Wrath: The Niteclif Evolutions, Book 2 (13 page)

Before Mark could reply, Hellion paused and opened his mouth, and I just knew something foul was about to come out of it. He swallowed and said, “No, usually we’re not fighting, unless you count—”

“You pig,” I yelled, throwing a roll at him.

He fielded it nicely. “Years of lacrosse, dear. You’ll have to do better than—ouch!”

The spoon hit him in the head.

“Years of watching Major League Baseball, chump, so I will.”

Mark backed out of the room and burst out laughing.

“The staff won’t respect me any longer if you keep this up,” Hellion said, sounding pained. “Mark.”

Mark stepped back in the room yet again, his face red as he tried to keep from laughing. “Sir?”

“You came into my room earlier for a reason. What was it, man?”

“Ah, it was about the, ah, news, sir. You asked me to watch for further news…”

“Maddy’s aware of the murders, Mark. You understand she’s
the
Niteclif, right?”

Mark’s eyes grew wide, and he looked between us both quickly. Then he leaned out the door and called out, “Kendall, Stearns, Mary.” Looking back at me he said, “That’s the maid, the driver and the cook, ma’am.”

The two women and one man walked into the dining room and froze, obviously unsure what to make of Hellion dining with a woman.

“Ladies and gent, this is the Niteclif, the master’s new mistress.”

I flinched at the word, and Mark stumbled over himself trying to undo the offense.

“I’m, um, not exactly a mistress.”

“I apologize—”

“No, no.” I waved my hand as if clearing the air. “No worries.”

Hellion reached over and took my hand, rubbing my knuckles with his thumb. “Madeleine is my heart’s blood, my trial and temptation, and the prophesied love of my life. She’s nobody’s mistress.” He smiled, and his face went from handsome to beautiful and all the women in the room, including me, sighed just a bit. He wiped his mouth, and Mark stepped forward quickly to draw out his chair. Hellion waved him off and stood to pull my chair out for me.

Rising, I turned back to Mark. “What was it you came in to tell us? Hellion. I mean, Hellion and me. I mean—”

“For the love, Maddy, just stop. He’s really going to think we’re sleeping together if you don’t quit.”

I rounded on him, ready to tear into him only to find him pinching his lips together behind my back.

“Your face. Odin save me, you have murder in your eye over such a natural thing.” Laughter won out.

“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.”