What was this guy? He wasn’t a shifter, I could sense shifters. He didn’t have the same magic signature as most mages, and he wasn’t pale enough to be a vampire. He was something else. I just didn’t know what and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know.
He was someone I was stuck with for two days while I figured this shit out. Even I’ll admit, two days wasn’t a lot, but I’d never been this motivated. Sure, money was nice motivation in a hunt but this was personal.
The sound of wheels returned, the noise even more uncomfortable than usual as the enforcers rolled the gurney over shattered glass and other debris. I clenched my hands into fists and bit down on the inside of my cheek to keep from full on screaming. Silent tears fell as they rolled my friend out of our shared apartment.
I don’t know who would have wanted to hurt Lola. Nobody from our tiny social circle, that I know. We’d befriended a few humans and a couple of rogue mages. Okay, Lola had befriended them and they let me join in when I felt the need for other people. Mostly, I stayed to myself. It was better that way. At least that’s what my dad had always said. In the business I was in, you made enemies and it was too easy for them to get to you through your friends.
I was pretty sure whoever killed Lola wasn’t after me, but I didn’t know why I felt that way. I knew I had good instincts, though, so I was going to have to bet on myself and follow those if I wanted to find her killer.
Cain walked over to us and stopped in front of me. The other enforcers stood silently behind her, two of them still wearing blue gloves and holding a few baggies. I wasn’t sure what evidence they found but I sure as shit wasn’t going to ask them. I knew how that would make me look. They wouldn’t be able to see a hunter looking for her mark; they’d see someone they already decided was guilty looking to see if her trail was clear.
“Forty-eight hours then you bring her in.” Cain’s words were meant for Elias, but she kept her eyes locked on me.
Keeping my jaw tight and my lips pressed together, I glared at her. There were a hundred things I wanted to shout at her but none of them were going to help my situation.
“We’ll return with the killer by then,” Elias said.
“Or the killer’s head,” I added.
Cain scoffed. “You always were a sucker for a pretty face, Elias.”
“This has nothing to do with that,” Elias said.
“Whatever.” Cain waved her hand toward the door and the enforcers behind her walked out, baggies in hand.
“Look, I don’t know why you’re taking this side,” Cain said as she leaned closer to Elias, “but this girl is going to take you down with her.”
“It’s her right to try,” Elias said.
“Such a waste,” Cain said, shaking her head.
Rage welled up inside me as I watched the exchange. There was history between these two, but despite my dislike of Elias, I found myself on his side. Cain wasn’t a good guy. I knew it in my gut.
“Try not to get her killed. I’d like the grand court to be able to question her before they decapitate her.” Cain turned her attention back to me and smiled, showing her fangs.
My brow furrowed.Vampire. I didn’t catch it at first. How did I miss that? She didn’t have the same magic signature that most of them did.
Without another word, Cain left the two of us standing in my destroyed apartment.
“Where should we start?” Elias asked.
“How about with you explaining what the fuck happened tonight,” I said.