Witch Infernal (Infernal Hunt Book 3)

by Holly Evans

  "But if she's that strong, what chance do we have?" I asked.

  "One thing at a time, Evelyn."

  With that, he stood and walked off. I glared daggers at his back; I was not amused at being left in the dark and treated like a child.

  "Come on, Evie, we'll have a sparring match, and I believe it would do Raif some good to meditate,” Elise said, standing.

  Quin followed after Kadrix like a lost puppy, and Lysander joined us as we headed over to Elise's church.

  "You were kidding about the meditation, right?" Raif said.

  Elise raised an eyebrow at him. “I thought you'd had some shamanic training? Meditation should be normal for you."

  He sighed. "That doesn’t mean it’s something I enjoy."

  "Have you ever bowed your head to my lady, the moon goddess?" she said.

  "No, we don't bow to those we can't see, those who haven't proven themselves,” Raif said.

  Elise's expression darkened. "It will do you good to meditate. Your path has not been what it could have been."

  She picked up the pace. Lysander slowed a little to walk next to the cub.

  "Don't worry, she doesn't make you do anything without a purpose."

  The cub growled under his breath and said nothing. I was tempted to snap at him, but kept my mouth shut. He would learn.

  Once we'd entered the church, Raif said, "What has your lady ever done for me? She's supposed to be the goddess of the moon, she's supposed to look after lycans."

  Elise turned to face him.

  She frowned a little and said, “What were you told of my lady?”

  He held her gaze for a long moment before he looked away. "I was told that she has no caring for my kind. That people talk about her as a benevolent goddess who is caring and protective, yet she ignores us.”

  Elise closed her eyes, her brow knitted before she looked at him again.

  “My lady will open her arms to any lycan that goes to her,” she said softly.

  Raif’s mouth tightened into a sharp line.

  “The gods don’t always work in ways that are easy to understand.” Elise sighed. “They work through us, their priests and priestesses. We commune with our lords and ladies and aid them in their work here on our plane. As creatures born of her, you can speak to her too. Perhaps not as clearly as I can, but it would be beneficial if you tried,” she said.

  Raif glanced between Elise and her altar. He ground his teeth together before he relaxed a little. “And how would I go about speaking to her?”

  Elise smiled. “Kneel before the altar and meditate. Open your mind, let her in.”

  Raif gave a short sharp nod and proceeded to the altar without further comment.

  Lysander and I followed Elise out into the small enclosed area behind her church. She took a long deep breath.

  "It’s not his fault, the lycans turned from her long ago,” she said to herself.

  We launched into an intense sparring session, everyone against everyone. It felt good to push myself, to embrace the aggression. I hadn't realised how much I'd come to enjoy it, to need it. I was missing the hunt.

  My phone vibrated; Quin had found and calmed Kadrix down. Apparently it was a rather serious matter. Fae were very closed about how they worked. I knew there was a lot of back-stabbing and pride involved. I trusted that Quin would fill me in when we next saw each other. I didn't need to know the political ramifications, just what it meant to me.

  Elise had calmed down a little by the end.

  “I trust in my lady, but I am growing weary of one night stands. I pine for what I see that which you have with Lysander, that Quin has with Kadrix. Is that such an awful thing?"

  I pulled her into a hug. “Of course not, it's natural. I'm sure she has someone sinfully sexy on his way for you."

  "I am proud to serve her, to watch over this city, but it gets lonely. I would like to have children, too, and that takes time."

  I squeezed her hands. "Your lady will make sure everything comes together."

  She smiled and nodded. "Of course. Speaking of which, we should check on Raif, I fear we left him a little longer than I'd intended."

  "He needed time to explore what you offered him,” Lysander said.

  "It seems as though his world’s been turned upside down,” I said.

  Elise made us all tea before we headed into the main room to check on Raif. He was knelt before the altar, his breathing slow and steady. I wondered if perhaps he'd fallen asleep. That was, until his eyes flew open.

