Knight's War: A Witch Detective Urban Fantasy (Alice Skye series Book 5)

by Taylor Aston White

  Frederick paused, leaning back on his arms. “The Shifter Slayer?”

  “The what?” Alice replied before Frederick twisted his wrist, and the morning newspaper appeared in his hand. Alice scanned the headline, annoyance spiking.

  ‘An unusual body was found late last night at The Pavilion according to several eyewitnesses. Described as what they believe to be a partially-transformed shifter wrapped in silk, numerous accounts of the evening depict it as a harrowing sight. Police have made no statement regarding the incident, and the cause of death has yet to be determined. Scotland Yard deny to comment, but we, the public still want to know whether The Shifter Slayer is likely to strike again.’

  “Why do they always give the bad guy a cool name?” Alice muttered. “He should be called Micro-penis Maniac or something.”

  Brady read through the newspaper too, scrunching it up in his large fists.

  “Shows incompetence to your team if you were unaware of this article, doesn’t it, Detective?” Frederick asked, the calculation in his eyes cold.

  “Councillor Gallagher, would you please point us in the direction of a witch who could assist us,” Brady replied with a controlled anger.

  Frederick grinned, sitting himself back into the chair with the backdrop of candles. The book continued to turn its pages, the small movement making the little flames sway.

  “I’ll let the Coven of Crones know you are to be expected. Speak to Christine Shade. She may, or may not help you.”

  Brady leaned forward, his large shoulders shifting beneath his black trench coat. “Thank you for your time.” He moved towards the door, gesturing for Alice to follow.

  “Oh, Alice I have something for you.” Frederick produced a piece of paper. “This is your eviction notice.”

  “Eviction notice?” Alice scanned the paper. “Evicted from what?” It stated he had bought her family’s house from the bank.

  “I’ll be nice and give you a month,” he sniggered. “The protection clause ended when the benefactor passed. So it went up for sale and I couldn’t help myself. I’ve always wanted a house in that part of the neighbourhood.”

  “Of course you did.” She screwed the paper up in her hand. Due to her parents passing and both her and Kyle also being declared dead, the house was returned to the bank. It was Dread who organised that the house couldn’t be sold or rented out, and after several denied court applications they agreed. It sat vacant for two decades until Alice approached them, but it looked like Dread’s original agreement had come to an end.

  “My offer is still open, you know,” Frederick said as she turned to leave.

  Hand on the door, she looked back. “Why would you want to soul-bind with an ungraded witch?” she said, sarcasm dripping from every word.

  “Careful,” he warned. “Don’t believe you’re safe just because you bested the trials.”

  She clicked her fingers, the one candle without a flame bursting into life in a pop of blue.

  Frederick’s head jerked, his attention on the single candle.

  “Blue flames burn hotter, remember that.”

  His face was tight when he turned back.

  “It was nice to see you, Fred.”

  Chapter 8

  Alice couldn’t control her smile, her cheeks hurting as she noticed her reflection in the glass window. “You promised it would just be burgers.”

  Riley squeezed her hand, a smirk tipping his lips as his eyes flashed silver. “These are burgers. It’s literally called ‘The Burger Joint.’”

  “Normal burgers!” she laughed. “This is…”

  “You never specified it to be a normal burger, besides, define normal?”

  Alice snapped her mouth shut.

  Shit.

  The restaurant was busy, with many couples without reservations being turned away at the door. Inside - from what she could see through the window - was a sea of dark oak tables alight with candles.

  Riley pulled her closer, planting a warm kiss on the top of her head. “This place is new, and it’s owned by someone I would call a friend. He asked for an investment to expand so I thought it would be a great place for us to try.”

  “Investment?” Alice waited until the waiter had sat them down at a private table before continuing. “How many investments do you have?” The quiet murmurs of the restaurant were a welcoming ambience, every table occupied with smiling couples, friends and families.

