Magic Misled (Lizzie Grace #7) - Keri Arthur Page 0,66
through which she—and the wild magic—acts. Are you really willing to risk the lives of everyone here in an effort to get rid of me?”
“I think you overestimate your importance, witch.”
“And I think you underestimate it.” I took another drink, but it wasn’t doing a whole lot now to quench the rising tide of my own anger. Katie might be telling me to cool it, but I’d spent half my life running from parents who thought they knew what was best for their children, and I had no intention of doing that anymore. And it damn well didn’t matter if it was my parents or Aiden’s. “Like it or not, this reservation has become a target for both the arcane and the supernatural. If you think the death toll is bad now, then by all means, destroy my business and drive me out of the reservation. But the ghosts of every soul that dies as a result of your actions will haunt your days and nights for the rest of your goddamn life. And yes, that is a curse.”
She made a low sound in the back of her throat, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. She was close, so close, to shifting shape and launching at me. I didn’t move. I barely dared to breathe. I might well be able to defend myself, but I also couldn’t afford to physically hurt her—and given the volatile nature of my magic of late, that was a distinct possibility.
She didn’t attack. She did clench her fists, but the immediate danger thankfully abated. It still bubbled away in the background, though, only one smart comment away from eruption.
“That being the case, I shall skip the advice and move on to the information.” Her voice was low and flat. “I’ve contacted Mia Raines and invited her back to the reservation.”
The anger that surged through the room wasn’t mine—it was Katie’s. It was so thick and violent that the threads in the air glowed white-hot for several seconds. Karleen must have felt the flow of heat, because her gaze widened as she looked around. While it was mostly surprise, I could taste the tiniest sliver of fear in her output now.
She was only just realizing how powerful I was—even if the heat show wasn’t actually my doing.
“Then you’re a bloody fool,” I said, even as Katie whispered secrets in my ear.
“Mia is a wolf—perhaps one of imperfect temperament and breeding, but that is nevertheless an infinitely better choice that a witch.”
“Mia was sent to this reservation for one purposes only—to gain status and gold for her pack by marrying into one of the three packs here. She didn’t love Aiden.”
Karleen’s smile was disbelieving. “That is a lie.”
Meaning she didn’t know why Aiden had told Mia to leave? “Maybe you should have asked Aiden why they broke up before you took the step of re-inviting an already-spoken-for gold digger into his life.”
“I’ve run a check on Mia, dear woman. She’s currently unencumbered by a relationship.”
“Which doesn’t address the whole gold digger aspect of her nature.” I moved directly into her personal space, only stopping when we were practically nose to nose. She bared her teeth, but otherwise stood her ground. “Mia was always destined to return. Aiden and I were always destined to break up. But by inviting Mia here—and doing so behind the back of your mate—to discuss a possible alliance, you have opened the pack’s wealth to greedy eyes, and you will regret it.”
She blinked. “How do you know any of that?”
“I didn’t. Katie did. And let me tell you, she’s mighty pissed. That surge of heat you felt a moment ago? That was hers. She did warn you when she spoke through me not so long ago to be wary of what you wish for, because you may just get it.”
“A gold-digging bitch I can deal with. It is infinitely preferable over the prospect of another witch in the family.”
Once again, Katie’s anger heated the air, but this time it was accompanied by such a wild surge of electricity that it not only lit the air around us but also shorted out the lights. In the orange glow of the fire, a figure formed, one that was little more than closely woven threads of wild magic and yet undeniably recognizable.
Grab her hand, Katie said. Let her see me.
She won’t—
She will. The skill that allows you to feel emotions via contact will allow her to see.