Chapter Three
“You’re up.”
Braden closed a photo-laden book called Herbs and Their Uses in Dynamic Potions. He was in a witch’s lair all right. He sat on the couch in her living room and glanced toward the spiral stone stairs to the right. Maeve had returned from wherever she’d been.
She hadn’t been around when he woke up for the night and he’d been tempted to start looking around, to gain his bearings and figure out where exactly he was. But his instincts had told him to stay put. Her small, black cat had followed him around, keeping him company. He’d found the feline’s presence oddly comforting.
Another shower had helped bring him to the present, fully healed and rested. Alfonso had checked in on him as well and made sure he’d been fed. But before doing anything, like exploring what was her extensive Landing complex, he wanted Maeve’s permission. He owed her at least that much since according to Alfonso, she single-handedly supported and sustained the lives of her rescues.
Her steps were quick and her blue eyes bright as she crossed to him. She was an intense woman.
He rose to his feet. “I am up and I’m glad you’re back.”
She smiled then looked him up and down. “I can’t believe you’ve been sitting out here? You must feel a lot better.”
He chuckled. “Much. I slept through the night and the day. I’m almost as good as new. I admit your infuser helped, even though I’m still concerned you’re using emerald flame in your potions.
“But Alfonso was here as well. He brought me a nice pork loin, very tender and well-seasoned. You’ve got a good chef.” He gestured behind him in the direction of the bedroom. “The bed’s been changed. Everything’s fresh.”
“That’s good.”
She seemed distracted. He knew her a little. Her mind was chewing on a problem. “So, what’s going on?”
“Kiara.”
“The only good witch in Elegance.”
She lifted a reproving brow. “I beg your pardon.”
He held both hands up, surrender style. “All right. I guess there are at least two of you. Did you see her while I was sleeping?”
She nodded, the serious frown between her brows deepened. “Just before dawn. I need to get her out of that place. Veyda tortured her again.” He watched Maeve put a hand to her neck. “This time, she burned her throat. Which leads me to this. Any chance you could lend me a hand? I won’t be able to do it alone.”
“Hell, yeah. But let me understand. Are you saying you’ve located Veyda’s compound?”
She clasped her hands together. Her knuckles showed white. “I found it a few days ago, but it’s protected by a powerful security spell that I’ve only recently cracked, at least enough to get in there by myself.”
“Was this before you hauled me out of the Graveyard?”
“A couple of days before.”
His mouth dropped open. Had he heard right? “You know I have a vested interest. Why didn’t tell me?”
She drew close. “Because there was nothing you could do about it. I had to figure out a spell first. I would have told you when we next met up. Then I found you in the Graveyard. So, here we are.
“And the truth is I couldn’t have given you a specific location even if I wanted to, only the cross-streets. Trust me, you would never have found it on your own because of the security spell. Before I figured out an antidote, that only partially works, by the way, I would arrive at the cross-streets then hit a wall of confusion. The next thing I knew, I’d be down the street, a mile away, with no idea how I’d gotten there.”
He tried to make sense of this. “You should have told me what you knew anyway. Veyda’s my strongest lead. I’m convinced it was her coven that killed Laura. So, what the hell. I thought you and I were friends.”
“Okay. You’re pissed. But what would you have done if I’d told you where it was, the cross-streets I mean?”
“I would have headed over there, checked things out for myself.”
“Bingo. You see, I do know you, Braden. And you would have gotten yourself killed because it seems to me Veyda wants you dead. You would have had no protection going in. We’re talking dark witchcraft, the kind that somehow allowed you to be lured into the Graveyard and nearly slaughtered. Or did you think you’d simply made a foolish judgment call after being a powerful alpha wolf leader for years.”
His mouth fell agape once more and wouldn’t close. A couple of obscenities rolled off his tongue. He ran his hand through his hair and turned away from her. “You’re right. I’ve been thinking about how I got out there and I can’t remember. Had to be a spell or something.”
She crossed in front of him to the large stone fireplace opposite the couch. She looked despondent. “You should have seen Kiara. Veyda’s been acid-burning her. She had a gaping, bloody wound on her neck. She was barely conscious this time and every witch sense I have tells me Veyda intends to sacrifice her.”
