And while the bedroom had only basic furnishings, there was an antique, faded rug that gave the room a sense of richness. The old dresser, the bedside table and lamp—they might be used, but they were all quality pieces.

She walked to the bed and sat beside him. “Who are you really?”

His arm obscured half his face and highlighted the sensuality of his firm mouth. “I’ve been Josiah Mason for the past forty years. I carefully targeted the DA position and constructed and executed a successful campaign strategy to win the election.”

Did that really answer her question? A chill went down the back of her neck as she thought of how he had worded his reply and what he didn’t say.

And very Powerful witches could live much longer than the normal human life span. He had told her that himself.

She asked quietly, “What was your original name?”

“That was a long time ago, and it belonged to a different man.”

“Was it Russian?”

No answer. He lifted his forearm to frown at her. “What are you doing up, anyway? You should still be out.”

“I dreamed about Austin’s attack. It woke me up.” She rested her folded hands in her lap. “I may not be an expert on what safe houses should look like, but even I can tell this place isn’t normal.”

“No, Molly. It is not.” He let his forearm rest against his eyes again.

The food sat uneasily in her stomach, and she fought against the urge to lie down. She had too many questions she needed to have answered. “Why are there protection spells all over the basement? Why not the rest of the house?”

“The ground helps to absorb and hide the magic. The protection spells might be sensed if they were aboveground.”

“And for some reason you need the protection, because… because Atlanta is a place of interest to a certain dangerous Power, isn’t it?” She thought of all the security monitors in the other room, and for the first time she felt like she was starting to piece together the bits of what he had told her over the past several weeks. She asked, “Possibly something or someone that might love to sink its teeth into someone’s bones and suck the magic out of them like sucking the juice out of a ripe peach?”

“I really wish you were asleep. You’re too smart for your own fucking good.” He sighed. “I have news.”

Dread felt heavy on her overstressed body. “What’s happened?”

He sat in a fluid motion and turned to face her. “Austin’s dead.”

It hit her like a punch. If she was so smart, why hadn’t she seen that one coming? Through numb lips, she asked, “Did I kill him?”