Page 95 of Which Witch Is Wicked?
"I think you're right." Tierra reached to open the car door and came to a quick stop.
Nicholas Kingswood stepped from the shadows, an arrow nocked in his bow and aimed at Moira. "Right you are, Tierra, but it's too late for both of you." Conquest continued in his confident swagger, closing the gap between them. "Ready to kneel and beg?" he asked Moira, a triumphant grin spreading across his face.
"Like hell." Moira drew her water pistol loaded with the Horsemen repellant that had sent Death flying away months ago in a sizzling fury of burning feathers and smoking skin. Just as she lifted the pistol to shoot, a heavy hand grasped her wrist from behind, disarmed her, and War held a sword to her throat.
Nick's grin widened. "Thought I came alone."
"Youwouldneed back up," Moira spat. "I've already proved that you can't take me by yourself. Didn't like the little bath I gave you last time."
"Behave, Moira. I doubt you want me to shoot your sister again." Nick swiveled the arrow's aim to Tierra. "Don't take another step, earth witch. You already know the pierce of my arrow. I wouldn't think you'd be too anxious to experience it again."
"She's off limits," Moira said, panic causing her voice to pitch an octave higher. "Death said hands off."
"I can shoot her without killing her. I'll just aim a little lower and take care of that...unexpected problem. Doubt Bane will give a shit about you then, will he, Tierra?"
Tierra covered her belly protectively with her hands. Conquest might not have pulled the bowstring, but his verbal arrow hit its target true enough. How many times had she thought the same thing?
Not now. Don't let him play on your insecurities.
Beneath her flowing skirt, the wand she'd strapped to her thigh pulsed with power, but she knew Conquest and War wouldn't give her the time she needed to release it. Then there was the matter ofhowto use it. She hadn't figured that out yet.
Mentally she sent out a call to Aerin and Claire and hoped they weren't so hindered with their dark activities to hear her. Not knowing what else to do, she relayed the message to the beasts in the forest and asked them to deliver it. If a herd of animals suddenly appeared at the manor, Aerin and Claire should take noticed that all was not right.
"What do you want?" Tierra asked.
"I'm pretty satisfied right now." Nick's cool eyes grazed over Moira. "Verysatisfied."
"Probably on account of getting to hear yourself talk," Moira said. "Seems to be your favorite hobby. You and your second-string soldier have me, so let Tierra go. You only need one of us anyway."
"No, Moira," Tierra said.
"Don't worry about it, Tierra. These two are fixin' to learn they can't begin to chew what they've bitten off." Thunder rolled overhead.
"She is a mouthy bitch," Dru said, eyeing the sky that had been clear one moment and now seethed with water-laden clouds.
"That she is." Nick chuckled, his focus centered on Moira's lips as if he appreciated that fact.
The door to Ambrosia's opened again and Sunny returned looking put out. "What are you guys doing?"
"Get back inside!" Tierra hollered. "Call Aerin and Claire. Hurry!" she added when Sunny didn't budge.
"Yeah, that isn't the way this is going to play out. And you two are taking too long." Sunny motioned for Tierra. "Best come in, like I said,
T. That is if you want Moira to keep her head."
"Sunny?" Tierra questioned, confused.
Sunny laughed. The sound rasped like high-pitched violin cords and was completely at odds with Sunny's more friendly musical tones.
Cold dread washed over Tierra. "You are not Sunny."
"Score one for the earth witch," the woman sneered. "Though it's been fun inhabiting her for a stretch. I do so love this pierced and tatted generation, so creative and open to suggestion. She really does think highly of you,T. I hope that's a comfort. Or not. I don't really care one way or the other."
"Whoareyou?" Tierra asked.
She moved forward as if taking the podium on a stage. "I am known by many names." Her voice amplified over the empty street and seemed to reverberate from everywhere—above, below and inside Tierra's own head. Moira's widened stare locked with Tierra's, obviously experiencing the same thing.
"Some know me by Deceiver," she continued. "Which is certainly true, along with the Destroyer, a personal favorite of mine. Then there is the Serpent, Adversary, Leviathan, Son of the Morning, and the Dragon." She gave an exaggerated sigh. "How I do miss the Dark Ages—picked that one up there—they literally worshiped me old school.
