Bewitched, Bothered, and Bitten (5 page)

Every instinct I had screamed that this would be war. A war that could out the supernatural community to humans. If that happened, well, I’m sure the government would keep us in very comfortable testing facilities that supplied the finest sedation available. There was more than survival at stake. The outcome of this fight could change the future of supernatural beings forever.

My mood was somber as I pulled up in front of Lex’s home. It seemed the size of a vampire’s home was directly proportional to their age. The older they got, the bigger the house. It must be nice to have centuries to build up your bank account.

Belinda was silent during the drive from the restaurant. After I turned off the car, she faced me. “Kerry, I want you to watch and listen during this meeting.” When I started to scowl, she shook her head. “Don’t take my words the wrong way. I’m not telling you to keep your mouth shut. I need you to watch the others closely. If you notice strange behavior or you think one of them is lying, I want you to use this.”

She handed me a truth amulet. They were hard to come by as the level of skill and power required to make them was rare among witches. This one was set in a bracelet in order to camouflage its purpose.

A truth charm was simple but only worked on one person if you were standing directly in front of them. An amulet could work in a much larger area and be used on multiple people. A witch would have to focus on the person speaking to see if they were being truthful. Each amulet was different based on the witch that created it. Some would have green for honesty and red for deception, others blue and yellow. My mother had been powerful enough to create them and, when I demonstrated that I would have the power as well, she taught me. I preferred to use white for honesty and black for deception. Rarely in life were things that clear cut, but it seemed poetic.

A truth was a truth and a lie was a lie. That was all the amulet could tell us. It couldn’t account for the intent behind the untruth, malice or protection. A wise witch wouldn’t rely solely on an amulet or charm, but also on her own instincts. That was something my mother drilled into me while teaching me about my craft.

“The amulet will remain purple for truth and orange for lie.”

Belinda’s words brought my focus back to the task at hand. “Are you suspicious of any one in particular?” I asked.

She shook her head. “I think they are all trustworthy, but I want to be sure I don’t believe that because I want to. I’ve wanted to establish a relationship with both the shifters and the vampires for a while. However, in situations such as this, I have to be sure I’m not placing the coven in danger.”

“I understand.”

“Ready?” she asked.

We got out of the car and walked toward the front door. Brian, one of the younger MacIntire pack members, stood on the steps, looking surprisingly stern.

He nodded to us. “Ms. Smythe, Ms. Gayle.”

Just the night before, I’d chatted with Brian during the engagement party. He seemed like a young, flirtatious shifter, but there was no trace of the wolf I’d met last night. His face still looked young, but his eyes were hard, guarded. He appeared formidable and cold.

The smile on my face faded as he opened the door and stepped to the side to let us pass. I glanced over my shoulder at him, suddenly wary. Brian winked, his eyes once again warm as they had been the night before.

Still feeling unsettled, I returned my focus to the task ahead of me. Belinda seemed to know where we were going, walking through the foyer to the hall that led directly to the back of the house. She knocked on a door to the left.

It opened almost immediately by none other than Finn.

I
f he was
surprised to see me, Finn didn’t show it. He gestured for us to enter. I realized that we must be in Lex’s study, only it was bigger than any study I’d ever seen before. Three of the four walls had built in bookshelves, all filled with books. A polished cherry table was a few feet from the door, surrounded by twelve chairs, most of which were occupied, and a fire burned in the fireplace on the far end of the room. There was an ornate desk that matched the table set at an angle in the left corner.

Conner rose from the head of the table. “Ms. Smythe.” He looked surprised by my presence, unlike Finn. “Kerry, what are you doing here?”

Before I could answer, Belinda spoke, “Kerry is my successor.”

The room fell silent, all eyes turned to us. I wanted to fidget under the scrutiny, but forced myself to remain still. Showing weakness or discomfort in a room full of vampires and shifters would be a very bad idea.

Conner smiled at me. “Congratulations, Kerry.”

“Thanks.”

“Please, have a seat. As soon as Lachlan arrives, we’ll be ready to begin.” Conner remained standing as Belinda sat at the table.

I leaned in to speak in her ear. “I’ll sit on the sofa so there will be room for Lachlan and his group.” I also wanted to be far enough away that I could use the truth amulet discreetly.

Her only answer was a nod.

I walked around the table to the sofa, settling in the corner and crossing my legs. I glanced at the vampires seated around the table and my eyes met Finn’s. The expression on his face was disconcerting. He studied me intently, as though he were trying to figure out what I was thinking. Unconsciously, I ran a finger over my necklace. Another amulet was set in the pendant and it prevented others from reading my thoughts through natural talent or spell. In Finn’s case, his vampire powers of mind-reading and persuasion were rendered useless. His gaze rested on my neck and I lowered my hand. Shit. Now he knew why he couldn’t read my thoughts.

Finn’s smile was decidedly smug when our eyes met again. I rolled my eyes and went back to ignoring him, which is exactly what I had done last night after Belinda and I returned to Donna and Conner’s engagement party. Instead of annoying him, my refusal to acknowledge his existence seemed to amuse him greatly.

Conner, Finn, and Lex were all Council members. After Donna’s kidnapping and near death, Conner had killed one of the original Council members, Vanessa Santino, for her part in the plan. The power-hungry bitch had been replaced with Gabriel Crow. Before he was turned he’d been a Cheyenne shaman. Gabriel wasn’t as tall as Finn, but his demeanor made him seem larger. His dark eyes seemed as hard and cold as black ice. While his face was too harsh and his bones too sharp and prominent to be handsome, he was a striking man. His black hair was cut short and hugged his skull.

The final member of the vampire Council was a female who had been turned in her forties. I did not recognize her, but knew Conner would make introductions shortly. I assumed he was waiting for Lachlan and Calder to arrive.

