“A witch,” Izabela said. “A dark witch. I think she was skirting the truth the whole time she was here. I don’t believe she has an ailing lover any more than she’s been consulting some other witch.”
Saintcrow shook his head, not certain he understood the fine line between black witches and dark witches. “Why make up such a convoluted explanation?”
“Because she can’t tell you the truth,” Kadie said, her brow furrowed. “She wants something from you, all right. There’s no doubt about that. And I think we all know what it is.”
Saintcrow shook his head. “Come on, I know you think I’m the sexiest thing on two legs, but you can’t honestly believe she still has the hots for me after close to a thousand years!”
Kadie shrugged. “Time passes differently for vampires. You know that better than I do. Maybe she’s been busy with other men and none of them satisfied her. Maybe she was bored and suddenly remembered the sexy human who refused her attention and is now a vampire. Maybe she’s come for revenge because you wounded her pride.”
Saintcrow shook his head again, then burst out laughing. “That’s the damnedest thing I’ve ever heard! Unrequited love that lasted a millennium? I don’t think so.”
“Perhaps Kadie’s right,” Izabela said, with a frown. “At least about the wounded pride part. Think about it. You’ve always assumed Elowynne was a lot older than you in vampire years, but maybe she isn’t as old as you think. Unless I’m mistaken, her power isn’t much stronger than yours.”
“I don’t follow you,” Saintcrow said. “You’re saying she’s jealous of my preternatural power? That makes less sense that her having the hots for me.”
“I think Izabela’s right,” Kadie said.
Izabela smiled at Kadie. “I think so, too.” Glancing at Saintcrow, Izabela said, You’ve been assuming that Elowynne was turned centuries before you were. But maybe it was only a few decades. You were turned by an old vampire which gave you an enormous amount of power even when you were a fledgling. And you’ve only grown stronger since then.”
Eleni,Saintcrow thought. His sire. Dead by his hand. A shiver of unease ran down his spine as a new idea occurred to him. What if Elowynne wasn’t here to seduce him? What if she was here to avenge Eleni’s death? What if she was behind his problem?
He considered it a moment and then shook the thought aside. He had no proof that the two women had even known each other. But the thought lingered in his mind long after he and Kadie had returned home and retired for the night.
~ * ~
Alara contacted Saintcrow the following evening. After telling Kadie where he was going, Saintcrow got in touch with Kincaid and asked him to meet him at the witch’s tree house.
“I don’t know whyIcan’t go with you,” Kadie said.
“Because I don’t want you anywhere near that woman. I don’t trust her.”
“Then why are you going?”
“What other choice do I have? There’s always a slim chance she might have the answer.” Drawing Kadie into his arms, he kissed her. “We won’t be gone long. Promise me you’ll stay home.”
She glared at him, then sighed. “I promise.”
One more kiss and he was gone.
He met Kincaid at the foot of the tree house just as the sun was setting. The sky was awash in shades of gold and crimson, casting the tree house in a strange light. The trees were alivewith the sounds of birds settling in their nests while the night creatures began to stir.
Alara greeted them with a smile. “Welcome to my home. Please, sit down.” Tonight, she wore a long, flowing gown the color of emeralds.
“I was beginning to think you’d forgotten my problem,” Saintcrow said, taking the chair she indicated. “It’s been a while since I heard from you.”
“I have been busy.”
“Do you have good news?” asked Kincaid, who had remained standing by the door, his arms folded over his chest.
“I have news.” Alara sat in the chair across from Saintcrow. “I examined your blood again using a different...ah, technique. It contains witch blood mingled with vampire blood....”
“Elowynne,” Saintcrow muttered.
“As I was saying, it contains witch blood and vampire blood, which isn’t particularly strange for someone like you, but it also contains trace elements of ancient bloody earth possibly taken from a battlefield.”
“Earth?” Saintcrow shook his head. “How the hell can there be earth in my blood?”
“Obviously someone put it there.”