Wrath: The Niteclif Evolutions, Book 2 (39 page)

I gently disengaged from the sweet kiss. “You’re a good man, Darius.” He shook his head, and I reached over to still his face. “You are. Which is why I know you’ll honor what I can offer you now instead of looking back at what might have been. I have two suitors, which is one too many. What I don’t have, though, are friends. And friendship is what I need the most.”

Darius slid off the sofa and pulled me to my feet. Holding my hand over his still heart, he said, “My voyen is at your disposal, Madeleine Niteclif, whether in an official capacity or a private one.”
Ba-boom!
His heart pounded once under my hand and it felt like the house shook. My fingers clutched at his shirt as a primal sexual response was pulled from me at the noise. His eyes widened and he hissed, “No.”

“What the hell was that?” I demanded, embarrassed at the moisture collecting between my thighs.

Darius closed his eyes and scented the air, and when he opened his eyes to gaze at me I gasped. They had gone the color of the night sky, that deep purplish-black. “You made my heart beat. It’s a mythical talent.”

“What—”

“I’ll not answer anything else tonight, Maddy. Please, for the sake of our friendship, don’t push me on this. All I’m willing to say is that it explains the draw I feel toward you.” He rubbed his chest and took a short breath. “Do you want me to gather members of my voyen and help you hunt tonight?”

I watched him carefully and was surprised to see his movements were far from smooth. Deciding to honor his request to leave it be—didn’t I have enough trouble without seeking more out intentionally?—I answered him as strongly as I could. “Yeah, I want to catch the bastard.”

“Do you have a plan?”

“Sort of. But I could use a real predator’s help.”

“Then you’ve come to the right monster.” His arctic smile and dagger-like fangs told me I had, indeed.

Chapter Twenty-Four

The plan was that we would contact the Council and ask for three warriors from each sect. The vampires would provide more because Darius was going to partner with me on point. With Hellion missing and Amaly dead, I had no one to approach and ask for help within the magical sect, so I went to Mark. The poor man nearly had a heart attack.

“I’m not qualified to make those determinations, madam,” he said, sweat popping out at his hairline.

I rubbed my forehead and frowned, staring at my shoes. “Mark,” I said in exasperation, “the name’s Maddy, not madam. Look, just tell me who to ask, because Hellion’s MIA, and I’m not waiting on him to get over his temper tantrum.”

“I can’t, Maddy. I just can’t.” I suddenly realized what a horrid position I’d unwittingly put Mark in, and I felt like an ass. I’d indirectly asked him to pick a side in the fight Hellion and I were having, and it wasn’t his job to do that.

“I’m sorry,” I said, and reached out to take his hand. The middle-aged driver and footman, Stearns, who was quite the healer within the coven, had taken the bandages off my right hand, and it was healed with the exception of a small, pink scar where the knife had gone through. “Forget I asked.”

His hand shot out and grabbed my arm. “Devlin is Hellion’s third. He’d know.” He dialed a number on his cell, and I reached out and closed it before the call went through.

“I don’t want to put anyone in the coven between Hellion and me. So I’ll do without.”

“But, Maddy—”

“No, Mark. It’s okay. I’d rather not create any hard feelings anywhere.”

“Thank you.”

I nodded and walked back to the second floor where Darius was having a small, impromptu meeting with ten of his most lethal vampires.

While I felt safe with Darius, these vamps gave me pause. Efein was there along with nine others, all males save one. Introductions were made, and Darius broke down where we were.

“Sarenia can’t get here in time, but she will be contacting some of her people and having them meet us at Hyde Park near the fountain. We’ll coordinate our efforts by spreading out around the park. It’s very important that you stay strictly with the plan, Maddy, because there will only be a few of us nearby to watch you, as you’ve requested.” The tone of his voice made it clear he still didn’t agree with me. We’d argued and I’d won, but only when I’d threatened him with rock, paper, scissors. He’d been so shocked he’d laughed and finally acquiesced. Drawn back into the present, I heard Darius giving final instructions to his vampires, and they slid from the room like wraiths to go assume their positions around the park.

