Jake (Immortals of New Orleans #8)(23)

"Does Kai know?"

"She doesn't know that I've helped her, but I believe the Elders have told her about me. The night in the bayou. I sensed her distress, but it's the first time we've met."

"She was injured."

"Yes, and it's the first time she's materialized."

"I thought you just said she was powerful."

"Very much so, but she's been hidden for so long. She doesn't practice her powers. Hasn't transformed yet."

"Transformed? Into what?" Jake's concern grew at Quintus' statement. He'd been certain she wasn't a shifter.

"Her true powers will reveal themselves in time. Like a seedling, she requires care and attention, protection from the elements yet freedom to explore. Her sister, Shilan, she's similar to Kai but not the same kind."

"The other night in the bayou. She'd been bitten. What did that?"

"Kasdeya. I suspect Kai went to plead for her assistance. Foolish," Quintus scoffed, standing from the table. He crossed the room and reached for the plate of beignets. "Now that she's tasted her blood, she will not give up searching."

"The demon? Was that her?"

"Yes, I suspect so. It's a demon-like apparition. A form of Kasdeya. While her physical presence remains in San Francisco, these demons, the ghosts if you will, they search for Kai. She's vulnerable without the spell. Especially in New Orleans." Quintus set the plate on the table and sat down again.

"What about the wolves?"

"Probably just rogues for hire."

"She asked to see Ilsbeth," Jake told him. There was no fucking way he was going to see the witch.

"The witch is dangerous. She was responsible for what happened in New York. Mick may have carried out her deeds but she'd spurred his creation. She'd taught him."

"That bitch has been doing bad things as long as I've known her. She blackmails people into giving them pieces of their bodies, their souls. She's got a whole mad scientist lab goin' over at her place. Dimitri gave her fur from his wolf. She's got vampire fangs. I think Ilsbeth already did something to Kai. Her blood. Have you seen it?"

Quintus nodded, reached for a mug and sipped his coffee.

"It's gold. Who the hell bleeds gold?" Jake asked. He threw his head backwards and blew out a breath. "This is some freaky shit. I'm tellin' you right now, Quint. You might as well know. Logan is going to be coming over here in about forty-five minutes and he's going to want to interrogate Kai. And I must be losing my fucking mind because I'm about to text him and tell him not to come over. You know damn well I shouldn't do that. I'm a fucking idiot for getting involved with her. What wolf tells their Alpha no?"



       
         
       
        

"One who is also an Alpha," Quintus countered. He picked up a white powdered treat and bit into it. "Goddess, I missed these things. They don't make them like this anywhere in the world."

Jake stared out the windows onto the horizon, contemplating the vampire's statement. Alpha. Although it may have been true, Acadian Wolves was not his pack to lead.

"I can't let her see Ilsbeth," Jake stated, his mind drawn back to the witch.

"I agree. But it's very possible there are no others who can help Kai."

"Have you even seen Ilsbeth?" Jake asked. He reached for a beignet and pointed it at Quintus. "Because three months ago, when I found her, she was a shell. And when I say a shell, I mean she didn't recognize me, wasn't speaking. Just naked and shaking out in the middle of the fucking woods. I don't even know how the hell she got there."

"Why didn't you kill her?"

"Because," he paused; his lips tensed as he recalled the dichotomy of emotion that had seized him when he'd found her, "I've been around a long time too, Quint. I've been to war. I've seen the very best and the very worst in people. I've seen kids who carried bombs into villages, knowing they'd kill others. But I've also seen these same kids, you know, before they were forced into a life of death. They weren't born evil. And Ilsbeth? Despite what she did to Dimitri, and it was as evil as you get, she tried to fix things. She tried to stop Mick. And before that, she's helped Kade over the years. I don't know … it wasn't up to me to kill her."

"So you're saying she's pure?" Quintus gave a skeptical laugh.

"Hell no. She's one manipulative bitch. But her last act had been one of benevolence, so to speak. Forced to make a choice, I chose mercy. It wasn't an easy decision, man, trust me."

"And this is why you will be Alpha."