Page 68 of Touch of Evil

“Then what areyoutalking about?” she bites out.

“I don’t know.” Clearly. “Whatever it is you want to talk about.”

Here’s the deal, I used to be a good liar. But with the most beloved Wird sister lying naked next to me, I’m not anymore.

Taran replies, sounding pissier than when she accused me of blowing out her eardrum. “Tell me you’re day drinking, Bren. Tell me it’s Witches Brew. Tell me I shouldn’t light your ass up like fireworks.”

“I…”

I’ve got nothing is what I’ve got.

“For hell’s sake, Bren,” she barks into the phone. “Get a hold of yourself and grow up, man. This is embarrassing.”

And now in addition to being an alcoholic she thinks I’m a loser.

From the other end of the line, I hear her fluff her hair. “Anyway, I’m calling because no one’s heard from Emme. I just got in from Iran. Gemini’s pissed, something about me causing international, unconscionable, and blasphemous chaos or some nonsense. It’s a total lie. The Caspian mountain only caught a little bit on fire and that sacred shrine wasreally old. It was one good windstorm from crumbling into powder, but like always, it’s my fault. Can you believe that shit?”

“No,” I say, although I really can. Taran and I share the same vocabulary and temper. Some have speculated as to why we never dated. This is why. We would seriously murder each other.

“Gemini’s at the Den working things through with the Caspian Den. Get this, their alpha is a wereibex. An actual ibex! He almost attacked me, but then realized I was just there to save the day. Gemini insists that the only reason he didn’t go all ibex on me is because my clothes were in tatters and my boobs were hanging out, but honest-to-God, even though they were, he was a decent guy.”

“I’m sure he was,” I say, watching Emme sit up.

“Anyway, the thing with Genevieve and the witches took forever. Shayna and Koda were about to crash or play a round of Jack Be Nimble meets Horny Humpty Dumpty or whatever the hell, and they realized Emme wasn’t here. Do you think she ran out for food or something? Koda says her scent is older, from earlier last evening. Tell me you know where she is and that she’s safe before we all lose our damn minds.”

“Is everything all right?” Emme asks. “You seem stressed.”

No biggie. I’m just about to die.

I cover the receiver with my palm, thanking heaven and back Taran doesn’t have supernatural hearing and that Emme’s voice is so soft.

“It’sTaran,” I whisper. “She wants to know where you are.”

Emme pushes the hair from her face. She smiles and extends her palm, requesting the phone.

Damn. Does the army know about that smile? She could be our secret weapon against the terrorists.

“Hi, Taran.”

“Omigod, Emme. Thank God. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she replies. “We were badly banged up and tired, so I stayed with Bren.”

“You sound exhausted,” Taran says.

She knows. Yup definitely knows.

“I just woke up,” Emme says, flashing me another grin.

Taran huffs. “Well considering you spent the night kicking ass and wiping the floor with octopus parts, I can’t blame you for crashing. I slept a little on the plane, after Gemini and I had makeup sex, you know how it goes.”

Emme runs her fingertips down my chest. “I do, actually.”

“Why didn’t you call to say you were staying at Bren’s?”

“Well…”

No!

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