Poisoned By Deceit

By Anna Wolfe

Sooner or later, the past catches up. Summoned to the Bay area enclave, Edie knows her past mistakes are big enough to swallow her whole. Makeda DiBaba, the Bay Area enclave’s coven leader, member of the West Coast High Tribunal, and Edie’s ex-mother-in-law, was the one who exiled Edie from San Francisco in the first place. That the air witch now wants Edie to return can only mean trouble. Still, it would be foolish to refuse the summons of such a powerful witch. Edie can only hope that her assistance will be enough to make up for nearly killing Makeda DiBaba’s son and that the witch is no longer out for blood.

“There is another world touching ours that is filled with demons or, at least, that’s what we call them. They call themselves something else entirely, though that is neither here nor there. Every now and again, human beings manage to pull these demons through to our side. The human dies, of course, and the demon gets a person shaped suit to live in. We call these creatures the demonridden.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anna Wolfe
• Release date: Aug 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311645401

Anna Wolfe

I'm a college professor with a Ph.D. so new it squeaks. I have a husband, a heterolifemate, and two cats. I'm willing to try any food I've never eaten at least once. I have jumped out of a plane (awesome), blown fire (also awesome), learned that having accelerant soak into your sports bra hurts like hell, and am a pagan (please note that this does not mean I'm a satanist).

Book preview

POISONED BY DECEIT

Book 4 of The One Rises

by

Anna Wolfe

* * * * *

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2014 by Anna Wolfe

Cover Art by Jonathan Burkhardt and Kip Ayers

Editorial Work by Tara Schlagenhauf

Discover other titles at Anna Wolfe's Smashwords Page

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

The contents of this novel reflect the work and views of the author. The contents do not reflect the views of any other person or institution.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface

Chapter 1: Edie Carter

Chapter 2: Richard Kloss

Chapter 3: Mark Little

Chapter 4: Callie White

Chapter 5: Silas

Chapter 6: Silas

Chapter 7: Edie

Chapter 8: Hatter

Chapter 9: Edie

Chapter 10: Callie

Chapter 11: Silas

Chapter 12: Edie

Chapter 13: Callie

Chapter 14: Edie

Chapter 15: Mark

Chapter 16: Edie

Chapter 17: Edie

Chapter 18: Edie

Chapter 19: Mark

Chapter 20: Callie

Chapter 21: Silas

Chapter 22: Mark

Chapter 23: Callie

Chapter 24: Silas

Chapter 25: Silas

Chapter 26: Edie

Chapter 27: Silas

Chapter 28: Hyacinth Martel

Chapter 29: Silas

Chapter 30: Callie

Chapter 31: Callie

Chapter 32: Edie

Chapter 33: Mark

Chapter 34: Silas

Chapter 35: Callie

Chapter 36: Edie

Chapter 37: Richard

Chapter 38: Edie

Chapter 39: Edie

Chapter 40: Callie

Epilogue: Phaedon Papadapoulous

About the Author

Sample Chapter

Glossary

Preface

First, let's deal with the technical stuff. I denote thoughts by using italics. If, in the process of downloading this book, that formatting gets lost, you're going to be very confused. I've had some folks have difficulty with the formatting so below is a test italic sentence.

Is this sentence in italics? If so, yay! If not, something has gone awry.

Second, there's a glossary at the end of this book. I try to use the words I've developed for this world with enough context so you can figure out what's going on, but glossaries can be nice to have. Third, if you haven't read the first three books, you should still be able to enjoy this story (though I recommend checking out the other books, especially since the first one is free). Fourth, this book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language that is not appropriate for children. Finally, I've included a spoiler-free blurb to remind you all of where we left off in our story.

Bitten (Book 1)

Through acts of will, human beings can pull creatures from another world into our own. These creatures ride human bodies and possess wide-ranging sets of abilities. The demonridden are powerful, greedy, and always hungry. A human that has been bitten by a demonridden (and survives) develops their own demon-forced sets of abilities and appetites. Like their more powerful creators, the bitten mostly feed on human emotion: blood, sex, anger, fear, greed, joy, and so on. Some bitten serve their creators and others flee from the demonridden that created them.

In Bitten, Callie White enters into the shadow world of the demonridden and must figure out how to survive. After months of hiding on the streets of Chicago, a group of knowledgeable and well-trained bitten find Callie and begin to help her learn the skills she will need to remain in control of her abilities.

Oh, and there are witches: earth, fire, air, water and the clairvoyant spirit witches. Witches live in enclaves ruled by priests and priestesses. Two of the most powerful witches are the High Priestess (or Priest, depending on gender) and The Seer.

Addicted (Book 2)

Set six weeks after the first book, Callie is beginning to settle into her life as one of Silas' recruits. Life, however, is always complicated. There are many bitten in the North American Free Territories who believe that the demonridden should be destroyed. Others believe that safety lies in the magical binding (the Covenant) the witches used to defeat the demonridden at the end of the Great Demon War. Silas is dedicated to preserving the Covenant and many see him as the leader of the bitten. Those who would eliminate every demonridden, though it violates the Covenant, believe that Silas must be gotten rid of before they can succeed. As Silas' most conspicuous recruits, Callie, Mark, and Edie are caught up in machinations to change the balance of power among the free bitten.

