“A favor,” Saintcrow repeated suspiciously. “What kind of favor?”
“I have not yet decided.”
The witch flowed toward him and reached for his hand. Her skin was as cold as death. “I need to taste you,” she said.
“Not until I know your name,” he said.
“You may call me Atalanta.”
“That’s not your name.”
She lifted one brow. “Are you calling me a liar?”
Saintcrow shrugged. “I want the name you were born with. I’m sure Kincaid has told you mine.”
“I am Alara.”
“The truth at last.”
“As I said, I need to taste you.”
“Shouldn’tIbe bitingyou?”
“Do you wish my help or not?” she snapped.
Saintcrow glared at her, his dislike growing by the moment. He flinched when she sat beside him. It was like sitting next to a block of ice.
“Are you ready?”
He shrugged. “Go for it.”
He had spent centuries biting others, had, on occasion let other vampires bite him. Nothing had prepared him for the witch’s bite. Her teeth were like knives, sharp and icy, as she buried them in his neck and drank. And drank. He was about to push her away when she lifted her head and licked his blood from her pale lips. Her tongue was black. And forked. Saintcrow swore under his breath. What the hell!
Her deep-throated laughter sent a chill down his spine. “I am a dual person,” she hissed as she rose sinuously to her feet. “Part human. Part reptile.”
Saintcrow looked at Kincaid.Did you know about this?
Kincaid shook his head imperceptivity.
“There is definitely something wrong with you,” the witch said. “I sense your growing anger and agitation. Your restlessness. And your fear. Fear of losing control. Fear of killing the one you love. But I cannot sense the reason or the source.” She pulled a pint-sized bottle and a knife from out of the air. “I will need a sample of your blood. And some of your skin. And hair.”
Saintcrow glared at Jake as the witch cut a shallow gash in his wrist and filled the bottle, then sliced off a one-inch section of skin from his arm. Lastly, she cut off a length of his hair.
“What are you gonna do with all that?” He’d read her mind, knew she didn’t mean him any harm, and yet he was uncomfortable at the thought of this strange creature having any part of him.
“Whatever is necessary.”
“And what do you expect to discover?”
“The source of your problem. Is it physical? Is it some kind of rare disease? An enchantment? An aberration peculiar to ancient vampires? Mr. Kincaid has told me of your encounter with the necromancer, Luca Sasan.”
“You knew him?”
“I knewofhim. A vile man. I do not believe he is the cause of your trouble. I have never heard of a spell that endured more than a few days beyond the grave. Sasan’s curse would have died years ago. I will call you if I discover anything,” she said, and vanished from their sight.
“Well, that was fun,” Saintcrow said. “She has my blood, my hair, and my skin. And I owe her a favor. I must have been crazy to come here. Even though she seems on the up-and-up, I’m not sure I trust her. Do you?”
Jake shrugged. “Mostly.”