“Ha. Ha. Now I’ve laughed, and your Irish ego should be soothed.” He sobered and it was my turn to chuckle.
“Mark?”
“Oh! Right. Sorry, sir. It’s just, you’ve never laughed this much—”
Hellion cleared his throat and blushed. I was charmed and reached out to touch his hand. He jerked it back, and I felt comforted by the knee-jerk reaction. Finally, I thought, something I understand.
Mark strode out of the room and returned with an envelope. “This came for you this afternoon, sir, before you returned.”
It was a letter addressed simply “H.”
I leaned forward to watch Hellion open the letter. A lock of long, blond hair bound in blue string fell out, and black spots danced in front of my eyes.
“Too coincidental to even be funny,” I whispered. Hellion’s hair was so thick it would take forever to find where it had been clipped from, if the spot could be found at all.
He never flinched, never blanched, just opened the letter and read it, leaving the hair lying on the floor. He refolded the letter, handed it over to me and walked out of the room without a word.
I unfolded it and, sitting back down, I read.
Hellion.
Steer clear of the American whore. I realize she’s a rousing good romp with Gretta gone, but the traitorous bitch is slated to meet a suitable end just as the fair Mary Stuart did.
Mary Stuart, known as Mary Queen of Scots, had ruled France and Scotland in the 1500s before being tried for and found guilty of treason. She had been beheaded. The girls who had been profiled and killed had nearly been beheaded. It took practice to get someone’s head lopped off. Shit.
Hellion walked back in, his face flushed and his knuckles bloodied on his left hand. “Madeleine?” he asked, holding his good hand out to me.
I rose and walked to him, handing him the letter. He turned to Mark and said, “Put this in the library safe. Not a word to anyone, even the other staff, about what was in that letter. Set some basic wards while we’re gone and open the door to no one. Use the hair that was cut to bind and strengthen the spell. Understand?”
“Perfectly, sir.” He held his hand out for the letter and then bent to pick up the hair.
“Can I see it before you go?” I asked, holding out my hand for the small bundle of hair. One end had been cut with a sharp blade of some type because all the ends were even and smooth, though whether it had been done with a knife or scissors was anyone’s guess. I handed the hair back to Mark, who tucked it in the envelope and silently left the room.
“Who are these people?” I asked, slightly stunned at the efficiency with which they all followed orders.
“All the houses are staffed with long-time members of my coven. Now, what are you thinking, Maddy?” Hellion moved to stand behind me and rub my shoulders.
“I’m thinking this is the first time the killer has screwed up. It’s the first real clue we’ve got, Hellion.” I reached back to pat his hand. He let me go and I turned to face him, my eyes fierce. “There’s something in there—I just need to think it through. Give me a day or two, and in the meantime, find me somewhere else to stay.”
He immediately protested. “I won’t consider it. I can’t help you if I can’t protect you.”
“Let me be very clear. I don’t want you to protect me. If you intend to help me with this case, then help. But don’t assume I’m some incompetent, male-dependent damsel who needs to be rescued. It just isn’t the case.” His face closed down, eyes cooled to flat black, his features taking on a hard edge. “Look, I realize you don’t know me well enough to know I’m not waiting on my knight to arrive, but I’m not. It’s just not my speed. I’ve had three years of martial arts training, I’m learning to be proficient with a dirk and dagger, and I intend to get better with a gun. And I’ve managed so far to survive a couple of serious fights. So it’s up to you. Either be a partner in this or don’t. Your call.” I held my breath. It was a tough speech from someone who would have to ask to use the phone to call a cab if he gave me a fare-thee-well.
A bundle of muscles ticked at the hinge of his jaw. “Fine. It’s after eight. We need to be off, Madeleine.”
I involuntarily looked at the clock above the mantle. Where had the time gone?
“If it’s not too heroic of me, I’d suggest you take a jacket tonight. Will you go and fetch it yourself or should I have Mark retrieve it?”
