Page 81

“The Summoner. He was right there. Watching us.” Cassandra pointed to the spot where the necromancer had stood.

“I didn’t see Bianca,” Jeff said, his face somber.

“It wasn’t Bianca. It was him. I saw The Summoner as himself.” Cassandra ran shaking fingers through her hair. “He looked at me and I was paralyzed. His power was overwhelming.”

Cian and Aimee glanced at each other, both appearing unsure.

“I saw him! I swear to God, Goddess, and all that is holy that he was standing right fucking there.” It still hurt to breathe even though she was released from his power. “He said something about me being your daughter, Dad.”

With a somber look, Cian sheathed his weapons as Baptiste and the others gathered behind him. “How did he know you’re my daughter?”

“I called for you.” Cassandra winced, realizing her folly. “Sorry.”

It was shocking how much older her father suddenly appeared. Cian’s expression projected clearly what he was thinking. Cassandra had just granted The Summoner yet another pawn to play against Cian. “It’s fine. He would have figured it out eventually. We do look a bit alike.”

“But how could he be here? Isn’t he in Bianca’s body?” Baptiste asked. He smelled of smoke and rain, a strange combination.

“Astral projection,” Aimee said in a glum voice.

“But wouldn’t that let Bianca free?” Benchley looked at Jeff. “If she’s possessed by him and he left her body, she’d be free to escape.”

“Unless she’s not in the body, and it’s just an empty shell,” Jeff answered.

“Or they tied her up.” Eduardo was naked, human, and slathered in blood. The grin on his face was a little disconcerting, as was his big erection.

Cassandra and Aimee both made a point of looking away from it.

“Tied her up?” Cian mulled this over. “A possibility.”

There was a shimmer in the air then Roberto appeared. The ghost looked almost human, his edges solid. Only his strange hollow eyes spoke of his true nature. “You need to get back to the house. There was an attack.”

“Is Samantha okay?” Jeff and Benchley asked in chorus.

“They couldn’t breach the wards, but there was a skirmish in the street,” Roberto answered. “It was over almost as fast as it started. I took care of it along with Amaliya’s zombies. But that’s not what has them spooked.”

“Did you see The Summoner?” Cian asked pointedly.

Roberto looked at his former friend in surprise. “Yes, we did.”

“In his old form?” Aimee’s fingers were trembling in Cassandra’s grip.

“Yes, but then Amaliya saw Bianca. Inside the house.” The ghost flickered. “Samantha is calling me back.”

“This just keeps getting more and more fun,” Eduardo decided.

“Put some clothes on, Eduardo, and stop showing off” Cian said, then motioned to the bodies. “Baptiste?”

“On it.” The elemagus set the last of the vampire bodies on fire, burning them embers in seconds. A strong wind followed, scattering the remains along the road.

Aimee flicked one hand and the suppression spells fell.

“Let’s head back.” Cian slid his arm around Cassandra’s shoulders and guided her toward his car.

“Dad,” she said in a lowered voice, “I’m really sorry.”

To her surprise, he kissed her temple. “Never say you’re sorry for something that isn’t your fault. You were immediately a target once you joined my cabal. Now you’re just a little more interesting to him.”

Suppressing a shiver, Cassandra glanced toward her girlfriend. The witch gave her a worried look along with a faint smile. Tightening her grip on Aimee’s hand, Cassandra wondered just how much