Ben fired his weapon at her. The bullet stopped in midair inches from her face before dropping to the ground.
She guffawed. “You vampires don’t stand a chance against witches like me. And once my mother arrives, all of you, including the werewolves with you, will be dead. Then we’ll have your son and daughter in our arms once again. We already have people heading to retrieve your two daughters.”
Fury blazed through me as a knot twisted in my gut. I would like to believe no one could penetrate the shifter compound in the Catskills, but anything was possible.
“You must be Patricia.” When Layla had been inside the house, she’d demanded through her comm that someone find Patricia, Maeve’s daughter.
“You’re correct,” she returned in a distinct mousy tone that rattled my nerves. “I’m as powerful as my mother.”
For a second, I wondered if she was the woman who’d been with Norman Collier in the nursery that night my kids had been kidnapped. Layla’s sister Jordyn had heard a woman’s voice.
My answer came swiftly when a summer breeze whipped up the dust from the pile of wood from the barn and mingled with the scent of eucalyptus. Sure, the plant could be growing nearby. But it wasn’t a coincidence that the vampires guarding the Maine house that night had smelled eucalyptus right before they’d passed out. Plus, one of the guests at the Dewsbury Inn had checked in under the name of Patty Smith. Pattywasshort for Patricia.
“You kidnapped my babies from the nursery,” I said rather than asked. “You were with the vampire guardian, Norman Collier.”
“Guilty as charged,” she boasted, reminding me of Roman. “You vampires didn’t even see us coming. Our cloaking spell wins every time.”
Movement to my right made Patricia whip her head toward whoever was approaching.
I took that time to holster my gun, rip off my bracelet, and place it in Orion’s carrier, hoping it would keep him safe from witchcraft. Besides, it was time to show this witch what I was capable of.
I lifted one foot, then the other. She must’ve broken the spell when whoever was approaching drew her attention away from me.
Tripp eased out of the shadows, wasting no time in firing at Patricia. She blocked every bullet as if she had a shield of armor, chanting a series of mumbo jumbo words.
Ben joined in but also failed to hit her.
Let’s see what the bitch can do against my elemental powers.
I dug deep for the prickly heat that came right before my fire element kicked in. Rage flooded my veins as that tingling sensation zipped down to the tips of my fingers. I swung my arms back, then forward, launching one fireball, then another.
A ring of fire circled her but quickly died as she jerked her head in my direction and laughed. “Come on, vampires. Show me what else you got.” She raised her hands into fists, keeping an eye on Tripp, Ben, and me.
I threw another fireball.
As a Vampire Navy SEAL, Tripp could wield two elements, not four like me. He was known more for manipulating water than fire. But with no water in sight, he bowed his head, bared his fangs, and rubbed his palms together. Flames spat through his fingers before he opened his hands and flung softball-size spheres of fire at Patricia.
One was on a trajectory to hit her head. At the last second, she flicked her wrists at Tripp, and the fireballs dissipated. Then a crisp snapping sound cracked through the air. Suddenly, Tripp was flying backward.
Ben was reloading his gun when she turned on him.
“Bullets won’t hit me, asshole,” she said to him right before she swung her arms out from her sides, then in a flash, clapped her hands together.
Ben froze, turned the gun on himself, and pulled the trigger several times until he fell to the ground.
“Your turn, Mason.” She stomped toward me, her orange eyes deepening in color as she waved a hand toward me.
“I don’t think so.” I kept throwing fire at her unsuccessfully.
She flicked her wrists, and my body stiffened.
I tried to move my legs but couldn’t.
She cackled loudly. “My mom will be so proud of me.”
Orion started bawling.
“I will end you, bitch,” I sneered.
