Changing Beauty (The Deadly Beauties Live On 2)

He frowns as he looks it over. “It’d have to be one seriously strong shifter of some sort. I can’t explain a young female doing this.”

“Unless it was the werewolf/witch hybrid that Reese is looking for,” Kimber says, her eyes meeting mine. “We have no idea how strong someone like that could be. Karma is a demon/human hybrid that is stronger than a regular demon because she can possess immortals.”

Frankie’s brow furrows as though he wasn’t aware of that.

“That’s because I’m still part of the breathing plane,” Karma explains. “Demons are nasty, vicious souls that have been reborn in hell’s plane. They can’t escape as easily as one of us, because they’re bound there. If they do manage to escape, they struggle to find a host weak enough to completely consume, whereas I am firmly grounded here and can move between immortals—strong or weak.”

Losing interest in their conversation, I continue studying the immortal that is mangled beyond recognition. No matter what Alyssa says, if that thing did this, we’re definitely taking it down. It’s hunting immortals, and so is this anointed one. Now we have two damn things hunting us.

I really don’t like this.

“Things are getting more screwed up by the damn minute,” Frankie says while running a hand through his hair.

I stand and step back as Gage steps forward. “We need to get rid of these before someone else stumbles upon us.”

In a blink, the bodies are on fire, quickly burning under the immortally charged flames that are contained by Gage’s power. I’m glad Roslyn agreed to let me pick her up. I’ll be watching her house until we find the thing that mauled that guy. At least she’ll be safe from the anointed, since she’s human.

“We need to call Reese,” Gage says, looking around. “So let’s get back to the house. I think Alyssa and Kane will want to be in on this conversation.”

***

THAD

“I really don’t give a fuck what you want to keep quiet, Reese.” Kane growls at the monitor that is holding Reese’s snarling face.

“I’ve already told you that this is pack business. The girl belongs to us. If she’s there, then I’m coming. But I’m not telling you a damn thing about her.”

“She’s not part of your pack yet, Reese. She can’t choose that life until she’s immortal,” Kane says through clenched teeth. “And the last time I fucking checked, I was the one with higher authority. Tell me what the fuck you know, or I’ll come to you. But as for Pine Shore, I have enough to worry about here without dealing with you and your pack. Keep your ass in Kingston.”

Reese looks like he could spit fire right now, and he swallows—well, chokes on—his pride as he straightens his shoulders and resigns himself to defeat.

“I don’t know her name. I barely got to see her before she was whisked off. She was a shaking, terrified, dirty mess when she got here, and she wouldn’t speak to or look at anyone. I called a friend to see if she had any contact with strong witches, one that was close by, and she said she’d send someone to help calm the girl down. We couldn’t get close without her throwing us back. She’s strong—damn strong. Her werewolf powers amplify her witch powers.”

Just fucking great. “I’m assuming that means her witch powers also amplify her werewolf powers,” Kane says, sounding a little calmer now that he has Reese’s submission.

“I haven’t witnessed that myself. The girl is still most likely mortal. Imagine what will happen if I don’t find her before she turns immortal. Her strength will double, and I’m not sure what the hell is going on.”

Of course he doesn’t. Because God forbid we get some helpful information out of him.

“How did she get away from you?” Kane asks, suspicion in his tone. “And why did she want to?”

Reese grinds his jaw, and he leans back in his chair as he stares at us through the monitor.

“She was a mess—as I said—and she freaked out at the slightest movement. We called the witch to calm her down, but apparently she got her out of there and set her loose after the girl wrote down everything she could remember about the slave rings. The girl is a danger and a threat to all of us. I was merely keeping her for everyone’s safety.”

Holding her against her will would have only scared the living shit out of her, and it would have made her even more aggressive toward everyone.

“Who was the witch?” I ask, stepping up to the monitor so that Reese can see me.

He really doesn’t want to tell, and his eyes flick to Kane briefly before he concedes. “She told me her name was Jaden, but I haven’t been able to locate her. I only found her through Liza Berlow—a bitch, but a trusted succubus. She says she has no idea where the witch has gone.”

Everyone exchanges a subtle glance, and Dice mutters a curse under his breath. Sadie. That’s who it really was. There was never a Jaden.

“What?” Reese asks, suddenly acting a little nervous. “You know Liza?”

Sadie is the only witch I’ve ever known to be able to change her face for extended periods

of time without a problem. I can’t even hold a different face for longer than a few hours. But she has gone months while wearing another’s face.