Page 89 of Rafe

“What? What do you think I’d do with a human? Seriously, Rafe? Get a grip. I’m the high priestess. Humans are the ones who need me, not the other way around.” Ilsbeth looked to her soup. “Snapper’s always a good choice. Enjoy your meal. We have mischief to make and ingredients to gather.”

14

Strapped with two Sig Sauers and cartridges holding silver bullets, Rafe made use of every fold of his tactical vest. He stood on a raised stone platform as Ilsbeth circled him. The High Priestess, his only hope for shedding the beast, spoke in tongues, releasing her incantations. He’d need all the mojo the witch could conjure to help him survive an underworld of Hell.

Every last person he knew who’d been touched by the evil that seeped from its pores never came back the same way they’d gone in. Rafe planned on returning good as fucking new, determined no limp dick demon was going to ruin the only chance at getting his life back.

Rafe caught sight of Greyson who stared at him with a recognizable condescending look. “What’s your problem?”

“Do you really need all the gadgets? Are you not wolf enough?”

“Go fuck yourself. I look badass.” Rafe smirked, unfazed by the vampire.

“Concur,” Dominique agreed. “Momma likey.”

“Get real.” Greyson rolled his eyes.

“Look at these pants,” Thorn crooned. “They are a masterpiece.”

“Lovely stitching in all the right places.” Dominique shot him a devilish grim.

“This neanderthal can’t appreciate fine leather,” Thorn continued, irritation in his voice. “Be so for real. You could wear them to any club.”

Dominique shrugged and nodded.

“I know a guy. Florence. He does high fashion. Specially designed for the hybrid.” Thorn drew closer to Rafe inspecting the pockets.

“Stop lookin’ at my ass. Y’all are some creepy mother fuckers.” Rafe patted his chest.

“You got holy water?” Dominique asked, ignoring his comment and held out her hand to him, revealing a tiny glass heart topped with a gold crown.

Rafe raised a questioning eyebrow at the vampire.

“Go on. Take it.”

The second Rafe’s fingers touched the object he sensed its energy.

“It’s holy water. It’s from Fatima,” she told him.

“But I’m not human.”

“You don’t need to believe. Leave that to me.” Dominique had once been human. Her children had been murdered, and she’d suffered with grief having been turned vampire. “If a demon gets too close…well, you know what to do. It won’t stop them, but it might buy you time.”

Rafe unsnapped a pocket on his harness and slid it inside, securing it. “Thank you Dominique, that was thoughtful.”

She turned on her heels and headed back to her chair, mumbling, “Maybe you’ll let me bite your human one day.”

“You don’t need all the gadgets,” Greyson assured him.

“You don’t know what I’ll need,” Rafe countered. Between Ilsbeth and Thorn, they’d offered him an assortment of weapons. He’d take what he could carry easily and hope for the best.

“Use the talisman. Move silently. Slowly. Head on a swivel,” Greyson instructed. “I’ll pop in and out when I can. No talking to anything you see in there. Just get in and get out. Hopefully you won’t have to use all that shit you’ve got, but if you do, we’ll get you out one way or another.”

“Rafe is the prophecy. He will succeed.” With an otherworldly aura, the High Priestess glided about the room, twisting magick into the air. Dressed in a lavender silk dress cinched with an intricate boned corset, and her long blonde hair swept up into a French twist, Ilsbeth appeared confident in her plan.

“Kellan may have lied about many things but of this I’m certain. Saving Rafe was the catalyst. My sister will do whatever she thinks must be done to get to me and to cause him harm. Until she is gone, no one in our realm is safe.” Ilsbeth locked eyes with Rafe. “I have warded you as best I can. You have the talisman?”

“I’ve got it.” He patted his chest. “You’re sure they won’t be able to see me?”