Summer Knight (The Dresden Files #4) - Jim Butcher Page 0,43

around the place and shook his head again. "Dresden, you might not be a bad person, all in all. But I think that youre compromised. If you arent working with the Red Court, then I am certain that they are using you. Either way, the threat to the Council is the same. And its best removed by removing you."

I tried to suck in a breath and finally managed to say, "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Susan Rodriguez," Morgan said. "Your lover, the vampire."

Anger made bright lights flash behind my eyes. "Shes not a vampire," I snarled.

"They turned her, Dresden. No one goes back. Thats all there is to it."

"They havent. Shes not."

Morgan shrugged. "Thats what you would say if shed addicted you to the venom. Youd say or do just about anything for them by now."

I looked up at him, teeth bared. "Get the fuck out of my house."

He walked over to the fireplace and picked up a dust-covered gift card Id left sitting on the mantel. He read it and snorted. Then he picked up a picture I had of Susan. "Pretty," he said. "But thats easy to come by. Odds are she was their pawn from the first day she met you."

I clenched my hands into fists. "You shut your mouth," I said. "You just shut your mouth about her. Thats not how it was."

"Youre a fool, Dresden. A young fool. Do you really think that a normal mortal woman would want anything to do with you or your life? You cant accept that she was just a tool. One of their whores."

I spun to the corner, letting go of my staff, and picked up my sword cane. I drew the blade free with a steely rasp and turned toward Morgan. He saw it coming and had already drawn the bright silver blade of the Wardens from the golf bag.

Every tired, aching, angry bone in my body wanted to lunge at him. Im not heavy with muscle, but Im not slow, and Ive got arms and legs miles long. My lunge is quick, and I can do it from a long way back. Morgan was a seasoned soldier, but in such close quarters it would be a question of reflexes. Advantage to the guy with the sword weighed in ounces instead of stones.

In that moment, I was sure that I could have killed him. He might have taken me with him, but I could have done it. And I wanted to, badly. Not in any sort of intellectual sense, but in the part of the brain that does all of its thinking after the fact. My temper had frayed to bloody tatters, and I wanted to vent it on Morgan.

But a thought snuck in past the testosterone and spoiled my rage. I stopped myself. Shaking, and with my knuckles white on my sword cane, I drew myself up straight. And I said, very quietly, "Thats number three."

Morgans brow furrowed, and he stared at me, his own weapon steadily extended toward me. "What are you talking about, Dresden?"

"The third plan. The Merlins ace in the hole. He sent you here to pick a fight with me. With my door still standing open. Theres another Warden outside, listening, isnt there? A witness, so that you have a clean kill. Hand the body over to the vampires. End of problem, right?"

Morgans eyes widened. He stammered over the first word. "I dont know what youre talking about."

I picked up the sheath half of the sword cane and slipped the blade back into it. "Sure, you dont. Get out, Morgan. Unless youd prefer to stab an unarmed man who isnt offering you violence."

Morgan stared at me for a moment more. Then he shoved the sword back into the golf bag, swung it onto his shoulder, and headed for the door.

He was almost out when there was a clunk from my bedroom. I shot a look at the doorway.

Morgan stopped. He looked at me and then at my bedroom. Something ugly sparkled in his gaze. "Who is in the bedroom, Dresden? The vampire girl, perhaps?"

"No one," I said. "Get out."

"Well see," Morgan said. He turned and walked to my bedroom door, one hand still on the sword. "You and those who consort with your like will be brought to task very soon. Im looking forward to it."

My heart started pounding again. If Morgan found Elaine, there were about a million things that might happen, and none of them were good. There seemed little