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“Why do ye think the wolves took her?”
“Maybe the wolves have unfinished business with the Dumonts like we do? Claudette was part of the ritual… maybe they want their pound of flesh.”
“They’ll have to get in line. Sebastian is practically vibrating with the need to get out there and get his hands on her. The way he’s talking, there won’t be much left of her for the wolves when he’s done.”
The idea of Josephine falling victim to Sebastian’s rage sickens me. Why? I’ve never stood against anything Bas wanted, but with her I feel… protective.
Why do I feel so drawn to her?
Rune whistles as he reads through the intel I’ve collected. “Did you find any sign that either Claudette or Josephine remained in contact with the covens of Tremé?”
“Nothing. Claudette cut all ties and never looked back.”
“Then maybe Josephine didn’t know her family history—at least not all of it. When Claudette ghosted her away, she was only four. Maybe she genuinely wanted to return her grandmother to the arms of her ancestors.”
I shrug. “Doesn’t change the fact that she has a huge target on her back: with Bas, the wolves, and I’m sure there are some disgruntled witches who won’t be happy Claudette abandoned her responsibilities to the Sun-Witch community.”
“And that brings us back to the part about getting in line. Sebastian wants his revenge, but we’ll have to get her back from the wolves first.”
Rune grunts. “I can’t believe we lost to them.”
“Yeah, thanks to our completely botched skirmish, we look like punk arseholes. I blame that whole shit show on Horace.”
Rune nods. “Doesn’t change where we are now, though.”
No. It didn’t. Or where we’re headed. “Do ye really think Sebastian will risk an all-out conflict with the Algiers pack over this girl? She was only four when the shite hit. She had nothing to do with Celine rejecting him or for what came after. A full-on war wouldn’t end well for any of us.”
“Are you kidding?” Rune shifts and rests his butt against my desk while we speak. “I’d bet my left nut Bas is off somewhere plotting right now. He must be delighted. There’s no way he’s letting this go.”
That’s what I’m afraid of.
“And ye don’t think we should be worried?”
“About war with the wolves? No.”
I shake my head and lean closer. “No… I mean about Bas.”
I’m concerned, not just about what Sebastian plans to do, but about our leader’s well-being. Rune and I have had many conversations over the years about how to fix him.
Torturing and killing Celine’s daughter might feel good right now, but it won’t make him any more whole.
“What if killing Celine’s daughter doesn’t give him what he’s hoping? For over twenty years we’ve watched him decline… sinking further and further into himself.”
Rune nods. “And now it’s time to take action. If this brings Sebastian back to himself, I’m all for it.”
Yeah, but as worried as I am about Sebastian’s mental state, I’m even more worried about what the Vampire King of the French Quarter is plotting for Josephine Dumont.
Could she be my bonded witch? Is that what I’m feeling?
A unity bond is too much to hope for… but I can’t stop my mind from going there.
The promise of becoming a daywalker is tantalizing.
That would explain the pull to Josephine before I’ve even met her. Then again, her mother was Sebastian’s Unity Witch. What if Celine’s daughter is meant to follow in her footsteps and I’m merely feeling the residual link between them because Sebastian is the maker of my maker?
Is that a thing?
Following that line of thinking, it’s even possible the witch could be for Rune. He is my sire. Maybe that’s the reason I have a connection to the witch.