We also learn of the One, an ancient demonridden that was forced into sleep approximately 5,000 years ago. Everybody is afraid of the One waking up and so the rules of the Covenant are different in Australia (where the One sleeps).

Ensnared by Magic (Book 3)

A month after the events in Book 2, Mark finds himself in the middle of a power struggle between the High Priestess and the Seer. While it is not entirely clear why the two witches are at loggerheads, the question of how to stop the One from rising is at the center of their disagreement and both women are prepared to sacrifice others to maintain power. The Seer agrees to help Silas cover up the fact that he killed one of the demonridden (something bitten are forbidden from doing under the Covenant).

***

Chapter 1: Edie Carter

He'll be here soon. The words echoed in the back of her head as she dressed, put on make-up, and slipped on her jewelry. Her fingers shook as she rubbed lotion into her hands. Pressing her hands into her stomach, Edie silently admonished herself. Stop being ridiculous. You aren't going to see him. This isn't a reunion. This is a test.

Still, a part of her was jumping with excitement. In a matter of minutes, her ex-husband would be in the house. It would be the first time they'd been on the same coast in years. Asad had called the day before and said that he had a message to deliver. He'd specifically requested that she be a part of the conversation. At first, Edie had refused to take the risk. It had been Silas who had suggested that this was an opportunity to test herself.

So here I am, hiding in my room, with a baby monitor. If she didn't believe it was necessary, it would be funny. I almost killed Asad once. I won't do it again. All I have to do is stay in this room and don't try to reach him with my power. I can do this. I can.

The others—Callie, Mark, and Hatter—had been ordered to stay in the large outbuilding that housed the gym. And we can only hope they don't burn the place to the ground. All three of them could find trouble in the dark. The sound of the doorbell set the hairs on her arms on end. Please, lord, don't let me mess this up. Please.

The first sound of Asad's voice, even over the crackling baby monitor, had her halfway across the room. Her power awoke, blooming over her skin as if it were alive. Edie's muscles cramped as she stopped herself. She could hear her breath, a ragged panting, and sweat began to bead on her forehead and back. It took several minutes for her to get her breathing back under control. By the time Edie eased back onto the bed, her muscles shook like she'd just finished a long run and Silas and Asad seemed to have moved past the introductory pleasantries.

Priestess Makeda Dibaba summons you to the Bay Area enclave. Asad said the words in a clipped, formal tone. It is imperative you arrive quickly.

To what end? Silas asked the question blandly though Edie knew he'd be annoyed at being so peremptorily ordered around. Outside of a High Tribunal, the witches didn't really have the power to demand assistance from any of the bitten. And yet, it was often a bad idea to aggravate the witch community. That went double for the priests and priestesses who headed up enclaves and sat in judgment in the tribunals. And triple for the mother of the man I nearly killed. It would be difficult after all of these years, but Makeda could still make a great deal of trouble for me among the witches. Much more than she already has.

I'm not supposed to tell you, Asad replied and then he laughed. It was a bitter, wry sound. Not that I know much. My mother doesn't trust me.

Edie flinched. And that is my fault too. Like his mother, Asad was an air witch. Unlike his mother, he wasn't a particularly powerful one. Still, Edie had learned that feeding on Asad tasted better than anything else. She didn't know if that was true of all witches because she'd been too afraid to ever feed off a witch again. Not that one has ever invited me before or after Asad.

Makeda should be calling on Ina. Silas said the words evenly though there was a question implied in the statement. The enforcers were stretched thin at the moment, only ten active in the North American Free Territories, and so often helped each other pick up the slack. That said, San Francisco was technically Ina's responsibility.

Asad let out a more honest chuckle that made Edie's gut clench. It's been so long since I heard him laugh. Those two get along about as well as a fork and an electric socket. My mother thinks she has a hold on you, that's why she's calling you. Besides, Ina's in LA, cleaning up after Giwetashskad.

Silas made a dismissive hissing sound. Your mother sent you here. There was a pause and Edie could almost see Silas' gesturing at the house around him. To this place, near the woman who nearly killed you, to tell me that? A phone call would have sufficed.

There was a long silence and then Asad said, I sent myself. I need to talk to Edith alone.

No. Silas' refusal was immediate.

Asad's sigh was long. Even through the crackling baby monitor, she could hear his annoyance. You don't have to leave the house, but you do need to leave the room. She and I need to have words.

Fear clenched in her chest like an icy fist.

After a moment, Silas let out a sigh of his own. Tell your mother my people will arrive in three days. I will be nearby if you need anything. Either of you.

For several heartbeats, there was only the hissing sound of the monitor. Then she heard the sound of a chair creaking and Asad's voice was suddenly louder and clearer. I know the privacy is an illusion; Silas has ears like a bat, but I couldn't do this with him looking at me. And I need to do this.

