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She straightened. “The taiga in Siberia and Canada?”
I nodded.
“I was aware he left devastation in his wake, but I hadn’t seen the evidence.”
“You didn’t exercise this type of scorched earth policy when you rode with them?”
She pointed at the photo on the screen that showed massive trees ripped up by their roots and a pile of mutilated carcasses. “Do you believe I’m capable of that?”
I thought of her willingness to murder Solomon on my behalf. The ease with which she made life and death decisions. “You tell me.”
Her mouth tightened. “I was responsible for many acts when I rode with them, but none that qualified as atrocities. What you see here are crimes against nature.”
“And humanity.”
“I’ve made it clear I don’t condone Vortigern’s behavior, and I certainly never indulged in it.” She shrank from the phone. “I thought we knew each other better than that, cariad.”
“I’m sorry. I had to be sure.”
“Really? Because you seem perfectly willing to accept my aid when it benefits you,” she snapped.
Matilda was right. I was a hypocrite. She saw me better than I saw myself. “You’re angry.”
“Not angry. It simply pains me that you felt the need to raise the issue again, when I’d already been firm that I find his methods abhorrent. Do you trust me so little, bach?”
“I’m sorry. I was projecting. You’ve never given me a reason to doubt you.” Matilda was much more than magical muscle to me.
“I accept your apology, annwyl.”
“Good. Now let’s come up with a new plan to protect Wild Acres from this.” I waved the phone at her.
“If he ran the hunt like every leader before him, I could anticipate his movements. Unfortunately, I’ve had to rely on intel, which has slowed considerably.”
“You don’t need intel to answer the most important question—can he be killed?”
The Night Mallt beamed with pride. “Careful, Lorelei, your inner goddess is showing.” She ushered me into the kitchen. “We have a long conversation ahead of us. I’d prefer to have it sitting down, wouldn’t you?”
I carefully nudged the Scrabble board aside without shifting any of the tiles. No need to risk Aite’s wrath when I still had Vortigern’s to contend with.
Addison and Matilda exchanged scowls as the avatar entered the kitchen.
“Couldn’t sleep?” I asked.
“You need curtains for my bedroom. It’s too bright.”
I looked at Matilda. “Tea?”
“Yes, please. No…”
“Milk. I know. Not my first time serving you tea.” I added water to the kettle and turned the knob to high heat.
“You didn’t ask me if I want tea,” Addison complained.
“Because she already knows you do,” Matilda said. “You want whatever anyone else has. It’s in your greedy, selfish nature.”
Addison recoiled. “Ouch.”
“Matilda,” I said in a warning tone. “Can we get back to how to kill Vortigern?”
