“Okay, well, keep trying to reach him, Raine. Let me know if his condition changes. And, Doctor, the fewer people who have access to Steel, the better. From now on, only myself, you, and the Lockheart sisters. Do you understand?” He examined the quiet doctor.
“Of course, sir.”
“Good. I’m going to change all the codes.”
“Okay. Sir, one last thing before you go. It says here on Steel’s medical file, he’s married. Should I contact his wife?”
“No.”
“No.”
Steel and Raine both answered, and again he threw the witch a narrow glance, wanting to know the history between her and his boss. “Not now. He states in a letter, which I will bring so you have a copy on file, what his requirements are in regard to any medical emergency. Each member of Orion has one. His wife is not to be contacted. If the situation changes, I will deal with it. Anything else?”
“No, sir.”
“Good. Raine, you said that what happened to Steel is a result of a dark spell. Forgive me, but who else besides the witches would be capable of such magic? Also, am I right in assuming that the individual would’ve needed to be present to cast this spell?”
The witch flew at him, staring up with huge emerald eyes and wild auburn hair flowing behind her. “Yes. Whoever did this needed to be in close contact with Steel. And this kind of magic can only be commanded by the blackest of hearts. You really need to learn the history of all the non-humans. It makes for an interesting read. Like it or not, Drayton, you’re part of that special breed too.”
The witch inhaled a long breath and twisted away. Her long skirt twirled as she moved and she caught her hair in her hands, skillfully twisting it into a long plait. “I cannot read people the way your wife can. All I can sense is magic. On the day of the meeting, I didn’t detect anything out of the ordinary, but there are many ways to disguise trails—hide a scent, cloak a person. But as I say, I didn’t pick up on any peculiar behavior.”
Marcus raked his hand through his thick, wavy hair that touched his shoulder, and stared again at the man who lay still as a corpse. When you wake up, you will tell me the story of you and Raine over a bottle of whiskey and one of your good cigars. Do you hear me? No one answered, not that he expected one, but he needed the only decent father figure he had ever had to know he cared.
“Raine, do what you can.”
The witch nodded, and with that, he strode away. His cell beeped inside his pocket as he reached the doorway and he lifted it to take the call. Jake’s urgent voice rang through before he could speak.
“Slow down. I knew it. Okay, check her room thoroughly, and get a team outside in case she’s still on the property. I suspect she’s long gone, but we need to make sure. I’ll be at the center after I speak with Huron.”
Raine left her seat to join him, clutching his arm.
“That witch—the princess, what’s her name—she’s missing. I knew when I stood next to her something wasn’t right.”
Raine stepped into his personal space and pressed her fingertips to each side of his head. “She’s not a witch, Drayton. Now, think back to when you spoke to this princess. How did she make you feel?”
The slender woman before him smelled of butterscotch and cookies. His shoulders dropped and he closed his eyes. It was the last thing he wanted to do. He needed to leave, but his thoughts drifted to yesterday. Revulsion and confusion filled him as he pictured Dina. The blonde woman shimmered and vanished. In her stead stood a hunched monster with talons for nails, jagged yellow teeth, and black eyes. The marble-white skin was translucent and covered in black, spidery veins. The stench of rot and decay wafted from the creature.
The minute the witch’s fingers left his skin, Marcus jerked away and shook his head. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her close. “Shit—what was that?”
The witch smiled as she examined his face. “I dipped inside your memories. I did you no harm. I didn’t steal them or erase them.”
Marcus narrowed his gaze on the witch. She knows. He let go and stepped away.
“She’s a demon, Drayton. You invited a demon to the party.”
A demon? But how? His brows furrowed and he approached her with murder in his eyes. The look was enough for the witch to retreat.
“When Steel arranged this gathering, you, Miss Lockheart, were given specific instructions to set up wards around the perimeter of the mansion to ensure no unwanted guests would enter. It was one of the rules all the non-humans insisted upon.”
He gained footage on her, but she didn’t withdraw. Instead, she stepped forward.
“We underestimated our enemy. When Steel talked about the Elusti, he mentioned humans. But he’s wrong. This is the strongest dark magic I have ever encountered. Only a few can wield this kind of strength without being destroyed. Great wizards, or gods. Anyway, it shielded the pretty one from us, and probably others. I don’t recall her.”
Marcus tilted his head and cricked his neck. Fighting a visible enemy, a human would be hard enough, but a wizard or god? This he hadn’t anticipated, nor
