Drake Sisters 03 - Oceans of Fire

think that he might have killed someone in order to get her out of Russia, but she knew he was capable of anything when he felt he had justification. Seeing him with Sylvia and realizing he might very well betray her in other ways crushed her fragile hope that she could make things work with Aleksandr. They were too different. Far too different.
    Hannah’s hands moved gracefully and the room was clear of all but laughter and merriment.
    “Abbey,” Aleksandr murmured, recognizing the pain in her eyes. He held his hand out to her.
    She made a small sound, much like that of a wounded animal, and stepped back, avoiding contact with him so that his hand fell to his side.
    His features hardened perceptibly and a muscle ticked along his jaw. His eyes went flat and ice cold.
    “Let’s go somewhere and talk,” he suggested and stepped closer to her.
    Abbey felt the heat of his body right through her clothes. She took another step back, hating herself for being a coward. Her hand itched to slap his handsome face, but it was really herself she was upset with.
    Aleksandr couldn’t help being who and what he was, but she knew better.
    Aleksandr moved again and this time it was a clear act of aggression. Kate stepped in front of Abbey, cutting off his access to her.
    “I’m going to be sick,” Abbey whispered to Hannah, her voice so low it was nearly inaudible, or maybe it was through the telepathic connection the sisters shared. “Get me out of here.” She had been so incredibly stupid, thinking she could live with Aleksandr’s way of life. He had no compunction about doing things she believed were utterly wrong. To him, the end justified the means.
    Hannah and Joley immediately turned and shielded her with their bodies as they hustled her out of the room.
    Aleksandr took a step after them, ignoring Sylvia’s tug on his arm. Sarah stepped smoothly into his path, shoulder to shoulder with Kate, so that he was forced to halt. She smiled at him, but her eyes were flat and cold as she looked at Sylvia. “I’ve heard you’ve been visiting Lucinda Parker over in Point Arena, Sylvia.” She kept her voice bright, a conversational tone, but there was nothing friendly in her steady gaze.
    Sylvia turned pale and drew back from Sarah.
    Sarah kept her smile. “You should be very careful of experimenting with forces you don’t understand, Sylvia. It can backfire on you and then you’re in a real mess.”
    Sylvia’s breath hissed out and her hand crept to her cheek. “I’m not doing anything, honest, Sarah. I just wanted to get rid of this rash I sometimes have.” She glanced at Aleksandr, but he was staring after Abigail. “I have to get rid of it. I can’t stand it anymore.”
    “Then do the right thing.” Sarah turned on her heel, suddenly aware of Kate’s restraining hand on her elbow. She shook her head and walked away.

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    “You were threatening her,” Kate said, shocked. “You’ve never done that in your life.”
    “I was warning her. There’s a difference.” Sarah’s soft features hardened perceptibly. “Did you feel Abbey’s pain? It terrifies me. Sylvia had better not be dabbling in black magic. She has no way of understanding what can happen. If she harms Abbey in any way, I will retaliate.”
    There was a grimness in her voice Kate had never heard before. Sarah was always the steady, practical one. “Sylvia’s been visiting the black magic queen?” she asked. “Lucinda is nuts. Everyone knows that.
    She makes it all up and mixes all the practices. It isn’t real.
    “Yes, but she can stir things up that are better left alone. Lord only knows what she told Sylvia. She may have a voodoo doll that is supposed to be Abbey.”
    “Sarah! Wait!” Sylvia rushed through the crowd and caught at Sarah’s arm. When Sarah’s gaze collided with hers she let go immediately. “I know you see things ahead of time. Are you saying something is going to happen to me? What did you mean?”
    Sarah glanced up at Aleksandr, who had followed them. For a moment she stilled, everything inside her rebelling at his presence with Sylvia. His aura always blended with Abigail’s when she was close to him.
    Everything she had learned of her gift, of her craft, told her he belonged with Abigail. It seemed obscene that he would be with Sylvia. Sarah could feel Aleksandr’s reluctance to have physical contact with Sylvia. Right now an aura