I snorted.Can I be your pallbearer too?
Bene growled.Don’t jinx me.
I flicked my tail, making snow cascade from the nearest tree. The flakes glittered with the colors of sunset before showering onto Bene.
Oops. Sorry.
You’re not sorry,he said bitterly — even more bitterly than Gen, who would probably never talk to me again.
My tiger mourned.
I pictured presenting her with her father’s painting. Would that make up for it?
No. Not even that, I knew.
We slowed, glimpsing the villa through the trees ahead. It was one of those modern, cement-and-glass monstrosities that were nicer to look out from than to look at.
I stopped, glancing around. Bene plowed ahead, still grumbling to himself like Eeyore to Winnie-the-Pooh.
I can’t feel my feet. I can’t feel my tail. I can’t feel my ears.
Well, I could. The air was tingling. Didn’t he feel it?
Apparently not, because he droned on and on. I tuned him out to think.
Something feels wrong,my tiger persisted.
Yes, but what?
I racked my brain, going over every detail of the information we’d gathered.
According to Gordon, Grepper would be out for the evening. He would have set some defenses around his property before leaving, but as Gordon had said…
He’s not a very powerful warlock.
Gordon had also assured us we had a day’s head start over the vampires. And yet, my gut screamed that this was a trap.
I stopped and chuffed at Bene.
Wait. Stop.
Gen and I had ventured farther than this earlier without encountering any defenses. But the air hadn’t been tingling then, and it was now.
Tingling with magic.
Bene, stop!I snarled.
He kept grumbling and plowing through the snow.Stop. Go. Make up your m—
Bene!I snarled, but it was too late.
A wall of fire erupted before him, and sparks filled the air. He reared up with an earsplitting roar, then fell back, writhing in agony. I rushed to him, then jumped away before contacting the electrified sparks engulfing him. With a final, agonized cry, he collapsed into the snow, totally limp.
Chapter Twenty-Three
GENEVIÈVE
I stared out the window, sipping my hot chocolate. My feet were warm, my surroundings safe, my soul empty.
