again, it wasn’t the same black energy that she associated with the beast.
“Why can’t I sense Zella’s magic?”
“It was…” Brigette hesitated, her eyes darting from side to side. “Modified. It was the only way to reach me through the barrier.”
Chaaya’s brows snapped together. “You’re lying.”
Brigette waved the trident in a mocking gesture. “Come and find out.”
“Chaaya,” Basq called out, as if she needed his warning that the pureblooded Were was dangerous.
Idiotic leech.
“I got this,” she snapped, not allowing her gaze to stray from the female.
Without warning, Brigette darted to the side, twirling the trident. “You so don’t got this.”
Chaaya scowled. Why was the female heading deeper into the throne room instead of trying to get back into the tunnel? She had to know she couldn’t overpower all of them.
Chaaya pointed toward Basq. “Guard the door.”
With a nod, Basq angled toward the double doors, passing close to the Were.
“Careful, leech.” Brigette aimed her trident and shot out the silvery strands.
With a curse, Basq leaped back, but instead of pressing her advantage, Brigette moved to the side. She was going to end up in the corner. Was she expecting Zella to arrive and save her? Or was she just crazy?
Inga moved to stand next to Chaaya, her oversized weapon clenched in her large hand as she glared at the Were.
“How did you get out of your cell?”
Brigette shrugged. “I told you. I have the power.”
Her words made Chaaya pause. In the hell dimension the beast had been a swirling tower of fire. When it’d managed to leak into this world it’d taken the shape of a human and called itself Zella. But whatever its form, it had never been capable of manipulating physical objects with its mind.
“The power to unlock a cell door?” Chaaya challenged.
“I busted through.”
“You physically smashed open the door?”
“Exactly.”
Chaaya remained unconvinced. There was something off about this encounter. Not only the fact that she couldn’t detect the evil pulse of the beast, but Brigette’s bizarre behavior.
“And then you came to the throne room instead of escaping?” she demanded, inching her way forward.
“I deserve revenge for being caged like an animal.” She glared toward Inga. This time there was no mistaking the sincerity of her words. A bleak expression twisted her pale features into a tight mask of hate.
With a flap of his wings, Levet scurried to stand directly in front of Inga. “Non, you will not hurt her.”
They all gaped at the odd sight of the three-foot gargoyle standing guard in front of the hulking mongrel ogress. Then, clearing her throat and blinking her eyes, Inga pointed the Tryshu at Brigette.
“Enough,” she snapped. “I promised Ulric that I’d keep you alive as long as you weren’t a danger to my people. Now it’s obvious you can’t be trusted.”
“Ulric.” Brigette made a sound of disgust, but there was something in her eyes. Yearning? No, that couldn’t be right. It was probably a trick of the light. The entire castled shimmered like the Las Vegas strip. “He’s a fool.”
“A fool for believing you could ever change,” Chaaya muttered. Whatever her opinion of the male Were who’d hauled her out of the hell dimension, this female wasn’t fit to kiss his hairy ass. Chaaya glanced toward Inga. “Kill her.”
“No.” Brigette lifted her trident and they all braced themselves for the attack. Chaaya wasn’t entirely sure what all the weapon could do, and she didn’t want any unpleasant surprises.
But even as she clenched her muscles and held her spear ready, Chaaya was caught off guard when Brigette didn’t make a mad dash toward the nearby doors, or even back to the secret tunnel. Instead she leaped forward and grabbed Levet by one stunted horn.
Inga cursed, making a mad grab for the gargoyle, but Brigette was too quick. With a liquid speed, the female Were was standing several feet away, the gargoyle dangling from her fingers.
“Hey,” Levet protested, his large fairy wings flapping in annoyance. “Let me go. You have pooties.”
Brigette frowned down at her captive. “What?”
Levet swung back and forth, trying to break free from the Were’s grip. “Evil beastie germs.”
“Cooties?” Brigette asked.
“Oui, cooties.”
Brigette lifted Levet higher, studying him in confusion. “Have you taken a blow to the head?”
“A question we’ve all asked,” Basq murmured.
Levet stuck out his tongue. “You are not a part of this conversation, leech.”
Basq growled, flowing forward. His expression was hard with anger, but Chaaya wasn’t fooled. This vampire never lost control of his emotions. Never. She assumed that he was hoping to catch Brigette off guard by pretending