Wicked Love - Michelle Dare Page 0,240

He was the one your mother killed for no reason.”

“Okay. One, I need his name. And two, my mother never kills without reason. If she got rid of your brother, he must have done something to her, someone she loves, or someone innocent, like a human. My mother is not reckless with death.”

“Anderson didn’t hurt anyone,” she says vehemently.

“Seems we’re at an impasse, then.” Anderson. That’s a different name. Not super common and it rings no bells.

Instead of trying to wrack my brain for something familiar with the dead male’s name, I keep my gaze on the female while I let my other senses roam. We’re in a windowless cabin. Or maybe it's a shack. I have no idea. The walls are wooden, as is the floor beneath my feet. It’s as if this place hasn’t seen a vacuum or a mop in anything short of a decade. There’s a beat-up old couch across the room that appears as if a bear shredded the cushions. There’s stuffing spilled everywhere.

The door behind her has seen better days. The wood is well past the distressed phase and right into the whole ambiance of this situation. It’s like this place is only used to scare and kill people. A murder shack.

Maybe I’m in some sort of horror movie. I always knew I had a face for the big screen. This could be my shot. There could be a hidden camera somewhere for all I know.

I turn and jut out my chin, showing off my profile. We Verascues have great genes.

“What are you doing?” she asks.

“Are you filming this? I kind of got that vibe from the locale. Desolate area. Run-down shack in the woods. Of course, we could be on a beach somewhere, for all I know, since there are zero windows in here and I can’t hear anything.”

“Why would I film this? You irritating me wouldn’t make for great television. Besides, you’re not even the one I’m after.”

“You’re ruining my vibe here, female. I liked this a whole lot better when the thought of being a star was flitting around my head.”

Before she can reply, the door to the room is kicked in, causing splintered pieces of wood to go flying. Solomon enters, looking like me although less sexy. He can’t pull it off like I can.

“Wrong!” he yells as his eyes find mine. “I make this look way better than you.”

“Nope. Sorry.” I shake my head. “I think we need someone impartial to decide. We can ask Ari.”

“She’s not impartial. She’d totally side with you.”

I smile. “You’re right. She probably would. Let’s ask her anyway.”

The female fists her hands and blasts magic out at both of us. I’m rendered mute and my brother is thrown into the wall. But since this place is apparently a hole, Sol literally goes right through it and lands in a heap on the ground on the other side. That has to hurt.

It’s just the distraction my mom needs to teleport into the room. She could have come in silently and right behind the female who’s threatening us. She doesn’t because she’s Eloise Verascue and my brother and I learned our dramatics from her. What fun would it be if she showed up behind her and severed her head? She likes to play with her prey when she can.

“Anlyn,” my mom hisses. Now that’s a name I remember. Let’s see if I can recall the story that was told to us over Thanksgiving that year. Yes, we celebrate it. Sol and I like to eat.

My parents were vacationing somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. I swear they’ve been everywhere and done everything, though they do have places they frequent more than others.

On this particular day, there was a male and female—Anderson and Anlyn—my mother knew were fae from the start, even though they concealed who they were. The fae were talking to some humans, trying to coax them to coming with them. Mom read their minds and it seemed they found a vampire willing to give them powers but only if they brought him a snack.

The fae duo agreed and went in search of a couple who were childless. They didn’t know if the vampire intended on draining their bodies or not. Once the pair convinced the couple to join them for some afternoon fun, my parents stepped in.

The human couple were quickly dismissed, and my parents wasted no time finding an empty side street and teleporting the fae duo away. They were powerful with their magic,