Page 36 of The Seer

“Bullshit. Your voice is sweet but with an underlying rasp. If you had training, you’d be as good as Celine, Adele, or Christine Agu?—”

A commotion in the foyer sent them running.

When they skidded to a halt, they found Fintan and Draven supporting Narissa between them.

Creed stepped forward, as if instinctively, before catching himself.

“What the hell happened to you?” he demanded.

Narissa’s head came up, and the sheer exhaustion on her face spoke of her trials.

He swore.

Not waiting for answers, Taryn rushed to her and, drawing strength from her cells, transferred it through touch. A hint of color returned to Narissa’s cheeks, and she smiled her thanks.

“That stream of swear words would blister a nun’s backside, sugar,” she said to Creed as he scooped her into his arms. “But no need to fuss. I’ve been through worse and came out just peachy.”

“Shut up,” he growled, charging for the stairs.

“Do we dare leave them alone together?” Taryn asked in an aside to Fintan and Draven.

“She’ll eat him up and spit him out,cher,” the Guardian said with a chuckle. “But he’s man enough to survive.”

“He’s awfully angry with her still.”

Fintan’s expression reflected surprise. “Sure, and how close did the two of you become while I was fightin’ for me life?”

“Which time? With the ancestors or Odessa?”

His scowl rivaled Creed’s. “Where’s the bleedin’ necklace?”

“You left it on the couch, so Brenna put it in the safe.”

“I’ll wait here while you retrieve it and then return with you,mon ami,” Draven told Fintan.

After he left, Taryn sank to the marbled step leading upstairs. “How bad was it? Narissa looks rough.”

“From what I gather, Odessa tortured her with high-amperage volts of electricity that she drew from the ley lines protectin’ her home.”

“My god!” She pressed a hand to her stomach, hoping to calm her churning gut.

“Whatever god you follow,cher, he had nothing to do with it. It was all the work of an evil Succubus.”

“I never should’ve let her go alone.”

Draven squatted in front of her and tilted up her chin. “There’s nothin’ you or anyone else could’ve done to help her that Fintan didn’t do. You were safer here, out of the fray.”

“But—”

“No buts.” His tone was rough and no-nonsense. “The truth is, you don’t have the ability to confront an animal like Odessa Sullivan, Taryn. Don’t ever believe you can and live to tell the tale. She’s killed many who mistakenly thought they could.”

“I hate being a simple witch,” she said.

“You’re far from a simple anythin’, Taryn-Taryn.”

She jumped upon hearing Fintan behind her. “You’re like a damned wraith! Stop doing that!”

Both men chuckled, and Draven pulled her to her feet.

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