Page 75 of The Aether

Acknowledging the suggestion and her accuracy of his earlier reaction, he said, “Thank you.”

* * *

“Vivian.” Morcant inhaled deeply, ready to consume her worry for her daughter. He frowned when he didn’t receive the angsty response he’d expected.

Her arms were bent behind her back, and she was suspended between the two men who served him, showing no fear.

Why?

Slowly, keeping his thoughtful gaze on her until the last possible second, he turned his head toward her child, trying to discover the reason she wasn’t concerned. It made no sense. No mere witch could hide their deeper emotions in a setting like this. Not with their child in a cage.

Granted, Sabrina Dethridge was no ordinary child.

She’d appeared by the property line of the estate and informed them she would meet them outside this building. Before anyone could react, she was gone.

For the first ten minutes, they’d suspected a setup, but when the Aether didn’t arrive to beat down their door, they realized the girl was calling the shots.

Again,why?Why would the Aether allow his daughter to act as bait?

“What is she?” he asked Vivian.

“An innocent child,” the woman snapped.

A hint of her anger surfaced, but was immediately whisked away before Morcant could feed. What the devil was happening? Was the mother charmed in some way? Was she the only living human able to deflect his power?

The Aether could if he concentrated. As his mate, was she gifted the same ability? What did that mean for their child? Could she continually resist him with her glittering protective bubble?

There was only one way to find out.

Vivian Dethridge must die.

“Kill her,” he ordered.

From her place in the far corner of her prison, Sabrina lifted her head and met her mother’s steady gaze, then she stood and moved toward them.

“Tell him, Mama. Tell him what I do.”

“No.”

Unease teased his mind.

“What is it she does, Vivian?” he asked coolly, trying to appear unaffected.

“Tell him I can see the future and all the horrible ways he can die.” The child’s mouth curled into a mocking smile when she looked at him. “The way you willalldie if you hurt my mama.”

“You can’t predict the future. Josephine would’ve told me if you could.” The lying jade!

“Papa will be cross. But Nate will be madder.”

“Who is Nate?”

“Hush now, darling,” Vivian scolded gently. “Don’t give him any ammunition.”

“Who is Nate?”

Mother and child were as dissimilar in coloring as two individuals could be, and yet they offered up the same stubborn expression. Neither would speak.

He’d had enough of their games.

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