Then he stopped talking and Edie wished she could see his face. It would be easier to tell what might be coming next. Finally, he spoke again.

I forgive you. For what happened. Asad spoke quietly and then was silent again.

Edie pressed her fist against her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes.

I should have called you sooner and told you that. I just… He stopped again.

Edie closed her eyes and shook her head. She didn't want him to say he'd hated her too much. I should have realized that my abilities were expanding. I should have seen something had changed. I'm so sorry.

I kept thinking it would get better. We'd get better, have another shot at being together. Asad let out a sharp, wheezing laugh. Then I'd have another attack and need you so badly. That's never going to change. I love you, I forgive you, and this is as close as we're ever going to get. Edith, I have to move on with my life. His voice broke on her name.

The pressure around her chest tightened until she bowed her head and pressed her face into her hands. She knew he was right. A part of her was always reaching for him and she knew she wouldn't be able to stop. He tasted too good. Even now, she wanted to go downstairs so badly her body shook.

That's it. That's why I came. And my nephew's missing. That's why she's calling you guys out there and something crazy has to be going on for her to want outside help. Take care of yourself, Edith.

And just like that, he was gone. Really gone. Edie had known it was over between her and Asad for a while. A long while, she made herself admit. Still, it had hurt to hear him confirm it.

Silas hovered in the doorway. Edie?

She shook her head violently, but kept her face hidden. No! She didn't want to be touched or have to look anyone in the eye. Edie didn't have to look up to know that Silas was gone. He wouldn't stay where he wasn't invited. But he'll be hovering somewhere near in case I lose it. The knowledge made her feel angry and grateful at the same time.

The warmth that was her link to Luis Rivera stirred and expanded. She found herself relaxing into the sensation before jerking herself upright. With effort, she compressed the bond between them. The tie between them was still new, barely a month old, and Edie still wasn't sure how it worked. I can't feed on him, not until I'm sure he'll be safe. I can't be wrong again. I just… can't.

***

Chapter 2: Richard Kloss

The spicy, warm scent of chili greeted Richard as he entered his home. That smells delicious, he called out to his husband. He set his bag down and pulled his boots off with a grateful groan.

Tom flipped the TV off and stood up. Seemed like a day for it. Outside, the wind whistled through bare trees and over bare earth, whipping the first snowflakes of the first snowstorm in swirls. How were the hooligans today?

Richard pulled the lid off the pot bubbling on the stove and took a deep, appreciative whiff. Pretty good. No fights at least. He’d been working with troubled youth for years and found the work rewarding if stressful. He was also heavily involved in maintaining the witch enclave in the area and that carried its own stresses. Most days, he was glad the home he shared with Tom was such a good place to be. Tom leaned in for a kiss and Richard was only too happy to oblige him.

Richard wrapped his arms around his husband. Did she come out of her room today?

Tom sighed and shrugged, For lunch but not much more than that.

Several weeks ago, their coven leader—former coven leader, Richard amended in his head—had gone to New York in an ultimately vain attempt to repair her relationship with her girlfriend. Mimi had done so against the orders of one of the highest ranking members of the witch community, the High Priestess. That Hyacinth was also Mimi’s mother had not stopped the High Priestess from stripping Mimi of her position. Mimi had come back heartbroken and the loss of the coven leadership had been the straw that broke the camel’s back. She’d shown up on their door in tears, gotten into bed in the guest room, and barely gotten up since.

For the time being, Hyacinth was acting as the coven leader of the White Mountain enclave and many of the witches were unhappy about it. The High Priestess wasn’t supposed to be a coven leader of any enclave. She belonged to the whole community and was supposed to be traveling, resolving disputes, and maintaining the balance of power with the demonridden and their pets.

Richard made a tsking sound and shook his head. I don’t know what to do.

Give her time, love. Tom squeezed his arms tight for a moment and then pulled away. That’s the only cure for a broken heart.

I don’t know that I can wait that long. Richard kept the thought to himself and leaned over to kiss Tom again.

The High Priestess had disrupted his life in nearly every way possible. She’d broken his Circle by forbidding anyone from working with Mimi and sending the only other spirit witch and her boyfriend to another enclave. Despite turning his life on its head, the High Priestess had no problem demanding his assistance anytime she felt like it. Last week, he’d balked and they’d had a blazing fight. I don’t care if she was the White Mountain coven leader for years. She was condescending, vague, and her demands grated on his nerves. I’m not some child to be ordered about.

When Richard had broached the possibility of moving to another enclave, Tom had refused to even discuss it. Tom liked New Hampshire and his job as a forest ranger. And yet, if the High Priestess didn’t appoint someone else to be coven leader, Richard wasn’t sure he could stand to stay. While Tom was a sensate, he was neither strong enough nor had enough control to be considered a witch. It made him feel left out sometimes, but it also meant that Tom didn’t have to deal with most of the enclave politics.

The doorbell rang and through the glass, Richard could see the High Priestess. Think of the devil and the devil appears.

As he opened the door, Richard asked, What do you want now?

Hyacinth looked over his shoulder at Tom and said, "Give us the