  Fifty-Eight

  "There was so much blood,” Raif said as he dragged his fingers through his hair. His eyes wouldn't quite focus on one thing, it was as though he were watching a fast moving movie that no one else could see. I looked to Elise; her lips were pursed, but she remained standing where she was. Lysander knelt next to the cub, and I approached slowly.

  "Tell us about the blood,” Lysander said gently.

  "There was so much."

  A crease formed between his eyebrows; his eyes started to slow their movements.

  "It was all for her, for her plan. The pain helped her, it was part of the puzzle, but there was still a piece missing. We're all tied, I don't know how, but there are knots between us and her." Lysander squeezed his shoulder gently. "Everything will change," the cub whispered.

  His eyes stilled and began to focus; Lysander looked up to me. Elise was frowning.

  "My lady showed you this?"

  He nodded, a barely perceptible movement. "I slipped into meditation and allowed whatever needed my attention to form. I felt her presence, then I was slammed into the vision. I've never had a vision before. I could taste the blood, the agony rippled around me before... before I felt like it tore me apart."

  "You're safe,” Lysander said softly.

  Raif's eyes settled on Lysander's face; he gave a small smile. "I know."

  "I'm sorry, but I need to speak with my lady. I'll speak to you soon."

  Raif scrambled to his feet. Lysander helped him up and supported him while he regained his balance. We left Elise in her church, knelt before her altar. I wasn't sure which was more disconcerting: her reaction, or his vision.

  Kadrix declared that we'd discuss everything in our flat when I rang Quin to tell him what had happened. Apparently, he was concerned about us breaking things in his workshop. I couldn't help but be suspicious that there was a little more to it than that. Still, we returned home. Raif calmed with Lysander's support. I gave them time and space. Pushing the cub didn't seem like it would yield anything useful.

  Kadrix took a different approach.

  The moment he walked into the flat he said to Raif, "Tell me everything you saw, every detail."

  "Kadrix, allow the cub to recover,” Lysander growled.

  I sat down next to Raif as protective instincts bubbled up within me. I barely noticed the fire flickering over my hands.

  Kadrix closed his eyes and took a breath. "My apologies."

  "It was a large white room, white marble. She was there, the witch. I couldn't focus on her, though, there were no set details. I felt runes, I smelled the blood. Human, lycan, elf, it was all there. There was so much it pooled on the floor. The screams of agony filled the air. The pain added a vibration to the magic she wove."

  Kadrix nodded and his eyes partially glazed over.

  "All witches bow to the crone,” he said. "When a witch turns from the crone they lose the vast majority of their skills. However, it would appear that this witch has designs on becoming the new crone. It looks as though she has made deals with a number of strong beings, likely including infernal ones."

  "She can't become a goddess,” I said.

  Kadrix's nostrils flared. "She can try, though. She has already created what you term ‘abominations.’”

  "And what the fuck to do we do about that?" I said.

  "We need more information before we can do anything, Evelyn. We must prepare. You clearly have magical skills, as does Quin. I do not know w
here they came from, but we will need every advantage we can get."

  "I miss the days when the worst thing we had to worry about was rabid redcaps,” I said.

  Kadrix sat in an armchair. "This is the nature of things, Evelyn. It is a cycle. A being will gather enough power and try to overthrow that above it. It stops things from becoming stagnant." The weariness threaded around his words. "Yes, stagnation is a bad thing, Evelyn. This will be unpleasant, but it is a necessity for the sake of the future."

  "And the celestials are aware that this is her plan?" Quin said.

  Kadrix nodded. "It would appear that way. They would not do well should she succeed, given they are tied to the current gods."

  "And what is it they were trying to get from you?" I asked.

  He made his infuriating hand gesture waving off my concerns. "That is not for this moment Evelyn. Look after the cub, improve your fire. That is your focus."

  I glared at him. "Do not give me orders, elf."

