The Taste of Magic (24 page)

"Katerina, you are descended from a long line of witches, a bloodline which goes back hundreds of years, and is tied to many of the royal houses of the world, both past and present. You are the strongest of them all, and someday, your daughter will be even stronger."

"My daughter? Aren't you rushing things a bit?"

"You will bear a daughter, as your mother did, and her mother before her. As it has been in your family for generations."

Katerina was intrigued. She hadn't heard much about her ancestors, Olga had never really told her anything. Yet, this man, practically a stranger, was telling her all this.

"How do you know this?"

"Because I too, come from a deep bloodline. My ancestors and yours trained each other through the years. Many of them married, so in a way, we are distantly related. As it has always been between the Malinays and the Romanovs."

"Romanovs? But you said my mother…"

"It is my family name, not your father's."

Katerina turned to see her mother walking toward them. The older woman seemed anxious as she neared.

"Your family? But how?"

Olga smiled and placed her hand on Katerina's cheek. "It is our way. Come, you must be hungry. Your father is working late and I have made a large dinner. Stop the lessons for today."

Olga gave Stefan a hard stare before smiling once again at her daughter. Katerina's gaze darted between them. There was a tension between them, but why?

"Mama? What's the matter?"

"Nothing. Come, while it is still hot." Olga took Katerina's hand and led her inside. Stefan remained in the courtyard.

A thousand questions raced through Katerina's thoughts. Olga seemed to be trying to stop Stefan from sharing any more than he already had. Before she could voice them, the phone rang and Olga went to answer it. When Katerina glanced back, her teacher was gone. Damn. She needed answers and soon.

Chapter Eighteen

At the knock on the door, Katerina put down the spell book. She glanced at her watch. She'd been studying the tome Stefan had given her for almost three hours. The late afternoon sun had begun to set. She stood as the knocking began once more.

"I'm coming." She pulled open the door and hurriedly tried to reverse her action. Before it could catch, Joshua Taylor shoved it open again. Before she could do anything else, he stepped past her into the flat.

"I have to talk to you."

"Get out." She held the doorknob, twisting it back and forth. Joshua ran a hand through his hair and stared hard at her.

"I can't. I came to ask for your help."

Katerina shook her head and closed the door, sensing he wouldn't leave until she at least heard what he had to say. "You are relentless, even if you are a fool. After what you did to Adrian, why would you come to me?"

"I know you're not living with him or working for him anymore," Joshua retorted. "It's clear you don't like him any more than I do."

"What I feel for him is none of your business." She folded her arms. "What are you doing here?"

The anger left his eyes and he sighed. "It's Sophie. She's…in danger."

Katerina shrugged. "So?"

"Damn it, she's a vampire!"

Katerina eyed him warily. She didn't trust him, and wondered what game he was playing now. "Really?"

He gave a disgusted sneer. "Yes, really. I wouldn't lie about something like that."

She couldn't fight the nagging suspicion there was more, but she did believe him. The distress evident in his pursed mouth and furrowed brow convinced her. "I see, you think Adrian did it. I highly doubt it, but even if he did, it wasn't anything she didn't…"

"Machiavelli did it!"

Katerina stared, then shook her head. Sophie's predicament clearly left Joshua delusional. "No, that's impossible. Machiavelli's dead. Adrian killed him. I saw it."

"Are you sure?" Joshua began to pace. "That night, when she didn't come home, I knew something was wrong. She didn't come back until the next night, and she was…different."

He paused then, and Katerina could see the sadness surrounding him, his aura tinted faintly yellow. Despite her loathing of the young man, she found the urge to offer comfort growing stronger. She clenched her fingers tightly. To befriend this man would be to betray Adrian. She couldn't do that.

"Go on," she prompted.

"Something wasn't the same, she wasn't the Sophie I knew. And she was afraid. She told me Machiavelli had caught her when she was leaving."

"I told you…"

"No. He isn't dead, du Lac didn't kill him."

"But he has to be." Katerina had seen the dust Adrian's enemy had left behind.

"He wasn't. Trust me on this. And now he's got Sophie."

Katerina couldn't breathe. She reached a hand out to the nearest chair to steady herself, her strength suddenly drained, her stomach rolling. If Machiavelli was alive, he would surely want revenge on Adrian. She fell into the chair, her hands shaking.

"I don't understand. Adrian staked him. In the chest."

Joshua raised his hands. "I don't know. He obviously missed the heart. But the bastard's alive."

"I have to tell Adrian. He needs to know."

"Wait, what about Sophie? I can't do this alone."

Katerina's mind whirled. "And what exactly am I supposed to do?"

"A couple of things. First, you're a witch."

"And you thought maybe I'd cast a spell or something for you?" Katerina did feel bad for him, but helping the two hunters would hurt Adrian. There was no choice.

"I need to get to du Lac."

Katerina's mouth dropped open. "You want me to help you get Adrian? You're insane!"

"No, I need to warn him."

Katerina rolled her eyes. "Warn him? I don't think so."

"I need him. He's got information on Machiavelli no one else does. But I can't get to him without you."

Katerina's disbelief quickly gave way to an overwhelming anger. How dare he make such a demand? Her fingers itched, and she fought to keep from sending something into his head.

"You're just like everyone else, just wanting to use me for what I can do for you." She snorted in disgust. "Why should I? So you and Sophie can kill Adrian? No way. You're on your own."

"I won't kill du Lac."