Darius came up behind me and rested his hands on my shoulders. “Are you sure about this? You don’t want to wait for Hellion?”

“I’d love to wait, but I’m back in London, and another woman’s going to die if I don’t get this right, Darius.” I didn’t mention my own consequences should I fail. Shaking my head, I tilted it back to rest on the vampire’s shoulder. “No, I can’t wait.”

“Then let’s away, Maddy, before he gets home and threatens to disembowel me with his bare hands.”

I nodded, my stomach in my throat. It was easier to be brave when the person with you didn’t realize what a coward you really were.

We headed down the stairs when I thought to ask about the shape-shifters’ sect. “Did you get in touch with Bahlin?”

“I did. He said he’d send people, but he won’t be there himself. I take it whatever happened between you this afternoon was bad.”

“Bad enough.” If he could be vague about his heartbeat, surely I had the right to be equally vague about my love life.

“Punishing me for not answering you, huh?”

“Shit!” I’d forgotten he could read minds. “Stay out of my head, leech.”

“Sure, flower, if you’ll stay out of my heart.”

I had no idea what he meant, so I kept my mouth shut. I rarely got in trouble when I stuck to that edict.

We got to the park’s main entrance along the A4, and I realized what a motley crew we were. At a distance I was sure we looked like a rather normal group of friends, but up close the vampires were lethally beautiful, the weres seemed to have slightly animalistic traits, the random species were smaller and more reserved and the fae were just somehow wrong when you stared at them too long. What they all had in common with each other was that at least one member of each group stared at me with undisguised hostility.

Kelten, king of the fae, walked up to me and bowed slightly at the waist. “Maddy,” he said by way of greeting.

“Kelten. How is Gaitha?”

His eyes clouded over, his eyes tightened and his breathing changed slightly. “She’s not well, Maddy. I’m afraid there’s naught to be done for her at this point. I’ll keep her contained as well as I may, but if it comes to it, she’ll have to be executed.”

I reeled with shock at his heartfelt pronouncement. First the loss of his son, then the potential loss of his wife. It seemed so unfair. I held out my hand and he took it, looking at me with grief clearly marring his otherwise lineless skin. “I’m so sorry, Kelten.”

“Thank you, Maddy. It means a great deal to hear.” He moved away and Praen, his niece, approached.

“Niteclif,” she said, holding out her hand to shake in a more modern greeting than her uncle’s.

I froze with a smile on my face though I managed to briefly shake her hand.

Darius laid his hand at the small of my back. “Praen. How do you fare?” he asked the fae.

“Well, though Aunt Gaitha is not. I’ll tell her you asked after her, Niteclif.”

“Do that,” I said softly, and she inclined her pale blonde head before walking away. I turned to Darius, my eyes undoubtedly wide. “Do you think—” I began.

“It’s possible. She’s very brazen in coming here if it’s her.”

“True.” I relaxed and felt him lean in closer. Turning my head toward him, I met his sharpened gaze. “I’m still bothered by the peripheral sound I heard when I was attacked. I’m pretty damn sure there was another person in the room. If I’m right, the person watched the assault and did nothing to intervene. Do you think Imeena could be a part of this?”

“Hm. I suppose it’s possible, though she’s never been the type to passively sit and watch violence occur.” He idly ran a hand up and down my arm. “She’s much more inclined to participate.”

I shivered and closed my eyes briefly.

Darius stopped stroking my arm and tightened his hand on my bicep. “I’ll be near all night, Maddy.”

“Thanks.” I stood straight and saw a shorter woman with long, brown hair weaving through the foot traffic as she made her way toward me. The towering younger man who followed in her wake had eyes only for me.

“Darius, stay here,” I commanded. “Don’t leave me.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

The petite woman stopped in front of me, and I had no doubt she would have done me physical harm had we been locked in a room together.

“Adelle,” I said, greeting Bahlin’s mother. “Aiden.”

