Eternal Flame (Night Watch #3)(69)
Author: Cynthia Eden

The fire had consumed Laura. She’d burned, from the inside out, even as Beth screamed and ordered that Laura touch her and transfer the power.

Before she’d died, Laura had managed to transfer some of that power. And even that bit had proven too much for Beth in the end.

Catalina’s shoulders sagged. “Lindsey must have known about Perseus.”

“That’s why she canceled the missing person’s search.” Tony slowly shook his head.

Missing person’s search?

“She knew where her sister was,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair. “Laura must’ve called her. She must’ve—”

“She told her sister too much about Perseus.” Catalina’s voice held a hint of sadness. “So much that someone thought Lindsey had to die.”

Now there were two dead in the city: Lindsey and Marcus.

Erin cleared her throat. “Um, sorry if I seem dense here, but I thought you guys had taken down Perseus? Isn’t the group dead?”

Catalina shook her head. “Someone is still alive. Someone with a lot of power.”

Someone who wasn’t afraid to kill.

“We’re all on the list. Everyone who was there while the place burned.” Catalina’s eyes darted to Tony, Jude, then Zane.

“Fuck the list,” Jude said instantly.

Catalina looked at Jana. “Bet you’re at the top of the list, Ignitor.”

Jana forced a reckless smile. “Bring it.”

“Still so brave?” Catalina asked, narrowing her eyes. “Even after what happened to you?”

Oh, shit, she knew. Jana kept her chin up. “What do you want me to do? Run away into the shadows? Hide while someone else dies?” Who did the witch think she was talking to? “I’m not going anywhere. If some ass**le is out there hunting survivors, I’ll be ready to face him.” With or without her power.

“No, you won’t be,” Catalina said, drawing back. “Not when death has you in his sights.”

“Thanks for that happy little update.” Didn’t sound like a fuzzy Christmas card, but when had life ever been a fuzzy Christmas card?

“You scryed.” Zane stepped back from the witch and came closer to Jana. Finally. “What did you see?”

“I saw me getting torched.” Her gaze came back to Jana. “Some people like to watch those flames burn.”

Okay, now she was pushing too far. “I’ve never burned a witch. Never killed someone who didn’t deserve my fire. You think I killed for shits and giggles, is that it?” She closed the distance between her and the witch. “My stepfather was a perverted freak. Those demons and vampires-they tortured and murdered humans. They came after me, so I stopped them. I didn’t—”

“It’s okay, baby.” Zane was there, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her back against the warm, strong lines of his chest. “You don’t have to explain a damn thing to them.”

Her gaze flew around the room. Jude stared unblinkingly back at her. Erin … there was understanding in her gaze. Tony scowled. The witch-ah, screw her.

“What else did you see, Catalina?” Zane demanded.

Her lips firmed. “Logan got staked. I mean, he-he will get staked.”

The vamp who’d tried to make her into his buffet? Was she supposed to care about what would happen to him?

“We don’t have much time,” Catalina whispered. “The killer is closing in.”

Zane’s arms were strong and steady. His scent surrounded her. “Did you see who was coming?” His words seemed to vibrate around her.

Catalina shook her head. “I’m too weak.” A brief hesitation. “We all are.” Those words weren’t directed at Zane. Catalina knew too much. “They weakened us, and now we’re just prey to them. That’s what they wanted. For us to be the ones who were hunted.”

“You’re not going to be hunted,” Jude said. “I’m not weak. Zane’s not. We’re—”

“Isn’t he weak?” Catalina asked as her eyes bored into Jana. “I saw what happened when Logan bit you. His dark side almost took over. Do you know what happens when Zane loses control?”

“Fuck. Enough of this,” Zane blasted. His hold was unbreakable, but a hard knot had formed in Jana’s chest. “I’m not losing control and no one else is dying. No one. “

His words were a vow.

Catalina pushed past them. “I hope you’re right. But I’m afraid that you’re dead wrong.” Then she ran out the door, her shoes slapping against the floor.

“Follow her,” Zane ordered.

Jude nodded quickly.

“She’s not running again, and she’s not dying,” he added. Jude’s fingers skated down Erin’s cheek. “Be safe,” Jana heard the ADA whisper softly.

Jude kissed Erin, a light, tender press of the lips. Then he was gone as he trailed after the witch.

Zane’s breath feathered over Jana’s ear. “There’s a dead body on my porch.”

Jana took a slow breath. It seemed to burn her lungs. Marcus hadn’t deserved to die like that. He should have finally been free.

“Tony, you’re gonna want to get some of your men out there to work the scene with Night Watch. Send those who know the score.”

Tony nodded and eased past them as he headed out the door.

“I’ll call the DA,” Erin said, brushing back her hair. “I’ll make sure he understands Night Watch has point on this one.”

“Thanks, Erin.” Again, his voice vibrated behind Jana.

Erin stopped next to them. “It doesn’t matter what others think about you,” she told Jana. “It doesn’t matter if they think you’re a freak or a monster …”

What if I am?

“They don’t know you.” A wisp of a smile lifted Erin’s lips. “They don’t know us.” Then she was gone.

“Let’s get out of here.” She didn’t like the smell. Didn’t like the bodies. Didn’t—

Zane kept a tight hold on her as he led her from the morgue. They hurried down the hallway, raced up the stairs and—

He pushed her back against the hard, stone wall of the stairwell. His eyes glittered down at her. “You’re holding back on me.”

Jana swallowed. His eyes were so dark. Really, a demon’s eyes shouldn’t have been sexy. Scary maybe, sure. Not sexy.