Spell Cat by Tara Lain Page 0,64

our invitation superseded your wishes.”

Killian looked at Karonoff. Tall, imposing. Killian wanted to kick his regal butt. Clearly he’d brought Inglesby here to report on Killian’s sex life. But, while Killian might be more powerful than Karonoff in theory, the old witch headed the council. He had authority, and Killian wanted to at least make a show of respecting him. “I understand, Master Karonoff. But believe me when I say that Moran Inglesby is a threat to the community.”

Karonoff smiled, half sneer. “Come now, my boy. We have many degenerates in our community. They aren’t necessarily a threat.”

Sometimes respect was hard. “They’re a threat when they impose their degeneracy on others without permission and by force.”

Robert Valmont leaned forward. “Surely not.”

Killian stared at him. “You’ll have to trust me on this one, Master Valmont. I do not intend to share the details. But Moran Inglesby will leave for his homeland today, or he’ll deal directly with me. We’ll have to worry about his impact on the European covens later.”

Karonoff smiled—the definition of indulgent. “Ah, young witches. So full of passion.”

Killian looked directly into the old Master’s eyes. “You have no idea.”

Perhaps that gave Karonoff pause. He didn’t blink, but his color paled ever so slightly. He looked at Moran. “Well, Mr. Inglesby, it seems you have worn out your welcome in New York. Unless you feel up to challenging our Witch Master?” He paused. Probably hoped Inglesby was willing to give it a try, but Moran shook his head. “Then your usefulness to us is at an end. Please leave our fair city with dispatch.”

“But I thought—”

Killian stepped forward, and Moran fell back a couple of feet. “I told you to leave.”

Moran frowned. He looked at the Master Witches arranged at the table and mustered a small sneer. Killian didn’t blame him much. Clearly the council had tried to use the witch and now abandoned him. “I shall return to my home, where witches are civilized.” He swept out of the room with as much grandeur as he could muster under the circumstances.

Al’s soft growl just magnified Killian’s pissed-offness. “I hope you were able to find out everything you wanted to know about me before the twit left.”

Lavender, gods bless her, stepped away from the doorway where she’d been hanging out. She held on to Jimmy’s hand and flashed a huge smile. “Hello, everyone. Thank you for agreeing to see us… so graciously.”

The frowns on the five council members deepened, so the sarcasm wasn’t lost on them.

Karonoff screwed on his best thundercloud face. “Lavender, what are you doing here? And who, may I ask, is this?” He pointed dramatically to Jimmy.

“Papa, I don’t have to tell you who this is, since you’ve been spying on me and Jimmy for many months. It may interest you to know, however, that James—I mean Jimmy—is not just a human. He’s also a witch, and he’s here with us today because all of us have something important to share with the council.”

“He is not a witch. If he was, I could tell.”

Ah, so Lavender’s blind spot about sensing power was inherited from her father. Theory confirmed. Of course, Jimmy had been well hidden. Killian stepped toward Lavender and Jimmy. “It’s not surprising, Master Karonoff. Even Lavender and I had difficulty perceiving Jimmy’s power.” He couldn’t help emphasizing the even. “Jimmy. If you please.”

Jimmy swallowed noisily but raised a hand, and the water pitcher flew into the air without spilling a drop. The pitcher lowered over two glasses, into which it poured a half glass each, and then righted itself and landed back on the table.

Lavender had clearly been working with him. Good boy.

Karonoff shrugged. “Parlor tricks.”

Killian smiled. “Quite the contrary. As you all know, control of fine movement is far harder than gross magic. Jimmy is only a newly discovered witch, but he’s very powerful.”

Evangeline stepped around the table with her best hostess smile. “Why don’t you all have a seat?”

Lavender sat in an upholstered chair on the other side of the table from the council. She pointed to the one beside her, and Jimmy sat. Killian, with Al around his neck, stayed standing. He positioned himself so all the council members got a good look at the crossed blue eyes staring steadily at them. Al was sweet, but gods, he could look intimidating.

Evangeline seemed to be trying for her best maternal smile. Hmm. Not too successful. She was off-balance, and she hated that. “Killian, dear. Nicholas heard you were coming to tell us