Reign of Night (The Thorne Hill Series Book 7)

by Emily Goodwin

  “Then that’s what we’ll do.”

  “All the news outlets say the same thing.” I turn the volume down on my laptop and go back to the cabinet, pulling out the potions my friends and I made not that long ago. We’re getting ready to head out to Chicago, and Lucas is insisting I bring an entire arsenal of magical supplies. “Some guy came out of the water, ignored everyone around him, said he wanted to find the halfbreed, and disappeared.”

  “Is this him?” Lucas holds up his phone, showing a photo of a man on a missing persons report.

  “I think so?” I look from the photo to the black and white sketch of the man the police are now looking for.

  “If it is, his name is Jason McDermott, and he went missing a week ago. He was involved in some shady business and had multiple warrants out at his time of disappearance.”

  “So he was mafia-style dumped in the lake.”

  “That would explain the chains,” Lucas says. “And if he’s been underwater for some time, he’ll be easily noticed.”

  “How fast does a body decompose in water?”

  “It depends on the type of water as well as the temperature of it. With Lake Michigan being cold, it would be several days before you started to see significant tissue damage.”

  “Damn, I was kind of hoping he’d be all decaying and would be really obviously spotted.”

  “He’s not going to look like a healthy, spry human, and with no blood flow to the dead tissue, it will start to slough off sooner rather than later, I’d imagine.”

  “Gross.” I wrinkle my nose. “And if that is the case, the sooner he falls apart the better.” I get one more potion down. “I think I have everything I can take, though I really don’t think I’m going to need all this.” I hold out my hand and slowly exhale, concentrating on summon only a tiny flicker of hellfire. “It was enough to burn Bael. It’ll be more than enough to burn any lower-level demon.”

  “You’re leaving the heavy lifting to me,” he reminds me.

  “Of course,” I promise him, and my phone rings. It’s Easton, and I already know why he’s calling.

  “Hello?” I answer.

  “Hey, did you—”

  “See the news about demonic Aquaman? Yeah, I did. That’s what you were calling about, right?”

  “Yeah, and good. Melinda just heard the guy was identified as Jason McDermott, who was involved in some shady shit and went missing a week ago.”

  “Yeah, we came to the same conclusion. The guy was mafia-style killed and then a demon jumped his water-logged bones, and not in a fun way.”

  “Nicely put,” Easton says.

  “Thanks. Being classy is just one of my many skills.”

  “I remember your skills being rather different,” he says, and Lucas growls.

  “That was a long time ago,” I retort. “And if you ask Lucas, my skills have very much improved.”

  “Sure,” Easton grumps. “So this demon.”

  “Right. It’s obviously looking for me, and I need to talk to it. We only have a few more weeks before another ritual is attempted, and no one should die.”

  “I agree. What are you planning?”

  “It’s looking for me. I’m going to let it find me.”

  “You’re going to be bait?” Easton asked incredulously.

  “Not exactly,” I tell him. “Lucas and I are going to head to Chicago soon. You remember where the house in Lincoln Park is?”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “Meet me there in two hours?”

  “Sure. See you then.”

  The call ends, and I go back to loading up the potions, adding them to my overnight bag that I’m bringing just in case. I get a crossbody purse solely to carry some magical supplies, though I still doubt I’ll need any of it.

  “Ready?” Lucas asks me, and I nod. I make sure all the doors are locked and seal up the house with magic. Scarlet bounds ahead, leaping off the steps and running through the muddy yard, much to Lucas’s annoyance. I have to wipe her paws before she gets into the back of my Jeep, laying down on the blankets I spread out for her.

  “Are you all right?” Lucas asks, hand going to my knee as we drive out of Thorne Hill. I rub my temple, fighting off another headache.

  “Yeah. I’m a little tired, that’s all. I had a weird dream and didn’t sleep as deeply as I hoped this morning.”

  “What did you dream about?”

  “Eamon.”

  Lucas jerks his head my way, brows pushing together. “You dreamed about another vampire?”

  “Not in a sexual way.” I place my hand on top of his and scoot it up between my thighs. “You are the only man—living or dead—I want.” I let out a breath. “I dreamed he was plotting against us, biding his time before presenting us both to the VC.”

