Free Denai Touch: Excalibar Investigations Series by Tiffany Shand Page B

building a fire,” said Jason. “Think they’re planning on burning us to death? I can think of much quicker ways to kill someone.”
    “Just be ready.”
    They exited the car and headed over to where a large fire was blazing against the still night sky. Only five people were gathered around the fire: Colbane, Antes, Ronnie, an attractive-looking brunette woman, and an unfamiliar black male they didn’t recognize.
    The brunette she identified as Bethany Turner, the coven’s High Priestess, and when she met the gaze of the dark stranger, a feeling of unease settled in her stomach – she couldn’t sense what he was and that was never a good thing.
    Can you sense anything from that man? asked Jason.
    No. Do you think he’s wearing some kind of amulet?
    Cate scanned the stranger deeper with her senses, calling on the full strength of her powers. She felt nothing, not a hint of anything.
    “Welcome my friends,” Colbane gave them a cold smile. “Cerys, Declan, allow me to introduce Bethany Turner, High Priestess of the Thorn.”
    Bethany’s whiskey-coloured eyes roamed over them both, and Cate’s senses tingled in recognition of another Denai witch, who had an aura of dark energy about her.
    Denai witches were born with the powers of both light and dark, a perfect balance of nature that made them more neutral than good or evil. But given the strength they possessed, such power had to be kept in check. Some enjoyed using their gifts to inflict pain and suffering on others until they became a Dark Denai – a soulless killer that needed to feed off pain and fear to survive.
    Cate gave her best confused look. “Beth, you never told us that you lead another coven.”
    “You didn’t really think she only led your poor excuse for a coven, did you?” Ronnie asked.
    “Hush Ronnie,” Bethany snapped. “They’re welcome here.”
    Jason automatically bowed his head, following the age-old custom of respect for a Denai witch. Denais didn’t normally use such formality with each other, unless it was to their Grand Mistress or her Second. Another well known fact was that people should never look one of them directly in the eye or she would see into their soul.
    “A McCray bows to no one,” was something Seline had ingrained in her. Cate met the other witch’s gaze easily, showing no sign of fear or respect.
    Bethany’s eyes widened in surprise.
    Ha, bet you’re used to people cowering before you , Cate thought with disgust.
    “You’re supposed to bow your head,” Jason hissed. Cate, what are you doing?
    Trying to read her, obviously.
    That was one myth about the Denai which was true, direct eye contact made it easier to read people.
    “Let’s just cut the crap, shall we?” asked Cate. “I’m tired of playing games.”
    “Take them!” Bethany ordered.
    Cate threw up her hand, sending the other Thorn members flying through the air with a burst of kinetic silver sparks. She turned her attention to the black male, blasting him with her magic. He raised his hand, her magic dissolving uselessly against his palm.
    “Shit!” she muttered.
    Now they were really in trouble. No wonder she couldn’t sense anything from him. Damn, I should've known!
    He was a Null — the only kind of being in existence that was immune to all magic. A Null possessed a kind of anti-magic, which meant no form of it could touch or be used against them. Much like a Denai, when they touched any Magickind, they could use their own magic to strangle them. Nulls were very rare, most never survived childhood, given how deadly they were to all of Magickind.
    Sod it, the illusion is over with! Cate snapped her fingers so their appearances blinked back to normal.
    “You!” Bethany snarled. “I can’t believe Seline would be desperate enough to send her own granddaughter after me.”
    “Maybe it’s because she knows I’m the only one who can bring you down.”
    A fireball formed in Bethany’s hand as she prepared to strike.
    Cate raised her