“I don’t remember that,” Liam said.
“Because you weren’t there.”
“Normally houses look out of place somewhere as tranquil as this,” I said, “but this house seems like it belongs here.”
“I thought there was nothing for miles on the way to Lothar’s, but this place is nothing but trees,” Liam said.
“I would think that appeals to your wolf side,” I said.
“Oh, it does.” He made a show of sniffing the air. “You can’t smell pine like that in A.C. without an air freshener or a scented candle.”
“I miss the smell of fresh pine,” I said.
Saxon patted my back. “We’ll chip in and buy you a candle.”
As we climbed the stone steps that led to the house, I found myself back in the mountains with my dad and Nathaniel. Memories always caught me off guard. When I brushed my hair yesterday morning, I was suddenly transported to a tent in the middle of a downpour. I was eleven and I’d managed to get a knot in my hair that I couldn’t untangle no matter how much I brushed it. My father became frustrated with my obsession and angrily informed me that he wasn’t raising me to be superficial. My tart reply earned me a visit outside where my body was drenched to the bone within a minute. The upside was that my hair was so saturated, I was able to untangle the knot with ease. It occurred to me recently that, although he’d been a good father, sometimes his response to a situation struck me as unnecessarily harsh. What eleven-year-old girl wouldn’t want to remove a knot from her hair? I immediately felt guilty for my critical thoughts. My father was dead. There was no need to find fault with him now.
“Callie?”
I glanced up to see Saxon waiting for me at the next level of steps buried in the hillside. “Coming.” I hurried to catch up.
“What are the chances that Lothar warned his friend we were coming?” Liam asked as we approached the entrance.
At that moment, the front door swung open and we were greeted to a view of a man in a leopard print robe and a yellow banana hammock. His bleached blond hair stood on end and his tan seemed incongruous with the rest of his surroundings.
“Good afternoon, friends. Welcome to my not-so-humble abode.”
Liam made a show of surveying the impressive exterior with a mask of disinterest. “It’s okay, I guess.”
“Come in, please.” Broward ushered us inside. “I’m so glad you decided to interview me. It isn’t often I have visitors unless I’m hosting a party.”
“I’m Saxon Hanley and these are my associates, Liam McAvoy and Callie Wendell. You do realize we’re here to interview you about a burglary.”
“Oh, Lothar told me all about it. Not to worry, I won’t tell a soul that our security expert failed his own test.”
“We appreciate you speaking to us on short notice,” Saxon said.
Liam’s gaze swept over Broward’s attire. “I think you had at least a few minutes to throw on a decent outfit.”
“If you think this is indecent, you should see what I wear to yoga.” Broward clapped his hands together and began to strut across the foyer to the adjacent room.
Liam leaned over and whispered, “Is he drunk?”
“I don’t think so.” I got the impression that this was typical Broward Littleton and I was here for it.
“Why don’t we talk on the lower deck?” Broward said. “It has the best view of the waterfall and everyone wants to see that.”
I wasn’t about to argue. I did, in fact, want a better view of the waterfall.
The sound of rushing water intensified as we approached a wall made entirely of glass. We stepped through an opening onto the deck.
I leaned over the railing for a glimpse of the water. Although I’d seen my share of waterfalls in the mountains, I never tired of them. “I could sit out here all day every day,” I said.
“A young woman after my own heart.” Broward patted his chest as though mimicking a beating heart. “Speaking of which, you look awfully young to be investigators.”
It seemed that Lothar hadn’t explicitly mentioned Pandora’s Pride, which was probably for the best.
“It’s a family business,” Liam piped up. “We started young.”
Broward rubbed the top of his head, causing his hair to stick out even more. “I know all about that. The pack is very rooted in tradition. They indoctrinate us from birth.”
I peered at the house, trying to guess its age. “Was this place seized by demons during the Plague?”
“Thank the gods, no,” Broward said. “It’s been in my family for generations, since well before the Awakening. My parents made sure that, when they died, the house stayed in the family.”
