Tempted

“He’s anything but normal, and you better remember that,” Ni-cole snapped. “Answer my question, Rephaim.”

“I escaped into the tunnels after being wounded by a warrior from the House of Night,” he said truthfully. Rephaim’s instincts, which had served him well for centuries, told him to remain silent about Stevie Rae, that even though these must be the rogue red fledglings she had been protecting, they were not truly of her flock, nor did they follow her.

“The tunnel between here and the abbey collapsed,” said Nicole.

“It was open when I entered it.”

Nicole took a step toward him and sniffed the air. “You smell of Stevie Rae.”

Rephaim made a dismissive gesture with his good hand. “I reek of the bed I slept in.” He cocked his head to the side, as if confused by what she’d said. “You say I carry Stevie Rae’s scent. Is she not the Red One, your High Priestess?”

“Stevie Rae’s a red vampyre, but she isn’t our High Priestess!” Nicole snarled, and her eyes took on a red glow.

“Not your High Priestess?” Rephaim pushed. “But there was a red vampyre priestess called Stevie Rae who stood with a group of fledglings against my father and his queen. She had your markings. Is she not your High Priestess?”

“That was the battle where you were hurt?” Nicole ignored his question to ask her own.

“It was.”

“What happened? Where’s Neferet?”

“Gone.” Rephaim didn’t hide the bitterness in his voice. “She fled with my father and those of my brothers who still live.”

“Where’d they go?” Kurtis asked.

“If I knew that, I would not be hiding in the earth like a coward. I would be at my father’s side where I belong.”

“Rephaim.” Nicole gave him a long, considering look. “I’ve heard that name before.”

The Raven Mocker stayed silent, knowing it was better for her to come to the understanding of who he was without him having to brag about his position like a braying ass.

When her eyes widened, he knew she’d remembered where it was she’d heard his name.

“She said you were Kalona’s favorite—his most powerful son.”

“Yes, that is who I am. Who is this she who’s been talking about me?”

Again, Nicole ignored his question. “What covered the door to the room you slept in?”

“A checked blanket.”

“Stevie Rae’s room,” Starr said. “That’s why he smells like her.”

Nicole acted as if Starr hadn’t spoken. “Kalona took off without you, even though you’re his favorite.”

“Yesssss,” Rephaim drew out the hiss of anger that came with the acknowledgment.

Nicole spoke to Kurtis and Starr. “You know this has to mean that they’re coming back. This birdboy is Kalona’s favorite. No way is he going to leave him here forever. Just like we’re her favorites. He’ll come back for him; she’ll come back for us.”

“Do you speak of the Red One, Stevie Rae?”

In a motion so fast her body blurred, Nicole moved to Rephaim’s side, clamped her hands around his battered shoulders, and in one smooth motion lifted the huge Raven Mocker off the ground and slammed him against the side of the tunnel. Eyes blazing red, she breathed rancid breath into his face as she said, “Get this, birdboy. Stevie Rae, or the Red One as you keep calling her, isn’t our High Priestess. She isn’t our boss. She isn’t one of us. She’s tight with Zoey and that bunch, and that’s not cool. See, we don’t have a High Priestess, we have a queen, and her name is Neferet. Now, what’s with this obsession with Stevie Rae?”

Agony seared through Rephaim. His broken wing was on fire, lighting his body with white-hot agony. With everything inside him he wished he was whole again so that he could destroy this arrogant red fledgling with one slice of his beak.

But he wasn’t whole. He was weak and wounded and abandoned.

“My father wanted her captured. He said she was dangerous. Neferet didn’t trust her. I am not obsessed. I am only following my father’s will,” he choked out through the pain.

“How about we see if you’re really telling us the truth,” Nicole said. Then she tightened her already viselike grip on his arm, closed her eyes, and bowed her head.

Incredibly, Rephaim felt her palms begin to heat. The heat radiated through him, tracing his bloodstream, pounding in time with the frantic beating of his heart, and slamming into his body.

A shudder went through Nicole, then she opened her eyes and lifted her head. Her smile was sly. She continued to hold him against the wall for one very long minute more before she dropped him. Looking down at where he’d crumpled on the floor, she said, “She saved you.”

“What the fuck?” Kurtis shouted.

“Stevie Rae saved him?” Starr said.

Nicole and Rephaim acted as if neither had spoken.

“She did,” Rephaim gasped, fighting to get his breathing under control so he wouldn’t pass out. Then he said nothing more, only tried to figure out what had just happened while he breathed through the radiating pain in his wing. The red fledgling had done something to him when she’d touched him—something that had given her a glimpse into his mind, maybe even his soul. But he also knew that he was unlike any being she’d ever before touched; his thoughts would be difficult, if not nearly impossible for her to read, no matter her talents.

“Why would Stevie Rae do that?” Nicole asked him.

“You saw into my mind. You know that I have no idea why she did what she did.”

“That much is true,” she said slowly. “It’s also true that I didn’t pick up that you have any bad feelings toward her. What’s with that?”

“I’m not sure what you mean. Bad feelings? That makes no sense to me.”

She scoffed. “No sense—like you have any sense? Your mind was the weirdest thing I’ve ever looked into. So it’s like this, birdboy, you say you’re still doing what your dad told you to do. At the very least that should mean you want to capture her—maybe kill her.”

“My father did not want her killed. He wanted her brought to him unharmed so he could study her, and maybe use her powers,” Rephaim said.

“Whatever. But, see, the problem is, when I looked into that bird-brain of yours, I didn’t find anything that said you’re after her.”

“Why would I be after her right now? She isn’t here.”

Nicole shook her head. “No, see, that’s just weird. If you want to get Stevie Rae, you want to get her, whether she’s here or not.”

“That isn’t logical.”

Nicole stared at him. “Look, this is what I have to know. Are you with us or not?”

“With you?”

“Yeah, with us. We’re going to kill Stevie Rae.” She spoke matter-of-factly while she moved with her preternatural speed to his side and grasped his arm in her iron grip. Rephaim’s bicep heated instantly as she probed his thoughts. “So, what’s your choice? Are you with us, or not?”

Rephaim knew he had to answer. Nicole might not be able to read all of his thoughts, but obviously she had enough power that she could discover things he’d rather keep hidden. Making the decision quickly, he met the red fledgling’s scarlet gaze with his own and said truthfully, “I am my father’s son.”

She stared at him, her hand burning the flesh of his arm and her eyes glowing red. Then she smiled her sly smile again. “Good answer, birdboy, ’cause that’s the major thing I found inside your bird head. You definitely are your dad’s kid.” She let loose of him. “Welcome to my team, and don’t worry. Since your dad’s not here right now, I don’t think he’ll care whether Stevie Rae’s dead or alive when you catch her.”

“And dead’s easier,” Kurtis said.

“Most definitely,” Starr said.

Nicole laughed, sounding so much like Neferet that the feathers at the nape of Rephaim’s neck lifted in response. Father! Beware! His mind shrieked, The Tsi Sgili is more than