Page 85 of Rafe

“Wait. You’re saying I was fired because of you?” Her eyes widened in shock.

“To catch you up here, Zyaire. She’s Ilsbeth’s sister.”

“What?” Skylar asked with shock on her face.

“She’s been orchestrating all of this. From your attack that night in New Orleans to getting you to Las Vegas.”

“I didn’t do anything to her. Why? Why is she after me?” Skylar asked.

“To get to me, to get to Ilsbeth,” Rafe answered. “Because this so-called prophecy, this message from Kellan, was nothing more than a tale as old as time. Revenge.”

“I didn’t know she’d be released so soon,” Ilsbeth protested. “I saved you, Rafe. You would have been dead.”

“You benefited from what you did per usual. You got your karma…until you didn’t. Now she’s coming after you.” Rafe lobbed the accusation. “And me and Skylar.”

“And Sebastian?” Skylar asked.

“Ah, yes. Sebastian. He was part of this wasn’t he?” Rafe turned his attention to Greyson who simply shrugged.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” Skylar said. “That’s why he was there. He was stalking us.”

“Okay, I think everyone needs to settle down. It isn’t the end of the world,” Greyson said. “Well I guess technically it could be. We don’t exactly know what we’re dealing with.”

“Did you know about Zyaire? Were you part of this?” Rafe asked.

“Oh no.” Greyson held up his hands and shook his head. “Well, not at first. When Kade asked us to come to Vegas, it was legit. But once your human…”

“My name is Skylar,” she corrected, annoyance in her tone.

“Once Skylar.” Greyson shot her a slick smile and then addressed Rafe. “Once she said the word.”

“Zyaire?” she asked.

“Yes. Let’s try not saying her name, okay? Ilsbeth has far more confidence in her wards than I do at this point. I, uh, reached out to Sebastian. He owed me a favor.”

“Of course he does.” Rafe shook his head, his pulse racing. “Listen, I want the truth. From all of you.” He looked at Ilsbeth, his tone accusing but controlled. “Why is your sister so pissed at you? You had a hand in whatever was done to her, didn’t you? If she’s your blood, she’s a witch. No witch gets banished by demons by accident. What she’s doing is demonic. I could feel it that night. Thorn had to burn those things. That was her doing.”

“Pestilence.” Ilsbeth told them, her expression seemingly unfazed by the situation.

“What do mean by that?”

“The bible?” Skylar asked.

“Something like that, but of course I am not bound by human documents. But yes, pestilence. Beelzebub. She’s been under his care for the past thousand years.”

“The horseman?” Rafe asked.

“Indeed. My sister is his vessel. One of many. I wasn’t there in the blood club, but I imagine she’s looking to create while she kills. Like all witches she’s born of the Goddess, so whatever is left of her goodness, her pure soul, it feeds the beast. She’s not a vampire but I imagine she’s able to emulate whatever she chooses. To the other vampire, she appears strong, a possible leader. But it’s a glamour, dark magick twisted to deceive. But if there is good news⁠—”

“I’m sorry, good news?” Rafe blinked his eyes in disbelief.

“Every cloud has a silver lining,” Greyson commented.

Rafe didn’t dignify his flippant comment with a response, leaving a silent pause, waiting on his high priestess mother to explain.

“The good news is that it appears she hasn’t been successful yet. She’s distracted, seeking revenge first over her task. And if she’s distracted, she has weakness.”

“What did you do to her?”