Free Blackthorn [3] Blood Torn by Lindsay J Pryor Page A

you’re angry with them.’
    ‘They know the rules, Solstice.’
    ‘So do you, Jask. You made them. So what’s an outsider doing in the compound?’
    ‘She has something we need.’
    ‘Like what?’
    Jask took a mouthful of bread, chewed and swallowed as he glanced at Corbin before returning his attention to his food. ‘Like very precious blood.’
    Solstice frowned. She stared at Jask before glancing at Corbin, looking for his confirmation too. Her eyes flared, her fair eyebrows knocked up an inch. ‘No.’
    ‘In the flesh,’ Corbin confirmed.
    ‘But I thought they were extinct?’
    ‘Rumour is they are,’ Jask said. ‘Yet clearly not.’
    Solstice lowered her voice as she leaned closer. ‘And you brought her back here ? She came voluntarily?’
    ‘Not exactly,’ Jask said.
    Solstice snapped back a breath, her gaze switching between them both again. ‘Are you both crazy?’
    Jask took a mouthful of food. ‘She can’t do anything.’
    Solstice lowered her voice to a whisper. ‘She’s a serryn, for goodness sake. Is there anything more lethal? Need I remind you we have young ones here, Jask? You know what her kind are capable of doing to them. And what if she takes one of them hostage or something to get out of here?’ She flashed an accusatory glare at Corbin before staring back at Jask. ‘Have you thought of that?’
    Jask looked across at the serryn again. Her knees were now locked together, her feet slightly parted and in-turned. She was halfway through her bread roll, tearing off pieces, chewing them with her head lowered, her bobbed hair partially covering her face. The prospect of her being the most dangerous, not least vicious witch there was seemed improbable. But he couldn’t be fooled. ‘She’s not that stupid.’
    ‘Trapped in here with no other option? You don’t know what she’s capable of. And if the vampires get word we have a serryn here… Kane or Caleb…’
    ‘We have no choice.’ Jask glanced at Solstice then lingered on Corbin before turning his attention back to his food.
    ‘What does that mean?’ Solstice asked. Her attention switched to Corbin. ‘What’s he talking about, Corbin?’
    Corbin glanced at Jask to acquire his approval. ‘We need a serryn,’ Corbin told her. ‘That afternoon, after what happened to Nero, when we both headed out, we saw a witch. He told us there’s a supply of turmeric here in Blackthorn. Enough of a supply for what we need.’
    Solstice’s lips parted slightly, her grip on her spoon tightened. ‘But I thought there was no more turmeric here. That we had the last of it. Is it not still banned?’
    ‘Oh, it’s still banned,’ Jask said. ‘ And still illegal to trade.’
    ‘And now we know why,’ Corbin added.
    Jask took a mouthful of water. ‘Which is why we have to play this carefully. They get one hint that we don’t have enough this time around, and this is over.’
    Solstice frowned. ‘No way. I know those bastards at the Global Council are willing to stoop low, but seriously? You think they knew we’d need it at some point? How?’
    ‘This is proof that they know far more than they’re letting on,’ Jask said.
    ‘All this so-called respecting our heritage and they’ve just been biding their time, haven’t they?’ Solstice said. ‘They’ve been waiting for our supplies to run out.’
    ‘And they can keep waiting. Because if the witch we met with is telling the truth, I also know where it is,’ Jask explained.
    ‘Then why don’t we have it already?’
    ‘That’s where the serryn comes into it,’ Corbin said.
    ‘The supply is with another witch,’ Jask announced. ‘And, as we all know, they’re a tricky bunch when it comes to dealing with the third species – especially with a lengthy penitentiary sentence looming over them for even looking in our direction. So if I storm in there and create attention, we’re going to have every witch in this district baying for our blood, plus risk word getting back to