  “Enough.” He moved the candle over to the side, head tilted as he stared at Alice with undying attention. “The Guardians were expected to be The Order’s personal warriors. They looked to control us in every aspect. So as soon as we all came of age we refused.”

  “Refused? How did you refuse?”

  Riley sat back, eyes dancing with humour. “A few of my brothers travelled, some stayed while I watched my father. He may have been a bastard, but he was a great businessman. I knew we couldn’t run from what we are for long, from what they made us. So I studied, and decided to plan for our future.”

  “How long were you separated?” Alice inched forward, enthralled with his words. Riley was very reserved when he spoke of The Guardians, the men he called brothers. She was excited that he would share these memories with her.

  “All in all, five years. Many people believed I created my capital using my father’s money, but they were wrong. I wanted nothing from him, not when he was the one who forced me to share my soul with this beast. So I watched, waited. I knew we would never be rid of The Order, but we could be financially independent. We would never be their puppets, dogs they controlled.”

  “Is that why you donated all of your fathers assets to charity?”

  A shallow nod. “Fitting really, giving to the children’s charity that he used as a camouflage for his… other work.”

  Alice reached over to place her hand over his, giving it a little squeeze.

  “Our beasts call for one another, which is why you’ll see them around the house. Sometimes the pull is too much and they come home, as they like to call it. Everyone has a role within the group, and together we’ve made it work, even against the unknown.”

  “Are you ready to order?” The waiter interrupted, placing two glasses of water onto the table.

  Alice skimmed the menu. “Two burger specials, and one of each side, please.”

  “Anything else?” the waiter looked expectantly at Riley.

  “Add a bottle of your best red, thank you.”

  “Of course.” With a nod the waiter moved away, returning only a minute later with a bottle of red wine and two glasses.

  “So,” Riley began with a raised eyebrow. “Two speciality burgers and every side?”

  Alice waited for the wine to be poured, savouring the taste before replying. “You said you’re looking to invest, you may as well try as much as you can.”

  “I’ve never had someone order for me before,” he growled, his voice dropping low as his chi brushed hers, stroking. She felt it all across her body.

  “That’s because it’s normally the guys doing it for the girls.” She took another sip of the wine, trying not to moan at the taste. She didn’t even want to dare look at the price of the bottle. “I had this date once, I must have been no older than eighteen and he ordered me a salad and water.”

  Riley narrowed his eyes. “Is he still alive?”

  “Just.” He definitely didn’t get a second date.

  The burgers were huge when they arrived, accompanied with more sides than the table could hold.

  “Erm…”

  “What?” Riley teased, taking a big bite into his double patty burger. “You want a salad?”

  In retaliation she threw two chips at him, thick enough they made a noise when they hit his plate. She would have been embarrassed at her actions in a respectable restaurant if Riley didn’t lean over and rub ketchup onto her nose.

  Giggles to her left, loud enough Alice couldn’t help but turn her head. Two young teenage girls sat at a table of four, what
she assumed were their parents completely oblivious to the fact they both held their phones out, pointed at Riley.

  Alice looked down at the table, trying to cover her face with as much of her hair as possible. She had been featured in a few of the city’s gossip magazines, much to her frustration. She didn’t need any sort of media interest, not when she was still learning about herself, learning what she could become. She didn’t need the world watching, waiting for her to fail. Especially considering they were only interested in her because of who she was sleeping with. It was one of the reasons she didn’t want to go to the more expensive restaurants, because they were the places Riley was expected to be.

  “Shit, Alice, I’m sorry.” Riley touched her hand. “Look, we can go. I’m sure we can get some takeout boxes, go back to yours and find a movie to watch.”

  Alice looked through her hair, noticing how once the girls got their shot they went back to bickering like siblings at the table. She knew attention was a part of Riley’s life, so much so he probably didn’t even notice until he saw her reaction.

  Was she willing to give up her privacy for him?

