My gut churned as I glanced at Adam and he groaned and rolled onto his side. Carl still held his gun with its sights aimed right at him.
I didn’t feel my own aches and pains. Instead it was as if I felt every bruise on Adam’s body as I stared at him.
“I actually believe you.” Smith turned and walked away from me. He glanced over his shoulder at me. “Now to put my plan into action.
“Metamorphs won’t be screwed around with anymore.” Smith drew a Glock from his cop’s duty belt and aimed it at Adam’s head. “And I’m finished screwing with you, Tracker.” Smith leveled his gaze on Adam. “If you lied to me, here’s what will happen to your friend DeSantos.”
“Olivia?” I said, but then my mind spun as Smith’s aim followed Adam’s movements as my lover shifted and groaned again.
Smith squeezed the trigger.
A loud report echoed in the kitchen.
I screamed.
Blood splattered the kitchen walls.
Horror and shock made my head spin as Adam’s body slumped facedown in a lifeless mass on the floor.
“You—” I gagged on useless words as I stared at Adam’s body. In my mind spun thoughts of You promised and You lied. Stupid, worthless words.
“Have your fun, Carl,” I heard Smith say, but his words were muffled by the emotions flaring in my mind.
Fury grew inside me along with the pain I felt at Adam’s murder. The feelings were so great, so intense, that for a moment I thought I might be able to break free of the elemental cuffs now and make Smith pay for what he’d done.
I fought my bonds and snarled as I turned to look back at Smith. He was gone.
“Aw.” The female Metamorph, Becky, moved toward me like a sleek cat. Her high-pitched little girl voice made me want to strangle her. “Did your human playtoy go bye-bye?”
The Drow curse words I let rip the air would have cut her to pieces if they had been knives.
“Tom is a brilliant male.” Becky smiled as she toyed with a heart charm bracelet on her slim wrist. “After tonight, not only will Metamorphs have a place on the council, but Tom will be elected by the council as chief.”
“Have you taken your delusional pill?” I said as I stared at her. “Because you’re not in any existing reality.”
“His plan is perfect.” She maintained her amused smile. “All he needed to know was the exact location before sundown because everyone is ready to play their part.”
For now I had to ignore what had happened to Adam and try to figure out what was going on so that I could stop the Metamorphs. Whatever it was, it wasn’t good. “Play what parts?” I asked.
Becky sat on one of the chairs near me and crossed her legs at her knees. “As each council member arrives at the entrance to the Paranorm Center, a Metamorph will be waiting to take his or her place. The only one who won’t be replaced will be the chief. She’s needed to conduct the meeting and to report our victory afterward, you see.”
Robocop Carl looked nervous. “Miss Becky—”
The female waved him off. “The council guards will also be replaced. Counsel Chief Leticia and the Dryads will never know the difference.”
Chills turned into goose bumps that prickled my skin. “Then what?” I asked very slowly.
She gave a delicate shrug. “The meeting will be held and votes will be cast as to whether to allow Metamorphs on the council. The meeting was already set to include determining whether or not Witches can be represented on the council. Allowing Metamorphs on will be like letting the Witches have a representative.” She gave a triumphant grin. “It’s a perfect plan.”