Elemental Assassin 03 - Venom

didn’t respond. I hurried past the downstairs living room where Eva and Violet had been watching a movie last night. Had it only been last night? Seemed like a lifetime ago.
    To my surprise, Violet Fox poked her head out of the living room, clutching a tub of popcorn in her hands. She and Eva must have been having another girls’ night in. Violet’s dark eyes widened behind her glasses when she saw me, and she started following me down the hallway, just like Eva was.
    After about a minute of brisk walking, I came to the door that marked the entrance to Owen Grayson’s study. I rattled the knob. Locked. I turned to face Eva.
    “Do you have a key for this?” I barked.
    Eva started at my harsh tone. “Yeah, somewhere up in my room—”
    No time for that. I reached for my Ice magic, and the familiar silver light flashed on the spider rune scar on my palm. Eva let out a small, surprised gasp at my display of elemental power. Violet just stood behind her, watching me.
    A few seconds later, I let go of my magic and went to work with the two Ice picks that I’d created. It took me less than a minute to open the office door. I snapped on a light and walked over to the rows of silverstone weapons hanging on the wall. Eva and Violet followed me inside.
    “Owen’s not here,” Eva said in a desperate voice. “Idon’t know what you want or what you’re doing, Gin, but if you’ll just wait for him, he’ll be back any minute.”
    “Sorry,” I replied, scanning the weapons for what I needed. “No time to wait.”
    There. Those would do nicely. I plucked the matching set of long swords that I’d noticed last night from their spots on the wall. I hefted the silverstone swords in my hands, checking their weight and balance. Perfect. Absolutely perfect. Owen Grayson truly was a master craftsman. And I was going to put his weapons to good use tonight.
    A black leather scabbard with two slots in it hung next to the swords, and I grabbed it as well. I turned and was headed toward the office door when Eva stepped in front of me.
    “Oh no,” she said. “Owen’s absolutely
insane
about his weapons. He never lets anyone take them out of the office, not even me.”
    I tried to go around her, but Eva sidestepped in front of me again. She was persistent, if nothing else. Just like her big brother was.
    “I don’t have time to argue with you, Eva,” I snapped. “Get out of my way. Right now.”
    Her blue eyes narrowed at my sharp tone. “Or what? You’ll stab me with one of those swords? I don’t think so.”
    “No,” I said. “But I’ll shove you out of the way. How about that?”
    Eva’s face paled at my threat, but she held her ground. Brave, but stupid. Reminded me of Bria. I didn’t want to hurt Eva, but I would if it meant I’d get to Roslyn Phillips in time to save the vampire.
    Violet Fox stepped up beside her friend and regarded me with her dark eyes.
    “You’re going after someone,” Violet said in a quiet tone.
    I let out an angry breath. “Yes.”
    She nodded. “All right then. That’s all I need to know.” Violet put her hand on Eva’s arm and drew her friend to one side. “Let her go, Eva. Just let her go.”
    “But Owen—the weapons—” Eva sputtered.
    “I don’t think he’ll mind since Gin’s the one taking them. Even if he does, well, I doubt he will for long. Isn’t that right, Gin?” Violet gave me a crooked smile.
    I found myself smiling back. “That’s right, Violet. Thank you.”
    Eva looked at her best friend, then at me. Violet slowly pulled the other girl to one side. Eva had a decidedly dazed expression on her lovely face, but I knew Violet would fill her in on what she needed to know. I nodded at Violet and walked past them, out of the office, and back down the long hallway. The girls followed me, but neither one said anything, and Eva didn’t try to stop me again.
    I reached the front door, which was still open. Outside, my car beckoned, a silver beacon telling me to get on with things. But I found myself pausing, turning around, and staring at Eva. “If I don’t come back, tell your brother, tell Owen…”
    I struggled to find the right words. Spouting mushy sentiment on command had never been one of my skills. Besides, I wasn’t even sure what I felt for Owen Grayson, other than a prurient desire to feel his naked body pressed against my own.
    “Tell him what?” Eva asked.
    A grim smile tightened my face. “Tell Owen that he’s a hell of a