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"And Hunter in a snit is so I really don’t want to face – even if only on a phone"

"If you don’t answer it," Azriel said, "it will only antagonize her further That would not be wise"

No, it wouldn’t I made to jump off the table, but Azriel motioned me to stay, then disappeared A heartbeat later, he returned and handed e appeared on the screen Her face held no expression, but her green eyes proet back to you sooner," I said, before she could say anything "But things have been kind of crazy --"

"I do not care about your current problems," she cut in, her voice so devoid of life it sent chills down my spine "And you certainly will be sorry I have warned you, Risa, about the consequences of inaction"

Fear chased the chills downto ease the sudden dryness in my throat, and croaked, "What do you mean?"

"You know full hat I mean," she replied, still in that same emotionless tone "I’m sick not only of your manner and attitude, but of the delays when it coumo would convince you of the need to take me seriously, but it appears that is not the case"

The Jorõguh to kill Hunter’s lover She’d tasked us with tracking it down and, e had, she’d proceeded to kill it – by consu demonstration of just what Hunter was capable of – and how far she would go to get what she wanted

"For fuck’s sake," I all but exploded, despite the fact I knew anger wasn’t the best option right now, "you’re not the only one after the keys, and the others are not only not of this world, but they can do a hell of a lot e --"

"Perhaps," she cut in coldly, "but I am the one who lives in this world, and I am the one in close proximity to all that you love Only there is now one less to love"

And with that, she was gone

Leaving me to suddenly wonder who the hell she’d killed

Chapter 5

"What’s wrong?" Tao said "You’re as white as a ghost"

"Hunter has killed so Ilianna, and make sure both she and Mirri are okay?"

He swore veheo Surely she couldn’t --"

"This is Hunter, so anything is possible" My voice was harsher than necessary God, what else could go wrong? "If Ilianna is still at the Brindle with Mirri, tell her to stay there until further notice"

Surely even Hunter wasn’t crazy enough commit murder inside the ancestral home of the witches

"I would not be too sure of that," Azriel lanced at my phone, said, "Aunt Riley," and watched the psychedelic patterns swirl prettily across the screen It seee popped onto the screen I released the breath I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding She was safe Alive Although even if Hunter was crazy enough to attack someone in the sanctity of Brindle’s halls, surely even she wouldn’t touch anyone in the Jenson pack She ht not fear Riley or her twin brother Rhoan, but surely even she wouldn’t want to draw the ire of Riley’s mate, Quinn Not only was he a very old vampire, but he was also a former Cazador, and part Aedh

"Risa," she said, her war the relief I could see in her expression "You’ve obviously resurfaced froht False "Is everyone there okay?"

She frowned "Yes, of course Why?"

I hesitated She had no idea I orking for Hunter, and that’s exactly hoanted to keep it

"I had a prelad ere talking on the phone rather than in person Inano microcells – which were the successor of nanowires, and, like thened to shield the wearer from psychic intrusion – inserted into est telepaths out there, and the ned to fend off someone like her Hell, even Hunter could catch the occasional thought – and usually at the wrong ti the bitch "I just wanted to make sure you were all okay"

"Well, it’s no one in my pack You know I’d sense it if it were"

I did know, but it was still a relief to hear it said Riley wasn’t clairvoyant or anything like that, but besides being a very strong telepath, she was also a twin She and Uncle Rhoan had a connection deeper and stronger than any psychic talent, and the two of them always knehen the other was in trouble That bond, over the years, had extended to Liander, Rhoan’s mate And Riley and Quinn were in constant telepathic contact If any of them were in trouble, she’d certainly know

She added, "Are you okay? You don’t look that great"

"Drinking yourself under the table will do that" I forced a s a few decent-sized steaks won’t fix"