“I’m sorry about your parents.” He only looked about ten years older than me—pretty young to have lost both his parents, not that I was one to talk.
“It happened during the uprising,” he said. “You wouldn’t know anything about that unless you’re local. After the demons swarmed this area during the Plague, my pack and the local coven joined forces to oust the demons, which was unprecedented. They’d spent centuries fighting each other for power only to end up as allies. It took a couple years, but they managed.”
“And your parents died in the process?” I asked.
Broward licked his lips, the light fading from his eyes. “We reclaimed the land, so they didn’t die for nothing.”
“What happened to the demons?” Saxon asked.
“Many were killed. Some escaped to invade other areas. The ones they couldn’t kill were taken into custody by the coven.” He whistled. “I don’t envy them. Those witches were vindictive. I used to hear stories.” He shook his head. “Never mind.”
“Can you tell us about your visit to Lothar’s?” Saxon asked.
“Not without a drink in hand,” Broward said. He snapped his fingers in a musical manner. “What’s everyone having?”
“Don’t you have any staff?” Liam asked.
“No, I don’t like the idea of being waited on,” he said. “It’s not the way of the pack.”
“How old are you?” I asked. He must’ve been a young boy during the uprising.
“Old enough to know how to make a mean Manhattan.” He wiggled his fingers. “Now, what’ll it be?”
Liam raised a finger. “I’ll have a mean Manhattan. I tried one of those nice ones, but it didn’t taste as good.”
“Water for me,” Saxon said.
“He’s driving,” Liam added. “Plus he’s lame.”
“I’ll have whatever you feel like mixing,” I said.
Broward lit up. “Spoken like a true wayfarer.” The werewolf swaggered into the house, his robe flapping around him.
“Anyone think we should watch him pour the drinks in case he decides to drug us and sell us on the black market?” Liam asked.
“You’re the wolf. You should be able to sniff out a drug before the glass is in your hand,” Saxon said.
Liam relaxed in a lounge chair. “Maybe I don’t want to be drug-free.”
“This place is so different from Lothar’s,” I said. The historic residence was beautiful too, but there was something about this house that spoke to me, probably the combination of art set within nature.
Broward returned to the deck with a tray of drinks and I noticed that he’d changed into more suitable attire. The leopard print robe had been replaced by a black T-shirt bearing the silkscreened image of a wolf’s glowing amber eyes. He paired the shirt with jeans rolled up at the bottom and bare feet.
“Here you are, my lovely.” He lowered the tray in front of Liam and the werevamp took his glass. He delivered the water next and then whirled toward me. “And for you, chicken.”
“Thank you.” I accepted the plum-colored cocktail without scrutiny and noticed that he’d fixed himself the same drink.
“It’s a favorite recipe called Purple Rain,” Broward said. “I hope you like absinthe.”
Saxon’s brow shot up and he intercepted the glass before I had a
chance to bring it to my lips.
“What are you doing?” I demanded.
Broward chuckled. “Relax, Mr. Hanley. It’s only a small amount. She won’t be seeing pink elephants, as delightful as that can be.”
Liam raised his hand. “Can I change my order for a double of that purple one?”
Saxon contemplated the cocktail before returning it to me. “Sorry.”
“Protective instincts, I get it.” Broward leaned his back against the railing and addressed us. “Now we may begin. It was a dark and stormy morning…” He sipped his cocktail. “Oh, all right. No embellishments, I suppose? I rode over to his house on my pegasus in time for brunch. Not nearly as atmospheric without the lightning and thunder. Markham welcomed me at the door as normal. He seemed a little groggy and I worried that Lothar had worked him to death in preparation for my visit. I know he has a tendency to get OCD when it comes to impressing his guests.”
“What’d you have for brunch?” Liam asked.
“The most delicious Eggs Francois you’ve ever tasted in your life.” He aimed his glass at us. “Trust me, if you ever have the opportunity to enjoy brunch there, request that dish. Gideon is a master chef when it comes to eggs.”
