Free Burned by P.C. Cast

separate, ever different. Not immortal, not man, and not beast.”
    Stevie Rae let his words sink into her veins. She knew he was being completely, nakedly honest with her. But there was more to him than this machine of anger and evil he’d been created to be. She knew it because she’d been witness to it.
    “Well, Rephaim, how ’bout you just consider that you
might
be right.”
    She saw the understanding register in his blood-colored eyes. “Which means I
might
also be wrong?”
    She shrugged. “I’m just sayin’.”
    Without speaking, he shook his head and went back to eating. She smiled and continued to make herself a turkey sandwich. “So,” she said, slapping mustard on white bread. “What’s your theory about why your daddy’s soul’s turned up missing?”
    His gaze locked with hers, and the one word he uttered made her blood run cold.
    “Neferet.”

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Stevie Rae
    “Dallas told me Neferet dumped Kalona’s spiritless body on the High Council.”
    “Who is Dallas?” Rephaim asked.
    “Just a guy I know. So it looks like Neferet turned in Kalona even though they’re supposed to be together and all.”
    “Neferet seduces my father and pretends to be his mate, but the only thing she really cares for is herself. Where he is filled with anger, she is filled with hatred. Hatred is a more dangerous ally.”
    “So you’re sure Neferet would betray Kalona to save herself?” Stevie Rae asked.
    “I am certain Neferet would betray anyone to save herself.”
    “What does she gain by turning in Kalona, especially if he’s all soulless and stuff?”
    “By giving him over to the High Council, she takes suspicion from herself,” he said.
    “Yeah, that makes sense. I know she wants Zoey dead. And she doesn’t care about Heath at all. Actually, Neferet would be cool with the fact that seeing Kalona about to kill Heath made Zoey throw the power of spirit at him and that
not
being able to stop Kalona caused her soul to shatter. Apparently, that’s just a half step away from death.”
    Rephaim’s eyes were suddenly sharp on hers. “Zoey attacked my father with the element spirit?”
    “Yeah, that’s what Lenobia and Dragon told me.”
    “Then he has been gravely wounded.” Rephaim looked away and didn’t say anything else.
    “Hey, you need to tell me what you know,” Stevie Rae said earnestly. When he didn’t speak, she sighed, and continued, “Okay, here’s my truth. I came here tonight ready to force you to talk to me about your daddy and the Otherworld and all that; but now that I’m here and actually talkin’ to you, I don’t want to
force
you.” Hesitantly, she touched his arm. His body jerked when her fingers met his skin, but he didn’t pull away. “Can’t we work together on this? Do you really want Zoey dead?”
    His eyes found hers again. “I have no reason to wish your friend’s death, but you do wish my father harm.”
    Stevie Rae blew out a breath of frustration. “How about this—how about I compromise in what I want. What if I told you I just want Kalona to leave all of us alone?”
    “I don’t know if that could ever be possible,” Rephaim said.
    “But it is possible for me to wish it. Right now, Zoey
and
Kalona are soulless. Now, I know your daddy’s an immortal, but it can’t be a good thing that his body’s just a shell.”
    “No, it is not a good thing.”
    “So let’s work together to see if we can get both of them back, and deal with what happens next when next actually happens.”
    “I can agree to that,” he said.
    “Good!” She squeezed his arm before taking her hand from him. “You said Kalona’s wounded. What did you mean?”
    “His body can’t be killed, but if his spirit is damaged, he is physically weakened. That is how A-ya was used to entrap him. His spirit was clouded with emotions for her. It confused and weakened him, and his body became vulnerable.”
    “And that’s how Neferet was able to dump him in front of the High