  “No, we’re here for your friend.” Alice took a large bite of her burger, this time allowing a moan to escape. “And this is gooood,” she pretty much purred.

  Between them they finished both their burgers, and half of the sides. But they made sure to try everything.

  “Okay, you need to invest,” Alice groaned, leaning back in her chair. “This place is amazing.” She already knew she would bring Sam as soon as she could make a reservation.

  “I knew it would be, it’s why I brought you.” He caught her eye. “You fancy taking the desserts home?”

  A warm lump in her gut, growing until her nerves peaked with excitement. “We better pay the bill then.”

  It didn’t take long until Riley held two takeout boxes, the desserts a secret as they made their way out the restaurant and into the cool evening air.

  Stars glittered, the full moon shining brightly as a man in chefs whites followed outside, much to the delight of the waiting line. Riley welcomed him with a familiar hug, moving to the side to chat privately.

  Alice held her hand out for a passing cab, waving frantically as it passed her by.

  “Fuck sake.”

  “Alice Skye, you always seem to pop up in the most unexpected of places,” a dark voice chuckled.

  Alice turned, her arm wavering as another cab zoomed past, the headlights washing over the man who had helped her gain entrance into the Troll market. “Nate,” she said with a polite nod. “How…” She didn’t really want to say how pleasant it was to see him, because it wasn’t. “Who’s your date?” She flicked her gaze to the tall, slim brunette. The woman had a cold stare, her artificially plumped lips slightly twisted into an unfriendly snarl.

  “Annabelle,” he said to his guest rather than Alice, “go make sure our table is ready. I’ll be along shortly.”

  Annabelle didn’t seem to enjoy being dismissed, but other than the slight flush in her caramel skin she did nothing, instead staring daggers at Alice as if it were her fault.

  “Now Alice, we have business to discuss,” Nate began, his attention flicking behind her before quickly returning.

  “I don’t think we do.”

  “My token, I would like it back.”

  “Token? What…” She remembered the token with the sigil of a jawless skull with runes and markings etched into the side. “I gave that to the guard as you said, and he allowed me access into the mausoleum.”

  “Yes, yes, but now I would like it back,” he said with an impatient snap. “Where is it?”

  “I just said I gave it to the guard.”

  “You get it back when you leave, and clearly you left, well, not completely unharmed, but alive.” His gaze swept down her full length, lingering uncomfortably. “Now where is it?”

  Her exit wasn’t exactly planned from the market, she was carried out high as a kite if she remembered correctly. “I was never given it back.”

  “You idiot, it’s not handed to you. It will reappear once you’re back home, somewhere familiar. It was supposed to return to me automatically since I’m its owner, but since It hasn’t you must have it.”

  “I don’t have it.” She really didn’t, not that she noticed, anyway. “And if you had heard I wasn’t ‘completely unarmed’ then you’re in the wrong crowd.”

  His smile tightened. “It’s good to have friends in many areas, Alice. It would be wise to remember that considering without me you wouldn’t have had access to the market at all.”

  “Blackwell,” Riley growled, his free arm coming around to circle her waist. “Is there a reason your harassing my date?”

  An audible click, followed by a flash.

  Shit. Shit. Shit.

  “Bloody cameras,” she moaned.

  Alice spun in Riley’s arms, pulling his face down. She didn’t know why Riley and Nate disliked each other, but she couldn’t deal with the confrontation being in the newspaper.

  “Storm,” Nate replied tartly. “I was only asking Alice for something that is mine.”

  “I think you should leave, otherwise we may create a scene.”

  Alice noticed a passing cab. “HEY!” She lifted her arm, the black car slowing down to a stop on the side of the road. “It was nice seeing you Nate,” she lied, tugging Riley away. “I’m sure you’ll find your lost token. Maybe some of your friends could help.”

  Warmth at her throat, Riley gently kissing down her neck to linger on her collarbone.

