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Jennifer’s eyes slit as she inserted herself into the conversation "We should have killed your friends rather than curse theht to use theic One of your people is a Drainer, and Drainers must be eliminated as quickly as possible One of your people is a wolf, and wolves protect our greatest enereatest enemies All three deserve to die"

"How many times do I have to say it? I don’t know any Drainer I don’t even knohat a Drainer is, unless you one, but that didn’t happen, so again No Drainer" He wanted to kick his own ass for not asking Victoria for details "And the wolf and the vampire mean you no harm, then or now Tell theh," Marie snapped "So they didn’t drink fros to them, and addicts can never be trusted Now Silence, human Sisters, let us move him to a more…private location"

A second later, their chants filled the air He tried to reason with thean to spin, dancing to a beat he didn’t recognize Spinning, spinning, colors whirling together, darkening, that dark consu hi , and those continued shouts were deafening

Then, suddenly, he stilled The souls quieted

Pinpricks of white grew a the black, and colors soon followed His feet were still rooted in place, but he was now in new surroundings He was inside a…cave? The walls around hie-colored stones and clay Soent rush and crash of water, the air cold and da him, dropped their arms to their sides and perched atop boulders All but one, that is Marie approached hi her Caleb purred his approval

Without a word, Marie clairab his daggers He didn’t He needed their cooperation, not their fury "What are you doing?" he asked

"Taking precautions"

As she spoke, so, he looked up Ivy had sprouted fronashed together as he tried to jerk free The vine held steady

"We draw our powers from Mother Earth," she explained "You’re lucky you’re warded, othere’d do a lot worse to you" She laughed when his expression tightened "Oh, yes I knoithout looking what you’re protected against We all do We can feel the power of the wards" She backed away and sat on a boulder like the others

"So what do you plan to do with me?"

"Your actions will determine that"

"Come on Help aze roved over the, the only one wearing a black robe--walked from a shadowed corner and pushed away her hood Another blonde, though this one wasn’t a witch

Her face was beauty personified Her skin glowed as if it had been dipped in a honey pot, and her eyes gleamed like liquid ebony With only a look, she lured, entranced, made him ache to do whatever she wanted Not that he’d succumb

"Hello, Aden," Ms Brendal said smoothly

He hadn’t noticed her in the circle before Whichto pounce "Dr Hennessy," he said, his jaw so clenched the words barely escaped "I’d like to say I’m surprised, but I’d rather not lie I kno you hate it"

Her pupils flared briefly "So you kneas not who I pretended to be How?"

"Why don’t you invade ue over her straight, white teeth "I looked through your mind, yes, but all I encountered was a sea of noise Voices andabout the silliest things Things I cared nothing about But I could find no evidence of my brother, Mr Thomas Where is he, Aden? I know that you know"

Now’s your chance, Elijah said Bargain

Wait What? Bargain hat? Caleb de to order," he said, "and I’ll tell you"

Brendal eyed each of the witches Each of theer sed as best he could with his arreen ured you would prove stubborn However, you have underesti, but don’t shed too many tears, for I will return With your friends"

A clear threat He wanted to shout at her He wanted to fight his bonds He did neither Displays of eht Mary Ann? And in this battle, the et If he threw a fit now, he would lose what little bargaining power he had

"Have you anything else to say to me?" Brendal asked

"Yeah Good luck with your search"

"Very well" She stepped backward, her narrowed gaze locked on hione the next

She’d entered that other plane, he supposed To capture--perhaps torture--his friends They can take care of themselves, he assured himself

Let me take over, Caleb pleaded Let me talk to the witches for you

Oh, no Aden could allow the souls to assume control of his body They couldn’t do it without his periven permission to Eve That’s how she’d spent the last day of her "life" with her daughter But Caleb was too concerned with the witches He ht place their welfare about Victoria’s, above Mary Ann’s and Riley’s, and that Aden couldn’t allow

"Call thethe soul, "and I’ll answer anything you want Don’t, and I’ll answer nothing"