Page 82 of A Shade Too Far
I channeled every ounce of sincerity into my voice. “Please believe me.”
His rage drained away, his eyes and teeth returning to normal before giving me a brusque nod. “Don’t be afraid, child. I’m not going to hurt anyone.”
Sadie nodded silently at him, but she wouldn’t look at me, grasping her father tighter, the dividing lines clear. Sapiens on one side, supernaturals on the other.
I lay my palm on my racing heart, breathing slowly, my body dull and heavy. “What happened?”
“There was some kind of static interference.” The vampire squatted down to examine the ward. I couldn’t see or feel anything, but when he touched the dirt, he frowned. “Is your magic working or have you gone blank?”
I paled. Blank. As in the domino tile and Emmett’s prophecy? No. I scrubbed a hand over my face. “I saved an enthralled. My magic worked fine this afternoon.”
“It’s true,” Eli said. “Sadie and I both saw it.” He’d flicked the lid off the flamethrower, but at Zev’s calmer tone, deposited the weapon on the ground.
I gave thanks for all of Eli’s training in not escalating a situation.
“What does this mean for the ward?” Naveen had lost the staff, but he sounded grim.
“We have to try again,” I said.
Naveen shook his head. “It’s not that simple, is it?”
“No.” Zev stood up, brushing dirt off his hands. “This ward had unique requirements, thus necessitating my blood. But as it is only half-set, with my blood alone, it’s not acting as a repellant but a beacon, if you will.”
My heartbeat turned into the thunder of hooves in my chest. “For demons?”
“Yes. Until the ward is closed with Banim Shovavim blood, this entire property is compromised.”
Eli swore and gave me a hard look, wrapping a protective arm around Sadie, who was practically vibrating. “So, we’re in an even worse situation? How is this possible, Miriam?”
“I don’t—” I spread my hands wide in a helpless gesture, catching sight of the sad face that Pyotr had put on me. “Oh shit.”
Zev grabbed my arm, turning it up to view the tattoo.
“It’s—”
“I know what it is, Ms. Feldman,” he said coldly. “And I cannot believe your stupidity in not mentioning this beforehand.”
“I didn’t know,” I said weakly.
“That is par for the course with you, isn’t it?”
Eli snorted. Oh, fuck you, Chu. It’s not like you’re some great font of knowledge about this shit.
I massaged my temples. Everything had spun so badly out of control.
“How long is the ban?” Zev said.
“Two weeks.” I hung my head. “I’m so sorry. Can you redo it then?”
“Absolutely not,” he said. “My blood is active for twenty-four hours. Should you remove the tattoo or find some other Banim Shovavim before then, I’ll return and complete the ward. This is your last chance.” Inclining his head at the others, he strode out of the yard.
I sank into a crouch, poking at the dirt with the tongue depressor like I could decree the ward to work properly. Where was I going to find a Banim Shovavim in twenty-four hours? If the Wise Brothers had given me that killer’s name, then at least…what? Like she’d give me her blood when she was determined to kill Tatiana if we couldn’t produce the gloves?
“What did you show the vampire?” Eli said.
The last thing I wanted to do was to tell them about the Kefitzat Haderech, but if I didn’t speak up now, I’d lose the one tiny shred of Eli’s and Sadie’s trust that might be left. I stood up, revealing it.
Sadie’s eyebrows shot up and she stared at me like I had two heads. “You got a tattoo?”
