"Did you tel her your arrest was part of a supernatural conspiracy?" I asked. "Woo her with your tales of oppression by vampires?"
"I've found Diane to be a woman who appreciates a reasonable argument."
"Diane Kowalcyzk couldn't pick a reasonable argument out of a lineup," I countered. "What do you want?"
"What do you think I want?" he asked. "I want the book."
Ethan crossed his arms. "Why?"
"Because our girl made it sound so interesting." His smile was oily. "Didn't you?"
"I'm not your girl, and I didn't tel you about the Maleficium."
"So my memory isn't perfect. But I can only assume you enjoyed our visits, or you wouldn't have visited me twice."
Beside me, Ethan growled possessively.
"Quit baiting him," I demanded. "I visited you to get information, which is the only thing I want now. Why do you want the Maleficium?"
"I told you already," Tate nonchalantly said. "I told you when we sat together in my prison of human making, when I advised you the division of evil and good was unnatural, that 'evil' was a human construct. Holding it captive in the Maleficium is unnatural. I have an opportunity to right that wrong, to release it. And I don't plan to let that chance pass me by."
There was an intent gleam in his eyes and a shock of chiling magic in the air. There was little doubt he didn't plan to let us stand in his way.
"We don't have it," Ethan told him.
"Given the direction you're traveling, that's obvious. But I also assume you're on your way to retrieve it, perhaps before Ms.Carmichael does something drastic?"
A sickening feeling blossomed in my stomach. "Stay away from her."
"You know that's not possible. Not when we're al racing for the same prize. And besides, she might come in handy."
I felt the rising tide of magic lift further as my own fury contributed to the swel. "Stay. Away. From her," I gritted out, "or you wil answer to me."
Tate roled his eyes. "I could finish you in a minute." Then he looked at me askance, which was even more frightening. Like he was studying me. "I bet it hurts, doesn't it, to feel like your best friend has betrayed you? She isn't so unlike your father in that respect, is she?"
Tate had told me—only moments before Ethan's death—that my father had offered Ethan money to make me a vampire. But that hadn't been the entire truth.
"Ethan didn't take the money, and you know it."
"But he knew, didn't he? Ethan knew your father was asking around, and he did nothing."
"You are a son of a bitch," Ethan said. Before I could stop him, he strode forward, struck out with a mean right hook, and punched Seth Tate in the mouth.
"Ethan!" I screamed out, equal parts horrified that he'd just punched someone in the face…and proud he'd done it. Ethan punched him. Maybe it wasn't a great decision under the circumstances, but that didn't mean Tate didn't deserve it and I didn't enjoy it.
Tate's head snapped back, but he didn't otherwise move except to raise his knuckles to the lip Ethan had split. He glanced down at the blood there before slowly lifting his gaze to Ethan.
Magic poured across us as Tate's anger rose.
"You'l regret that, Sulivan."
Ethan's lip curled, and his gaze narrowed. "Only that I didn't have a chance to do it sooner. Consider it a down payment on what you're owed for arranging the deaths of two Master vampires and putting a third vampire through two months of hel."
Tate shifted his gaze to me. "At least I was able to keep company with you, Balerina, in his absence."
Another burst of magic pulsed from Ethan's direction, and he bared his teeth maliciously. I put a hand flat against Ethan's chest to keep him from rushing Tate again.
"Stop it," I gritted out.