Still shaking his head, Ryan leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “Do you have names, addresses of these witches? How do we proceed? Bring in the FBI? Homeland Security? Interpol?”

“Trying to arrest someone who can teleport is going to be tough. I don’t know where the witches are staying locally, but their homes are in Germany.” Ari gave him a regretful glance. “Sophistrina is the only name I have.”

Ryan snorted. “Yeah, OK, so no warrants. Do we let them get away with murder? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Hell, no, but we need an Otherworld solution.” Ari got up and refilled their coffee cups. “If I can figure out how to capture the witches or convince them to surrender to the Magic Council, the council can strip them of their magic.”

“They would do that?”

Ari looked at him, perplexed by his question. “Yes, did you think there weren’t any rules in the magic world? Or that no one enforces them? Using black magic to kill an innocent is what you would consider a capital crime. Only we usually don’t execute those found guilty. About the worst thing you can do to a magic user is strip them of their powers. Of course, they wouldn't live long without them.” She took a sip from her cup. “The rest of the coven might cooperate, but I don’t think the High Priestess will surrender or allow herself to be captured.” Ari sighed, and her cup clunked on the tabletop as she abruptly set it down. “If I’m right, we’ll have to kill her—and maybe the entire coven.”

“I can’t set out to shoot somebody.” Ryan shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “It goes against my sworn duty.”

Ari shot him a look of reproach. “And you think I can? But these aren’t defenseless women. We’ll have to be willing to use lethal force if they go on the offensive. Believe me, it will come down to that, at least with the leader. She ordered a kill once that we know of. She’s already felt the power of commanding life and death, and she won’t hesitate the next time. Her hatred of the O-Seven has taken possession of her, and she sees anything that might lead to their defeat as acceptable.” Ari squared her shoulders. “I can feel the depth of what’s driving her, and there’s only one possible end.”

“What happens if you can’t kill her?” Ryan’s face was troubled, as if he already knew the answer.

“Then she’ll probably kill me, and I don’t really like that alternative.”

Ryan frowned deepened, but he didn’t pursue the subject. He left soon afterward, a scowl still marring his face. Ari watched out the window as Ryan climbed into his cruiser. She assumed he was struggling with their impossible situation and wondering what he could report to his superiors at the PD.

After Ryan left, she checked the house again, talked with Samuel in the security room on the third level, and conferred with Russell and Mike by phone. When the hours dragged on without any hostile action, Ari began to relax. It looked as if Ursula would be delivering her own messages, whatever they were, and she wouldn’t be up and about for several hours yet.

With the momentary downtime, Ari quickly lapsed into restlessness pacing. To counteract that, she changed into running shorts and spent ninety minutes in the workout room. When she finished, she stopped in the kitchen for a glass of water. The wilting rosemary plant on the counter made her think of Claris, and while she dutifully watered the herb, she called Claris to talk about Dona, the only kitten without a new home.

“Any prospects?” Ari took her drink to the table.

“I have one woman coming in over the supper hour. She runs the antique shop two doors away. I like her, but I question how Dona would do with a human caretaker. Around me, she’s always been the most standoffish of the kittens.”

“Really? I hadn’t noticed that.” Ari examined a broken fingernail and got up to find a file. She found one on the window ledge. The sight momentarily distracted her, wondering if Andreas was bothered by the stuff she left around.

“Sometimes Dona sits there and watches me, as if she’s trying to figure out what makes me tick.”

Ari laughed, and her tension eased. Conversations with Claris were always so…normal. “Are you telling me you’re spooked by a kitten?”

“Not exactly, but I think she’s pretty particular about her friends.”

“You’re imagining things. Let’s put them together and see how Dona acts. She’s fine around me, and she’s all over Andreas.”

“That’s what I mean. She’s partial to Otherworlders.”

“Have it your way.” Ari turned her head as Andreas walked into the room wearing only a pair of hip-hugging black jogging pants. “Call me if you get something set up.” She disconnected.

“Her way?” Andreas asked. “That does not sound like Claris. She is usually quite accommodating.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. She’s decided Dona only likes Otherworlders.”

“A most discerning cat.” He pulled a bottle of blood from the fridge, then poured it into a tall black glass. “What do we hear from Toronto?”

“It’s quiet. Ursula must have been too busy ranting and raving to plot her revenge before daylight overtook her. She’ll do something tonight,” Ari predicted.

