“Something my mom taught me,” I say with an unconvincing shrug. “Always cross your fingers against bad luck!”
But Xia’s expression is deadly serious. “Was your mother a Hecate witch?”
Slowly, I put the beer down on the bar in front of her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about…”
“AmaraMoonfall,isn’t it?” she says. “I remember you from the Wicked Wars. How did I not recognize you earlier?”
I inhale shakily. This is it. The jig is up. I was never a good liar to begin with.
“Please,pleasedon’t say anything,” I whisper urgently.
“What are youdoinghere?” she hisses. “Do you have any idea how dangerous is it for you to be here?”
“Iknow! I…I’m just keeping an eye on things, you know…”
Xia shakes her head incredulously. “Did Lavinia put you up to this?”
“I had to listen to her, Xia. She’s my High Priestess!”
“Then why did she send you to straight into the lion’s den?”
“Xia, youcan’ttell Tudor, please…”
“I’m not going to tell Tudor,” Xia says, concern written in the lines on her face.
Relief washes overme. “Thank you.”
“But Amara, you’ve got to get out of here. You don’t understand how dangerous Tudor and his progeny are. Tudor is very suspicious of the Hecate witches right now. If he finds out you’re here, who knows what he’ll do? Unholy Satan, and you’ve beensleepingwith Celine! What are youthinking…”
“I’m trying to protect my coven!”
“Amara, it’s not worth it,” she says with another shake of her head. “Don’t let Lavinia put you at risk. If you get caught…they’ll kill you. They’llworsethan kill you.”
“Iwon’tget caught…”
Our tense conversation is interrupted by a shout from the elevator. Xia’s eyes immediately flick toward the entrance to the club.
“Stay here!” she yells, rising from her seat and pushing through the crowd.
I can hear screaming, and a flood of people moving onto the dance floor and away from the elevators. My eyes scan the club quickly. Celine rises into the air and over the chaos. Her fangs are still elongated, and her hair flows wildly over her shoulders.
I grab my bag. I need to keep my wand close in case things escalate. But after my encounter with Xia, I sincerely hope they don’t.
It’s terrifying to think about, but she’sright. If I’m discovered, I’m as good as dead. And if the vampires learn that the witches have been spying on them, Tudor won’t hesitate to launch a full-scale war.
But I can only focus on one danger at a time. I climb onto the bar to see better over the crowd. There’s a group of about a dozen vampires, forcing their way into the club. A sea of panicking guests hurry out of their way, screaming and pushing.
“Celine!” yells a formidable, haunting voice. I’ve never heard it before. “We’ve got business to discuss!”
I crane my neck. The words are coming from the vampire in the center of the group. His skin is pale white, and he has the same dark brown hair as Celine. It’s tousled, falling across his forehead carelessly. I can’t tell how old he is, but the way the other vampires flock around him reveals his status. Fear courses through my veins. He’s got to be powerful.
Celine hovers a little lower. When I catch the expression on her face,there’s no fear or concern. On the contrary, she looks…gleeful?
“Hello brother,” she says with a smirk. “I was wondering when you would grace us with your presence.”
Brother? I look back over at the other vampire. He snarls at her, “You gave me no choice, littlesister.”
Celine’s eyes find her guard in the crowd. “Xia, Damien, escort everyone out of the club please, so we can have a privatechat.”