  "There is nothing else for you to do until we have more information. You have insisted on shutting yourself off from useful contacts and refuse to learn, thus, your only option is improve yourself as a warrior."

  He held my strong eye-contact.

  Finally, he said, "There is no shame in being a warrior, Evelyn."

  Quin gave me a weak smile before he said, "So, who's staying for dinner?"

  "Well, it's my home..." I said back with a smile.

  The elf stood and kissed Quin on the cheek. "I shall return very shortly, I need to check a couple of things."

  I was tempted to follow him. He was hiding something. Quin gave me a dark look and shook his head. Damn him and his ability to read me like a book.

  Fifty-Nine

  Quin seemed quite relaxed about the Kadrix situation. He calmly explained that Kadrix would tell him everything when the time was right. I didn't understand how he had so much faith. Still, Raif had settled quite well. The vision had clearly shaken him, but by the time we were all heading to bed, he was relaxed enough. Lysander left our bedroom door open a crack.

  "If he has further visions, I'd rather he not face the darkness alone."

  I smiled and kissed him. "You're growing rather attached to that cub."

  "He is our responsibility now."

  I couldn't help but keep an ear on the living room as well; the vision had sounded very unpleasant, and like it or not, he was under my protection now.

  We slept somewhat fitfully, each of us waking up to listen and make sure that Raif was still peacefully asleep out on the sofa. Once the sun had fully risen we got dressed and made breakfast.

  Quin came out soon after with a frown on his face. "Something's wrong."

  "Care to clarify?" I said.

  "I feel it too,” Raif said groggily.

  "Are we talking a local beer shortage wrong or something more sinister?"

  Kadrix emerged. "Someone or something has tried to interfere with the network."

  "As in the fae magical network that binds everything and you're all connected to?" I said

  He pursed his lips. "Yes Evelyn, that network."

  I crossed my arms. "Don't treat me like a child, and tell me what that means."

  "I do not know what it means yet,” he said.

  We continued to make breakfast in silence. The tension slowly built before Quin's phone buzzed. Kadrix cursed about having left his phone at his flat. My phone soon buzzed. I got a text from Azfin simply asking where the fuck I was.

  "Did you get the same text as me?" Quin asked.

  "From Azfin?"

  He nodded. Kadrix tensed.

  "And what do these texts say?"

  “’Where the fuck are you?’” I replied.

  "Then I suggest you respond."

  "Don't give them this address, we've barely had a chance to properly settle in,” I said to Quin.

  A small smile flickered across his lips. "Don't worry, I'm telling them we'll see them in front of Florenc metro in fifteen minutes."

  "This had better be good,” I muttered as I wolfed down my food and ran to get dressed.

  We jogged down to the metro station, pushing our way through the crowds of people trying to spot Azfin. We turned the corner heading around to the far side of the metro station and saw Azfin sitting on the concrete wall with two Sidhe that I didn't recognise. They stood the moment we pushed through the edge of the crowd and stepped into the open space.

  "We cannot speak here," Azfin hissed before he jumped onto the grass and walked off at a quick clip.

  We were left with no choice but to follow him across the busy road to the benches where fewer people were present. He stopped in his tracks, and the three Sidhe faced us with grim expressions.

  "Sabine has been taken, along with Kari and Tyrl."

  I frowned. Kadrix snarled and took a step towards Azfin before he grabbed his collar and lifted him.

  "What the fuck do you mean she was taken?" he snarled.

  "Drop him, Kadrix,” Quin said calmly.

  The elf did as he was told and took a step back, never taking his eyes off Azfin. The Sidhe brushed himself off and sniffed.

  "We don't have details."

  Kadrix's hands began moving, a faint red light formed around them.

  "No,” Quin said clearly.

  Kadrix's hands stilled, but he continued to stare at Azfin, unblinkingly.

  "We don't know what or how it happened. They slipped through their defences and removed them from their beds before anyone had any idea."

  "Can someone explain what the fuck has happened to me?" I said.

