Witches Be Burned: A Magic & Mayhem Novel by Stacey Kennedy Page A

time she finished retelling that particular horror, Thalia snickered and clapped her hands. “That is magnificent. To know Lazarus met such a terrible end is wonderful news!”
    Nexi didn’t disagree with her, but still…“And you hated him because…”
    Thalia settled the fabric of her dress over her knee and fiddled with the front buttons. Nexi glanced sideways, scowling at Kyden, declaring he would die a painful death if he looked at that leg or anywhere near her breasts where she played with those damn buttons.
    His smirk appeared along with his arrogant arching brow.
    Frustrated that he seemed to be enjoying this, she turned to Thalia as the Mistress replied, “Lazarus’s plan would’ve overthrown me and the other Mistresses. If you had failed to defeat him and he gained the power from your blood, we would’ve joined our forces to destroy him.” She hesitated, then added, “I’m glad we didn’t have to resort to such measures. My regime is my family. To lose any of them would’ve been a terrible loss for me.”
    The reminder of what Nexi had lost during Lazarus’s reign of terror clawed at her heart. She had lost so much—
too much.
Looking at her hands in her lap, she pulled in that sense of loss, doing what she could to survive it. Then a breeze swept across her face, fluttering her hair and lifting her head.
    Thalia was now an inch away. “Jesus,” Nexi blasted, pressing her back against the couch. “Don’t do that!”
    Thalia’s eyes literally danced. “Did I startle you?”
    “Yes!” Nexi placed her hand against her hammering heart. “You old—” She stopped herself, nearly proving Kyden and Zia right from their earlier conversation. “I cannot get past how fast you powerful vampires move. Please walk in normal speeds that my eyes can see.”
    Kyden barked a laugh.
    The soft lighting in the room drifted across the beautiful lines of Thalia’s face as her expression became perplexed. Zia explained, “Nexi is still very new to the ways of supernaturals and is adjusting.”
    The Mistress Vampire didn’t laugh or pay attention to Zia. Her sole focus remained on Nexi. “I saw your pain when I mentioned my family. I’m sorry if I upset you—that was not my intention.” Her voice became tender, and her brow drew together with her frown. “You lost someone, didn’t you?”
    Nexi swallowed back emotion. “My entire family.”
    Darkness filled Thalia’s eyes when she took Nexi’s hand, and the move was so fast that Nexi couldn’t have avoided it. It never occurred to her before how cold vampires were, probably because she didn’t go out of her way to touch them. She hadn’t had great relationships with vampires thus far, expect for Zade—simply because she
knew
he was a good guy. But Thalia’s hands sent shivers right through her, far from pleasant.
    “My sympathies are with you for your loss,” Thalia said softly. “It’s terrible when you lose loved ones.” She inhaled deeply as if in regret, but she stiffened almost in the same second. Her expression tightened, becoming hungry, as she leaned in closer to Nexi and drew in another deep breath.
    Nexi, alarmed by Thalia’s closeness, asked, “What the hell are you doing?”
    “Smelling you.” Thalia lifted her nose, taking another savoring deep sniff as if Nexi were the most sensual flower. “Your blood has a wonderfully sweet scent to it.” Eyes back on Nexi, her fangs poked out from beneath her lip. “Mind if I have a taste?”
    Nexi jerked her head toward Kyden and muttered, “She is seriously not suggesting I’m here for her to snack on?”
    His mouth twitched. “I believe she is asking that, yes.”
    Horrified by even the suggestion, Nexi snapped at Thalia, “I sure as hell do mind.” No beating around the bush, she was
not
on the menu. “There will be none of that, like, ever!”
    “Shame.” Thalia practically pouted and returned to her seat, shrugging halfheartedly. “That’s an interesting scent you