Read Online Cursed by Fire (Blood & Magic Book 1) by Danielle Annett - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Danielle Annett
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I’d likely burn the entire house to the ground instead of just the curtains. I grinned. Flashes of vampires frantically running around like chickens with their heads cut off as they scrambled to outrun the flames dancing in my eyes.
During the entire exchange James stood vigilant beside me. I’d expected him to step forward and take the conversational lead after Rebecka’s obvious dismissal of me but he remained silent and still as a statue. He was positioned exactly one step behind me and slightly to my left, almost as if he were standing guard. As silence hung in the air, I watched Rebecka’s lips slightly pursed in irritation. A very telling sign on a vampire since in most cases, their patience often seemed endless.
“Are you not going to speak, shifter?” Rebecka said, disgust in her tone.
James remained silent but I noticed the slight shift of his weight behind me. Without conscious thought I raised my chin and stared Rebecka straight in the eyes.
“Actually, you’ll be speaking with me,” I said as I took several steps forward towards the nearby lounge chair.
“Do you mind if I have a seat?” I asked.
Not waiting for a response I sat down in the velvet covered chair. Crossing my legs I leaned back in a casual manner as if I didn’t have a care in the world. I heard a barely audible hiss come from Irina’s direction but didn’t bother looking her way. Power was all about perception and I wasn’t going to let these two see me squirm.
I felt more than heard, James come up beside me but I kept my complete focus on Rebecka. The tension in the room seemed to shoot skywards but I paid it no mind. I had long ago perfected a look of disinterest while on the streets. I learned early on that information was power but it was reckless to let people know you were looking for it. I would learn more if I acted like I really didn’t give two shits.
“So,” I began, effectively breaking the silence and cracking the thick veil of tension in the room. “We’ve come to request the Coven’s cooperation in a case involving a shifter child that was murdered by a Coven member.”
“No Coven members have committed such a crime,” Irina said through clenched teeth. My gaze flickered in her direction briefly before returning back to Rebecka, effectively telling Irina how little her opinion mattered in this conversation. If it were possible for the undead to flush, I’d imagine that Irina’s complexion would be scarlet with her rage. As it was, I could practically see steam coming out of her ears and had to fight back a smile. I didn’t know her, so I shouldn’t really care whether or not I made her angry but I had little respect for the vampire race as a whole and pissing off one of Rebecka’s minions wasn’t beneath me, not in the least.
“And why should the Spokane Coven assist a human and the Pack? What benefit does this hold for us?” Rebecka asked in a calm and cultured tone, ignoring my and Irina’s exchange.
“Does the Coven have to benefit in some way in order for you to assist the Pack in bringing a murderer to justice?” This was ridiculous. She knew what we wanted and yet she was toying with me.
“Yes,” she said. “We do.”
For a moment I saw red and could see heat begin to rise in waves off of the floor. Before I lost myself, I shook away my anger and effectively emulated a cool expression, devoid of any emotion.
“Fine,” I said. “How much do you want? Name your price?” I told her, knowing the Pack would pay almost any dollar amount to get their hands on the bastard. Rebecka laughed as a wide grin spread across her features, drawing attention to the twin fangs within her mouth.
“You think you can buy this information? That your money means anything to me? No dear child, your money means nothing. As Irina said, our Coven had no part in the matter. Regardless of what you believe. You may go.” She waved her hand, dismissing us.
“I’m not going to let this go. You can’t
During the entire exchange James stood vigilant beside me. I’d expected him to step forward and take the conversational lead after Rebecka’s obvious dismissal of me but he remained silent and still as a statue. He was positioned exactly one step behind me and slightly to my left, almost as if he were standing guard. As silence hung in the air, I watched Rebecka’s lips slightly pursed in irritation. A very telling sign on a vampire since in most cases, their patience often seemed endless.
“Are you not going to speak, shifter?” Rebecka said, disgust in her tone.
James remained silent but I noticed the slight shift of his weight behind me. Without conscious thought I raised my chin and stared Rebecka straight in the eyes.
“Actually, you’ll be speaking with me,” I said as I took several steps forward towards the nearby lounge chair.
“Do you mind if I have a seat?” I asked.
Not waiting for a response I sat down in the velvet covered chair. Crossing my legs I leaned back in a casual manner as if I didn’t have a care in the world. I heard a barely audible hiss come from Irina’s direction but didn’t bother looking her way. Power was all about perception and I wasn’t going to let these two see me squirm.
I felt more than heard, James come up beside me but I kept my complete focus on Rebecka. The tension in the room seemed to shoot skywards but I paid it no mind. I had long ago perfected a look of disinterest while on the streets. I learned early on that information was power but it was reckless to let people know you were looking for it. I would learn more if I acted like I really didn’t give two shits.
“So,” I began, effectively breaking the silence and cracking the thick veil of tension in the room. “We’ve come to request the Coven’s cooperation in a case involving a shifter child that was murdered by a Coven member.”
“No Coven members have committed such a crime,” Irina said through clenched teeth. My gaze flickered in her direction briefly before returning back to Rebecka, effectively telling Irina how little her opinion mattered in this conversation. If it were possible for the undead to flush, I’d imagine that Irina’s complexion would be scarlet with her rage. As it was, I could practically see steam coming out of her ears and had to fight back a smile. I didn’t know her, so I shouldn’t really care whether or not I made her angry but I had little respect for the vampire race as a whole and pissing off one of Rebecka’s minions wasn’t beneath me, not in the least.
“And why should the Spokane Coven assist a human and the Pack? What benefit does this hold for us?” Rebecka asked in a calm and cultured tone, ignoring my and Irina’s exchange.
“Does the Coven have to benefit in some way in order for you to assist the Pack in bringing a murderer to justice?” This was ridiculous. She knew what we wanted and yet she was toying with me.
“Yes,” she said. “We do.”
For a moment I saw red and could see heat begin to rise in waves off of the floor. Before I lost myself, I shook away my anger and effectively emulated a cool expression, devoid of any emotion.
“Fine,” I said. “How much do you want? Name your price?” I told her, knowing the Pack would pay almost any dollar amount to get their hands on the bastard. Rebecka laughed as a wide grin spread across her features, drawing attention to the twin fangs within her mouth.
“You think you can buy this information? That your money means anything to me? No dear child, your money means nothing. As Irina said, our Coven had no part in the matter. Regardless of what you believe. You may go.” She waved her hand, dismissing us.
“I’m not going to let this go. You can’t
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