  “The VC cannot call forth humans unless they’ve been arrested under suspicion of killing a vampire.”

  “But I have killed vampires,” I remind him, and Lucas falls silent. He doubled checked everything, and we did it all the right way. The marriage certificate was filled out and notarized. We got married in Michigan, where vampire-human marriages are legally recognized. His properties in Thorne Hill were properly documented as well, and he’s been paying a lot in taxes on them. Lucas has been around long enough to know how to cross his Ts and dot his Is, and if the VC knew anything, they’d know better than to accuse someone from Thorne Hill of witchcraft.

  Of course I’m a witch, and most of my town is as well. They could assume I’d been excommunicated and no one would come to my defense, but all it would take is one mention that my High Priestess has accepted us to make them stop poking around. That, in turn, puts the entire coven at risk with the Grand Coven, and the whole situation gives me a headache.

  Pandora moves into my lap, softly purring which helps me to relax. I want so badly to get info, to finally be able to do something, that the thought of the demon giving us nothing—just like the other one—makes my stomach hurt.

  I distract myself on the drive by looking at the maternity clothes I didn’t get to earlier and have ordered several hundred dollars’ worth by the time we park on North Orchard Street. We park on the street, and Lucas has to speed from the Jeep to the house to avoid getting burned. Eliza is inside and unlocked the door ahead of time, minimizing the sun damage Lucas had to take. He’ll heal in a matter of seconds, but a matter of seconds is all it can take to do some serious damage to a vampire when they’re exposed to the sun.

  My familiars shadow in along with him, and I take my time clipping a leash to Scarlet’s collar and getting my overnight bag from the back of the Jeep.

  “Callie?” someone calls.

  Scarlet moves toward whoever is talking to me, jerking me away from the car. I took my coat off as soon as we got inside the Jeep and haven’t put it back on yet.

  “Is that you?” the same woman says, and I turn, seeing Ricci, one of Abby’s fake-ass friends, several yards from me. She’s walking a little dog who’s wearing a purple sweater, and the tiny thing is barking and growling at Scarlet.

  “Sit,” I tell Scarlet, who listens. “Good girl.”

  “You trained her in German? Neat.”

  “Yeah. German,” I say, forgetting my commands to Scarlet come out in Enochian. I pull my bag from the Jeep and sling it over my shoulder. Ricci’s eyes go from Scarlet to my stomach.

  “Oh my,” she gaps and looks embarrassed. “You…you’re…”

  “I’m pregnant, I know,” I state the obvious. Ricci know I’m married to a vampire, and she also knows I have powers, since I saved her kid from breaking a leg—or worse—when she ignored him and he took a tumble off their foyer balcony. “I’m twenty-six weeks.”

  “Wow.” She picks up her yipping dog and holds its mouth shut. “You…you look good.”

  “Thanks. It’s a girl,” I say and watch her reaction. She’s nosy as fuck and loves to gossip. Abby will catch wind of this eventually, I’m sure.

  “Oh.” Her head bobs up and dow
n. “I’m…I’m sorry.” She shakes her head and plasters on a fake smile. “I’m just…you…your boyfriend…”

  “My husband,” I correct, not sure if I’ve seen her since our wedding or not.

  “Yes, husband…he…he’s a vampire.”

  “I’m aware.” I shut the door and lock the Jeep.

  “He’s the father?”

  “He is,” I answer and hope Lucas is looking out a window, listening. I told him someone was going to ask about this eventually.

  “Huh. What did you do, have some sort of vampire-operation?”

  “Yes,” I say, rolling with it. “It was very expensive and very risky for us both.” I pat my stomach. “But it worked out.”

  “Yeah, I can see that.”

  “I gotta get in,” I tell her and click my tongue, signaling for Scarlet to follow me. “See ya around!”

  “Yeah, see ya.” Ricci is still staring at me incredulously as Scarlet and I go into the house. Lucas and Eliza aren’t in the front living room, eavesdropping and hearing how right I was that people are going to question how the hell my dead lover impregnated me.

