Page 57 of Touch of Evil

As the last of her vanishes beneath the water, she loses her fight against Tahoe.

Una detonates. What remains are pieces, swallowed whole by the lake.

“Oh,” I say, turning back to Emme. “I thought you were mad at me.”

Rain trickles across the water, dimming the rising sun and rushing the moon away. I hurry to the dock. Someone throws a blanket over Emme, but it’s not enough. She needs to get out of those wet clothes and wash leftover Una bits off. She needs food and warmth.

Hell, she needs me.

The bear from the complex passes her the phone. “It’s the alpha, Aric Connor,” he tells her.

Emme grips the phone tight, taking a moment before speaking. I hurry forward, only for Houndstooth jacket and the Polo boys from the Watering Hole to shove their way forward.

“What the hell was that, man?” Orange Polo asks. “A wereoctopus?”

“No. It was something else,” I answer.

I scowl when the cougar from the complex adjusts the blanket covering Emme’s shoulders. She’s talking to Shayna. I recognize Shayna’s excited tone right away.

“Sure was something else,” Houndstooth agrees. He jerks his head in the direction of the fish and mouse. “Just like them.”

The cougar nods, his hardening gaze fixing on the youngerweres. “When you talk to Bren Cooper, you call him alpha. Show some respect, dawg.”

The otherweresnod in agreement, eyeing fish girl and the president of the mouse club with disgust. The witches didn’t cast Mirror under the laws and safety of their coven, and they’re notweresor humans ourweresare obliged to protect. They’re abominations, results from the evil we guard against. If left on their own, the fish and mouse would be eviscerated by the pack.

“What do you want me to do with them, alpha?” the bear asks.

In other words, kill them now, or later?

“Don’t know,” I say. “Still waiting to hear.”

I take the beach towel he offers me and wipe down. The witches inch away from theweresand closer to Emme. She’s talking to Shayna now. I recognize the perk to her tone. A hiss from a werelynx warns the witches against getting too close to Emme.

“You promised to speak to Genevieve,” mouse girls calls to Emme. “You said if we helped you, you would help us.” She veers on me. “Emme was drowning. Farrah dove into the water and brought her to the dock.”

“It’s true. The current was carrying her away,” fish girl replies.

Fish face looks up at me hopefully, her bulging eyes spinning with worry. Like the rest of us, she took a beating. I can’t believe she made it out and I gotta give her props for helping Emme.

“Is the Head Witch nice, like Emme says, wolf?” she asks me. “Do you think the Great Genevieve will spare us?”

“Are you kidding?” I reply. “Genevieve’s a bitch. She’ll skin you alive and use your hide for dinner napkins.”

Emme gasps. “Bren!” She speaks through her teeth. “I’m on the phone with her nowand she can hear you.”

“Oh.” I scratch my beard. “Waddup, girlfriend?” I ask into the phone.

“Burn in hell, mongrel,” Genevieve replies.

Like always, Genevieve keeps her voice calm and maintains her composure. I chuckle and finish drying off. I have to give it to Genevieve. I only saw her lose her shit once. It was all Taran’s fault and it was fuckin’ glorious.

Emme turns away, apologizing for my “actions, crass, and rudeness.” I don’t get it. I asked how she was doing.

When their conversation ends, Emme’s features soften and she addresses the witches. “Theweresare to escort you to the Head Witch’s compound. There, you’ll be granted an audience with her and her council.”

“But will she kill us?” the mouse squeaks.

Emme isn’t one to lie. She also isn’t one to offer false hope. “Genevieve is not pleased with your actions, but she’s willing to hear your side. I explained how you helped us, for that she is thankful.” She smiles. “So is my brother-in-law, Aric. He promised to speak to Genevieve on your behalf.”

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