Phoebe Kilsen was temporarily trapped in an alternate universe and could not return to her world unless the woman who took her place came back. Only her brother Seth knew who she really was but warned her to remain silent for now or Eadric Allcot would kill her. It was rather ironic since Phoebe was a vampire hunter and Allcot, her husband in this reality, was a vampire! Every time he touched her thigh under the table, she was ready to kill him.
After helping with the dishes, Phoebe went upstairs to the room she allegedly shared with Allcot. Her thoughts turned to Dax, her shifter partner she loved and wanted to return to. Was he with that other Phoebe? Would he realize it wasn’t the Phoebe he knew? How would she avoid Allcot tonight? She found an adjoining room with familiar magic and was relieved. As she read through an unfamiliar spell, something cold touched the pulse in her neck! She hadn’t heard Allcot come in and step up behind her. She shoved him back as she said his name – only to have him grab her and announce that she was not Phoebe because she never called him ‘Allcot’. Then he bit her neck and drank from her until he threw her against the wall in a rage!
Dazed, Phoebe heard him ask who she had been drinking from? Her blood tasted of others. She remembered the transfusion she had gotten after her bullet wound back in her world. How could she control this escalating situation? Seth had told her Allcot thought they were trying for kids, so she told him the taste was from herbs the healer used to increase her fertility. He was immediately regretful of his actions and tried to kiss her. She shoved him back and used this situation to tell him she wanted no part of him and refused to sleep in his bed. He was angry, but at least she had postponed having to deal with his lust. When Seth came to see her, he told her Allcot maybe wasn’t’ as bad as she thought. The raid tomorrow on Clio La Doux’s castle would free many women Clio had forced into prostitution. So Allcot was trying to do some good. And if that didn’t convince her, he gave her the list the vampire Kai had prepared for him of those Clio had entrapped – the name at the top of the list was her best friend Willow Rhoswen!
Back in the “other world”, Dax is definitely noticing some strange things and is becoming suspicious of Phoebe. It’s hard to reconcile the Phoebe he cares for with the one he suspects could be murdering shifters with a death spell. How will he find out the truth? What can he do to fix things again?
This was another well-written, wonderful book from Deanna Chase, the third book in the Last Witch Standing series. The reader is dealing with so many possible outcomes in both universes as Allcot prepares to battle Clio La Doux in one while Dax tries to determine who is killing the shifters in the other universe. Phoebe’s fate is also up in the air until they can get her doppelgänger to return to swap places – assuming that’s a wise move with the suspicious murders! The story lines in both worlds are exciting and fast-paced. The characters are familiar but maybe not in the same way now! This is a seriously good story that you won’t want to miss!