"I didn't reach out to the kid. He contacted me that way."

  "A boy? Interesting."

  "Why?"

  "Because it is the female of the sorgina species that has the greater power. A boy-child should not have been able to do that. Especially if they are part of The Involition. Which means, he is not."

  Rafe leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest, making his muscles bulge and his shirt stretch. I shouldn't have been distracted by the masculine display, especially considering the topic of conversation. But I was a woman, after all. And Rafe was very much a man.

  "Do both parties have to have the…talent?" I asked.

  "Yes. Normally. It is extremely rare for one to be strong enough to communicate with a non-telepathic. Almost unheard of even. You would not be able to talk to me telepathically, I should think. And for a certainty, the boy-child could not either."

  "He said I was the nearest brightness he could find."

  Rafe arched his brow but said nothing.

  "How did he do it? Find me? Open a connection?"

  "Necessity is the mother of invention, isn't that the saying? Perhaps desperation makes the impossible possible."

  "You're saying he's one of the stolen kids," I said. Not a question, because I'd already come to that conclusion myself.

  "It would fit, but the coincidence is a concern."

  "How so?"

  "Another witchling outside of The Involition? Quite a chance that. But oh, the chaos this will cause." He looked delighted.

  "Don't you dare tell them," I snapped.

  "It would confuse our enemy; cause unimaginable mayhem for the All-Mother. Catalin, we could use her distraction to hide."

  "Hide? I thought you wanted me to fight her?"

  "You're nowhere near ready for that, sorgina."

  "And the kid? A child, Raphael!"

  "He is nothing to us."

  "He's a kid!"

  "Rather him than you, witchling."

  I shook my head at him. Disgusted.

  He leaned forward, pushing his empty dishes aside so he could place his arms on the table's surface. He'd rolled his sleeves up, displaying the tattoos and his bracelets. He really did have no desire to hide what he was. Even here, in a human establishment.

  Not that they knew what they were looking at. But I did know. Just as I knew how depraved The Involition was. I had wanted to save the kids from the abductors before, but now I wanted desperately to save this kid in particular. Not just from the men who had taken him, but also from the woman who would do unspeakable things to him.

  He was just a kid.

  "Catalin," Rafe said gravely. "It is them or us. This child complicates things, I'll grant you. Another free witch could be of use to our cause. But he will be untrained. Possibly even unaware of what he is. He would slow us down. The telepathy aside, he might not even know what he does is special. He might have kept it hidden until now, and his parents thought him a dud; thought him safe. They might not know what is in their blood, either, come to think of it. There are too many unknowns here. The bottom line is, his appearance and magia could provide us the cover we need to escape Ilya and Ama's clutches. You are not ready to face her. If I brought you before The Involition now, she would indoctrinate you and all would be lost."

  He sat back, seemingly satisfied with his argument.

  "Which would you prefer?" he said. "Capture by the All-Mother, or the chance to free all witches, all werewolves, and all vampires from her evil clutches?"

  He made sense. In a cold, unfeeling way. But the voice had clearly been that of a child. An innocent.

  To sacrifice a child…

  "Can't I have both?" I said. "Save the kid and myself from Ama. He could train with me. Learn to use his magia just like you suggested."

  "I said that in passing, and I believe I offered a suitable argument against it as well."

  "It wasn't in passing, Rafe. He could help us."

  "He could also get us both caught."

  "He's a kid."

  "We don't know him."

  We glared at each other. The waiter appeared, took one look at our faces, and silently departed; without any of our dishes.

  "I'm not sacrificing a kid to save myself," I finally said.

  "A noble idea, but it will get you caught or killed. She has a talent for using the innocent against us." The look on his face then — there and gone again so quickly I was unsure it had been there at all — told a story of loss that looked heartbreaking.

  I didn't address it. The fact it was there made Rafe seem more human than not and I didn't think that was a wise path to walk.

  "He's out of both our clutches for now anyway," I said. "Until we find these kids, we can't make a decision one way or the other."

  "The children were not meant to be found at all."

  The hustle and bustle of a cafe at lunchtime encroached on the silence that engulfed our table. Glasses clinking, cutlery scraping, coffee beans grinding, pots banging out the back, behind a swinging door.

  "What do you mean?" I demanded.

  He flicked violet-hued eyes to my face and snarled. A vampire sat opposite me at the table.

  "Just assume the please is implied," I told him.

  His lips tipped up in a sneer. He really did not like witches telling him what to do. I could understand that considering what he'd told me. But he and I had a pact; he had to get over it.

  I sneered back at him.

  His lips twitched in a more humorous fashion.

  "The case was a means for me to get close to you without suspicion," he finally said.

  Every word felt like a knife blade scraping across a rock's surface. Not because The Involition had used a ruse to get their watcher into position to watch. But because of the type of ruse they'd used.

  Kids.

  "These kids are real," I said, my voice accusatory. "They exist. They were taken from their families. For what?"

  "To keep you working with the FBI; with me."

  "All of this to fool a witchling?"

  "Yes."

  "You people are monsters."

