Rise of the Gryphon (Belador #4)(16)

The witch’s mouth dropped open in shock. “You’re lying.”

“No, I’m not, Imogenia,” Evalle emphasized. “I’ll prove it. In your last Carretta Coven meeting, one of your witches sacrificed the wrong animal. A wolf you had other plans for.”

“How could you—”

“Let’s not waste time asking who told me that or how I know your name. I needed something to trade for information that I heard you had on Tristan and the Medb. Do you have anything else to tell me about those two?”

“No.”

Evalle checked Storm, who lifted his chin, confirming the witch wasn’t jerking Evalle around. She turned back to Imogenia. “I’ll make a final offer. You hand over the bone. I give you the witch’s name. We call it even. Bernie leaves with you.”

“Agreed.”

Storm asked, “How will you get your Alterant into the ABC?”

Imogenia smiled. “I have a source. Now, I want that traitor’s name.” Fury seething in Imogenia’s eyes this time was clearly for the traitor.

“The bone first.”

“This armband must be given and accepted. You have to want the Volonte. Do you want it, and do you accept possession once I take it off?”

Storm growled in aggravation, but Evalle rolled her eyes and said, “Yes. Can we get on with this?”

“Your arm must be free of tattoos, piercings, jewelry, anything from the elbow to your fingers.” When Evalle shoved her sleeve back, showing that she had nothing but bare arm, Imogenia lifted her arm and whispered, “I am gifting you to another. Release.” The armband unclasped, dropping into the witch’s waiting hand.

Evalle held out her palm to accept the jewelry.

Imogenia slapped the armband on Evalle’s forearm, and the clasp clicked shut.

Storm moved as fast as a thrown dagger, grabbing the witch by her throat. He lifted her off the ground. “Get it off of her now!”

Everything around Evalle blurred at the edges.

Imogenia flailed her arms, eyes bulging. She squeezed out, “She . . . she . . .”

Evalle stared at the band locked on her arm and had the strangest relaxed sensation, as if nothing was an issue. She didn’t feel any tingling or power sensation, just a sense that all channels were open and flowing in her body.

A gurgling noise drew her attention from the armband to Imogenia’s mouth, which was pulsing like that of a fish out of water gasping for air.

Evalle shook her head and everything came back into focus. She didn’t know the rules of a Beast Club, but she doubted she and Storm would walk out of here alive if he killed a sponsor. She touched his arm. “Put her down. The armband isn’t doing anything to me.”

He reluctantly lowered Imogenia until the woman’s kicking feet hit dirt, but he kept his fingers around her throat and demanded, “Why do you smell of licorice?”

“What?” Imogenia’s eyes were still bulging. “Incense. Bought it.”

He growled at Imogenia, “Take off the armband and hand her the finger bone.”

Imogenia coughed and sputtered.

Evalle said, “Let her breathe, Storm.”

When he released the witch reluctantly, Evalle told Imogenia, “Now take it off.”

Imogenia rubbed her neck, then held up shaky fingers. “Give me a chance to explain. The bone was already woven into the armband when it was gifted to me and can’t be removed. The gold and bronze is five centuries old and protects the Volonte powers.” Nodding at Evalle, Imogenia continued, “She’ll have to free the armband the same way when she hands it over to the next owner or the bone will attack her. It resents being stolen. Every time it moves from one person to the next, it must be passed as a gift or it attacks both the new owner and the previous one. And—” Imogenia’s eyes smirked at Storm. “If you give it to a shifter, they can’t shift.”

A pet bone with emotional issues. Just what Evalle needed. “Can I take it off to shower or go to bed?”

“No. The Volonte will retaliate if you try to remove it for any reason other than gifting the armband to a person who accepts it.”

“Retaliate how?”

“You’ll be blinded.” Imogenia looked at Storm, whose chest moved up and down with angry breaths. “I’m telling the truth.”

“What else do I need to know about this thing?” Evalle asked, eyeing the creepy armband.

Imogenia must not have answered quickly enough to suit Storm. He growled at her and the witch started issuing instructions. “Before you give it away, you have to take full possession by telling the bone it belongs to you.”

Evalle felt heat around her wrist. “When?”

“Sooner than later. It will get hot when it’s angry to the point of a burn scar if you wait too long. Then the bone will burn through your arm. Once that starts, your body begins to die. Is it warm yet?”

“Yes,” Evalle hissed.

“Then talk to it.”

“I can’t believe I have to—” The skin on her arm felt as though she held it in a flame. “Okay.” Evalle lifted the bone into view. “You belong to me.” She’d read her horoscope in the paper this morning.

There hadn’t been one word about owning slave fighters or sentient cadaver bones.