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Mom sniffed. “Most witches who turn do not keep their magic.”

I said nothing.

“Obviously, there are exceptions.” Her lips tightened.

I was one of them. My gifts skewed toward the natural side of witchcraft, teas and herbal blends, things like that. I’d never been a massive talent when it came to being a natural witch, but I was gifted. As I grew older, the magic grew with me, and the vampire blood had boosted my natural gifts into something more. What I hadn’t expected was the odd magic transfer when I consumed blood, and I’d kept that very close to the vest. My mother could not know. She’d escalate things trying to figure it out, and I was drained enough.

Being gods touched, as Cernunnos liked to say, had only heightened things. I’d saved just enough juice for one final trick. As much as I wanted to keep helping that seed grow, I couldn’t afford to give even a drop of my power away. Especially not now.

Mom would have to help Liaza tomorrow. If I could take him out and injure her enough to escape, I should be able to find something living in this winter hellscape. If the temps didn’t kill me first.

“You’re selfish,” I whispered. “And self-absorbed. Your first thought is always about yourself, and you don’t care who you take out on the way as long as you get what you want.”

Mom dished herself up a bowl of food—soup by the look of it—and sat down at the table. She broke off a piece of crusty bread and set it beside her bowl.

My stomach growled.

Minka smiled. “Perhaps you’re right,” she admitted. “But no one else will ever care about me as much as I care about myself.”

I snorted. Minka logic. “Every single one of my friends is looking for me. They will not stop until they find me. And when they do, they’ll tear you from limb to limb.”

Mom shrugged. “Perhaps they do. You won’t last long enough for them to get you home.” She ate a spoonful of soup and chewed thoughtfully. “You know what? How about we stop this madness? You have something I want, and yet no matter what I do to you, you refuse to give it to me. That requires me to force you, and the magic you provide when force is required isn’t as powerful as magic freely given.”

I blinked. Hadn’t known that. Interesting.

“I’ve always been able to take what I want, and you have enough to last me a good long while.” She shrugged. “Of course, it’s better to have a permanent, living source, but I grow tired of this battle between us. Tomorrow, Liaza will have you. When he’s finished with you, I will finish this between us.”

“You’d kill me?”

She sighed. “As much as it pains me to do so, yes. You’ve painted me to be quite the great villain, Moira. And I don’t disagree with you about your motley crew. Somehow, you’ve managed to inspire great loyalty.”

Minka smiled. “I will repay it by leaving your rotting corpse for them to find.”

“I may be dead, but my spirit will be watching while they tear you to pieces.”

Mom chuckled. “Oh, darling. I’ll be long gone by the time your friends make it through the gifts I’ve left for them.”

Dread pounded through me. Gifts. What had she left around the area? Evie was intelligent. She’d never march in with blinders on. Cernunnos was the same.

Tess and Ash would follow their lead. I closed my eyes for a brief moment. Mom was still watching me, a faint smile on her face. She ate quickly, dipping her bread into the soup.

“You’ve never dealt with them. You have no idea what they’re capable of.”

“I have every idea. You forget I brawled with your lover.”

I blinked.

“Oh yes, I’m well aware you’ve rutted with the Oak King, my dear. His stench is all over you, entwined with something else a little more animalistic. You’ve been getting around, haven’t you?”

I refused to be embarrassed. She antagonized me to get a rise out of me, and I wouldn’t play her games. “Cernunnos fucks me like he’s a starving man in a desert, and I’m the only water he’s seen in years.”

I allowed a slow smile to part my cracked lips and laughed when Minka flinched. “You don’t scream nearly as much as I do when Liaza fucks you. Sad how low you’ve sunk, Mother. Cavorting with vampires?” I snorted. “The witches would be so ashamed of you.” I leaned forward and gripped the bars with both hands. “You may beat me, kick me, spit on me. Even ruin me. But no one will ever love you like I’ve been loved. I’ll go to my grave knowing I’m better than you in everything.”

Mom’s jaw tightened. Her fingers clenched around her spoon. She sat there for a few seconds before rising. The bowl slammed into the sink, liquid splashing onto the floor.

When she turned to head down the hallway, I laughed, the sound harsh and croaking.

Chapter