  Dropping my bags in the foyer, I take off my shoes and follow Scarlet through the house, finding both Lucas and Eliza in the kitchen. Eliza has an array of vegetables out in front of her, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think she was making herself a large salad. Really, she’s preparing food for her beloved guinea pigs.

  “How’s Sasha and the baby?” I ask, picking up a carrot and taking a bite.

  “They’d be better if you didn’t eat their food,” Eliza retorts but then stops, leaning back and looking me up and down. “You look good in blue. It brings out the green of your eyes.”

  So used to wearing black, I kinda forgot about the blue dress. “Thanks,” I tell her. “I just might get used to the lighter colors.”

  “You should. It suits you. Well, looks-wise. Personality, the black is best.”

  “I think that’s supposed to be a compliment?”

  “It is,” she says with a wink and then goes back to chopping up carrots.

  “Are you ready, my love?” Lucas asks, and I nod.

  “I’m gonna pee first.” Since the demon is looking for me, we thought going somewhere public would be the next best thing besides standing in the middle of Michigan Avenue and screaming come get me for all to hear. I use the bathroom, hang Scarlet’s leash on the backdoor, and grab my very literal bag of tricks and go outside with Lucas.

  The Taproom, as expected, is busy for a Friday night. We go to the back, and Lucas looks into the eyes of the couple sitting there.

  “You’re tired and ready to go home,” he tells them. “Tip your waitress well.” They both nod, and the guy gets out his wallet, paying for their drink and leaving a twenty-dollar tip. We push their drinks to the side of the table and sit down. I pull a map of the city from my bag and spread it out over the table. I’m not the best at scrying, and if the demon has left Chicago, forget about it.

  Not long later, Easton and Melinda arrive. I texted them on the way here to let them know to meet us here instead of the house.

  “They brought company,” Lucas grumbles, and I look up, seeing a burly young adult man walking with them.

  “If he can help, then we’ll play.”

  “Fine. And if he’s not helpful—”

  “No murder,” I remind him under my breath. “Hey, guys.”

  “Hey, Callie.” Melinda smiles and slides into the booth, sitting across from me. Lucas puts an arm around me, and I don’t think he’s even aware how possessive he’s being half the time.

  “Hey,” I say back, gaze shifting from her to the guy beside her.

  “This is Carl,” she introduces, eyes widening and giving me an I’m sorry look. “We ran into him on the way here.”

  “What are the chances, right?” Carl laughs. He has a slight southern accent. “I haven’t seen these two in years.”

  “Such a coincidence,” Easton grumbles and sits down, sliding into the booth and taking a spot across from me.

  “Nice to meet you,” Carl says and holds out his hand.

  “You too,” I say and take his hand. “I’m Callie, and this is my husband, Lucas.”

  “Hello,” Lucas says and meets Carl’s eyes. In just a second, he’s held spellbound. “I own this bar. Go to the counter and tell them Lucas King said you can get whatever you want.”

  Carl’s lips pull into a smile, and he slowly nods his head. “Sounds good to me. Thanks, sir.” Lucas breaks eye contact, and Carl turns, moving through a crowd of people to get to the bar.

  “Sorry for him,” Melinda tells us and sits down next to Easton.

  “Don’t apologize,” her brother hisses, leaning back and looking at Lucas out of the corner of his eye. He refers to being held spellbound as “brain raping,” and I can’t totally blame him. Vampires aren’t able to hold witches spellbound, and as far as I know, I’ve never had my memory altered.

  “Do you have anything new?” Lucas asks, cutting to the chase.

  “There might have been a sighting in Millennium Park an hour ago,” Melinda says, getting out her phone. “Someone started using the hashtag Davy Jones, and it’s kind of become a game to find this guy. This is the best photo that’s been posted.” She shows us the phone, and the photo is fuzzy at best, but it might work.

  “Well, that’s one fucked-up game of Where’s Waldo,” I note, leaning in to look at the photo better. “If that is him, there’s a good chance he’s still in the city. On foot, he can’t get far that quickly.” I put an X on the map. “Where are we?” I ask.

  “Here,” Lucas says, pointing to our location. “About five miles away from where the demon might have been spotted last.”

