Page 82 of The Witch’s Daughter

“He being Vincent, right?” I pressed. This was what I needed. I knew it. “What exactly does he need powerful witches for?”

“Their blood, of course,” she said like it was obvious.

He what?!

I shushed my wolf.

“Wha…Why does he need… Blood?” I stuttered, trying to sound like we were two girls having a totally normal chat about a warlock and potential blood magic.

“Don’t be afraid.” Sarah gave me a serene smile. “The gods will bless us all, especially the witch deemed worthy.”

Yep. That’s it. That’s all we needed. Let’s go tell Kera and get the hell out of here now.

“I don’t understand… What is he doing with their blood?” I asked.

A commotion outside interrupted this mind-fuck of a conversation, and I blinked, making sure I was fully awake as Sarah peeked through the flap door of the tent.

I moved behind her, able to see over her head, as a group of warlocks carried a stretcher between them with Calla’s wolves growling on either side of the convoy.

“Looks like they won’t need you after all,” Sarah said.

Oh heck no. I stormed outside.

“What happened to her?” I jogged alongside them, seeing Vincent trailing behind. The wolves stopped growling and sidled up to my legs, whining as they brushed their bodies against me.

“She had a vision and collapsed.” Vincent was way too busy staring at the crusted blood on her nose. Or maybe I imagined it, because when I looked at him again, he was staring at me and Calla’s wolves.

“Interesting,” he said. “I thought the two of you weren’t close. Isn’t she part of the coven you don’t have?”

“No,” I said. “I mean, yes.” What? How did he know so much about my relationships?

This is where we listen to me and abort mission.

I can’t leave her here! I glanced over my shoulder, wondering where the rest of the coven was and how she’d ended up in Vincent’s care.

“We’re from the same region, so we know of each other,” I said by way of explanation, not wanting to tell him that I’d seen Calla have visions before and she’d never once looked like this. “Is she going to be okay?”

“She’ll be fine.” Vincent stopped in front of me, blocking my path to where the warlocks carried Calla’s stretcher into what I assumed was the healing tent.

“How was your trip?” He caught me by the chin and tilted my face up so I was forced to look into his eyes. A storm brewed there, in the icy blue, and I had to swallow the sound of my wolf growling at me to get away.

“Unexpected,” I said.

“Those are the best kinds.” His smile didn’t match that stormy glare. “I trust you discovered what you needed?”

Yep. And you’re going down.

I nodded as much as I was able to with him still holding my chin.

“Good. You can thank me later. How about during dinner?” It didn’t sound like he was asking.

“Sure,” I drew out the word, wondering what else Vincent had up his sleeve as I slowly pulled his hand off my chin. “But I should check on Calla first.”

I swore his eye twitched, but he took a step back and bowed slightly. “Whatever you want. I’ll send an escort for you tonight.”

That was strange.

I didn’t stick around to figure out why, especially not when Calla’s wolves were growling at me to hurry up.