the ass, he adds, for my ears only.
It’s his only diversion. “Tell them what you need.”
They are witches?
Isn’t that what you asked for?
He is still pissed over what happened yesterday. His tone resonates with it. Well, I am, too. It’s surprising he took my second call.
Quickly I explain about Culebra—his symptoms, who I suspect is behind the spell. They listen with careful attention. Williams listens, too. He knows of Burke. He remembers what she tried to do, how close Frey came to dying at her hand.
When I’m done, Min speaks first.
“We know of Belinda Burke. She, alone, is more powerful than we are working collectively. We cannot reverse her spell. That would take an equal.”
“But we may be able to locate her,” Susan adds.
Ariela is nodding. “We can follow her telekinetic trail. To cast a spell such as the one you described involves creating a psychic bond between victim and witch. We can tap into that trail and follow it to its source.”
Susan must read the question on my face because she says, “It’s like a GPS system. We follow the signal to its point of origin.”
“You said you couldn’t reverse the spell,” I say. “What would happen if Burke was to die? Would that break the spell?”
Min frowns. “It would be dangerous to attempt to kill this one,” she says. “She has a powerful protective glamour. You must tread carefully.”
“But would killing her break the spell?”
She nods.
That’s all I need. I have some pretty powerful glamour myself—vampire strength and if that’s not enough, a nice .38. Witch or no, Burke is human. Once I have her in my sights, I’ll know what to do. “How long will it take to locate her?”
The three exchange calculating glances. “If we can do it, an hour.” Ariela says. “Maybe less.”
“ If you can do it?”
Another exchange of glances. “If she’s on this—an earthly—plane we can find her. If not—” Ariela’s shoulders raise in a shrug.
Williams touches my arm. “We’ll let you get to it. We’ll be in my office.”
Great. Bad enough that I may be wasting an hour of Culebra’s life, but the idea of spending that hour alone with Williams sets my teeth on edge.
I don’t like it any better than you do, he snaps. But something else has happened that you should be aware of. It affects the vampire community.
When I don’t respond fast enough, he bristles with indignation. You can’t choose to be a part of this community only when it suits you. I’ve made my resources available to you. The least you can do is hear me out.
He’s right. I lift my shoulders in a half shrug of resignation and reluctantly follow the lion into his den.
CHAPTER 11
G UILT GOT ME HERE. BUT ONCE WE’RE SEATED in uncomfortable silence around Williams’ desk, I’m reminded of my conversation last night with Lance—and what happened after. I smile, letting some of the good stuff through.
“My boyfriend says hello.”
Williams acts like he doesn’t hear me, but the coil of his antipathy tightens. He pretends to ignore me, shuffling papers around his desk as if searching for one in particular, but a muscle at the base of his jaw jumps, betraying his agitation.
After another minute of thumbing through the piles on his desk, he finds what he’s looking for and shoves a sheet toward me.
The first thing I notice is the letterhead: “SDPD Headquarters.” Then, in bold letters: “Internal Memo.”
I glance over at him. Are you supposed to have this?
Again no reply, concentration focused instead on arranging the discarded papers he’d shoved aside in search of the one I’m holding.
I take that as a no.
His mind is shut so tight, his jaw muscles strain with the effort.
That must hurt.
I barely suppress a smile as I start reading.
The memo is the summation of three police reports filed during the last twenty-four hours. Both involve males attacked by females who cut their victims with knives and suck at the wounds. The men
It’s his only diversion. “Tell them what you need.”
They are witches?
Isn’t that what you asked for?
He is still pissed over what happened yesterday. His tone resonates with it. Well, I am, too. It’s surprising he took my second call.
Quickly I explain about Culebra—his symptoms, who I suspect is behind the spell. They listen with careful attention. Williams listens, too. He knows of Burke. He remembers what she tried to do, how close Frey came to dying at her hand.
When I’m done, Min speaks first.
“We know of Belinda Burke. She, alone, is more powerful than we are working collectively. We cannot reverse her spell. That would take an equal.”
“But we may be able to locate her,” Susan adds.
Ariela is nodding. “We can follow her telekinetic trail. To cast a spell such as the one you described involves creating a psychic bond between victim and witch. We can tap into that trail and follow it to its source.”
Susan must read the question on my face because she says, “It’s like a GPS system. We follow the signal to its point of origin.”
“You said you couldn’t reverse the spell,” I say. “What would happen if Burke was to die? Would that break the spell?”
Min frowns. “It would be dangerous to attempt to kill this one,” she says. “She has a powerful protective glamour. You must tread carefully.”
“But would killing her break the spell?”
She nods.
That’s all I need. I have some pretty powerful glamour myself—vampire strength and if that’s not enough, a nice .38. Witch or no, Burke is human. Once I have her in my sights, I’ll know what to do. “How long will it take to locate her?”
The three exchange calculating glances. “If we can do it, an hour.” Ariela says. “Maybe less.”
“ If you can do it?”
Another exchange of glances. “If she’s on this—an earthly—plane we can find her. If not—” Ariela’s shoulders raise in a shrug.
Williams touches my arm. “We’ll let you get to it. We’ll be in my office.”
Great. Bad enough that I may be wasting an hour of Culebra’s life, but the idea of spending that hour alone with Williams sets my teeth on edge.
I don’t like it any better than you do, he snaps. But something else has happened that you should be aware of. It affects the vampire community.
When I don’t respond fast enough, he bristles with indignation. You can’t choose to be a part of this community only when it suits you. I’ve made my resources available to you. The least you can do is hear me out.
He’s right. I lift my shoulders in a half shrug of resignation and reluctantly follow the lion into his den.
CHAPTER 11
G UILT GOT ME HERE. BUT ONCE WE’RE SEATED in uncomfortable silence around Williams’ desk, I’m reminded of my conversation last night with Lance—and what happened after. I smile, letting some of the good stuff through.
“My boyfriend says hello.”
Williams acts like he doesn’t hear me, but the coil of his antipathy tightens. He pretends to ignore me, shuffling papers around his desk as if searching for one in particular, but a muscle at the base of his jaw jumps, betraying his agitation.
After another minute of thumbing through the piles on his desk, he finds what he’s looking for and shoves a sheet toward me.
The first thing I notice is the letterhead: “SDPD Headquarters.” Then, in bold letters: “Internal Memo.”
I glance over at him. Are you supposed to have this?
Again no reply, concentration focused instead on arranging the discarded papers he’d shoved aside in search of the one I’m holding.
I take that as a no.
His mind is shut so tight, his jaw muscles strain with the effort.
That must hurt.
I barely suppress a smile as I start reading.
The memo is the summation of three police reports filed during the last twenty-four hours. Both involve males attacked by females who cut their victims with knives and suck at the wounds. The men
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