Page 79 of Dead Heat

“What call?”

She dipped her head. “The mark on your chest.”

He glanced instinctively at the spot on his shirt where the mark lay underneath. “Why did you mark me? I’ve never seen you before in my life.”

“No, but you’ve seen my daughter. All of her, in fact. She believed you had the makings of a true champion.”

“What’s your daughter’s name?” Alessandro asked.

“Kelby.”

I didn’t recall the name Kelby on the list. Alessandro’s thoughtful expression suggested he didn’t remember her either.

“A face like a fox,” Erika continued. “Her eyes are small and too close together.” She waited for him to respond. When none was forthcoming, she added, “Her laugh is reminiscent of a hyena.”

Alessandro’s eyes brightened. “Oh, right. Kelby. I remember her now.”

Well, that was one mystery solved.

“Just to be clear,” I interjected, “you’re Kelby's mother.”

“She is one of my middle children, yes.”

And I thought my family had issues.

She returned her attention to Alessandro. “You have been chosen, incubus.”

“Chosen or branded?” he queried. “Is this like when farmers mark their cows?”

“You were chosen as my champion, but because you failed to heed the call, you began to deteriorate.”

“I don’t understand. What’s the call? I haven’t received any instructions or requests. Nothing except bad luck.”

“The magic should’ve summoned you to me when you first saw the mark, then I explain its purpose. That’s how it typically works.”

Typically? How often did Erika mark the men who slept with her daughter? And for what purpose?

Alessandro grunted. “Well, your magic is broken because it cut straight to the misfortune part.”

She angled her head to study him. “Do you suffer from visual impairment, by chance? That also might explain your willingness to bed Kelby. She is inarguably unattractive in both body and spirit.”

Mom of the Year over here.

“I found Kelby to be a delightful companion,” Alessandro objected. “And her laugh was adorable.”

“Hmm. Again, you surprise me,” Erika said.

While they argued about Kelby's merits or lack thereof, my mind was still stuck on the mark’s malfunction. There was no such thing as ‘broken magic;’ there had to be another explanation.

“What are you?” Alessandro asked.

“She’s a vala,” I said. “A Nordic witch.” Because of course she was a witch. Yet again, Phaedra proved to be the exception rather than the rule.

Erika twirled a strand of golden hair around her finger. “I suppose the choice of rune gave me away.”

“If you knew you wanted me as your champion, why mark me instead of asking me for your help?”

“It’s imperative that I test the prospective champions. I can’t simply grab them off the street and hope for the best.”

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