“Oh dear, I’m sorry,” Mary said. I jerked back, my face heating. She had her head twisted away. “I just came to see if you need anything else before I head home for the day. I have a birthday lunch to attend, remember. Dinner is in the fridge ready for heating.”
Karson brushed my hair behind my ear and turned reluctantly to face her. “No, thank you, Mary.”
“I will see you both tomorrow morning, then.” Mary disappeared behind the door.
His hands cradled my hips as he sat forward. “Now, where were we?” His breath thick and hot on my neck.
“I believe,” I curled my fingers through the back of his hair, “we were just about to begin foreplay right before we commence vigorous make-up sex.”
“Make-up sex is always an exceedingly good idea,” he said, lifting me up by the hips and pulling me closer. His lips fluttered over my neck and his fingers stroked between my thighs, sweeping agonizingly slowly up and down over my clitoris. I closed my eyes, tipped my head back, and let out a breathy moan.
“Well, this is a miracle,” Monique said.
Startled, I jumped up, wriggling out of his arms. She was sitting on top of the piano, one leg bent up, eating an apple.
“Monique,” Karson ground out. “What do you want?”
“I came to commend Amy, actually. Normally, grumble-ass can take days or weeks to get over his little tantrums. Tell me, what spell did you use? You must share.”
“Yes, well.” Karson rose and strode to the bar, reaching for a fresh whiskey decanter. “I will forgive Amelia’s little indiscretion as she doesn’t know any better.” He turned back and said roughly, “You, on the other hand.”
She took a bite out of her apple and spoke around it. “Sarah will come out of hiding, everyone will go back to normal life, and you will thank us.”
“I do hate to interrupt,” Michael said, appearing at the door. “But it seems you’re not the only one a little perturbed about the image in the paper. Caron is here and she would like a word.”
Karson heaved a deep sigh. One I echoed. Could we not get five minutes alone around here?
Karson buttoned up his shirt as we entered the foyer.
Caron’s lips were thin, her blue eyes ice. Her black trench coat swished around her ankles as she stormed across the room. I eyed the large black duffle bag over her shoulder with caution.
“Of all the stupid, foolish things you could do,” she snapped. “Are you trying to get her killed?”
“Caron, such a lovely surprise to see you again so soon.” Karson smirked. Alluding to the fact that he had paid her avisit. She was still alive and uninjured, despite his fury; he had restrained himself.
She bared her teeth as she spat, “What the hell are you playing at?”
“What Amelia and I decide to do together is none of your concern.”
Caron tilted her chin up, her lips pulled so thin they disappeared. “It is my concern—she is part ofmycoven.”
Karson stilled, his eyes hardening like black gems. “I believe you lost all rights to her when you and your little coven of broom-riding hags handed her off to foster care.”
“I didn’t hand her off to foster care, and neither did anyone in my coven,” she snapped, but her hand flapped wildly as if he had her flustered. “I told you, I don’t know who her parents are, nor who fostered her. We don’t even know where she was born.” She retreated when she looked at me. “I’m sorry, Amy. I have made some enquiries, but I have hit brick walls. All your files have been lost or destroyed.”
I snorted. “How did you know who I was, then, if you didn’t know anything about me?”
Caron blinked as if she didn’t expect me to ask that. “I got a call to say the wolf was back. We sent Dahlia to Church Heights, and it didn’t take her long to figure out what you were.”
I folded my arms. “I had my ring on, so how could she pick up what I was?”
“Dahlia heard you speaking about the wolf in the bar. The wolf will only allow itself to be seen by witches born to fight with it. Or its enemy before it tears their throat out.” Her gaze shifted between the vampires.
Were the enemies all vampires to the wolf? It didn’t attack them though, so maybe it knew the difference between friend and foe … My mind replayed the moment when I mentionedseeing the wolf to Matt, the local sheriff—Caron was telling the truth; Dahlia was sitting at the bar.
Giggles coming from upstairs drew everyone’s attention. Two scantily clad girls, carrying heels in one hand and clutching the rail in the other, walked down the stairs with all the skill of newborn foals. Both girls were plaster pale, their hair all over the place. I gaped. Their throats …
Their throats were covered in blood.
