Died? I thought he had just disappeared. Not that I blamed him.
“Thomas must prove he has sired a vampire or prove that he has the ability to sire them.” Jabari smiled, a wicked tilt to his mouth. “You wouldn’t happen to know where any of his descendants are, would you?”
Liam stiffened beside me. I sensed we were in dangerous water with that last question.
I gave a careless shrug. “Not at the moment. I’ll get back to you as soon as I do.”
It was the truth and flippant enough that I hoped they wouldn’t pry further. From the slight smile tugging at Jabari’s lips, I guess he knew exactly what Liam had been up to over the last week but had decided not to reveal it for whatever reasons.
Fricking vampires. Dealing with them was like dealing with politics wrapped in a hand grenade. My touch wasn’t exactly delicate either.
“Then the matter is settled. Stephen will be the next master of the Midwest,” Sophia said, her young face at odds with the formality of her voice.
Stephen’s smile made my stomach twist, especially when he eyed me with the kind of look that said he was picturing what my insides looked like.
This was not a man I wanted in power. Unfortunately, I doubted anyone would believe me if I accused him of being demon tainted or that they would really care. It seemed like the vampires were fine with anything as long as you were the most powerful in the room.
I stepped aside as the others filed out.
He paused next to me and leaned close. “I’m looking forward to breaking you down. Maybe I’ll even use you as the anchor for my next demon summoning. I’m sure he’ll enjoy a new puppet especially when he learns what you did to Abdiel.”
My hand twitched, begging me to go for the Judge. It would be so easy. Draw, aim, fire. It’d wipe that smug look right off his face. I’d probably be dead in the next minute, but it’d almost be worth it.
Liam came to my side, a calm, deadly presence as he stared down the monster in front of me. That’s what Stephen was. A monster. One that got off on others pain. He and the demon must have got along really well. Two peas in a pod. The cheese to his wine.
We waited for the others to clear the room.
“You know he’s the one behind all this. Probably even laid the hex on Thomas,” I said conversationally.
“What makes you think he’s responsible for the hex?”
“Something he said earlier.” I thought about it. “And the fact that Elinor and the demon only made a halfhearted attempt for Thomas. As if they knew he posed no threat to them.”
Liam looked as if he was weighing my words.
“It doesn’t matter at this point. There’s not much to be done.”
“Can’t you tell them what you suspect?”
He shook his head. “Not without proof, and you don’t have any.”
His last statement wasn’t really a question, but I shook my head anyway. No proof, just a lot of unsubstantiated observations.
“If we’d had these suspicions even fifty years ago we could have done something, but it’s too late now. Things have gone too far. If we were to accuse him now, it would be considered a challenge.”
“So.” That was the answer. “Challenge him or, if you can’t do it because of this enforcer thing, have Thomas do it. He’s more than strong enough to take Stevie.”
Liam’s gaze rested on me, making me uncomfortable.
“What makes you think Thomas is powerful enough to win against Stephen and his demon taint?”
I fought the urge to drop my gaze, knowing it would make me look guilty. I shrugged, trying to affect a nonchalance that I didn’t feel. “Just a feeling.”
His eyes said he didn’t believe me.
“It wouldn’t work anyway. Not at this stage. The counselors wouldn’t let an accusation or a challenge stand at this point. They need someone to take control of the Midwest and won’t tolerate anybody who stands in their way.”
“Not Tse. I bet he’d welcome someone taking the prick out.”
