Tegan's Return (Blood Magic 2)

My heart pounds. “Who’s using him?” I ask, but she’s already gone. Her stark brown eyes have no life in them, and there’s something quite humbling about holding a dead woman in my arms. I thought I would be horrified, but instead I just feel sad. Then panic builds up as what she’s said sinks in. Someone’s using my dad for a ritual? What the hell?

“What did she say?” Whitfield asks, coming to stand before me, his cold eyes gazing down at the witch I’m holding onto. Slowly I let go of her, lowering her body back down to the grass.

“Nothing, she was just asking me to help her. I don’t think she knew she was dying,” I lie.

Whitfield assesses me closely, then finally says, “Very well,” he turns and calls to his bodyguards, telling them to get rid of the bodies and phone for transportation back to the city. I half expect Ethan to come and put his arms around me, since I’ve just watched a woman die. But he doesn’t, he leaves me sitting on the grass and walks over to join the rest of the vampires at the other side of the lake.

Silently, I say goodbye to the witch. I’ve never necessarily believed in the afterlife, but when you see death happen right in front of you, you begin to hope that there is one. It kind of puts your mortality into perspective. Of course, this is not the first time I’ve been close to a dead body. A memory of Matthew flashes through my mind, but it’s gone just as quickly. I’m sure it won’t be the last either. Not with the way things have been going for me recently.

I stand up and go over to Ethan, he doesn’t seem to acknowledge my presence. Great. I need him to warm up to me, for Rebecca’s sake if nothing else. I put my hand on his arm, he glances down at me and he looks almost wistful for a second. Then the emotion leaves his face and I can’t read him at all.

“Lucas is coming to bring Tegan and I home,” he tells Whitfield, who nods and looks contemplative for a moment.

Then he says, “Ethan, you will bring the girl to our celebration this week.”

“Of course,” Ethan replies. What celebration is this I wonder? It could be a party, or perhaps some kind of blood sacrifice. Marvellous.

A second later headlights turn into the gravel path beside the lake, and two cars stop just short of us. Ethan leads me into one of them and Whitfield, Eliza and the bodyguards slip into the other. Inside the car Lucas grins in his overhead mirror, eyeing Ethan who is sitting next to me in the back.

“Eventful evening was it?” he asks with amusement.

I slump back in my seat and let out an exhausted sigh.

Chapter Twelve

I’ll Say a Word for Sickness, She is my Favourite Mistress

There’s silence inside the car, and I can’t help turning to Ethan and asking, “What was Whitfield talking about you bringing me to a celebration?”

Ethan doesn’t look at me when he answers, “We’re close now to persuading Governor Pamphrock to step down and pass leadership of the entire city over to Jeremy. It will only be a few more days before he gives in. Jeremy is holding a soirée at his home to celebrate the victory.”

I’m so caught up in the mention of it being held at Jeremy’s house that I almost miss the reason for the party. Finn never mentioned Pamphrock was planning on giving in to the vampires. Suspicion sits at the pit of my stomach. I wonder how Whitfield plans on securing this victory, and if he’s set about using unethical means for doing it. Of course, I have to agree to go, this ‘soirée’ as Ethan put it is the perfect opportunity for me to get inside Whitfield’s mansion.

“Sounds like it’s going to be great fun,” I reply sarcastically, unable to help myself. Visions of vampires mingling and drinking wineglasses full of blood fill my head.

“I had planned on asking you, but that was before you decided to disobey me last night,” says Ethan, his voice hard.

My hackles rise right up at this. “Disobey? Are you for real?”

/> Ethan moves swiftly, he pulls me close to him by the wrist and leans over me. He lets his eyes trail up and down my damp clothing before he breathes, “We really should get you out of that wet dress.”

Instinctively, I glance up to see Lucas grinning widely in the driver’s seat. “You two really need to sort your shit out,” he says, flicking his golden eyes to Ethan.

Ethan ignores the statement, then says, “Bring us to the house Lucas, and when you return to the club inform Delilah that she will need to close up for the night. I’ll be otherwise engaged.”

“Might be a bit of a problem there boss,” says Lucas. “Your sister went home a few hours ago, I think she might be losing the plot.”

“She’s been under a lot of stress lately,” Ethan replies, with a hint of dejection. Then he leans forward in his seat, his expression questioning. “What did you do to set her off Lucas?”

Lucas feigns innocence. “Me?” he asks, placing one hand dramatically to his heart. “I was nothing but pleasant to her.”

Ethan just keeps staring at him, stony faced.

“Fine, fine,” Lucas gives in. “I might have asked her if it was her time of the month. She’s been wearing a scowl on that face of hers for the last few weeks. I’m tired of looking at it. She slapped me across the cheek, kneed me in the balls and stormed out of the club.”

I can’t help but to sputter a laugh, I can imagine the look on Lucas’ face.

“You know she’s not coping well with the restrictions I have put on her.” Ethan reprimands. “She’ll get her freedom back as soon as Whitfield takes control of the city. Until then, go easy on her.”