I ignored the sarcasm. No need to pick an unnecessary fight. “I’ll get it. Be right back.” I ran up the stairs, my mind in a totally different place. I walked into the bedroom and sniffed, smelling something strange, like singed hair. I followed the smell to the bathroom where it intensified. I’d have to mention the odd smell to Hellion. Before the idea could cement itself there was a scratching at the windowpane, and the hair on the back of my neck stood up. Turning, I caught movement from the corner of my eye. I looked toward the window but there was nothing there. I crept to the windowpane and looked out. I couldn’t see anything except darkness. I retreated to the chair by the bed and retrieved my jacket.
“Maddy,” Hellion yelled up the stairs.
“Coming.” I raced down the stairs away from the creepy feeling of being watched, the odd smell long forgotten.
Chapter Nine
Hellion materialized with me in a small circle within Avebury Henge. There were about twenty witches and wizards already gathered within the stone circle, and to the last person they went down on bended knee and bowed their heads. I looked at Hellion, confused, only to find his response baffled me further. He looked impossibly moved, as shocked at their response to our arrival as the day Odin had delivered his message in person.
“What are they doing?” I asked quietly.
“Declaring their oath of fealty to you.”
I stared at all of them and cleared my throat. “Please.” With my voice still raspy, I had to clear my throat again. “Please stand. I’m no different from any of you.”
Hellion stepped in front of me and gently lifted my chin so he could search my face, finally settling on my eyes. “You’re wrong, anamchara. You’re quite different. I’m the coven master of all of Europe, and you’re both the Niteclif and my proclaimed soul mate.”
“Oh.” I’d known Hellion was near the top of the world of magic’s hierarchal pyramid. I hadn’t known he was the pinnacle. I was as shocked about that little revelation as I was about the “proclaimed soul mate” statement. Too much, too fast.
The coven members rose as one body and moved forward to congratulate us. Gossip apparently traveled fast among members of the coven if they knew I’d parked my stuff at his place and we’d had a visit from Odin.
We were still receiving well wishes when I felt the first brush of cold power, a creeping thing that made me search the darkness. I turned to the south before I could see anything. How I knew without a doubt the power was approaching from that direction was beyond me, but I was sure. “What is that?” I rubbed my arms to ward of the chill, but it was ineffective. It wasn’t that kind of cold.
“Your sensory powers are developing, Maddy.” Hellion seemed pleased. “We’ll discuss what I know of this after the meeting. For now, open your senses and pay attention, but say nothing.”
Open my senses? I hadn’t been able to open my wallet at lunch with him around. Open my senses, I snarked to myself.
Hellion took my hand and closed his eyes, and I felt him unfurl something gigantic. Unseen yet overwhelming, its impact was felt by everyone inside the circle. All eyes shifted to him, even if only briefly.
“What you feel, or sense, are vampires,” he said. “Stay close to the center of the circle until we’re sure how many there are.”
I swallowed hard and nodded. I didn’t have a good track record with vampires, so I’d follow orders like a good little soldier. The key would be to keep my mouth from making runaway promises or asinine threats.
A dozen or so pale faces emerged from the darkness, moving in a blur of speed
. They stopped just outside the circle. It felt as if they were assessing prey, and I didn’t like where that put me on the food chain.
“Darius. Good to see you, man.” Hellion raised a hand in welcome.
The vampire, Darius, stepped into the circle, and I looked at him closely. He was beautiful in the way of vampires, with pale skin, deliciously dark brown eyes, chin-length dark hair and a body that moved with fluid grace. I was disappointed he wore all black, no matter how well-suited he seemed to the color. Darius approached us and nodded to Hellion, shaking his hand and passing him something shiny. Hellion never reacted, never moved, but the object was gone. Simple magic, probably, but I was curious.
Seeing me open my mouth, Darius reached out and took my hand and squeezed. As far as warnings went, it was both discreet and effective. “Madeleine Niteclif, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” His voice was reminiscent of great sex and dirty secrets.
“I hope to be able to say the same of you, Darius.”
Hellion winced but Darius laughed, clapping the other man on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about honesty. I’d want nothing less from the Niteclif.”
