Proof of Life (The Potentate of Atlanta #4) - Hailey Edwards Page 0,69

arm our panelists and key persons in the field.

We had passed the point of allowing traitors the luxury of time to reveal themselves. We had to root them out and rip them from the pack before they choked the life out of us all.

“Addie is outside,” Ford said from behind me, and I absolutely didn’t jump at the sound of his voice. “I came to help with Matron Pritchard.”

Angling toward him, I peered down the hall. “What about the others?”

“I passed Midas on the way. He’s evacuating Mr. Whitaker then heading back for the lug.”

“What about my son?” Mother pulled herself taller. “What about Boaz?”

“He’s the lug,” Ford said, rare annoyance in his tone. “He’ll be outside waiting for you.”

“Take me to him.” She hobbled faster. “Bring me to my son.”

Mother had always preferred Boaz to me, but she was the pragmatic sort who never forgot she had options should she require a spare heir. With me out of the way, the dubious honor of break in case of emergency fell to our little brother, Macon.

Ford quirked a brow when I didn’t offer her my arm to steady her, but he was too much of a gentleman to follow my example. He cocked his elbow and smiled his country-boy smile. “Would you like some help?”

“I don’t require your assistance.” She smoothed her clothing. “I can manage on my own, thank you.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He got out of her way then lowered his voice. “That woman is a…” His nostrils flared, gaze cutting to her back, and he rooted himself to the floor as she exited the building. “Did you touch her?” He scented the air. “Did she touch you?”

“No.” I couldn’t bring myself to, even to help her, and she wasn’t the touchy-feely type. “Why?”

“That’s not Matron Pritchard.”

The sour taste from earlier flooded my mouth with water. “Come again?”

“I’ve been nose blind since we walked through the door, but even I can smell black magic up close.”

Midas would pick up on it in a blink with the fresh air to clear his head, and he would confront her.

Goddess.

I shouldn’t have been such a frakking coward. I barely looked her in the eye longer than to identify her. I, who stood toe-to-toe with alphas and future alphas, glanced away first. Had I paid her closer attention, I might have noticed something, anything, but I had been too eager to do my duty and be rid of her.

I should have known they would exploit my greatest weakness. Goddessdamn it. I should have known.

I shoved Ford aside and sprinted down the hall, bursting through the door into the moonlight.

Mother swooped down on Boaz, radiating concern, and I screamed at the top of my lungs. “No.”

Midas whipped his head toward me, but I was too late.

The woman, whoever she truly was, murmured softly to Boaz, lovingly, but it was all wrong.

Gaze searching the area for threats, Midas tensed, crimson sparking in his eyes. “Hadley?”

“That’s not Matron Pritchard.” I stumbled forward as she lifted her head. “Who are you?”

“Did you know that when we claim a skin, we harvest its memories too?” She petted Boaz’s hair, smoothing it in place. “I know who you are, Amelie Pritchard, and I know what she did to you.”

The blood drained from my face in an icy rush that left me woozy. “Step away from him.”

“Hmm.” She glanced around the gathering. “You told them your secret?”

I swallowed hard, and she saw it, her eyes gleaming with malice.

“Not all of them, I see.”

“Back away from him, nice and slow.” I ignored her taunting. “This doesn’t have to get ugly.”

“Like the scars on your back? On your buttocks?” Her grin stretched wide. “What does your mate think of it? The stippling?” A throaty laugh Mother never would have made escaped her throat. “Can he bear to look at it? At you? Or do you keep the lights off and your clothes on when you make love?” Her lip curled. “As if animals were capable of more than scratching an itch.”

“Get…away…” a faint voice rasped, “…from my…son.”

Unable to turn my back on Boaz, I trusted Ambrose—goddess help me—to vet the danger behind me.

The shadow molded itself into my mother’s tall and stately figure as I watched, and my brain spluttered.

I’m not proud the first thought tripping through my head was that two of them was worse than one.

“I found her in the dumpster,” Ford said quietly. “She smells okay. Well, bad actually, but untainted.”

“Why, Hadley.” The woman in front of me shimmered like