  "Yes."

  "You have no conscience at all."

  He shrugged. But I noted he didn't outright agree with that statement. Perhaps there was hope for them after all.

  "What will happen to the kids?" I asked. "If I don't find them before The Involition realises you've gone rogue?"

  "She already knows I've gone rogue, Catalin."

  My heart pounded inside my chest. My fingers throbbed but not with my magia; just with the need to punch somebody. Preferably a witch.

  "Is there any chance I can save them?" I asked, making myself stare at the vampire's face and not look away.

  His eyes still shone violet mixed with the usual blue. His magia was up; working; casting; shielding. I didn't know. Whatever he was doing, though, I couldn't feel it. And I hadn't suddenly become uninterested in saving a bunch of kids from God knows what. So, no maskara either.

  He couldn't compel me, I thought. Maybe the ituna saw to that. Maybe I was coming into more power of my own. Had the kid — Mikel — opened a door inside me that had previously been closed with his telepathy? Possible, I supposed.

  But it didn't really matter. Raphael Nonpareil was no longer a match for me, I was certain. I hoped.

  Ama, though? Not so sure about that.

  "Well?" I said, brow arched.

  He let his fangs show.

  "They exist," he agreed. "Therefore they could be found. But Catalin…"

  I held up a hand, stood up from my chair, threw some cash on the table, and stormed out of the cafe.

  I knew he'd follow. He'd been assigned to watch me. But more than that. I was Raphael's only hope.

  Rafe

  This was not how it was supposed to go. The boy-witch was a complication that could ruin everything. And where had he come from? Where had he been hiding? They were questions that could have dire consequences for us. And I didn't have any answers.

  All that aside, however, the pact had forced me to reveal something else I was not yet ready to reveal.

  The case was never meant to be solved.

  If I'd required more time to assess Catalin's magia, The Involition would have convinced the FBI to leave me here as a liaison to the NCB. The abductors had instructions to not leave this country. They would have provided adequate reason for me to stay.

  But now? Now Catalin was determined to find them. No matter what we had planned, no matter what I said, this witchling would not give up on them. On him. On another ezkutuan — unclaimed — supernatural. A witchling like her and an innocent.

  Who was he? How had he escaped notice? Were there more out there we didn't know about? Was magia making a return to the world and the All-Mother had kept that secret from us?

  That sounded plausible. She would not want any dissidents to be aware of possible powerful allies out there, unclaimed by The Involition curses. This was big. Something that could be used against the All-Mother. Something that could blow our world apart in a different way than I had intended. But I had to choose my moment well.

  Catalin was right to think the boy-child could help us. But the risk? Now even more of a risk than before. It was too much. I was not ready to risk so much for one ezkutuan.

  I looked at the unclaimed witch in front of me as she stormed out to her vehicle, righteous fury making her beautiful face a contrast of soft edges and determined features. I could practically taste her anger. Like an aged and spiced wine. It called to me but I ignored that call.

  The ituna was making it hard not to notice how exceptional she was. She had every right to be furious, but…

  "You cannot save him," I told her.

  She stopped beside her car and looked back. "Why do you say that?"

  "The moment Ama is aware of him, she will use him against you."

  "How?" I said nothing. "How, Rafe? You know her best; help me out here. Or does the pact not work when you don't want it to?"

  "You know the pact works above all else."

  "Even above Ama?"

  "Ama is the All-Mother; she is the strongest of us all. She may be able to counter the ituna. I am unsure."

  Cat leaned a slim hip against the side of her car and crossed her arms. She glared at me, sky-blue eyes narrowed.

  "How will she use him against me, Rafe?" she asked, and magia backed the words; the pact responding to her need for an answer.

  What an extraordinary witch. What a dangerous woman. I stared at her and tried to work out if it was magia making me feel this. If it was the pact or simply her manipulating my emotions or just coincidence that she, of all people, would interest me on such a deep level.

  It had been a long time since I had been interested in anyone.

  "I don't know how she will use him," I said, "but she will if she knows he exists and is made aware of your attachment to him. She will use anything that you value, other than your own life. You are worth more to her alive than dead. But know this, Catalin, she will also do all she can to control you. And the type of control the All-Mother exerts makes being alive often worse than being dead."

  She let out a huff of breath. "You're very dramatic."

  "I live in a dramatic world."

  She shook her head and finally looked away from me, staring off into the distance. I wanted her eyes back on me. I wanted her attention. I should not have wanted that at all.

  "I'm not giving up on the kid," she vowed. "The kids," she corrected. Already she had associated this case with the single witchling among those taken. She had connected with him telepathically, and that had been enough to make him the centre of her world.

  For once in my life, I lamented the fact that I did not have a talent for telepathy. I craved any connection I could get with this woman. And that was bad. Very bad.

  I thrust my hands into my trouser pockets and turned away from her; forcibly making myself take a step back. I could not be falling for this witch and her sense of loyalty. I could not be falling for such a one as she who had the potential to rule over my blood and body.

  I could not be such an idiot.

  But I feared that I was.