There were supposed to be seven members on the Council, but, with the upheaval and distrust among the community, I assumed that they were leery of bringing in two more members until it was over.

There was another knock on the door but Calder opened it before Lex could move to answer it. He and Lachlan entered the study, their expressions neutral.

Lach greeted Lex with a nod and a simple, “Lex.”

He and Calder greeted Conner and Finn as well and I felt a whisper of awareness run down my spine as Lachlan’s gaze shifted to Belinda. There was something in his eyes that I didn’t recognize, yet it didn’t seem malicious. I didn’t think he and the High Priestess had met before, but maybe I was wrong.

With everyone present, Conner did as I expected. He introduced Gabriel and the female vampire named Johanna. Once polite greetings were exchanged, everyone took a seat.

Casually, I pretended to toy with my bracelet, making sure that the amulet was turned toward me and not visible by the others. I regulated my breathing and heart rate as my nerves jangled. Typically, I loathed subterfuge, but I also understood that this was necessary. If I allowed my anxiety to get the best of me, everyone in the room would know something was going on. Vampires and werewolves could literally smell fear and hear the heartbeat of a person nearby. Those were the traits of a predator.

As the meeting began, I watched everyone, including Conner, Lex, and Finn, for signs of deception. Though I didn’t think any of them were lying, I used the amulet to evaluate their truthfulness periodically.

I also listened to what they discussed. Undoubtedly, Belinda would want to know my thoughts on the suggested changes. I knew Conner, Lex, and Finn were eager to establish good relations with the witches and wolves, and it seemed Lachlan and Calder were open to that as well. Gabriel and Johanna were difficult to read. While they didn’t seem completely opposed, I could see they were hesitant.

Finally, the meeting began to wind down. During the last half hour, I’d desperately needed to pee. After catching Belinda’s eye, I slipped out of the room and down the hall in search of the bathroom.

A few minutes later, I finished washing my hands, checked my make-up in the mirror, and left the little powder room. My mind was still back in the study, thinking about everything I’d heard. It seemed that the vampires and werewolves were serious about establishing a relationship between one another and the coven. Perhaps there was hope.

Lex’s home was a maze of halls and rooms and, as I wandered through them, I quickly became lost. Irritated, I stopped and tried to get my bearings. Turning on my heel, I headed back the way I came. When I rounded a corner, I hit a boulder. A warm boulder that smelled like vanilla and spice. Son of a bitch.

All the air left my lungs and I stumbled over my feet. Strong hands closed over my arms, keeping me from falling flat on my ass. While my dignity was shredded, at least my tailbone was saved.

“Careful.” Finn was standing too close, his thumbs caressing my biceps.

“Sorry.” I knew my voice was insincere, but I was shaken. Throughout the meeting, every time I looked up, Finn had been watching me. He had done the same last night when Belinda and I returned to the party.

Though he always watched me, this was different. Before, I felt appreciated….wanted. This felt more like a threat, as though he were waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

“You’ve been avoiding me.” Finn’s voice was mild when he spoke, but there was an underlying tension to his words and in his muscles.

I shrugged. “You haven’t given me much choice.”

His eyes brightened, beginning to glow, and his grip on my arms tightened. “Why are you so stubborn? You want me, I can feel it, so why are you resisting?”

I tried to pull away, but Finn only followed me. “You know why,” I whispered. I gasped when my back hit the wall. This infernal vampire was constantly backing me against an immoveable object.

“That argument won’t carry any weight for much longer and you know it. Any day now, the coven will have a truce with the vampires and wolves. Old hostilities will no longer stand in the way.”

I smirked, ignoring the press of his body against mine as he crowded closer. “You think it’s that simple? The elders of the coven are not so easily swayed. Just because there is a truce between us, doesn’t mean that all the tensions between the supernatural communities will be resolved.”

Finn moved even closer, his torso plastered against my chest. He lifted a hand, his fingers gliding along my cheekbone. His thumb brushed my lower lip, tugging it down and pressing into my mouth and between my teeth. I could taste his skin, salt and spice. It took every ounce of willpower I possessed not to suck his thumb deeper into my mouth. While reason told me it was a horrible idea to extend a blatantly sexual invitation, my hormones were all on board with it.

“I think you are reaching for any excuse to keep your distance.”

When the man was right, he was right. “I don’t need excuses, Finn. I don’t want to be close to you.” It almost hurt to let that lie fall from my lips.

The fire in Finn’s eyes flashed, almost painfully bright. “Your mouth says one thing, Kerry, but your body says something else.” He lowered his head, his stubbled jaw brushing my neck. I shuddered, though I tried to keep still. His lips tickled my neck slightly as he spoke again. “I can still taste you, you know, and hear your moans when you come.”

I felt as though every cell in my body stilled right before it exploded. “What did you just say?” A hot wave of anger washed over my skin. I put my hands to his shoulders and shoved. “I can’t believe you snuck into my dreams and…and….” I couldn’t even bring myself to say it. A little voice whispered in the back of my mind that I had no right to be angry because, on some level, I had known it wasn’t just a dream.

Finn was completely unmoved after my push. “I didn’t sneak. You invited me.”

Though I was more angry with myself than Finn, my frustration got the best of me and I let it flow to my hands and out my fingers. I felt the bolt of heat and electric spark leave me, shooting through his body. He stiffened.

“Oh Goddess, Finn, I’m sorry.” No matter how it happened, what we shared two nights ago had been consensual. I had no right to be mad at him.

He smiled. “Prove it.”

“What?”

“Prove how sorry you are,” he answered, his smile growing wider and revealing that his fangs were fully extended.