Page 28 of Touch of Evil

I stomp ahead before I realize I’m leaving Emme behind. “You all right?’ I ask, stopping dead in my tracks.

“Yes, just thinking,” she says.

She seems lost in her thoughts, not exactly rushing to catch up. By the time she reaches me, she’s downright frowning. “The masters will eventually go after the other masters; it’s part of their bloodthirsty character traits and what’s kept the vampires wealthy and in power for centuries.”

“They are greedy bastards,” I agree.

“And the head witches are also gunning for each other,” she adds.

“That’s right,” I tell her.

“What about theweres? The other alphas? Will they go after Aric?”

“Em, everywerewith a clue should fear Aric.” I blow out a breath. “And after all that crap that happened with Celia, most are downright terrified.” My voice lowers when I tell her what I do. “That doesn’t mean another kind of supernatural won’t try to mess with him and what he has.”

As well as try for you and your sisters.

Emme stares hard at the sand, careful to avoid a section of broken shells and rock. She knows where my thoughts are headed. “It would be unwise for the master vampires and head witches to take on Misha and Genevieve, as well as Aric. It’s not just their prowess or skill, they have allies and connections worldwide.”

“Yeah, and those connections keep growing.” My boot crushes a brittle stone, my weight too much for it despite its length and width. “There are rumors going around Genevieve is going to claim the entire west coast as her own. She has Nevada and California, and she’s targeting Oregon and Washington next.”

“There’s already a head witch in that territory,” Emme says carefully.

“I know. Lumina. But she’s all power and no flair from what I hear.” I rub my nose when I catch a trace of something else. “Aric’s hoping Lumina will step down. He doesn’t like her and considers Vieve a good leader and ally. For as much as Aric and Vieve do not always see eye to eye, they have a decent working relationship and he respects her.”

“Do you think he respects Genevieve enough to support her acquisition of the remaining states?”

“No. He won’t go that far. If he did, it would cause a riff with theweresin Oregon and Washington,” I reply. “Aric flat out told Genevieve he won’t back her if it comes down to a duel.”

“A duel? That would be terrible,” Emme says. “Two witches fighting, especially two head witches, is never a good thing.”

“It’ll be one hell of a fight,” I agree with a nod.

“You sound certain there’ll be one,” Emme says.

“That’s because I am. Lumina scheduled one for October 30th. Vieve has given her until the twenty-nineth to back down and surrender before she curses her ass.”

“Lumina is strong, you say,” Emme replies. “Are you sure Genevieve is stronger?”

At my nod she asks, “So why would Lumina challenge her to a duel? She’s not only risking her territory, she’s risking her life.”

I shrug. “If I were Vieve’s rival, hell, or Misha’s, I’d take them out before they grew more powerful than they are. They ain’t gettin’ any weaker.”

“From a warmonger perspective, it does make sense,” Emme begins.

“But?” I ask. I stop when another scent catches my interest.

“But nothing. I suppose I’m just confused. With so many adversaries and supernatural muscle flexing occurring on a regular basis, why would anyone bother with me?”

My attention focuses on the row of rocks lining the edge along the road. “It’s like I said, Emme, the alphas may not be dumb enough to mess with Aric directly, but you’re an indirect way to him.”

Damn. For all I didn’t want to remind her of this, there I go, flapping my gums.

“What are you looking at?” she asks.

“Something that shouldn’t be here,” I reply.

Another trickle of that scent cuts through the air with the next rush of wind. Emme starts for the direction I’m eyeing. I don’t let her.

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