Kincaid nodded, fully aware of what it had cost his friend to admit it. “We’ll see the better side of this yet,” he said. “We took out Luca. We took out Eleni. Hell, what’s one more wicked witch?”
Chapter Sixteen
Alara summoned Saintcrow late the following night.
“What do you think she wants this time?” Kadie asked as she watched Rylan pull on his boots.
“Who knows? I shouldn’t be gone long.”
“Is Jake going with you?”
“Yeah.” Saintcrow snorted. “It’s like having a babysitter. Lately, I can’t go anywhere without him.”
“One of these times, I want to go, too. I’m dying to see what she looks like and where she lives.”
“Maybe next time.” He kissed her gently. “Keep my side of the bed warm, darlin’. I love you.”
Kadie nodded. He seemed so calm tonight, just like his old self. She prayed for a miracle that would make it last.
~ * ~
Saintcrow met Kincaid at the foot of the treehouse. Dark clouds shrouded both moon and stars. The Everglades were pitch black, quiet as a tomb. Saintcrow took a deep breath as he floated up to the door and knocked.
“Enter.”
He opened the door and stepped inside, with Jake close on his heels.
“I see you brought your bodyguard,” Alara said, with an amused smile.
“Never leave home without one,” Saintcrow muttered.
As always, Jake remained by the door, his arms folded across his chest, his expression impassive, his eyes watchful.
“So, why am I here?” Saintcrow asked, taking the seat Alara indicated. She wore a gown of gold this evening. It clung to her slender form like a second skin. For an instant, he saw her as she really was and then the grotesque image was gone.
“I have been talking to some old friends,” Alara said. “Did you know Elowynne had an older sister? A half-sister, actually. The girls had different mothers. Elowynne’s mother was a dark witch who died a rather gruesome death.”
Saintcrow felt his gut clench as he waited for her to go on, certain, deep inside, that he already knew the identity of the other sister.
“The older sister’s mother was a mere mortal. The girls were quite young when their father passed away. Several years later, the older sister’s mother married a vampire, who bestowed the dark gift on the mother and her daughter. Decades later, the older sister bestowed the dark gift on Elowynne.”
“Eleni.” Saintcrow whispered the name as dread uncoiled inside him. “The older sister was Eleni, wasn’t she?”
Alara nodded solemnly, a touch of pity in her strange green eyes.
A muffled oath escaped Jake’s lips.
“Well, that explains why Elowynne wants me dead,” Saintcrow said. “I destroyed her sister.”
“Yes,” the witch said. “I believe so.”
“I destroyed Eleni centuries after Elowynne apparently put that poison inside me,” Saintcrow remarked. “What the hell was her original intention?”
“I suppose you would have to ask her for the answer,” Alara replied.
“Yeah. Any idea how to get her poison out of me?”
“Not at the moment,” Alara said. “I have spoken to your witch. We have agreed to put our heads together and see if we can come up with a solution.”