"If the First doesn't go into hiding again."

"Yeah, or float around with no body," says Ash. "Sorry, but I can't get my head around what the First is. Like, everything has a body. How can it not? Where did it come from?"

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