“How did Lothar seem when you arrived?” I asked.
“Fine. A bit jumpy, but that’s par for the course when he’s with me. It wasn’t until we got to the outbuilding that he dissolved into a puddle of emotions right there on the sandstone floor.” He clucked his tongue. “Poor dear. I don’t often feel actual pity for someone, but he was an absolute mess.”
“Did you realize what the problem was?” Saxon asked.
“Not until he told me. Nothing was broken. Just missing.” He took another drink and looked at me. “And how are you enjoying it? It’s fruity, no?”
“Blackberry liqueur?” I asked.
“Among other things.”
“It’s delicious.”
“And only one item was missing?” Saxon asked, trying to steer our host back to the topic.
“As far as I know. He only mentioned one.” Broward tapped his glass thoughtfully. “An amulet, I think it was.”
“It’s called the…” Liam cut himself off. “Blackstone Heart.”
“Ooh, it has a name. I had no idea Lothar’s collection was so fancy.” He smiled behind his glass. “I think he just got better looking.”
“What happened after he discovered the…Blackstone Heart was missing?” Saxon asked.
“I believe I spent twenty minutes suggesting that he breathe into a paper bag or put his head between his knees before I was able to escort him from the building.”
“Did he offer any details about the missing item?” Saxon asked.
“No, only that it was an amulet of great value, as I assume everything in that room is. Although that makes me wonder why that particular item was targeted. Why not take them all?”
“One item is less likely to be missed,” Saxon said. “Maybe the burglar thought they’d be less likely to get caught if a week or month went by before Lothar noticed. That could explain the care that was taken in not disturbing anything in the room too.”
“What happened once he calmed down?” I asked.
“I’m certain he started to worry about his reputation and tried to brush it off as being misplaced by Mary when she cleaned.” Broward blew a raspberry. “I recognize a mask when I see one though. We returned to the house and had a drink.” The mention of a drink seemed to remind Broward that he had one now and he drained the glass in his hand.
“How long have you known Lothar?” Saxon asked.
Broward shrugged. “Long enough. Why?”
Saxon finished his glass of water. “Do you know anyone who might have targeted his valuables? Maybe a friend in common who’s mentioned financial troubles?”
A slow smile spread across Broward’s face. “Not in our circles, dearest. No one would dare admit financial woes. They’d sooner die than admit failure.”
“Lothar doesn’t even want to admit he was burglarized,” Liam said.
“That’s understandable,” Broward said. “It would be very bad for his business if word got around.”
“Lothar is a dear friend and I wouldn’t dream of hurting his business. I promise to exercise complete discretion.”
“I’m sure he appreciates that,” I said. My attention drifted back to the scenery. Between the waterfall and the picturesque forest, it was hard not to be distracted by our surroundings.
“Can I offer anyone a nibble?” Broward asked. “I have the most delicious lobster rolls…”
Ooh. I was sorely tempted, but the expression on our team leader’s face told me the answer was no.
“Thank you for your hospitality, but we have a long drive ahead of us,” Saxon said.
“A shame. I’ve quite enjoyed the visit.” He winked at the handsome hybrid.
“Any chance we could see your pegasus before we go?” Liam asked. He touched a finger to his lips. “Wow. That sounded like a euphemism, but I mean an actual pegasus.”
“I’m sure she would enjoy meeting you. Nobody minds heights, do they?” Broward asked. He glanced at Saxon’s retracted wings. “Obviously you don’t.”
“I’m not in love with them, but I’m willing to suffer for the cause,” Liam said.
“I grew up in the mountains, so I don’t mind at all.”
Broward guided us up two more sets of stone steps until we reached the rooftop. The climb was worth it for the view of the forest alone. He whistled and a pair of glorious white wings swept into my line of sight. I could scarcely find my voice as I watched the majestic creature soar toward us and land on the roof. The pegasus’s mane rippled like white ribbons of silk. Her muscular torso was chest-level, a testament to the creature’s impressive size.
