Page 75 of These Dangerous Fates

“Aunt Madge,” Allie begins, “we need your help.”

The old lady huffs. “I figured as much. It’s not everyday Altair’s infamous bachelors drop by for a visit.”

“Ellis, do you want to tell her what’s going on?” Allie asks.

Taking a deep breath, Ellis squares her shoulders and dives into her story. “I guess it’s easiest to start at the beginning.” She glances at me, and I give her an encouraging nod while Cade squeezes her thigh gently. “I’m sure you’ve heard of the contest my … Thomas Kennedy started to find me a husband. Well, during this contest, I found out I am bonded to all three of these guys.” She gestures toward us with her hand. “Kai is my beloved, Cade is soul bonded to me, and I’m Sterling’s mate. I’m also only human, as you know.”

Aunt Madge’s eyes narrow on Ellis as she tells the story. “Your mom and dad were both mages, correct?”

“Well, my mom was,” Ellis answers. “It turns out she had an affair. We think it was with Noah Martin, the alpha of the Iron Shadows pack. It would explain why my sister and I were born with no magical ability.”

“How salacious of her,” Aunt Madge murmurs, but her blue eyes spark with interest.

Ellis ignores that comment, and continues her explanation. “Well, now, after bonding with the guys, I seem to be sharing Cade’s magic somehow.”

“Explain.”

“When Cade uses his magic, I’m able to, as well.”

She looks at Cade and his magic flares to life in his palms. As she raises her hands, a purple glow pulses to life, twining between her fingers. Cade lets his magic dissipate and the light fades from both of them.

“Well, isn’t that interesting?” Aunt Madge says with a curious look at Ellis. “Are you experiencing any other magical gifts? Speed? Strength? Any of Malakai’s empath abilities?”

Ellis shakes her head, and I frown. I never even thought about her gaining abilities from Sterling or me. Aunt Madge continues to stare at Ellis—or rather, it’s as if she is staring into Ellis. She hums and nods her head, holding a silent conversation with someone or something we can’t hear. The hairs on my arms stand on end and Ellis shifts uncomfortably in her seat.

“There are a few things we can do to get you the answers you seek.” Aunt Madge groans as she stands from the chair and walks off to the kitchen.

We wait in a tense silence, the sounds of cupboards opening and closing and pots banging echo from the direction Aunt Madge went. Ellis looks at Cade, then me, questions burning in her amber eyes.

Aunt Madge returns, holding a tray laden with a steaming pot, a teacup, and various herbs. Cade jumps up to help the old woman, but she scowls at him until he sits back down with a quiet curse. With the tray sitting on the coffee table between the couch and chairs, I notice a wicked-looking knife resting on the tray, glinting in the dim light.

What the fuck is that for? My unease grows, and so does Cade’s and Sterling’s. A heaviness fills the air—all of our emotions intensify and swirl together, causing my stomach to twist into knots.

Aunt Madge dumps the herbs into the pot of steaming water, swishing them around to mix it together. Once she deems it ready, she pours the brew into the lone teacup and hands it to Ellis. The liquid sloshes, a few drops spilling over the edge, as Ellis takes it with shaky hands. Steam curls from the liquid, and Ellis brings it to her face, inhaling. She pulls the cup away, lip curling in disgust, and nose crinkling at the scent.

“It will taste like shit,” Aunt Madge says bluntly, “But it will help me get a read on you.”

“What’s in it?” Ellis asks as she stares into the murky liquid suspiciously.

“Oh, this and that.” Madge waves her hand side to side. “Nothing harmful, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Ellis takes a deep breath before squeezing her eyes shut and downing the tea. She coughs and splutters, but she gets it all down. Shuddering, she sets the teacup on the tray and sits back, leaning closer to me than she was before. I open myself to her and feel her uncertainty growing. Nerves, fear, dread. It’s like a storm building on the horizon, slowly growing in strength. I wrap my arm around her and pull her close, lending her my strength.

Aunt Madge bends back to the tray and snatches up the knife. Immediately, the tension in the air thickens, and I know Cade and Sterling have gone on high alert. I shift on the couch, angling myself to better shield Ellis.

“Oh, do settle down,” Aunt Madge says as she waves the knife around in the air. “I just need a little blood. A drop or two.”

She steps in front of Ellis, brandishing the knife. Shimmering on the edge of the knife catches my attention. It’s almost invisible, but a faint pearlescent sheen coats the blade. I grab Aunt Madge’s wrist and stare at her, baring my fangs.

She rolls her eyes. “It’s not poison. You boys are too overbearing.” Exasperation fills her voice, and she shakes her arm, trying to dislodge my hand. “It will help me decipher the properties in her blood. Hopefully to give me an idea of why she can bond with three separate races and use their magic.”

I glance at Cade, and we share a silent conversation, debating whether or not we allow this to happen. Biting his lip, Cade nods once, and I let Aunt Madge’s wrist go. Ellis looks at me, eyes wide in her pale face.

I give her an encouraging smile. “We need answers, right? This is our only lead. If she hurts you in any way, she’ll have to deal with all three of us.” I turn my glare to the old woman.

She rolls her eyes again and huffs. Muttering under her breath about overbearing assholes, Aunt Madge grabs Ellis’s wrist and turns her hand palm up. Quick as an adder, she slices the blade down Ellis’s palm. Ellis hisses through her teeth and clenches her free hand.

I watch her blood well along the cut. It’s strangely bright in the dim lighting. All it takes is one inhale for the scent of her blood to hit me like a ton of bricks. Spice, fruit, rich red wine. My gums sting as my fangs descend. Luckily, I don’t need to feed, so the urge to sink my fangs into Ellis’s neck is easily managed.

Aunt Madge brings Ellis’s palm to her lips, and my stomach clenches. It doesn’t seem right to let anyone else have my beloved’s blood. Her tongue darts out, licking the wound, tasting the blood pooling in Ellis’s hand. Distantly, I’m aware of Cade healing the cut and speaking quietly to Ellis, but all my attention is on the old lady, whose face has gone unnaturally pale. Her blue eyes grow wider and wider and her breathing accelerates. From the moment Ellis’s blood touched her tongue, her intense gaze hasn’t wavered an inch.

Uneasiness settles along my bones. My skin prickles as a charged energy fills the room, the sensation reminding me of the moment before a lightning strike. Whatever Aunt Madge is about to tell us will be life altering.

The old woman trembles in her chair. She opens her mouth and breathes one word into the silence.

“Harpy.”

End.

For now.