Page 50 of Bradi

Chapter Twenty-Four

“Tell me, witch, what news have you?” Stegian asked, as he approached one of his favorite old crones.

She tipped her head and lifted her arms upwards. “Ah, I drain the child of its life force as we speak. Every day I take more and more.”

“Why is it not dead?” He grabbed her arm and jerked her to him. “I do not wish to have to kill you, but I will.”

With her face so close to his, he could smell her stagnant breath. His stomach turned at the sight of her wrinkled, pale green skin and hairy chin. She gave him a wide, milky-eyed stare and he knew that she looked into his soul, or what little was left of it.

“You fear the coming of the child. Why?”

“I fear nothing.”

Her foul breath brought bile up in his throat and he needed blood to wash it down. Lacing his long fingers around her neck, he tipped his head and smiled down at her. His power poured through him and he watched with a sick satisfaction as her skin pulled back from her bones.

She shrieked and reached for him. Before she was able to touch him, he let her go. Her face returned to its normal ugly mess as she panted. “Master, I drain the child to near death each day, but its mother’s healing powers bring it back.”

If what the crone said was true, then this child would be born not only part werepanther, but also with the power of a healer like no other. That was not acceptable. He’d spent too many years building his empire here to allow another generation of daywalkers to threaten him. “Then we shall kill the mother.”

“Master,” Yunoc said from behind him. “They keep the compound tightly guarded and the women are watched constantly.”

Stegian turned and put his hand out toward the door. “I know the perfect bait.”

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