[Southern Arcana 3.0] Deadlock by Moira Rogers Page B

alone. “She’s better off staying here because I am a threat. I can keep her from hurting herself, and no one in this city can get past me to lay a finger on her.”
    The kid didn’t guard his thoughts well. Alec could almost see him running through the possibilities and questions, analyzing his own resources in comparison. Finally, he nodded. “If she wants to stay, all right. All I can do is find someplace to hole up here or take her back to Charleston.”
    It was a concession, and Alec accepted it. “Why don’t you come inside and check on her?”
    “Thanks.” He headed through the open door.
    Jackson drove his fingers through his hair and pitched his voice low. “I got nothing on the witch, even after calling everyone I know all afternoon, which is damn strange.”
    It was damn scary . Alec stepped back into the house and gestured for Jackson to follow him. “What about Mahalia? Is she still in New York?”
    Something odd flashed in Jackson’s eyes. “Actually, she’s out at Luciano’s ranch.”
    John Peyton was in Wyoming too, celebrating the birth of his grandson. “With the Alpha? Or visiting Nicole and Michelle?”
    “Not sure,” Jackson hedged. “Peyton could have asked her to be there in case Michelle’s magic went wonky during the delivery.”
    It was a fair enough reason. “I suppose Michelle’s the first Seer to give birth since… Hell, probably since Zola was born.”
    “Probably.” Jackson eased onto a stool at the kitchen island and braced his elbows on the counter. “Anyway, I called her. She’s looking into it.”
    Mahalia had more magical connections than Jackson—as she should, since she’d been the one to train him—but it could take days for her to reach out. Days Carmen would be suffering. “I don’t know what the fuck is going on. She’s acting like a new wolf. Exactly like a new wolf—except she should have changed by now.”
    “Magic’s a tricky thing.”
    “Ain’t it just?” Alec leaned back against the sink and tilted his head toward Carmen’s room. “The brother gonna be trouble?”
    Jackson shrugged. “I don’t think so. He hasn’t been bringing the alpha bullshit. He’s been pretty reasonable, considering the circumstances.”
    Alec had already thumbed through his mental file on the man, sparse though it was. Most of the gossip surrounding Julio seemed to involve one of two things—the scandal his father had caused by bedding a psychic, or the scandals Julio had caused by bedding the daughters of far too many important men.
    None of it hinted as to how he might react now, when the situation was serious. Frustrated, Alec changed the subject. “The Conclave sent a few men to pick up the bastard who attacked Kat. One headache gone, at least.”
    “We’ve still got enough to go around.”
    “Seems to be the way of things. Trouble follows supernaturals.”
    “It follows us or we make it or something. All I know is—”
    “She’ll barely wake up.” Julio stood in the doorway, his hands clenched into fists. “What did they do to her?”
    The wrong word or move could trigger a fight. Alec eased upright, but kept his voice level. “We’re trying to figure that out. Maybe now that you’re here, we can divide and conquer.”
    Jackson stayed perfectly still. “Could your family do something like this? Try to turn your sister into a wolf?”
    It took the kid a moment to speak. “My uncle doesn’t trust spell casters, but he wouldn’t hesitate to use one.”
    He hadn’t answered the question, and Alec felt the first tug of sympathy. It was hard to admit your family capable of evil, especially for a shapeshifter. Pack was supposed to matter. Family was supposed to matter.
    Not for humans and halfbreeds, apparently. “I can’t take care of your sister and shake down your family for info.”
    “Shakedowns don’t work on Cesar Mendoza.” Julio’s eyes glinted with anger and a hint of satisfaction. “But I know what will.”

    Carmen woke in a