Tyrant (Scars of the Wraiths #2)(82)

I nodded.

Okay, babe. He looked at Waleron. “She reads emotions like all Reflectors, but accompanied with her touch, she can soothe them or heighten them. She’s also able to remove emotions and replace them with new ones.” Several brows lifted, except Waleron, who looked as if he already knew this. “And take away someone’s emotions until they have none left.”

“You mean, kill them?” Anstice asked.

“Yes,” Kilter said. “A person can’t survive without emotions. They die.”

“Holy shit, that’s cool,” Hack said.

“Have you done this?” Keir asked me.

I nodded. “Once. To a guard, but I’ll never do it again.”

“Interesting,” Trinity said. Her lips twitched with amusement, but she wisely held her tongue.

The screen door slammed and footsteps came from the kitchen. Delara walked into the room then stopped abruptly. Her eyes swept over everyone, hesitating on Waleron before landing on Trinity.

I’d gotten to know Delara pretty well, and with the way she stood, arms crossed, legs parted, she was ready for a fight. Her eyes remained locked on the witch, tension emanating from both of them.

There was no question that Delara and Trinity hated one another, and Waleron had to be the reason. I knew Delara as warm and caring, but at this moment, she was a pissed-off viper. This was something personal and bled hatred.

“Nice of you to finally join us,” Waleron said.

“God, Sass,” Jedrik said, shaking his head.

Waleron continued, “We were waiting for you to discuss why Liam would be interested in acquiring Abigail and now Rayne. You’re closest to Liam. Perhaps you can enlighten us?”

Delara’s focus remained on Trinity as she said, “No. Liam and I stick to conversations about sex.”

Oh shit.

Jedrik swore beneath his breath while Hack lowered his head to his hands. This couldn’t be good, a Scar sleeping with a vampire. That had to be what she and Jedrik had been arguing about and where she’d been those nights she didn’t come home.

Trinity’s laughter echoed, her expressive features lighting up. “Oh, what a marvelous playmate, Delara. A vampire and one so enthralling. Do tell—how is he in bed? Gentle or rough? I’d imagine he is very attentive to a woman’s needs. Liam is rather charming.”

“Enough!” Waleron shouted. The sound vibrated through the room and even Trinity flinched. “What does Liam want with a witch?” Waleron asked.

Delara shrugged. “No idea.”

“But why risk pissing us off?” Jedrik asked. “Liam isn’t stupid, regardless of being a psychotic.”

Delara shifted her feet. “He wanted us to take Abby. He found out Abby was pregnant and couldn’t survive the Transition. So, he let us take her, knowing if anyone could save her life, it would be us.” Delara’s fingers curled into the side of her pants. “He was content with her gone for a while, but in the last week or so, he’s been impatient.”

“Is that why you were late? Were you f*cking him, Delara?” Trinity asked.

Everyone tensed as Delara’s eyes shot to Trinity and her back went ramrod straight. “Yes. Are you still f*cking Waleron?”

Shit, that was what was between them.

Jedrik groaned and Anstice gasped.

Trinity’s laughter was husky and deep. “Ah, touché, my dear.”

“Trinity,” Waleron warned. “Why would Liam break our truce in order to obtain Abigail? Why does he care if she lives? He could have washed his hands of her when he discovered she was pregnant.”

Trinity slid her penetrating gaze from Delara to Waleron. “Abigail must never become a vampire.”

Waleron’s eyes narrowed.

“What are you hiding, Trinity?” Jedrik asked.

Trinity sent him a haughty look, her fingers tapping lightly on her thighs. “I demand to know where she is. I’ll have Mariana take her to the realm.”

“She’s in detox. You take her now, she’ll die,” Balen said.

“And the Wraiths will kill her if they find out,” Jedrik added.

Trinity remained silent and, for the first time since she entered the room, she appeared uneasy. “If Abigail has drunk from Liam, she must be taken to the realm. She must be killed.”

Jedrik stood, his eyes glaring at Trinity. “Bull friggin’ shit. Not happening.”

Waleron raised his hand and nodded to Trinity to continue.

“As you know, witches come into their powers on their twenty-fifth birthday. Abigail will have her mother Leona’s power.”

“And?” Kilter asked.

“Liam must know about it,” Trinity said.

“And what power is that, Trinity?” Kilter asked.

“She can turn water into blood,” Trinity announced.

“Holy f*ck,” Jedrik said at the same time as Balen, Danni, and Keir swore under their breaths.

“And so Liam will have an endless supply if she turns,” Anstice murmured.

“When is her birthday?” Waleron asked.

Trinity paled, and it made her blood red lips stand out even more. “Yesterday.”

Waleron’s face turned deadly, brows lowering and eyes churning in swirls of ice blue and white with gold flecks. But it was the tattoo on his neck that had me clutching Kilter’s arm. The snake’s eyes turned blood red, and then it slithered around his neck.