T*Witches: Dead Wrong Read Free Page B

—”
    “And as their desire to protect and help others grows,” Ileana complained, “so does their recklessness.”
    “Indeed,” Karsh teased her, “they are very much like their guardian.”
    Fifteen years ago, on the day the twins were born, their father was murdered and their mother disappeared.
    No one had understood why Karsh urged the Coventry Island Unity Council to appoint Ileana, then a teenager herself, the twins’ guardian. The entire coven had thought Karsh was crazy to put the infants’ welfare in the hands of one so immature and irresponsible. But Karsh was Ileana’s guardian. And he’d promised the Council he’d guide her in the awesome task — though, even then, he’d had faith in Ileana’s talent and goodness.
    And, indeed, together they had kept the extraordinary little witches alive — against great odds. Their uncle Lord Thantos had been searching for the girls ever since the day he killed their father. It was Karsh and Ileana who separated the twins, sending one to be reared in Montana, the other to Massachusetts, where they now both lived in the charming seaside town of Marble Bay.
    Ileana carried the potion to him. “Look at you,” she clucked mournfully as he took the herbs she’d mixed. “You’re skin and bones. If only that madman had given you your tonic. If only I’d saved you sooner. If only I’d been there when you were taken by his moronic brother —”
    She was speaking of the twins’ hateful uncles, Lord Thantos and his foul-smelling brother, Fredo. They had kidnapped Karsh in yet another attempt to capture the twins.
    Suddenly, the terrible sureness that something evil was happening assaulted Ileana again. But it was happening far away, she thought. Nowhere near Coventry Island and her beloved, bedridden guardian. But was it near the twins? Were Alexandra and Camryn in harm’s way?
    Once more, the terrorized voice intruded on her thoughts. She listened to it begging for mercy. Scrambling on its haunches across a carpetless floor. Nails clawing, boots scraping, as it propelled itself inside an echoing metal container. A railroad boxcar? No, something stationary, without wheels. Something that sat run-down and isolated in a snowbound field.
    Who was it? Where was it coming from? A frozen place with vast mountains and big sky. It could be anywhere.
    Except Marble Bay, she realized with relief. There was no hint of salt water, no cawing of seabirds.
    Confident that the girls were safe, Ileana turned to face Karsh. “Brice! Yes, Brice Stanley, the warlock movie star. I was supposed to visit him in California weeks ago. Big mistake! Naturally, I had to hustle off to Massachusetts to save our trouble-prone little witches. Then I had to single-handedly rescue you from that kidnapping mess.”
    “I’m sorry to have inconvenienced you,” Karsh sighed. “Why don’t you visit your friend Brice now?” he suggested. “Lord Grivveness or Lady Rhianna can stop by to prepare my herbs and —”
    “That is precisely what I plan to do!” Ileana announced. “Lady Rhianna, indeed!” she muttered. “That plump old dumpling of a witch can’t take care of you. Not the way I do.”
    Karsh tried not to grin.
    “Anyway, I’m not going to California,” Ileana huffed. “I can’t — ”
    “Why?” Karsh asked anxiously. “Are the twins in trouble again?”
    “No. Because Brice isn’t there. He’s making a movie in Mexico! It has nothing to do with our dear little T’Witches.”
    “T’Witches?”
    “Oh, didn’t you know?” Ileana asked. “That’s what they call themselves. Twins. Witches. T’Witches.”
    “How clever.” Karsh grinned.
    “They are certainly that. Too clever, if you ask me,” Ileana allowed. “Which, I know, you didn’t.” She sighed theatrically. “Well, at least you won’t have to worry about them for a while. For a change — a very refreshing change — they’re safe and settled in Marble Bay.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    THE HOMECOMING
    “There