“This is Maisie.” Broward nuzzled her nose. “Maisie, meet my new friends.”
The pegasus flapped her wings in response.
“You named a pegasus Maisie?” Liam asked. “What about something more austere like Florence or Lightbringer?”
Broward stroked her head. “It’s nothing to do with me. She chose the name.”
“She chose…” Liam raked a hand through his hair. “Okay, sure.”
“I thought horses didn’t like werewolves,” Saxon said.
Broward appeared taken aback. “Maisie isn’t a horse. She’s a pegasus with discerning taste.”
“Where does she stay?” Saxon asked.
“She has her own barn on the property,” Broward said.
“Aren’t you concerned about someone stealing her?” I asked.
Broward flashed a knowing smile. “I had Lothar install a security system, although I’m sure Maisie could handle herself in a dire situation. She’s as formidable as she is beautiful.”
“She’s wonderful,” I said. The child in me wanted to beg for a ride, but I kept my mouth shut. This was an investigation, not a carnival.
Liam nudged Saxon. “You’re not impressed, are you?”
“I can have my own wings and still be in awe of a pegasus,” Saxon said. He held up a cautious hand. “May I?”
“Ask Maisie, not me. I’m not the boss of her.”
The more time we spent with Broward, the more I liked him. At first glance, I’d assumed he’d be a materialistic supernatural like Lothar, but he seemed to appreciate the natural world rather than the possessions he placed in it. In that regard, he reminded me of Nathaniel.
Maisie seemed perfectly content as we each took a turn stroking her mane and back.
“She’s an excellent judge of character and I’m pleased to say you’ve all passed the test,” Broward said.
Liam gazed at her white wings with wonder in his eyes. “Would it be possible to take her for quick spin?”
“She’s not a car, Liam,” I said.
Saxon looked at him askance. “You don’t like to fly with me, but you’re willing to climb on a pegasus you’ve just met?”
Liam shrugged.
“Hey, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I can take you for granted.”
“If it’s fine with Maisie, then it’s fine with me,” Broward said. “Just give yourself enough clearance for takeoff.”
“I think I’d better oversee this,” Saxon said. “He has a tendency to veer off course in conversation. I can only imagine what he’ll do on a flying horse.”
Broward and I shuffled to the side of the roof to give them space; the wingspan alone required about sixteen feet.
“What’s the deal with you and Lothar?” I asked. “Are you two serious?”
Broward wore a vague smile. “Sweet chicken, I’m not serious with anyone, not even myself. Would Lothar like to be exclusive? Look at me. Of course he would. But I’m not interested in being trapped like a bug in amber. One of the things I love about Maisie is how free I feel when I’m riding her, like I can go anywhere.” His smile broadened. “Because I actually can when I’m on a flying horse.”
“Not that it’s any of my business, but what is it that you like about Lothar?” I understood not being exclusive, but why spend precious time with someone like him at all? I didn’t see the appeal of the warlock.
I heard the resignation in his exhale. “We run in the same social circles. He understands my lifestyle. I’ve tried dating in a lower socio-economic class, including other werewolves, but it never works out. One way or another, money seems to become an issue.” He wrinkled his nose. “Turns the relationship sour before it even has a chance to be sweet.”
“Between the two of you, you have the most beautiful homes I’ve ever seen.” Still, I preferred the natural setting of Broward’s house and how well it was integrated with its surroundings.
“Between the two of you, I see one of the most beautiful couples I’ve ever seen.” His gaze flicked in Saxon’s direction. “Please tell me there’s something happening there.”
I held Broward’s gaze, unwilling to look at Saxon and let the hybrid know he was a topic of discussion. “We’re not a couple.”
“Are you sure, chicken? Because the vibes rolling off the two of you are making me yearn for a cigarette and I don’t even smoke.”
High Stakes and Vampires (Pandora's Pride Book 2) Page 5