Page 93

Mom leaned forward with a grunt of effort. “She died then, yes?”

“Briefly,” the male acknowledged. “I find it curious how well loved your only child is when you are a spider incapable of any emotion other than greed.”

“Our bargain is not to indulge your curiosity. My daughter is none of your concern.”

“I beg to differ,” the male said. He took a step forward and pressed his hand against the ward Mom had put up. “Mmm. You think this will prevent me from coming in and taking your head?”

Mom snorted. “You can’t get what you want without me.”

The male tilted his head. “You are placing yourself in high esteem, dearest Minka. Do not mistake my patience for genuine care.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” she said. “I know my daughter is alive. You know where she is. If she’s not at the Keep, tell me where she has gone. We have unfinished business to attend to.”

The male smiled. His teeth were perfectly straight and white. “You have yet to fulfill your side of the bargain. You know what I need. When can I expect it?”

“It has proven more difficult than expected.”

The male clicked his tongue. “Hmm, yes. That much is obvious. And you, dear Minka, are looking worse for wear these days.”

He flexed his hand.

Mom lurched forward, a choked, gurgling sound bubbling from her throat.

Maybe this pale man would take care of my mother problem for me. I’d send him a gift basket. Maybe a gift certificate to The Cheesecake Factory.

No. Indiscriminate murder required a better gift. I should spring for a nice bottle of whiskey plus a Cheesecake Factory gift certificate.

Of course, then I’d have to figure out a way to kill him, too, but I couldn’t do that without showing my appreciation first, could I?

My fists clenched, and I leaned forward, a branch snapping like a gunshot under my weight.

Soren’s grip on my arm tightened, his face turning pale. I grimaced and held still as death.

But if the man heard me, he gave no indication. “Do not forget whose power you are borrowing, witch. Without me, you would have been dead years ago. Perhaps if you’d kept your daughter, you could have lived without me, but she has escaped your clutches once more.”

He made a tsking sound and raised his hand, tearing through the ward like tissue paper. Mom’s magic shuddered, then fell, the image like a wall of water crashing silently to her feet.

Looks like we didn’t need Ari after all.

Mom’s eyes bulged from their sockets. As I watched, the silver in her hair grew, etching down the sides of her hair.

“You were right to siphon Moira’s youth,” the male observed. “Age does not look good on you.”

Ouch. Mom was vain as a peacock. That comment probably punched her right in the schnozz.

I wasn’t at the right angle to see Mom’s eyes, but if I knew her, they burned with hate. What possessed her to work with this male? She could have captured some other poor and unsuspecting girl and done the same thing to her that she did to me. And I know she had. What did this male give her that she couldn’t take from someone else?

He crouched before her, reaching out to take a lock of her hair in his hands. “If you do not remain useful to me, what good are you?”

Mom tried to choke words out, but his hold was too tight.

He sighed and loosened his grip.

“She will do anything to save that Lord of hers,” Mom gasped.

I sat up straighter and strained to hear every tiny nuance in her voice.

“If I die, the body fueling my spell will die. Her Lord will be freed, and you will never get what you seek. As long as he remains under my control, I will be able to manipulate Moira into giving me what we need.”