Page 169 of Roaring Flames

“Delaney?”

I have the pleasure of seeing shock widen the woman’s eyes before she smooths out her expression.

“This is the Maiden, Soraya.” Delaney points to the gorgeous redhead first. “And this is the Crone, Ara.”

Ara bares yellowing teeth at me.

“You’re the Trinity,” I say in grim understanding.

Delaney smiles again, though her cold eyes refuse to thaw. “And you’re Isabella Martin.” She extends a pale, delicate hand adorned with rings. “You need to come with us.”

Grayson shoulders his way in front of me. “No way in hell?—”

The Crone waves her hand, and Grayson flies through the air and hits the tree with an audiblethunk.

He struggles forward, but it’s like he’s held in place by an invisible wall. Anger flashes in his pale-blue eyes.

“Stop it! Let him go!” I scream at Ara.

She simply smirks, the expression somehow horrifying on her weathered face.

“We just want to talk to you,” Delaney tries again.

“What does everyone want with me?” I explode. “I can’t do anything! I have no magic. I can’t shift into a wolf. I can’t?—”

“You stupid girl,” the Crone rasps out. “Do you really think anyone here gives a shit about you? We all know you didn’t inherit any powers. But you’re the bargaining chip we need to?—”

“That’s enough.” Delaney holds a hand up in the air, and the Crone immediately snaps her teeth together.

“It’ll be easier for everyone if you just come with us,” Soraya says with a soft smile. “We won’t hurt the vampire.”

“Let me go!” Grayson roars, fighting against the invisible restraints like a man possessed. “I swear to fuck?—”

The Crone waves her hand again, and I suddenly can’t hear a single word Grayson says. His lips are still moving, his eyes spewing venom, but it’s like he’s in a bubble.

I stare at the Crone in disbelief, and she shrugs a bony shoulder.

“What? He was swearing too much.”

Soraya rolls her eyes. “You swear all the time.”

“Fuck off.”

Delaney turns her eyes towards the heavens as if praying for patience before refocusing on me. “You need to come with us.”

“Why?” I take a step backwards, wondering if I can run.

But no. I won’t leave Grayson, and there’s no way he can fight off twenty-plus witches.

“Because we need your help contacting someone,” Delaney says cryptically.

“I don’t understand?—”

“Oh, enough of this!” Soraya flicks her wrist, and my body sways to the side.

Darkness penetrates the edges of my vision, and my brain turns fuzzy, as if it’s been stuffed with a thousand wet cotton balls.

But just before darkness claims me, I hear a voice whisper, “Travan will have no choice but to come.”

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