“Who is your nomination for Imeena’s position on the Council?” Hellion pushed his hands deep in his pockets, and I wondered if he was depositing the mystery object.
Darius looked almost pained. “I am.”
Hellion shook his head and smiled ruefully, a dimple gracing his left cheek. “You avoided it as long as you were able. You’ll be affirmed, Darius, I’m sure of it. Welcome aboard, Voyyah of London.” They exchanged more newsworthy information and, as they were talking, I let my mind wander to the murders. I’d have to Google them when I got home tonight and check out the latest news for public consumption.
Sarenia showed up next. She wove through the clusters of people quickly and came straight to us. Her eyes gleamed with some sort of fanatical light. “Maddy? You are well?”
“I’m fine. Why?”
“Good, good.” She walked away without answering me, moving to take a seat near the edge of the circle. She kept scanning the darkness, her hands folding and unfolding the silk of her dress until it was a wadded mess.
It only took a few minutes of watching her agitated behavior before I started after her. Hellion snagged the sleeve of my jacket, stopping me before I took more than a couple of short steps. I started to ask him to let me go until I saw the worry on his face.
“The shifters are here but they’re hanging back, Maddy. Stay close, please.” He bent to me under the pretense of kissing my ear and said, “Darius has left most of his people in the hills surrounding the circle.”
I turned into his lips. “Sure.” To anyone but the vampire at our sides we appeared to be nothing more than lovers.
As we waited, time took on a surreal quality. It was punctuated not by seconds or minutes but rather by snippets of overheard conversation, the fluid movement of people in and out of the circle and the laughter of flirtatious maneuvering, both sexual and political. I felt the dynamic shift in the group just before the heat crawled over my skin. Hellion stayed next to me but freed his hands and made sure we both had room to maneuver. He bent and pulled a small dirk from his boot and handed it to me. I took it without comment. Eventually I was going to have to get my own damn knife or, preferably, a gun.
“Dragon,” he said, confirming my worst fears.
Aiden and his mother, Adelle, walked into the circle. They were followed by about twenty dragons of various colors. Overhead movement caught my eye, and I saw three forms lazily circling in the air. The dragons on the ground, both males and females of several weyr, glanced over at me. A disproportionate number of them wore openly hostile expressions. I opened my mouth to say something, but Darius grabbed my hand and squeezed just as Hellion bent to kiss me.
“Sorry,” he whispered against my cold lips. “I need you to be very quiet.”
I nodded. I definitely needed someone to walk me through this maze of strategy and politics.
Sarenia stood and moved to greet the dragons. They exchanged warm words with her before they turned as a group to face Hellion and me. “Patience, my friends,” Sarenia cautioned.
Never one to take advice from the other team, I called out, “Aiden, good to see you again.” I stepped in front of Hellion slightly, and I felt him move directly up to my shoulder and drape his arm casually around me. “How was your afternoon after you left Hellion’s place?”
Aiden looked pained as his mother hissed something at him that was too low for us to hear. Darius stepped up behind me and said very quietly, “I don’t believe the boy’s mother knows what he’s been up to today.”
“Good to know,” Hellion murmured.
Sarenia’s voice cut across the clearing, effectively hushing the social chatter. “Vampires, who is your nomination for your Council seat vacancy?”
Darius stepped away from us and met her gaze. “Darius, Voyya of London.”
“Very well. Are there any challengers?” No one stepped forward, and she left the answer hanging long enough that people began to shift and whisper. “The nomination shall stand unchallenged.” Her breathing changed. Looking back, that’s what I would remember—that her breathing changed, her chest rising and falling faster than normal, one hand fisting at her stomach while the other settled over her breastbone. Sarenia looked across the clearing at me and met my gaze, blinked slowly then raised her voice over the murmur of the crowd. “Representatives of the shapeshifters’ faction, who is your nomination for your Council seat?”
“There is no vacancy,” came the reply from just outside the circle.
