Page 2 of Of Flame and Fury

Working as one, the witches created and reinforced the wards surrounding Le Grand Chateau de Montagne, Genevieve’s newly constructed magical fortress where this supernatural summit is to take place. Anyone who’s anyone will be here for a chance to mingle among the elite and seek an opportunity to get ahead. But the real reason for this gala is why I’m here. It’s one last chance to unite the forces for protecting Celia’s baby.

Voices echo along the second floor, the collective power of all these formidable beings chilling my spine and sending a quiver down Sparky’s length. The pale, bleached skin glows fluorescent white. She doesn’t like the magic scraping along our skin. It challenges us to come out swinging.

Settle down, Sparky,I tell my arm.There shall be no death and destruction tonight.

The smile Gemini stirred vanishes as I mull over that thought.Well, maybe, maybe not. None of us are exactly besties.

Sparky shudders when someone belts out a laugh. It’s not a genuine, fun laugh. It’s packed with power and warns those in the vicinity that he’s not afraid—and that they should be. Gemini chuckles when I roll my eyes. This idiot is only the first of many who will flex their supernatural muscles tonight.

We’re not rounding up the good guys. That’s not what we’re here for. We’re attempting to unify a crowd of bloodthirsty freaks.

“Shhh,” Gemini murmurs. He lifts my right hand, brushing his lips across the sickly blue veins and over my knuckles. It’s fair to say we had issues accepting my new arm, despite theweremagic used to create it. But you’d never know it by the way Gemini caresses me now. The glowing recedes, as do the trembles. “Rest easy, Taran. I am with you.”

He bends to kiss me. But if he does, I won’t want him to stop. I avert my chin. “We should head to the party before I do more naughty things that you’ll enjoy.”

“Hmm,” he says. “Very well. But it seems you enjoy them too.”

“I’ll give you that,” I say. My impish smile vanishes when I realize how worried I really am. “Let’s stay alive, okay?”

Gemini’s worry for my safety tightens his voice. “We will,” he replies.

He straightens slowly, his posture stiff as the voices grow louder and the waves of magic rippling through the room turn more pronounced.

I drop the vulnerability I allow in Gemini’s presence and reach out with the magic I was born with. I sense the witches, mingling among the throng ofwereswho’ve just arrived. The spell-wielders are different beings, but their magic is earthy like theweres. It’s one of the many reasonsweresand witches are so tight; their mojo complements each other. But then in a shove, their collective power drifts away, and I receive a virtual slap to the ass.

Oh, goody. The vamps are here, showing off their strength and allure since that’s how they roll.

Gemini lifts his head, scowling. Yup. He senses them too.

Tonight, is all about the supernaturals. Clans coming together and old bitter rivals burying hatchets. Unity must occur, so Celia and her unborn child remain safe. That doesn’t mean everyone will play nice, nor does it mean they’ll agree for the greater good. Most just want to spare their hides and keep their fortunes.

Gemini’s frown deepens. “Aric is here,” he says.

And cue the sense of wrongness. “Without Celia?” I ask.

Gemini jerks out of his jacket and shirt before I finish asking. Like a vat of pouring ink, his twin black wolf materializes from his back.

Large paws, one as black as the rest of the beast, and one white, strike the hardwood floor almost silently. I shadow Gemini as he crosses the suite to the door leading out.

His twin stalks out. Another wolf prowling by, this one brown and white, stops dead when he sees Gemini’s twin. Like the black wolf, he’s over four hundred pounds of muscle and damn intimidating. He eases away from Gemini’s twin, trailing him as the twin trots down the hall.

“Why is Aric here without Celia?” I ask, not liking this one bit. “His biggest fear is someone hurting her or the baby.”

Gemini shoves his dress shirt back into his pants, redressing quickly. “He’s worried.”

“Exactly,” I say, edging closer to the door. “So, why would he leave her alone?”

Gemini sets his jaw. “It’s extra security. Aric’s magic is strengthening.”

I help him with his tie, attempting to relax my nerves as I mull over his words. “I haven’t felt anything different.”

“He’s been holding back,” Gemini replies, his voice lowering. “Being one of his Warriors and Second in Command, I’ve sensed it growing and feeding mine.”

“I haven’t felt anything,” I admit. “And I feel everything…”

My words lodge as a scary and vicious presence forces its way into the room. I jump away from the door, my firing arm out. Something primal waits just outside. I’m ready to blast away until I catch a trace of familiarity behind it. This beast isn’t at our door—he’s everywhere.

“Is that Aric?” I ask, barely recognizing what hiswerepower has become.

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