Page 29 of Of Flame and Fate

“And what about that?” I ask, pointing to whatever is crawling away from the corner. A werewolf munching on what looks like a chicken wing steps over it. He doesn’t care. It’s vamp bits.

“Arm,” Gemini answers. “She was torn into five pieces.”

“By Misha?” I ask, wondering how exactly he managed to pull that decapitated rabbit out of the hat.

“No,” Gemini says, his unease evident as he turns toward Destiny.

She keeps her smile. “It’s not nice to attack those who are weak. Don’t you think?”

I try to nod and fail. The best I can do is not put more distance between us.

The pull of Genevieve’s mojo has me turning toward her. She’s looking at the vamp standing in front of her. The vamp isn’t moving, only because Genevieve isn’t letting him. He falls apart. Literally, his petrified body parts splintering down the middle and crumbling as they strike the wood floor.

I don’t think this vamp went after Uri. He went after Genevieve believing she was distracted. His mistake. Genevieve doesn’t miss a thing.

“Thank you,” Uri mumbles, his speech slurred.

I think he’s talking to Misha, who he often refers to as “his son”, or maybe Destiny who could be some freak second cousin twice removed for all I know. But theyonlykilled a few vampires. Genevieve healed him.

She quietly observed the violent exchange between the vampires, failing to respond until she was imperiled. As much as she willingly cured Uri and lifted the curse bestowed upon him, I don’t think Genevieve would have shed a tear had the opposing vampires succeeded in killing him.

She passes the wooden bowl filled with the goo she used to treat his wounds to one of her “sisters” and irritably wipes her hands with a towel another offers. Her coven responded to the threat upon their leader, they just weren’t as fast or ruthless as Genevieve. “Don’t thank me, Uri,” she answers him flatly. “Just do the right thing.”

She walks away in a huff, briefly acknowledging us with a tilt of her head. “Gemini, Sister Taran.”

“Hey, Vieve,” I answer, my tone grave given the carnage.

Gemini acts as if he doesn’t see her, his spine stiffening as Aric stalks forward with his arm around Celia. He’s wearing a black T-shirt and jeans. My sister is in a navy maxi dress. I think she chose it for the dark color and how the dress falls loosely at her sides, camouflaging her pregnancy. She dresses like that a lot. I think it’s her way of shielding her child. But the way the soft material gathers around her belly, there’s no hiding the little one growing inside her.

Misha looks up as they pass, ignoring the vampires brushing the ash from his Armani suit. Celia shakes her head, letting him know she can’t talk right now and warning him to keep his distance from Aric.

Everyone is on edge.

Except for Destiny who beams at Celia’s approach.

“Hey,” she says when only mere feet remain between us. “I told Taran the great news.”

“And I told her she must be mistaken,” I sing.

Aric and Celia only tense further.

“No . . .” I say when they reach me.

“Taran,” Celia begins.

“No, way,” I insist, my attention lobbying between she and Gemini. Emme steps aside, giving us room, but also trying to keep the focus off her and her disheveled state. I get it. Everyone’s upset enough. But if Celia is trying to apologize, apology not accepted because what the hell? “I’m supposed to be protecting you,” I remind her.

“She’s not doing this,” Gemini says, his comment spilling over mine.

Aric tightens his jaw. “It can’t be helped. Not with everything that’s happening.”

“Destiny is notpack,” Gemini says. “Nor is shewere.”

Destiny takes this moment to fluff her feathers. Well, why not?

“That doesn’t make her less valuable,” Aric says, his attention flickering to Celia.

I pace in circles, muttering a few curses before whipping back and ramming my hands on my hips. “You think she’ll protect Celia if we need her to?”

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