Page 5 of Witch Undecided
“Yes. Dimitri is a Renfield. He’s a human who feeds off the Sons of Adam’s power and works for their interests. The original vampires can’t go out in the day. Dimitri is their eyes and ears in sunlight. He’s been their carer for centuries, but they’re only now awakening, and they need blood.”
“My blood?”
“You’re the anchor,” Anna said. “Your blood is powerful.”
Talk about shitty timing. “Then let’s just give them some blood. Can’t we just stick a needle in me and take a pint?”
“I suggested that.” Anna looked sheepish. “They want you. The body that produces the blood. They want you for the next one hundred years as payment for what the coven did to them.”
“Like fuck!” Tor vibrated with indignation. “No one touches our mate.” His eyes darkened with rage, pupils dilating in warning of a shift. “Your coven did this. You fix it.”
“It’s not that easy,” Anna said. “The Sons of Adam aren’t willing to negotiate. I was hoping they were simply blustering, that they were too weak to come and collect. I guess I was wrong.” She pressed her lips together. “Dimitri was clear. If we don’t hand over the anchor, they’ll attack the coven.”
Jessie’s lip curled. “I’d like to see them fucking try. We just beat back four revenants and five banshees. I think we can take three vampires.”
“They’renotvampires,” Anna said. “They’re something else. Something ancient and powerful, and if they attack, I’m not sure we’ll survive it.”
“So, what do you suggest?” Elijah asked.
Anna shook her head. “I don’t know. You say only one attacked you?”
“Yes.”
“Which means we have time. The other two must still be too weak. We could have years before they’re strong enough to retaliate. In the meantime, we can strengthen our wards. It won’t stop them from getting onto the grounds, but it will weaken them while they’re on our land.” She nodded to herself. “There are precautions we can take. Jessie, can you ward this house and the cabin?”
Jessie nodded. “I’ll go get my supplies.” She headed off.
Anna turned to me. “Cora, you’ll be safe during the day, but you can’t be alone at night.”
“She won’t be,” Tor, Leif, and Rune said in unison.
My gaze flicked to Jasper to find him watching Anna with narrowed eyes. “And what happens when these vampires are strong enough? What happens when they’re ready to attack?”
Anna lifted her chin and met his gaze levelly. “Then we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
“Not good enough,” Jasper snapped. “I heard your little meeting with your fellow elders. Some of them want to hand Cora over. What was it they said?” He tapped his chin. “Oh yes,she can be the anchor whether she’s here or there.”
A growl erupted from Tor’s throat and Leif stepped in front of me. The air crackled with tension, and the scent of pine and earth filled my nostrils. The guys’ wolves were close to the surface, and the threads that bound us thrummed in warning.
Anna must have sensed it too because she backed up, hands in the air in a placating gesture. “I would never do that. You must believe me.”
Tor’s chest rumbled; he was clearly unconvinced.
“I believe you,” Elijah said.
“And that makes it okay?” Jasper snorted. “Forgive me if I don’t drop my guard.”
Elijah sighed, shooting Jasper a wry glance. “The Sons of Adam could drain Cora and shatter the seal. Handing her over is too risky for the coven.”
“Exactly.” Anna smiled gratefully at Elijah. “Our purpose is to protect the seal. To maintain the barrier. We willnotcompromise that.”
The rumble in Tor’s chest stopped and his hand came to rest on the small of my back, a welcome brand of heat seeping through my shirt.
Anna’s shoulders sagged in relief. “I swear to you that the anchor’s life is our priority. We cannot risk it.”
“Especially when you no longer have any potentials to take her place,” Jasper said dryly.
“Yes,” Anna said simply. “Especially now.”