I swear my heart stopped for the briefest moment before beginning to pound. Blood thundered in my ears as Hellion’s arm tightened on my shoulders.
Bahlin.
I felt light-headed and thought for certain I was going to be sick. “Hellion,” I choked out.
He urged me to sit, squatting next to me to easier reach my forehead and manage the swell of nausea. It passed, and I could feel the tremors running through him. He hadn’t known Bahlin was alive either.
I scrambled to my feet, ready to run to Bahlin, but the fury in his look stopped me. I actually tipped forward and took an involuntary step toward him, so intent had I been on rushing into his arms.
“Nothing to say to me, Hellion? Not even after trying to kill me?” Bahlin stepped into the circle. His right leg was in a brace, and he leaned heavily on a walking stick, but otherwise he looked fine. “And what of you, Maddy? Nothing to say to your former trekkór? Not even a kiss for old time’s sake?” He kept talking as he approached us slowly. “You know, the last I saw of you, Hellion, you were racing after me to confirm my death. But to protect Maddy, I cloaked us. Convenient the sun set as you arrived. No need to have her caught up in a mundane investigation if I couldn’t pull out of the dive in time. Then she leapt after you. I was sure it was a mistake—right until you two disappeared into thin air. Together. I had the sense to shift before hitting the ground, thus saving my knee which, by the way, I owe you for nearly destroying.” He stopped five paces in front of us. “I made it to my den. Aiden called, frantic. He’d been in touch with Sarenia and had heard about the incident from one of her Seers. We discussed it and decided it was best if another member of the Council was aware I’d survived so I called her back. She agreed to meet you when the call came in.”
I turned to look at Sarenia, the hatred contained in my gaze open for all to see. “You knew he was alive. You met with me, left me with that lingering doubt when you could have put an end to my misery by telling me the truth?” My lips trembled so violently that I had a hard time forming my words. “You hurt him on purpose, you bitch.”
Hellion put a warning hand to my throat and I objected, pushing at his hand at the same time I stepped clear of his reach.
Sarenia looked at me without remorse. “He had a right to know what was going on, Niteclif.”
“Going on?” I was incredulous. “There was nothing going on.
Tell me, though. Did you decide he had a right to this presumed information before or after you declared Hellion and I a good match?” I demanded.
She blanched and Bahlin turned to look at her. “Sarenia? Did you say this to her?”
“I did,” she said, “and I’m sorry for it, Bahlin.”
“It’s irrelevant.” He turned back to me and Hellion, venom lacing his next words. “Simple locator spells helped me track you two down. You were in Ireland. Together. Aiden went to check on you and reported you two were already handfast. Awfully quick, don’t you think, Maddy? Hardly two weeks after I die, and you’ve moved on so thoroughly as to be lady of the manor? Impressive.” He tucked his walking stick up under his arm and clapped his hands slowly, derisively. “Unwilling to take even my own brother’s word for it, I went to Hellion’s home tonight and saw you retrieving your jacket out of the bedroom.”
“That was you at the window,” I surmised, feeling sick all over again. I waived Hellion back and stepped farther forward. “Why did you leave?”
“I saw all I needed to see.”
“Then you missed me coming to the window,” I said slowly.
His face registered a pain so raw my heart bled for him. But then he ruined it. “Interested in a threesome, love? Because I’m sure I could be enticed to share that deliciously fine ass of yours.” His tone vibrated with unfiltered rage even as he schooled his face to reflect nothing but disdain. Not even his eyes changed color.
Hellion took a step forward, and I threw out an arm to stop him before he got any closer to the other man.
“Why are you doing this? You’re responsible for this as much as he is, Bahlin.” I felt the whole of the circle’s inhabitants wait with baited breath. “I told you there would be no retaliation, and I told you that day to leave it alone. But you couldn’t, you wouldn’t, and you started the fight. It was your pride you fought to defend, not my honor. You’re just mad because you lost. You lost the fight and, if you don’t cool it, you’re going to lose the girl.”
Wrath: The Niteclif Evolutions, Book 2 Page 10