Page 34 of Quintus

“The bigger issue is that the wolves are simply just that. They’re wolves. Jax. Hunter. Alphas control packs not witches. There are others in this city, ones who would gladly start shit with Jax.”

“Absinthe?”

“Don’t speak too loudly. My wards are strong but that damn witch has this uncanny ability to sense her name in the air.” Quintus shoved to his feet, his gaze set on Viktor. “She’s been around long enough to know if there’s been a shift in the magick. Any rumblings of new covens…she’ll know. She might be able to help with the Salem coven that’s been chasing Gabriella.”

“You know her better than I.”

“Perhaps, but that’s only because you’re a rolling stone.”

“I’m here when you need me. That’s what counts.” Viktor smiled broadly.

“True, but when you flash, I expect your ass with me. No spur of the moment trips to Egypt, V. This is one of those times I need you there and on time.”

“What else do you know about the coven that’s after her?” Viktor asked.

“Not much. Gabby’s been on the run for years.”

“She’s a child in the supernatural world.”

“Yet another concern.”

“She’s an adult with you, though. I smell her on you.”

“Not so much on me but in me. Her blood. She’s like pure magick. I’ve never tasted another like her.”

“Not even Mao?” Viktor challenged, turning to give his brother a sly smile.

“It’s been many years. Mao…she wasn’t at all human.” Quintus considered the years that had passed; he barely recalled the taste of her, leaving him wondering if she had been but a dream. “She wasn’t a witch. You know full well that although most witches are born, they can be created under unique circumstances. Look at Luca’s woman. She was human.”

“Are you trying to say that Gabriella’s human?” He gave a disbelieving laugh.

“I’m saying anything is possible. She’s hybrid. There clearly was something special about her mother that allowed her to mate with a wolf. You know as well as I do it’s impossible. Witches have gone mad attempting to mate with their lovers. Look what happened to Ilsbeth. No, no, no…” He scrubbed his hand over his hair. “Something broke the spell. Perhaps her father had been hybrid as well…something within his bloodline…it wasn’t pure.”

“And you’re saying Mao was?”

“What I’m saying is that I was young, and it was a very long time ago. And Mao was a rare creature.”

“You were her mate, though.”

“But we didn’t complete the bond. She never took my blood.” Quintus had begged her but she’d refused, afraid of turning. From a rural village, she’d been young and believed the superstitions spread by her elders. He’d always believed that if she’d had his blood, his master wouldn’t have been able to kill her as easily.

“All I’m saying is that Gabriella is every bit as much of a shifter as Mao was, maybe less pure but she shifts.” Viktor shrugged and glanced at his reflection in the wall mirror. “Do you think this red velvet looks too…I don’t know….vampirish?”

“Are you for real?” Quintus shook his head.

“I’m just saying. Red. Blood. It’s kind of stereotypical. Maybe I should have gone with purple. I’m thinking of dyeing my hair.”

“You’ve got issues.”

“You’ve got no room to talk. Blue satin? Don’t get me wrong. It works on you.”

“The red does scream ‘vampire’. Maybe you should change.” Quintus rolled his eyes.

“Are you fucking with me?” Viktor’s eyes widened and he craned his neck to get a better view of himself in the mirror.

“What do you think, asshole? We’re about to go shake things down at this supe fest and you’re worried about whether or not you look like a vampire. You’re a fucking vampire.”

“Well, yeah.” He shrugged and looked at himself once again, smoothing a stray hair from his forehead. “But that doesn’t mean I need to let other people know. Always keep them guessing. I don’t want to be predictable.”