House of Night 09 - Destined

and I are not enemies.”
    “Well, I can’t speak for all of his new friends, but personally I don’t care what kind of relationship he has with you as long as you leave the rest of us alone,” I said. “Neferet is who you need to worry about. If you’re really not still with her, then I can promise you she’s not gonna accept the fact that you and Rephaim aren’t enemies.”
    “Neferet does not control me!” Kalona’s powerful voice brushed against my skin and I shivered with the familiarity of its icy touch.
    “Yeah, whatever.” I spoke with forced nonchalance. “I’m not talking about control. I’m talking about the fact that you and her are on the same side, and she’s getting way into Darkness. She’s not gonna let someone with your power stand on the sidelines.”
    “Neferet forfeited any possible allegiance with me when she imprisoned my body and used my spirit. You should know, Zoey Redbird, that Neferet has a new Consort.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Aurox isn’t her Consort. He’s just one of her minions.”
    “I wasn’t speaking of her new creature. I was speaking of the white bull.”
    I stared at Kalona. “You’re being serious.”
    “He is,” Rephaim said.
    “And why would you tell me that? We’re not friends. We’re not allies,” I said firmly.
    “We could be. We have a common enemy,” Kalona said.
    “I don’t think we do. You’re pissed off at Neferet—or at least for this split second you are. I’m fighting against Darkness in general. And that’s the side you’re usually on.”
    “He asked about new beginnings,” Rephaim said.
    I looked up at the really cute, really hopeful, really naïve boy who stood beside me. “Rephaim, Kalona isn’t suddenly turning good.” All I could think was: Stevie Rae is gonna kill me if I bring him back to her with an “everything is wonderful and beautiful and perfect” attitude about his dad. “We can’t make other people what we want them to be just because we want it a bunch.”
    “I have no intention of being good,” Kalona said. “Just as I have no express interest in being evil. I simply wish for the Tsi Sgili’s downfall. She has wounded me, and I would exact my revenge.”
    “Okay, so just exactly what does that mean?” I asked.
    “It means we have a common enemy. I will help you rid the House of Night of the Tsi Sgili who masquerades as Nyx’s High Priestess and her creature, the Aurox.”
    “Father, will you come forward and speak to the High Council, to tell them what you know of Neferet?”
    “What good would that do?” Kalona asked sharply. “I have no proof to support my words. I would accuse her of taking the white bull as Consort. She would deny it. I’m assuming she has introduced her creature as a divine gift, has she not?”
    “Yeah, she has,” I said. “Aurox is supposed to be a gift from Nyx.”
    “Let me guess—the Goddess has not appeared and denounced the creature or Neferet.”
    “You know that hasn’t happened,” I said.
    “Of course it hasn’t.” Kalona shook his head in obvious disgust. “And because your Goddess remains silent, there is no proof from Nyx. It would be my word against Neferet’s, and the Council already believes she banished me from her side. They would believe I was lying to get revenge.”
    “Aren’t you?” I asked. “I mean, isn’t that what you’re saying you want, revenge?”
    “I do not want her to be admonished by a ruling Council, her wrist slapped and sent to solitude in pretend service of the Goddess. I want her destroyed.”
    The cold hatred in his voice had me shivering again, but I couldn’t argue with his logic. I didn’t want to kill Neferet. Hell, I didn’t want to kill anyone. But I knew in my heart of hearts that unless she was destroyed she would end up causing unimaginable pain and suffering for all of us.
    “Okay, look. You need to spell it out for me. Are you talking about killing Neferet?”
    “I cannot kill her, she’s become immortal.” His gaze held mine. “Only Neferet can cause her destruction.”
    My brain felt like it was going to explode. “I have no clue how to get her to do that.”
    “I may,” Kalona said. “She consorts with the white bull. Neferet believes she can control his power. She is very wrong.”
    “He’s the key to her destruction?” said Rephaim.
    “Perhaps. We should watch and wait for a time. See what she is about, what her next move will be,” Kalona said. “That will be easy with you