I winced. “Uh-oh.”
“Uh-oh is right. She was part of the coven of McCormick descendants who were killing demons and harnessing their powers. She’s smart, and she saw the writing on the wall when they were attempting to take Samael’s powers. She fled and disappeared. Danica said they were trying to find her, but they were mostly interested in the grimoire she had. Turned out she was double-crossed by one of her so-called friends who stole the grimoire and ran. One of Samael’s demons took it back.”
I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry. “So, she’s an over-powered black witch with a grudge who has already attempted to take Samael’s powers.”
“Not just that.” Evie smiled, but there was no humor in it. “She helped Cassie and her little crew spell the werewolf eyes so they could track that fae amulet they were attempting to find a few months ago. Dani told me Lydia also cursed her ex-boyfriend to get revenge for something, and he ended up killing himself. She’s dangerous as hell.”
“And for some reason, she’s involved in the kidnapping of a light fae woman. Why?”
Evie shrugged. “She creates chaos. It could be that she simply enjoys it. Or it could be part of a long-term play.”
We all studied the house in front of us.
“Gonna be heavily warded,” I murmured.
Evie rubbed her hands together. “I love a challenge.”
“Would be more of a challenge if she was in there,” Kyla said.
Evie nodded. “She’s smart, and she’s got contacts. I’m guessing she knew we were on the way. But she won’t have had time to pack everything, so she’s going to bepissed.”
I sighed. “I always wanted a psychopathic black witch to hold a grudge against me.”
Evie nudged me with her elbow and grinned. “That’s the spirit. Let’s get to work.”
We strode up the front steps and surveyed the ward. “It’s ugly,” Kyla said.
“Black witches can attempt to fly under the radar, but their poop-brown wards always give them away. You ready, Mere?”
I nodded. “You know I don’t have that much power when it comes to breaking wards, right?”
And after my little demonstration with Nero, I was almost tapped out.
“I know. I just need a little ‘zing’ so I’m not completely useless after this little visit.”
I held up my hand, channeling my power into the ward. Next to me, Evie did the same, and I swallowed my gasp. I must have made some kind of noise, though, because she glanced at me.
“Your power…” I got out.
She nodded and glanced back at the ward, a hint of strain showing between her eyebrows.
“Yeah, long story, but we’re still kind of figuring out what exactly I am.”
It was only because I was watching her that I caught the uncertainty in her eyes.
“You mean you’re gorgeous, smart,andyou have a mysterious power source? Wow, it’s a hard life you live, Evie.”
Behind us, Kyla snorted. Evie’s mouth trembled. “Don’t make me laugh, you assholes, I’m concentrating. We’re almost through.”
I turned back to the ward, watching as it disappeared with a “pop.” Next to me, Evie panted slightly, but she smirked at the house.
“Lydia’s not going to be pleased about that.”
“You think she felt that?” Kyla asked.
“Oh yeah,” I nodded. “She knows we’re here. And she’ll have this place booby-trapped. Be careful where you step, and don’t touch anything until Evie checks it out.”
We strode to the front door, and Evie reached out her hand, hovering over the doorknob. “Yeah, she’s smart,” she said. “You’d never notice this ward unless you were specifically looking for it. And you’d end up on your ass, lying unconscious on a black witch’s porch.”