“You are
not
good enough for my son, you…you…” she sputtered, stepping well inside my personal space. She raised her hand to slap me, and I grabbed it in an instinctive block before letting my hand fall away from hers. Aiden reached out and grabbed my arm as it fell away.

“Hands off, junior,” I said quietly, aware that most of the supes were watching us, either openly or indirectly. Either way, we had an audience.

“You’re going to want to back off, madam,” Darius said, and his voice was cold enough that it felt like the air just before a heavy snow, the bitter promise of a storm held in check. He stepped up next to me and laid a hand on her arm. “Step back. Now.”

“You bitch,” she hissed. “You’ve cost me the last you’ll cost me you…you…
whore
!” she spat. Spinning out from under Darius’s arm, she stalked off, taking Aiden with her. They stopped at the edge of the fountain area, and Aiden looked back at me like I was a delicious treat he’d get to carve up later.

“Okay, this is just getting freaky,” I said, slipping under Darius’s outstretched arm and tucking into his side. “I’m seeing murder suspects everywhere I look, and I’m not liking it.”

Darius bent his head to whisper in my ear, his voice tickling as it skated across my skin. “Tell me what you see.”

“Kelten’s got darker hair, and his skin is darker than most of the fae’s, though I’m not sure it’s dark enough. But his wife, Gaitha? Blond hair, wicked powers and bat-shit crazy enough he’s considering executing her for everyone’s safety. Praen’s got the hair, the skin tone, the power and the ability. I’d bet my life on it.” I paused, thinking that might not be the best bet to make. Darius rubbed my back briskly and I continued. “Adelle referred to me as a whore, just like in the letter, and obviously thinks of me as a traitor. She’s got the hair and skin color of my attacker, and is undoubtedly strong enough. Aiden’s just a kid, but he’s turning into a violent little shit, and he’d do anything for his brother or his mother.” I looked around, taking into consideration all the other hostile glances I was gathering. “Too many suspects,” I whispered, shaking my head. “I don’t know, Darius…”

“Don’t doubt yourself.” He pulled me in for a tight hug and then set me back from him. “You’ve been clear you’re living at Hellion’s, Hyde Park is near his home, and we expect the killer to have followed you out. He, or she, will see you out with a bunch of supes and either run, and we’ll catch him, or he’ll attack, and we’ll catch him. Go out and know I’m watching over you.”

Something wasn’t sitting well with Darius’s logic, but the plan had been mine so out I went. It was going to be a long night.

I walked the dark bike path slowly, truly lost in thought. I saw and heard no one, but I knew they were there. The sounds of the night were hushed, even the smallest insects silenced with the knowledge predators moved among them. And that’s really what the supes were—superior predators.

A twig snapped and I froze, afraid to turn around. I had to trust Darius and the others would keep me safe, and those who truly wanted me dead wouldn’t converge on me all at once. I began walking again and slipped off the bike path, hoping that if the killer was out there, he’d make his move.

Thinking over all the clues as well as the attack last night, I wondered if I’d been right in assuring both Hellion and myself that the attacker had been a male. The voice had been deep, but that meant nothing. Voices were easy to disguise. And I’d just acknowledged the superiority of the supes as predators, so to think one could hold me down and take me out—well, it was entirely reasonable it could have been a woman.

What about the attacker’s hands?
I wondered. I hadn’t seen much after I’d been stabbed. Unconsciously I curled my fingers over the scar that marred the palm. And before that? What had I seen? Not enough to say for sure.

The coins in each body were really bothering me. Why was the killer leaving a calling card? Who would have access to those coins? The basic answer was anyone in Bahlin’s family. But with his dad and sister dead, it left the mother and two brothers as suspects. Could Adelle kill? For either of her sons, or her dead daughter, I was willing to say that she not only could, but would.

Then there was the method of attack: from the back, with a sharp instrument of some type. The killer expected me to recognize him or her, so surprise was an element of necessity. I shook my head and kept walking.