I shook my head, over and over. "He's been watching us, Lucien. He knows all about us and those we love."
"What do you mean?"
"Remember after the explosion? Xander said he saw me just before it happened?"
"Yes, but."
"He knew Xander would follow him if Xander thought it was me. And the explosion that killed my grandparents? The missing picture in the frame?"
"Nikolas, take him," Lucien said. "I'm calling a coven meeting, now."
Nikolas knelt and took Lucien's place, and I reached out to stop Lucien. "Wait! What if& what if there are& What if he has people here in the coven?"
The worry on Lucien's face increased ten-fold. "Then I will need Logan's help to read everyone quickly."
"Lucien? May I use your study and your phone?" Daniel asked, rising to his feet. "I'm going to confer with a few other Council members, and we'll decide the best course of action."
"Of course," Lucien said. "But Daniel, do not leave us open for a turf war by announcing to the world that we are unstable."
"Isn't that what you're about to do?" Daniel asked. "Notify all of your coven members of the imposter that's wreaking havoc in your city? Give me a chance to talk to a few people first and then we can all decide what to do from there."
I touched Nikolas' hands. "Would you do me a favor?"
"Anything, princess."
"Get Xander for me? I want to talk to him about the explosion, about what he saw."
He didn't seem unhappy about my request; he just nodded, kissed my hand, and left. For Nikolas to do exactly as I asked without so much as a smart-ass remark meant that he was just as worried as the rest of us.
Sabaan touched my shoulder a few moments later, and when I looked up at him, he pointed to the table beside me. "I made you some tea."
"Thanks, baby."
He sat on the floor in front of me and laid his head in my lap. It was only then that I realized I was still wearing just the robe that I'd slipped on when I'd gotten out of bed. Ah, well, fuck it. If people got offended by seeing me in my robe, then they'd just have to deal with it.
I picked up the cup of tea Sabaan had brought and took a sip. It was perfect, nice and hot, just a little sweet. When I went to set the cup down, there was one of my custom-rolled cigarettes in its place.
Oh, for the love of God, Sabaan knew exactly what I needed sometimes. I picked it, and the lighter beside it, up and lit the cigarette, inhaling deep and just holding in the smoke. After a few seconds, I relaxed considerably and let the smoke out in a long breath.
"Better?" Sabaan asked, looking up at me with a smile.
I nodded. "I love that you know me so well."
"It's going to be okay, Peter."
"Yeah, I know." I sighed and shook my head. "And now that I've had my little freaking out session."
"Hey, anyone would freak out if this was happening to them."
"But it's not just happening to me, Sabaan. He might be using me, but what he's doing is affecting everyone."
Nikolas walked in with Xander and Caleb right behind him. I put down my tea and went to them, pulling Xander off to the side. He shook his head, clearly confused.
"What's going on?"
"Long story short? It seems my father& God, that sounds so weird. It seems he's the one behind the murders that have happened recently."
"You're shitting me."
"I wish I was." The crowd in the living room seemed to be growing with each passing second. I needed out of here and quick. "Let's take a walk. Caleb, you're more than welcome to come along."
* * *
Once we made it down the hall away from everyone, I started to feel a little less claustrophobic. Sometimes I didn't realize how many people we had in the coven until they all started showing up and trying to stuff themselves into one damned room. Xander opened the door for me, and when I walked outside, I let out a sigh of relief.
Xander eyed me warily. "Nikolas said you wanted to talk to me about the explosion at the club."
"I know we've been over it a dozen times, but I need to hear it again."
"I saw you making your way through the crowd. You looked at me, winked, and then headed the opposite way as if you wanted me to follow. I only made it a few feet before the bomb went off." Xander shook his head. "But it wasn't you."
"And you couldn't have known the difference because the bond was no longer there."
He shook his head. "He looked just like you, walked like you, looked at me the way you&"