"What's wrong with your eyes?" Jaeger said. "They're yellow again."
"Hush, fool. I am busy,"
"Doing what? You aren't acting like yourself."
She laughed. "Puppy, you are truly priceless."
"Puppy? Really?"
The book opened to a rectangular cutout in the pages. Inside were a small crystal perfume bottle and a cloth with a lock of dark hair. Leontes' fresh scent filled the air. Kiara pinched free a single strand and dipped it into the perfume bottle.
"What's that?" Jaeger asked.
She rubbed the strand between her thumb and index finger. Magic thickened, gained a lemony green glow as it sparkled around her hands. Seconds later, Leontes' image beat in her mind.
Wrath quickly darkened her features. She blew on the hair and it disappeared in a short burst of flame. "I have you now."
"Leontes, right?" Jaeger watched her worriedly. "Take me with you."
"I have scores to settle that are best unwitnessed." Kiara stalked toward him. "Leontes' life is mine to take, and I will be damned if I allow some rubbish charlatan to purloin that prize from me."
Jaeger swallowed. "Yeah, see now you're worrying me a little. Okay, a lot, because, seriously, you do not want to hurt gramps."
"I should worry you always, puppy." Kiara squatted in front of him and placed a hand on his head. Her eyes frosted with malice above a bone-chilling smile. "But fear not. In a moment, you will have no worries at all."
Jaeger jerked his head around, trying to keep it out of her reach. "I understand you're upset, but-"
Bright flashes burst from her fingertips and spidered around Jaeger's skull, until his eyes closed and he collapsed.
CHAPTER 109
Kiara frowned as her fairy door shut behind her. The fog hovered so thick she could barely see a few feet in any direction. Magic vibrated in the mist, and she knew it was created to help hide the location from prying eyes.
She moved forward until it came into view, the grand house Kiara had seen in the tracking spell using Leontes' hair. She knew the place well. Inside and out.
It was her house.
However, while the five-story estate that emerged before her indeed looked like Kiara's house, it was in California. Her real home was on another continent, surrounded by open meadows and the ocean. Not in this forest trembling with wildlife. A cold wind sifted through the trees, rustling a soothing murmur and a musty scent of earth and pine.
Kiara climbed up the two small flights of stairs, across the grassy lawn, and to the main doors. Unease skittered down her spine as she stepped inside. The grand staircase with red carpet, the black and white diamond-checkered floors. The red, black, and gold furnishings, the paintings, the sculptures-they were all exactly as she remembered them.
Whatever game Fauxleander intended, she would make sure he lost. And that he suffered. Immensely. She eased the pistols from her back and took a deep breath.
She noted Leontes' scent and followed it to the parlor. A fire crackled in the room of overstuffed furniture. Large paintings and tapestries of long-forgotten battles hung on the walls.
Leontes sat in one of the grand, high backed chairs facing the fire. She saw only his arm on the rest, but could feel her tracking spell wafting about him. She flicked a glance around the room. Empty. It was much too easy.
"Rise, Leontes," Kiara commanded.
He did not even twitch.
Kiara kicked the back of his chair. The jostle lurched him forward. He hit the ground with a wet thud. His limp form splayed in awkward angles. Deep lacerations oozed black blood. His jaw opened slack, with teeth colored a dark crimson. Eyes remained open, fixed and unseeing. His clothes ripped and stained from an abundance of vicious wounds.
None of which were healing.
"No," she breathed.
Kiara walked to Leontes, who lay silent, mangled, and unmoving on the floor. She stared down at him for a long moment.
A growl vibrated in her chest and came out in a scream. "No!"
She reeled back her leg and kicked his side. He flew up and bounced off a wall, knocking a painting from its perch. As Leontes' lifeless body fell, Kiara raised both guns and fired around the room.
Bullets tore through ceiling, walls, plaster, wood, chandeliers, and artwork. The smell of gunpowder burned pungent in the air. The former luxury décor rained down in shreds around Kiara as she reloaded, her breath labored as color rose in her cheeks.
Floorboards creaked behind her. Fauxleander's scent soured the air. She spun and pointed both barrels at him.