He chugged the contents of the glass, rinsed it in the sink, filled it with water, and drank that too. “I hope you are wrong. If she has regained her composure, Ursula may see the wisdom of conferring with the elders before taking any action. That could give us a day or two to plan and prepare.” He turned, resting his long length against the sink. “How do you feel today? Recovered?”

“Yep. My hip’s got a tiny twinge, but not much. See.” She stood and walked for him without a trace of yesterday’s limp.

“Hmm. Yes, I see. Nice shorts.”

She looked up at the tone of his voice. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m all sweaty from working out. I need a shower.”

He started toward her. “I can help with that.”

She backed away, grinning, and he caught her at the kitchen door. Ari ran her hands up his bare chest, then squirmed away and bounded up the grand staircase. Andreas was one step behind.

Chapter Sixteen

Dona hissed and growled, scrambled off Ari’s shoulder, and raced into Claris’s greenhouse. Her tail disappeared under a row of hibiscus plants as Ari’s astonished gaze followed the kitten’s retreat. “Dona! Watch the claws.” She rubbed her shoulder. “What’s the matter with you?” Ari turned back to Claris and the motherly antique dealer standing beside her. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s gotten into her. She isn’t normally like this.” Ari felt a moment of kinship with mothers of children screaming in a store. Guilty, embarrassed, as if she had committed some terrible social blunder.

“Oh, it’s all right.” By the woman’s tone, Ari could tell her feelings were hurt. “Cats can be very picky. My Abbey, who died last year, hid whenever a man was in the house.” She looked at Claris. “Thanks for thinking of me. At least I know now I want another cat. But it won’t be this one,” she added wistfully. “Your kitten isn’t likely to change her mind. Cats never do, you know.”

Ari watched the disappointed woman exit the shop. “I never expected that. Maybe you were right about Dona, but why wouldn’t she like humans?”

“She’s just different. I told you she only tolerates me. You’re the one she follows around.”

Ari turned and looked into the greenhouse. “When I move back to my apartment, I won’t have enough space for two cats. Maybe Andreas will keep her. He’s got a big house with lots of room.” She smiled as the kitten peeked out from among the plants. “Dona seems to like him, and she loves to play with the weretigers on the third floor.”

“All Otherworlders. You have a snooty cat.” Claris’s grin took any reproof away. “Now that Dona has ended that adoption plan, can you stay for coffee?”

Ari hesitated, suddenly anxious at the thought of extending her time away from Andreas. But even with the threat of Ursula hanging over them, they couldn’t spend all their time together. She’d seen him just an hour ago, and it wasn’t as if he was sleeping and defenseless. He was at the club, where Russell and Lilith and several armed guards would let her know if anything was wrong.

“Sure. Why not. I could use a little time away from Otherworld affairs.” She’d only told Claris about the current dangers in very broad and vague terms. “How was Wednesday’s plant exchange?”

“Fabulous. A customer even brought in an herb I didn’t have. This place was packed from front to back, and I had a hard time keeping track of everyone. Hernando didn’t like the activity and hid upstairs in the bedroom.” Claris continued to expound on the plant sale until they were interrupted by the cats. Hernando bounded into the room chased by his offspring; he leaped onto the table to escape, but Dona easily followed. At eleven weeks old, the kittens could go wherever they wanted.

“Oh, no. Get down. No cats on my table,” Claris ordered, laughing at their antics.

When Ari helped her push them off, Hernando strutted away, his tail twitching. Dona looked up at the two young women, her whiskers bristling with surprise that she’d been dumped on the floor.

“Now you see what rejection feels like.” Ari looked at the kitten in amusement. “No fun, huh? Next time maybe you’ll be kinder to people who only want to give you a good home.”

Dona blinked and raced off after Hernando.

Claris laughed. “I don’t think she took you very seriously. Maybe it was the grin on your face.”

“OK, so I indulge her. Which reminds me, what do you hear from Brando?”

“That was an abrupt switch. Or are you implying that Brando’s indulged?” When Ari raised on eyebrow, Claris added, “By me?”

“You certainly let him have his way. I’d never put up with him taking off all the time. Didn’t you tell me he wasn’t calling as regularly as he used to? I wouldn’t accept that. Not if he wanted to be my boyfriend.”

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