“Is this your way of confirming that Fox is a magical threat to my family?” Winter asked stiffly.
The witch wiped her eyes as the last of the giggle settled. “Well, he’s no threat magically. Kit can’t do the simplest of spells. He’s barely a witch.” Her gaze sharpened on Winter when he opened his mouth to speak and he fell silent. “That doesn’t mean he can’t fuck things up for your clan in other ways. It’s just not likely to be because he’s a witch. The prophecy could have just as easily stated that a useless red-haired twink would destroy the Varik clan.”
Fox ignored her barbs. “Do you know who made it?”
Cheryl threaded a loose hair behind her ear and looked thoughtfully into the flickering flames for a moment. Was she digging through her memory or using a spell to shift through the collection of futures that twisted together ahead of them? He wasn’t sure what the flames were telling her, but he hoped the answer would see them safely back out the door again.
“Who? No. But I’ve got my guesses. Damn good ones too,” she muttered, seeming to talk mostly to herself. She continued to stare into the flames and Fox held his breath, just waiting. “Someone is shrouding that information.” Cheryl slowly turned her head to pin her narrowed eyes on Winter. To his credit, the vampire didn’t flinch. Hell, it looked as if Winter was just a hair from launching himself at Cheryl and tearing her apart with his bare hands.
“You can’t tell us anything useful about the prophecy or who made it,” Winter summarized succinctly. He shoved to his feet, still tightly holding Fox’s hand. “I’m sorry we wasted your time. Thank you for your patience.”
It was kind of amazing how he did it. He said “thank you” but it sounded like he was saying “fuck you.” It was a trick Fox would love to learn.
Cheryl smiled and lifted her hand. She held it flat with the palm down and slowly lowered it. At the same time, Winter’s body trembled as he sat on the couch.
Shit!
“I’m not done with you yet.” Once Winter was seated against his will, Cheryl looked over at Fox. “So, someone thought you were the witch to destroy the Variks. How funny. And to get your answers, you brought him here to me.”
“You’re the only witch I know.”
She snorted. “And maybe I’m the witch that destroys the Variks. Or maybe it’s still you because you brought him to me.”
“Please, Ms. Watkins,” Fox said, fighting to hold on to his civil tone. This was starting to take a nasty turn, and he had to think of a way to get at least Winter out of this cabin safely. She wasn’t likely to follow him, but he was in danger so long as he was inside her home. “We mean no disrespect or trouble. We were just seeking information. We are happy to leave now and never bother you again.”
“But you’ve already bothered me. You disturbed my night. And you bothered me for months with your pleading and begging and whining.”
“Please—”
“And then you sneak out like the sniveling, crying bitch that you are!” she shouted.
“No!” Fox jumped to his feet and grabbed Winter’s arm, but when he pulled, the vampire didn’t budge. He looked down at Winter, trying to block out Cheryl’s wicked laughter. His face was red with rage, but he didn’t move. He couldn’t move. The witch’s spell had him locked to the sofa while Fox remained free. She was giving him the chance to abandon him, to escape and run free like the coward she was sure he was.
Panic raced through his body and a knot formed in his throat. He stared at Winter, wracking his brain as to what he should do next.
“Go,” Winter whispered.
“Never.” Fox didn’t even have to think about it. He was scared out of his mind. He had no way of fighting Cheryl and her magic, but there was no way in hell he was abandoning Winter to her. He’d stay and die with him if he had to.
“Run, Little Kit! Run as fast as you can!”
“Go to hell, Cheryl! I’m not running. Release him now!” Fox shouted.
Cheryl wrinkled her nose at him for a second before she shrugged. “Fine. Let’s see how well vampires burn.” She spoke words for a spell again and reached out her left hand toward the flames. Waving her hand toward Winter, she seemingly pushed a wave of fire toward him.
There was no thought in Fox’s head beyond protecting Winter. He moved his smaller body between Winter and the crackling flames, trying to cover him as much as he possibly could. At the same time, he reached down into his secret pool and breathed.
Keep Winter safe.
Muscles tensed, Fox waited for the searing bite of flames as they ate through his tender flesh, but it never came. He opened eyes he hadn’t realized he’d closed and looked over his shoulder to find a faint white shield inserted between him and the flames. The fire roared and bounced off the shield, but it couldn’t reach him or Winter.