"Maybe not now, but once you have your precious little Sophie back…"

"Not ever! Damn it, the only reason she showed up at Machiavelli's is because she's in love with du Lac and thought she could save him. I won't kill him, because she wouldn't want it."

For the second time, the hunter left Katerina speechless. She'd been pretty sure Sophie had feelings for Adrian, but to hear it confirmed brought forth a fresh volley of emotions which left her more bewildered than before. "She didn't save him. I did."

"I know. She told me. That doesn't matter now. Machiavelli's got her, and I have to get her away from him."

"I don't know what you expect me to do. Adrian and I aren't exactly speaking."

"Maybe not, but there's another way you can get him to help." "Stop talking in riddles and tell me what you mean."

"There's a way for a vampire to be controlled, and I don't even know if it would work on du Lac since he's so old, but your teacher can tell you how. And you can force du Lac to help us find Machiavelli and Sophie."

Katerina narrowed her eyes. "My teacher? How do you know about that? Have you been spying on me?"

Joshua nodded. "You're involved with du Lac. I make it my business to know everything about him. That includes you."

How much had he seen? Images of intimate moments with Adrian flashed in her thoughts. How many of those private moments had he intruded on?

Fury rose. She didn't fight it back, but waved her hand. A book flew past his head, narrowly missing.

"You bastard! You invaded my privacy!" She waved her hand again, and Joshua sprawled backward, landing on the floor. She stepped closer, lifting her hand once more. The hunter scrambled out of the way as books flew from the shelves to crash down where he'd been a moment earlier.

"Wait!" he cried. "I'm sorry! You don't understand what I do."

"You hunt vampires. That's all I need to understand." She waved again; this time the floor lamp fell across his legs.

"Stop!" he shouted.

His yell brought her to silence, and she refrained from sending another object in his direction.

"Listen to me. Machiavelli wants to use Sophie to get at du Lac. Without your help, she won't be able to refuse whatever orders he gives her. He's her master."

Katerina recalled what Adrian said the night he'd fed from her. A fledgling is unable to resist her master. She recalled how Machiavelli had wanted to turn her, and force her to assist him in destroying Adrian. Sophie had taken Katerina's place in Machiavelli's plans, and he clearly needed another to destroy Adrian. Now he had one.

"I have to talk to Adrian."

"What about Sophie?" Joshua remained in his position on the floor, watching her warily.

"I'll talk to Stefan. Maybe he knows something I can do."

"He does. He's known for his skill in…killing vampires."

Katerina could not believe what she was hearing. She advanced on Joshua as he scrambled backward. "Do you make this stuff up?"

"It's true. Stefan Malinay is a known hunter. He uses magic to destroy vampires. He's the one who perfected the spell for controlling a vampire. It's how he…kills them." He winced and shrank away, anticipating another attack.

Katerina eyed him skeptically. "Why would my mother want Stefan to teach me?"

"Malinay's not strong enough to take out du Lac. He's tried, but he needs someone else to help him."

She closed her eyes. Awareness dawned. Olga had brought Stefan in because he would teach Katerina how to defeat Adrian. Or perhaps Stefan had offered his services, for a chance at Adrian. She was a pawn once again.

How could they do this to her? They were no better than the Italian. She couldn't trust anyone. What she wanted mattered to no one. She couldn't think about this now, there were more urgent issues that needed attention before she'd be ready to face her mother. "I have to contact Adrian and let him know about Machiavelli."

"I'm coming."

Katerina laughed. "As if Adrian would let you anywhere near his home."

"I said I wouldn't go after him. I meant it. If you agree to this, I'm done with du Lac." Joshua hesitantly rose to his knees, as if expecting her to assault him again.

"I'm not going to do anything," she assured him.

He sighed and stood, replacing the lamp to its former position. "Besides, I know a lot about Machiavelli's habits and patterns. I can help track him."

Katerina nodded. To be honest, she was sure Joshua's skills would come in handy. "All right. But we do this my way. You follow my orders when it comes to dealing with Adrian. If you can't handle that…"

"I can handle it."

"I need a few minutes alone. Don't touch anything. I'll know." She gave him a piercing stare before going to her bedroom and closing the door. She sat on the bed and took a deep breath. It had been almost a week since she'd left the castle and this was the first time she would attempt to reach Adrian. Could she do it?

She closed her eyes, imagining him before her. Adrian?

Almost instantly, a flood of warmth invaded her senses. His essence surrounded her, and she could almost feel his embrace, taste his kiss.

Kat.

She smiled to hear his voice. I need to see you. Tell me when.

I'm available for you anytime.

Now. Where are you?

In the office. I can come to you.

No. Meet me at the castle. It's important.

I'll be there.

Katerina opened her eyes. The warmth remained with her, then faded as he let the connection dissolve. Her heart pounded. His presence, his voice had brought a light-heartedness she hadn't felt since she left him. She ached to feel his arms around her, and hoped she'd be able to maintain a cool front when she faced him. Until she knew what he felt for her, and what his plans were, he couldn't know how much she'd missed him.

She stepped out of the room. Joshua remained where she'd left him. "Let's go. And don't say anything. I'll do the talking."

"You're in charge," he replied.

"Don't forget that."

When they reached the castle, Katerina's stomach felt like it was going to throw back all she'd eaten today. She got out of the car and stared at the massive oak doors for several moments before heading toward them. Before she could knock, they opened. The zombie stood quietly as they entered.