  "Get in the car, Rafe," she instructed. "Please," she said under her breath.

  She unlocked the Citroen and slid into the driver's side. By the time I entered the vehicle, she was hard at work on her cell phone; going through the list the tactical officer had given her.

  "There're two more contacts on our list," she said. "I doubt they'll pan out, but we should probably check them."

  "You will not stop searching for him, will you?" I said.

  "What do you think?"

  "I think this is a mistake. I think it will come back to hurt you." I sighed. "But I am prepared to help you before you get yourself caught."

  "Why?"

  I stared out the window at the busy street we'd parked on. Wadestown was on a picturesque hillside. The houses spread out over the northern flank of Ahumairangi Hill. The view from the little cafe we'd eaten in took in all of Thorndon, the CBD, and the harbour. The streets were narrow and twisty, the houses old weatherboard bungalows, built some hundred years ago.

  It was peaceful and normal and so not part of the world I knew best that I felt more like the imposter I was than I had since assuming this role.

  "I need you," I said; honesty making my throat feel raw. "I cannot fight Ama alone. You're my only hope."

  "And the boy?"

  "He is a chain ready to wrap around our necks, but as you insist on finding him, I will help you. After that." I shrugged. "We'll see."

  "Wow. Such enthusiasm. It's a wonder I don't start clapping."

  I turned my head to look at her. "This is not a game, Catalin. This is very much real."

  "You think I can't imagine what your Ama will do to the boy if she finds him? Do you think I don't believe the danger is real? Wake up and smell the roses, banpiro; I've been doing this a while now and just because your world throws a spanner into things, doesn't mean I've not dealt with my fair share of monsters."

  "Magia changes everything."

  "Fuck your magia. I have a gun. I have my wits and determination. And I will never back down from this. Do you understand me? Never."

  I stared at her and couldn't help but smile. Maybe her courage would be enough. Maybe that stubborn streak of hers would thwart the most powerful and devious witch to have ever walked this earth. I doubted it, but I needed to hope she could. I needed to believe in something or I would not last another day, let alone another century. I needed this witch.

  A deal made with the devil?

  Or a chance at true life again?

  "Let me see the last two contacts on the list," I said.

  She handed me her phone. I could have looked the list up on mine, but even this small touch of something she kept close soothed me. I ignored the sensation and concentrated on the task at hand.

  "They won't know anything," I said. "Neither of these contacts are part of The Involition. The traffickers used Gio because they were told to. A false trail to make you think the case was real. Gio would have had instructions to mislead you. I doubt he had contact with them the way he explained; he was protecting himself. He may have met them face-to-face or simply conversed on the telephone. But the barrandari will know more than he is saying."

  "Gio didn't look too good the last time I spoke to him. He told me to stay away for a while."

  "He broke the seal, allowing us to speak of The Involition with you. The punishment would have been severe. But he is banpiro. And old. He would have protected himself to some degree. He may even have hidden his actions from the All-Mother. You don't stay a barrandari as long as he has without having a few tricks up your sleeve."

  "So, we head back to the pizzeria."

  "He may not help you further," I warned. "He has already done much and paid for the sin. Our return may also cause him additional problems if a watcher has been assigned to watch him. And then there is Ilya to think of. If the otso is aware you've had contact with him regarding the case, he will be watching the pizzeria as well. Ilya will not give up the chase easily, Catalin. We must not forget his presence in the city."

  "I haven't forgotten him." She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. We were still parked up. The occasional car passed too close to our vehicle on the narrow street we were on; the Citroen rocking in their wake.

  "There is another option available to you," I said.

  She looked at me and arched a brow, saying nothing. I didn't think she trusted my suggestions as much as I'd have liked her to at this stage of the relationship. But then, I could hardly blame her for that caution, could I? I just had to hope the ituna convinced her I was being honest.

  "You could contact the boy telepathically."

  "I don't know how," she said, shaking her head as if the idea disturbed her.

  "You know his name. You know he can hear you. Power is in the intent, Catalin. Will the words true and they will be."

  "I can't even control my precognition, Rafe. And I've been aware of that for years now. How the hell am I supposed to control this new talent?"

  "Believe in yourself. I know you can do it. You are powerful."

  She chuckled derisively. "Any other Hallmark greetings you wish to bestow on me, oh wise one? Maybe 'Life isn't always wonderful, but you are'?"

  It was quite appropriate, but I wasn't fool enough to say so.

  I said instead, "The risk is less with contacting the boy telepathically than visiting Giordano again."

  Catalin sighed. She knew I was right.

  "Just try it," I encouraged.

  "What? Right here?"

  "I can shield us from prying eyes; contain your magia so it is not detected."

  "By Ilya, you mean?"

  "Him and any other they may have assigned."

  "There could be more than one werewolf hunting me?"

  "Hunting us both now, I think, and yes. Although, Ilya is known to be the best and would not appreciate competition. The witches may not respect the wolves much, but they do know pissing them off is a bad idea. The curse has made the otso loyal, but it has also given them short tempers. It can be strange like that."