I study her warily. “You are?”
She’s challenging my perceptions and it has me confused. How does Bo know her? Why does he trust her so much?
“Oh yes. It’s not every day one gets to meet someone like you.” She stops a few feet away, with a Mona Lisa smile as she looks her fill.
Gathering courage, I ask the question on my mind. “What does that mean?”
“Someone who holds the threads of fate in her fingers.”
“That’s exaggerating.”
“Hmm.” Her full lips press together and an awkward silence falls. “Is it?”
Bo stands and takes her hand in both of his. “Cal.”
“Bo. I can already see why you’ve come to me.”
Intrigued, I glance at Bo. “You can?”
“Someone’s gone through a lot of trouble to keep tabs on you.” She presses her lips into a straight line.
“Blood magic is powerful and hard to wield. Things like this require a serious sacrifice.”
She steps closer and stops a few inches from me. “May I?”
She holds out her hands and I look to Bo who nods.
“Yes.” Her eyes flutter shut. She hums, bringing her hands to either side of my head.
Tingles run the length of my body.
“This is dark.” She winces. “It feels like crawling insects and rage.”
She shakes out her hands. “This has to go.”
Anxious I shift my weight on the couch. “What do we need to do?”
“A cleansing and a cord removal. They linked you—”
“To who?” My lips twitch in amusement at our collective answer.
“It’s a male.” Her eyes open. She shudders like she’s having a seizure.
“Cal.”
She sways, and Bo grabs her.
“I’m sorry. There’s a potent ward up around whoever it is.” Exhaling, she grimaces.
Cadoc perches on the edge of the couch. “Can you help her?”
“Yes.”
“What will it cost us?” Fell asks.
Cal purses her lips. “A favor.”
Cadoc continues pulling every bit of information he can from her. “What kind?”
Calista remains unruffled. “To be determined.”
If I didn’t need her assistance, I’d admire her smooth negotiating skills. Her girl boss vibes are admirable.
Fell balks. “Absolutely not.”
“With limitations,” Kirk interjects, offering a compromise.
“I’m listening,” Calista waits for their terms.
“Nothing illegal, dark, or against her moral code.” Kirk lists his requirements with the confidence of an educated lawyer.
“Done.” She snaps her fingers. “But we need to act now. We’ve alerted them to our discovery.
They felt me through the link.”
“Now?” The quick pace and urgency rattle me.
“Yes, hurry.” She pushes herself away from Bo.