  Alice groaned, trying to tug his mouth back up to her lips, but he resisted with a chuckle. “I’ll find a movie while you sort out the desserts.”

  Alice stretched up, brushing her lips against his as he let out a reluctant groan. They didn’t get to spend much alone time together, not when both of their lives were so busy with work and training. With Sam at Club X, Riley jumped at the chance to join her back at her place, to spend the evening together cuddling and watching terrible movies.

  Being normal.

  Just Alice and Riley.

  “Behave,” he growled as she climbed off the sofa and headed towards the kitchen.

  Butterflies in her stomach she paused at the threshold, watching him search for the remote which he found wedged between the armrest and the cushion. With a click he turned on the TV, flicking through the channels until he paused on the new cooking show Sam had mentioned. It was a competition for witches and mages to create their best potion under stressful circumstances, using the ingredients given to them. From the pale look of the majority of contestants it wasn’t going well.

  Leaving him to find a film, she entered the kitchen, making sure to stroke across Poe’s fur who slept on the table. He purred at her touch, eyes opening to reflect in the light.

  “What do you think it is?” she asked him as she opened the first takeout box, excited to see the decadent chocolate fudge cake.

  Poe climbed to his feet, nose in the air. With a yowl he attempted to jump towards the counter, but he slipped, knocking off Dread’s thick file as he stumbled to the tiles. Poe landed on his feet, paperwork and the leather journal tumbling around him.

  “Shit.” Alice dropped the cake, kneeling to carefully pick up the loose papers that had fallen out.

  Her hand brushed something soft, unexpected. Beneath some papers there was a large feather, dove grey in colour and as long as her forearm. It looked immaculate, not a barb out of place considering it must have been squished inside.

  “I heard a crash, everything okay?” Riley appeared beside her, helping.

  Alice brushed her hand down the feather, surprised at how strong it felt. Poe meowed, batting at a thin wooden box, about an inch thick and no wider than her open palm. It was warm when she touched it, almost hot.

  “Alice…”

  The concern in Riley’s voice forced her attention up, his mouth set in a grim line.

  “I think you should read this.” He
handed her the leather journal, his thumb holding open a page.

  I didn’t believe it when Jackson came to me, but now I have no explanation for how fast his child’s powers are developing. Far faster than anyone anticipated.

  Even now, as I write this I can’t really believe it. Not without more evidence. But that doesn’t matter, because The Council believe which means I must keep her hidden until I find someone I can trust. Someone who can teach her control of her ancestral magic, otherwise if, or even when the seal breaks, she will be consumed with the force of the magic. And that, I will not let happen.

  Alice slammed the journal shut, not wanting to read anymore just as the box burned in her hand, hot enough she hissed out a breath.

  “What is all this?” Riley murmured, frowning at the wood.

  “This is all I have left of Dread.” Alice shuffled the papers, placing them back into the file along with the journal and feather. She left the box out. “I haven’t been through it yet.”

  Riley brushed his fingers through her hair, tucking some loose strands behind her ear. Her heart, which hurt while reading Dread’s notes fluttered, Riley’s chi brushing over hers in a calming way. She was finding excuses not to look inside the files, whether it was work, a concert or a date with Riley.

  Since when was she so weak? A coward?

  The files were the last of Dread, her father, the man who brought her up strong in the only way he knew how. He knew she was different, yet he tried everything in his power to keep her safe, even until the end.

  “I haven’t been able to read it. I…” she began, the vulnerability hitting her hard. “You want to help me?”

  Riley silently picked up the file, balancing it on the counter as he grabbed both the takeout boxes and two spoons. “Come on.” He urged her into the living room, both sitting on the floor. Reaching over he muted the TV, a new horror film that Alice had wanted to see. “Cake will help.”

  Alice accepted the paperwork and spoon, scooping a large chunk into her mouth. “What do you have?” she tried to say, but it sounded more like ‘wha do yu avve?’ as the fudginess stuck to her teeth.