Page 46 of Shadows of the Soul

“What negotiations?”

“With Rebecca’s parents.”

“I haven’t heard from them in some time. Is there something I need to know?”

I chewed the corner of my thumb. There were many things I’m sure she wished to know. But needed? No, absolutely not. And my confusion over where Aunt Liz had been and what she had been up to was one of those things. I wouldn’t throw my aunt under the bus.

“Stop chewing your fingers,” my grandmother snapped. I looked around the room. “I can hear it down the phone. Now tell me, what has you so worried?” Outstanding, Cora, now you really had to give her something.

“Someone is performing a blood magic ritual to gather power against the house.”

“The house or you?” She was like a heat-seeking missile that never failed to land its punch.

“That’s yet to be determined.”

“Keep me posted. Now, back to the ball.”

My head tipped back against the sofa. “Where, when, and with whom?”

“Sebastian’s parents are hosting at their castle tomorrow night. Every powerful vampire, shifter, and elemental will be in attendance. Unfortunately, it clashes with a prior engagement for myself.”

My hand tightened around the phone. The metal creaked under the pressure. I hated Sebastian’s father, in particular. It should be no surprise he was in cahoots with my cold-hearted grandmother. “Why me?”

“I want you to make sure Hudson signs the treaty. He’s a loose cannon, I already have the vampires backing. The shifters, however, are threatening to retreat into their refuges scattered in inhospitable environments. I need them here at the front line, not hiding with their tails between their legs.”

Hudson was considering taking the packs into hiding? My heart panged with distress. When was he going to tell me? Was I a part of this plan? I better not be—I didn’t run and hide no matter the foe.

“What treaty?” I asked.

“Between the three factions.”

“We aren’t at war,” I pointed out.

“Not with each other, Cora. The world stands on a precipice. Supernaturals are on the verge of exposure to humanity. There will be riots, chaos, opposition. We must stand together if we are to come out where we were always meant to be.”

“And where is that?”

“On top of the food chain, of course.”

The phone clicked off. My hand slipped to the side. A treaty between the three factions to unite them against an attack from humans. The powerhouses in society were already aware of us, so why was she worried about a human—led revolt? What had changed? I glared at the white light, then at the vines outside my window. We’d suffered once. The witch trials were no joke. Many weaker elementals lost their lives at the hands of men that manufactured lies to keep women in line. Then the light dawned, brighter than the heavenly portal glaring at me. My grandmother had set her sights on being on top, not of the elementals or supernaturals. She wanted to be on top of everything and she was about to expose us to the world in order to reach her goal.

Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

Sentiments and souls.

The morning bled into afternoon, and my butt made a permanent dent in the sofa as I contemplated all the ways I could prevent my grandmother from triggering a war. A world war. Because in today’s age of social media, where everyone was a real time journalist, the explosion of misinformation would be felt for centuries to come. She was going to destroy any modicum of peace we had, with one big reveal. I wanted to slink into the shadows with the pack. Perhaps as Hudson’s mate, I would be welcomed. Damn cat better make room for me. I shook my head. No, a Roberts woman didn’t run and hide. She faced her problems, even if they were family.

Bella appeared through my open window, her pristine white fur marked with the blood of the roses. She eyeballed the portal, meowed her displeasure at the sight, then jumped up next to me on the sofa.

“You need a bath.”

She hissed and backed up a step, tucking her ass into the corner of the sofa. “You’ll get blood on the furniture.”

She gave me a haughty look. I rolled my eyes and got to my feet. My legs were stiff as I made my way to the refrigerator. Cool air fanned my face as I perused the empty shelves.

Bella appeared and wound her way around my legs. “So, we are besties the second you think tuna might be involved?”

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