Stunned wasn’t a strong enough word for how Sor’s revelation made me feel. It didn't make sense that the Made who wanted me to leave the Count would also try to kill me…unless he knew Sor was a witch. Anxiety twisted in my belly, but I worked to keep my face neutral. What did the Mades want with Sor? Was it to prove they knew she was a witch even before she did? My top lip curled as it occurred to me they were sending Bal a message for some reason. I had no idea what that might be, but he’d known she was a witch and not told her before he was forced to.
Bastard! Yeah, he owed us both an explanation. This whole situation was more than just a coincidence or even an oversight. Count Balthazar Rossi was clever and devious. I knew that from my run-ins with him when I’d been part of Connor’s inner circle. He had an agenda, a reason for keeping that knowledge from Sor and me. And I was going to find out what it was.
“Wow…” I let her go and encouraged her to sit on the side of the bed. “You're a witch?” I kept my voice steady and managed to smile. Sor needed support, not suspicion. Her smile was weak, and the frown lines on her forehead betrayed her confusion and uncertainty about the whole thing.
“How do you feel about that?”
“I-I don’t really know. I don’t feel any different. But I have no idea what it means. I mean, do you think I can learn to cast spells? Is that what witches do?”
“I honestly have no idea. So he dropped that bombshell and hasn’t said anything about it since?”
“No.”
“Insensitive fucker….” I got up and started pacing, my heart banging harder in my chest the more I thought about it. “What the hell is he thinking? You can’t just toss something life-changing like that at someone and then ignore it. No explanation! He owes you that at least!”
Sor sighed. “Shane, slow down. Maybe he’s waiting for me to strike up a conversation about it. Maybe he’s giving me time to process and then go to him, rather than overwhelming me.”
I stopped my pacing and looked at her. Was she right? Was being angry with Bal unfair? No, my feelings for him didn’t blind me. He was too conniving to give her space. For some reason, he wanted to keep her in the dark. Was that why he’d avoided us? Why guilt shadowed his eyes? “Well, there’s only one way to find out. Let’s go.”
26
Sorcha
Tryingto slow Shane down when he was in a headstrong mood was like trying to stop a runaway train with my bare hands. It was true, Bal had avoided mentioning anything about the witch thing, but I wasn’t blameless; I hadn’t wanted to ask. I sighed. When would I stop being so cowardly and start confronting things that affect my life?
Bal wasn’t in the luxurious living room, or the shiny modern kitchen, nor was he in any of the extra bedrooms or the tastefully decked out study. He wasn’t even in the sauna or gym area.
I blinked as Shane barrelled into Bal’s private space. I’d sneaked a look into his masculine bedroom before. Of course I had. I wasn’t a saint. The apartment was small compared to the castle, and the door was right there, begging to be opened. Decorated in a deep maroon and grey with a splash of turquoise colour on his black silk bedding and pillows, the whole room reeked of sensuality. The lingering scent of spice tickled mynose. Whether it was aftershave or the shower gel he used, I had no idea, but it was heady and undeniably him.
“Maybe we should just wait until he comes back?” I could feel Shane vibrating under the hand I rested on his forearm. I didn’t understand why he was so angry on my behalf. It wasn’t as if I’d had a massive epiphany and was suddenly hit with a tsunami of powers and spells and witchyness. I was still just me.
“No, he owes us an explanation.”
I frowned. “What do you mean, us? What happened when you ran after those men, Shane? Who poisoned you?”
“Mades.” His voice was short as he turned around and stormed out. There was obviously far more to what had happened than could be explained by one word, even if that one word encompassed a whole race.
“Gods save me from stubborn men,” I muttered under my breath. If he heard me, he didn't acknowledge it or slow down. There was no point in insisting on more than a one-word answer anyway, not right now. He was on a mission to find Bal, and as I’d discovered over the months that I’d grown closer to Shane, there was no stopping him once he had his mind set on something.
Bulldozing ahead, Shane threw open the main door.
“Whoa there, Wolf. Where are you going in such a hurry?” Vito masked his surprise at our sudden exit with a grin on his face.
“None of your goddamn business.”
Vito’s face remained a mask of pleasantness, though I saw the steel slam into his eyes as he stood right in front of Shane. “Well, I hate to disagree, but it kind of is. You see, if I just let you and Sorcha run off into the night without keeping you safe, the Count will remove my head from my shoulders. Which, obviously, I’d rather avoid. So where ya goin’?”
“Get out of my way, vamp.” Shane’s shoulders squared, and his spine straightened, his voice dropping to a deep growl. He was holding back his wolf, but just barely. He was out of bloodlust, but that didn’t mean his temper was in complete control. Yet I got it; he wasn’t used to being questioned or held back. He’d been Alpha of the Canadian shifter pack right up until the Mades had kidnapped him, and he’d been dangerous then. Now, he was something far more savage.
Vito clearly knew that, and, despite his smile, his tight muscles told me he’d do his job and stop Shane if he insisted on leaving. Dammit, this was going to end badly for them both.
“Hi, Vito.” I stepped out from behind Shane’s broad body and gave the guy a smile, hiding my nerves at being between two posturing, towering males.
I’d gotten to know the guard a bit while I’d lived at the castle, and he didn’t frighten me anymore. He was a really nice person, who’d always been fun and upbeat, when I’d only ever seen a broody Count or stony-faced Dav day after day.
“Hey, Sor. I’m glad you’re okay. You're looking much better than the last time I saw you.”
I pushed the flat of my hand against Shane’s chest and stepped forward so I was right between him and Vito. Vito raised a brow, his eyes sparkling with amusement, like he knew exactly what I was doing.