  I nod, mind whirling. “The demon is looking for me. I know you aren’t going to like this, but I need to do something to get his attention.”

  “No need,” Melinda says, looking at her phone. She taps on a notification. “I think I found him.”

  “Where?”

  She flips her phone around, showing a breaking news story about an elderly man who collapsed from a heart attack and then miraculously sat up and walked right of the ambulance.

  “Authorities are concerned he’s in shock and are asking for the public to be on the lookout and call 911 if he’s spotted,” she reads for us.

  “Does it say where he was last seen?” Lucas asks.

  “Ummm…” Melinda scans the article. “Yeah. Someone said they saw him walking into The Willis Tower, and another said he went upstairs to The Metropolitan Club and was lost from there.”

  Oh, shit. I inhale sharply and look at Lucas. “That’s where Abby is.”

  Chapter 30

  “I’ll drive,” Lucas says and gets up, holding out his hand for me. I gather up my stuff, shoving it in my purse, and throw my coat over my arm, not bothering to put it on. The four of us rush out the door, buzzing right past Carl. Cold night air hits me as soon as I walk out, and a shiver goes down my spine. Blindly shoving my hand in my purse, I feel around for my phone, not finding it until we’re in the Jeep. I call Abby, and the call goes to her voicemail.

  “Dammit,” I mutter and keep my phone in my lap, pulling the seatbelt over and clicking it in place. My fingers tremble a little, and if the demon knows who I am, then there’s a good chance it knows who Abby is, too, and it could take her as a surefire way to lure me out. It’ll take us fifteen minutes to get there if we don’t hit traffic, and that’s not including having to find a place to park. I try Abby again.

  “What do you think the demon is doing inside the Metropolitan?” Melinda asks as Lucas speeds away.

  “If it’s seeking out like-minded people, it went to the right place.” I turn, looking at her and Easton. “Scott Martin is having an engagement party and is asking for donations for his political campaign at the same time.”

  “Tacky,” Melinda says, and I nod.

  “I know. But Abby and Phil are there, and I cannot get a
hold of my sister.” I try her again, and the phone rings and rings. “I don’t have Phil’s number.” I call Abby again. “If the demon hurts her…” I trail off and shake my head.

  “We’ll be there soon,” Lucas assures me and accelerates fast, driving into the other lane to go around a car. He’s always driven recklessly, as someone who is invincible does, and has toned it down for my sake.

  I’m tense the rest of the way, and Lucas drops us off at the front of the building. He’ll catch up once he parks.

  “Isn’t there usually security at these events?” Melinda asks.

  “Yeah, but that won’t be a problem for us,” I tell her, putting a hand on my stomach as I speed walk toward the doors. The last time I was here, the building was still called the Sears Tower, and that’s what I still refer to it as in my head. I was seven, and it was the summer before I was shipped off to the research lab. I don’t remember much, other than Abby being scared to step onto the observation deck and Scott shoving her forward, laughing as she cried. I’m pretty sure she still has a fear of heights because of it.

  We make it to the elevators when Lucas speeds through, taking my hand and not letting go until we get to the sixty-sixth floor. Two men in black suits stand at the entrance to the club, checking names and IDs. Lucas goes right up to them, holding them both spellbound at the same time.

  “I didn’t know vampires could do that,” Melinda says to herself and then looks at me. “Hold two people spellbound at once.”

  “I didn’t know they could, either, until I saw Lucas do it,” I tell her. Lucas looks over his shoulder, letting us know everything is good. I’m underdressed for the party, and I’m wearing a pretty dress and expensive flats. Melinda and Easton have on their typical jeans and flannel and are obviously out of place, yet it does nothing to slow them down.

  This is a job, and finishing it could quite literally save the world.

  The lights are low, and the club is packed full of people, making it hard to pick Abby out from the crowd. It doesn’t help that almost every woman in this place is wearing an ivory- or white-colored dress, which is weird until I realize there was a dress code. All the men are wearing black, and the only time I’ve ever heard of a black and white party was on an episode of Gossip Girl. I didn’t realize it was a real thing. I left my coat in the car and am sticking out in my blue dress.