  "Someone kidnapped Kadrix's lover and two young Sidhe last night,” Quin said icily.

  "The witch?" I asked.

  The Sidhe ground their teeth together and exchanged a dark look. The black haired young man gave a sharp nod.

  "It is suspected, yes."

  "She wants something of ours," Azfin growled.

  "And she thinks that we'll barter,” Kadrix spat.

  "How do we get them back?" I asked.

  "We start with where they were taken from,” Quin said.

  The Sidhe looked between them. "We wouldn't usually allow you near our homes. However, these are not normal circumstances. Follow us."

  They had seemed to speak as one. The Sidhe were creepy little shits sometimes.

  We followed them at a quick walk through the neighbourhoods, twisting and turning. I had no doubt that we were taking the convoluted route to their homes; it was wasting time, but I wasn't going to pick that fight.

  "They are beasts," the straw blond growled with a glance back at Lysander and Raif.

  Lysander bared his teeth at them and put his shoulders back.

  "They are of use to us," the black-haired one said.

  I picked up my pace and walked directly behind them.

  "If you want us to help you find your kin, you will be polite about my hounds. Understood?" I growled in the black-haired one's ear.

  His nostrils flared, but he gave a nod and said nothing else.

  After a few moments Raif quietly said, "You consider me one of your pack?"

  I shrugged. "I wasn't given much choice."

  "I am of more use than people give me credit for."

  "I have faith that you'll prove that,” I replied.

  A swore I saw a flicker of a smile cross his lips.

  Kadrix was fuming. Quin was doing his best to keep a leash on his elf, but magic still kept rippling around Kadrix's hands. I wasn't sure how I felt about that, given that Sabine was his lover. On one hand, he should have been pissed; his kin were taken from their beds. On the other, I didn't like how attached he was to that Sabine; he was supposed to be with my brother. I reminded myself that not everyone worked the way I did, and that perhaps Quin could be happy in a non-monogamous relationship.

  We finally arrived at a pale pink building. The Sidhe all tensed before they waved their hands as one unit and the air around the building shimmered.

 
; "We do not plan on making a habit of this," the black-haired male growled.

  "Then you'd best look after your kin a little better, hadn't you,” I growled back.

  He narrowed his eyes and bared his sharpened teeth.

  Kadrix fixed his gaze on him. "You have wasted enough time. You have potentially got three fae killed. "

  The black-haired fae lowered his eyes and bowed to Kadrix. "Understood."

  Sixty

  We were led up to the third floor. The elevator ride was very tense as everyone squeezed into the small space, pressing bodies together. We all burst out, eager to be free of each other as soon as possible. The dark-haired one passed a key to Azfin.

  "We need to look for anything that could be of use," Azfin said.

  Kadrix watched the key being exchanged; his mouth tightened.

  "And why do you have a key to Sabine's home?" he asked icily.

  The Sidhe was foolish enough to flash him a rather proud grin before he licked his lips. Quin held Kadrix back as he tried to launch himself at the Sidhe.

  "The clock is ticking,” Lysander said.

  Kadrix composed himself, but the dark-haired Sidhe was dismissed by Azfin. We all piled into Sabine's flat, not that I had any idea what I was supposed to be looking for. I had to assume that if there was a ransom note, one of the Sidhe would have found it. Raif pushed past me; he sniffed the air while his eyes raked over the simple furniture. The plush couch squeezed against a dark coffee table that sat a few feet in front of a TV. He paused and sniffed around the kitchenette before he vanished into what I assumed was her bedroom. Kadrix followed him with a small frown on his face. I peered at the kitchenette; there was a faint green line hovering over the section near the sink. I shook my head. I was losing my damn mind.

  "Are you ok, Evelyn?" Lysander asked.

  I nodded and gave him a small smile. Quin threw some pink and lilac powder in the air. It sparkled before it settled into a delicate web of lines, the broadest of which sat right where I could see the green line.

  "What is that?" I asked Quin.