“Your new feeding grounds. Nicolette’s putting a lot of effort into it to make it the perfect place for you.”
“She needs to put more effort into the name, or the only humans she’s going to get are the female variety.” I delivered the words with tone and an eye-roll, hoping it would be enough to mask my panic. I didn’t care about the name or Mom’s intent; I cared that Adira was speaking openly in front of my dad. Based on his worried expression, he was hearing every word.
Adira’s gaze shifted from my still flushed face to the building.
“Why aren’t you with your mother?”
“It’s cold in there, and I’d rather wait with my dad in the warm car. Why are you here? Did I set off the warding by getting too close to the wall?”
“Not at all.”
Her gaze swept over me again, taking in every detail.
“You’re cold, yet you’re flushed. Are you embarrassed, Eliana?”
The door opened behind me, saving me from having to answer.
“Adira,” Mom said. “To what do we owe this pleasure?”
“I wanted to check on the progress. Are the workers sufficient?”
“They are. You could have called to ask that. Unless there’s a reason you wanted to be physically present for this inspection.”
I didn’t miss the sultry tones in Mom’s words or Adira’s cold smile as she replied.
“I’d hoped to catch Eliana’s reaction to it.”
“Eliana,” Mom said softly. “Go sit with your father, please. He looks anxious.”
I hurried to the front passenger door and got in.
“Your mother sure doesn’t like that woman,” Dad said softly, watching the pair.
I looked at Mom, noted her black irises, and wondered what Dad was telling himself about that.
“You would think the head of the Department of Health would have better things to do with her time,” he muttered.
Mom didn’t lie to Dad. She might avoid talking about things in front of him because she didn’t want to deal with his reactions, but she didn’t lie. Not to him. She didn’t need to when he was so good at lying to himself.
“You know that’s not what she is, Dad. She’s the woman who brought you here. With magic.”
Dad paled and tore his gaze from the quietly speaking pair. A flicker of clarity showed in his eyes as he looked at me.
“They’re tracking you, Eliana, just like they’re tracking your mother. Trust no one.”
Chapter Five
“What do you mean, Dad?”
The back door on the driver’s side opened before he could answer, and Mom slid into the car.
“Horrid woman,” she seethed, slamming her door with force. “Jason, will you please drive us home?”
I twisted in my seat to look at Mom as Dad immediately shifted into reverse.
“Is Adira tracking you?” I asked.
Mom’s irises flickered to black for a moment.
