Dance With Death Page 11

  “Are you aware of my nephew’s plans to claim you?” Nix asked.

  No beating around the bush with this guy.

  “Um...” Even without witnessing our scene, it didn’t take a genius to figure it out. Indigo had made it a point to tell me why he left, and I had a feeling his lingering feelings kept him wanting to come back. But more than that, I worried that the bond he formed with me and Abel as kids was still affecting him.

  Nix continued, “My nephew is in love with you. Even you have enough sense to pick up on that. I don’t become involved in his love affairs. He came to me because I’m less volatile than my brother. Two hot-headed Alphas rarely work. Having my brother attempt to control his wolf would have resulted in a pack war that neither of them wanted. That’s why my brother and Indigo decided it was best for him to come here, so he could train under me. Indigo has worked hard over these past years, but that first year after he left you…” Nix paused. “I will put this delicately, but you need to understand the lengths he went to for you. If your name was mentioned, he would howl for nights on end. His wolf and he missed you a great deal. But his wolf became unruly with even the thought of returning home to you. He and I both worried his wolf would force himself upon you if he returned before he had control.”

  “What do you mean by that?” But deep down I knew, and it pierced my heart with pain and admiration. While I knew he had stayed away for my benefit, I didn’t realize how far it went. Then, girly doubts filled my head before I could stifle them.

  Why didn’t he want to claim me? One-year post disappearance, I probably would have still taken him up on any offer.

  “He would have claimed you as his mate. One way or another.” Nix waited a beat, letting that sink in.

  Jason barked a laugh. “And they call my kind animals. At least we can control our animalistic instincts. If I had a mate, I would never hurt her.”

  “You understand, Rowan?”

  “Sorry?” I had been listening to Jason.

  “Do you understand that sometimes our beasts take control, and we can’t do anything to hold them back?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ve implemented very few rules for you, Ms. Hayes. Mostly because you are here as a guest. While I seek your help, it does not make you a trainee. A possible candidate, maybe. But I will remind you again that I’ll only tolerate so much of your antics. These are my people I am looking after. If you put them in harm’s way, you will return home. Don’t mistake my kindness for being oblivious. I realize the trouble that brought you here, and you are flirting with it every time you see that vampire.”

  Nix’s lectures matched the intensity of my father’s. It was terrifying, and I felt compelled to explain my actions. His disappointment and his opinion, whether I liked it or not, meant something to me. I opened my mouth to respond, but a light knock on the door stopped me before I could begin.

  Kayana opened the door. “Please join us, Kayana,” Nix greeted. “Am I correct in assuming Indigo is on the roof getting Cornelius?”

  “Yes, he is. Cornelius has been very...distracted lately.”

  Nix flickered a glance at me before pushing his chair back and standing. Kayana came around to sit in the other chair across from the desk, which happened to still be occupied by Jason. I cringed as she sat on top of him. A visible shiver went up her spine, one she was unable to hide.

  Jason stood; his features pinched with annoyance. “Fucking rude.”

  I wanted to reply that she couldn’t see him, but I wanted to wait until the last minute to reveal that I brought him along.

  “Glad you could join us,” Nix said, walking over to the bar area and pouring himself a tumbler filled with light amber liquid.

  My mouth watered at the idea of a hard slam of scotch. This long night was about to get a lot longer. To distract myself, I turned to watch as Cornelius entered. His wings were flared a little, and his tail whipped around in agitation. His dark hair tangled around his horns and made him look more like an avenging demon.

  Behind him, Indigo walked in, looking somewhat more composed. His eyes sought mine and warmth shot through me as they darkened. With desire or anger, I didn’t know; it could have been both, to be perfectly honest. Broad shoulders and a chiseled body destroyed any reminders of the boy I used to know. But my heart still trembled, even with those warring images clashing together.

  “Rowan, why don’t you tell us what you’ve been up to?” Nix said.

  That was when I realized I might be shooting myself in the foot. But as I looked over at Jason, a literal shadow of the shifter he used to be, I couldn’t stay quiet. Even if it meant Nix would fulfill his threat to send me back home. Balthazar would get his wish, and there would be no more stalling.

  “A couple nights ago, I went searching for Willow since she wasn’t in her room.” I looked at Cornelius and cringed. “She’s been disappearing a lot lately, and I got worried. I found a matchbox of a Mystic club in her room, so I decided to go there and look for her. Once I got there, I realized she wasn’t there, but I was approached by a ghost.” They didn’t need to know that my brother also happened to be the bartender.

  “The ghost was able to give me some information. He had been hanging around the bar and saw someone who looked exactly as I described Willow. After that first night, I realized someone was drawing him to the bar, so I returned every night, hoping to see the ghost again. He came back tonight.”

  And so, I explained to them exactly what Jason told me. Cornelius let out a rumble or two when I mentioned Jason knew a wisp was behind outing him as a Curse Breaker. I gave a brief synopsis of his captivity and how he was sold on the Black Market. Throughout my revelation, everyone remained silent.

  “Thank you for the briefing, Rowan. We would like to ask this ghost a few more questions, as well as the second victim we found, if you can summon her,” Nix said, not taking his eyes off me. “For now, I will not formally accuse Willow of wrongdoing on the off-chance Jason is mistaken. Cornelius, will you go to their apartment and see if Willow is there?”

  Before Cornelius could leave, I blurted, “I haven’t crossed paths with her in at least a day or two, but I’m worried she’s being used by this mysterious person. I think it may be the same person who sold her to the vampire coven that held me.”

  “If that’s the case, it makes her a great danger to us,” Nix replied.

  “I don’t think she would betray us.”

  “I certainly hope not.”

  “Why would two of the victims be naked, while Jason was dressed when you found him as a ghost?” Kayana asked, thankfully changing the subject.

  “Fresh ghosts die as they are, but the longer they stick around, the more they pick up. If Jason went missing six months ago like Indigo said, he had time to figure everything out. Or, it could simply be that he was killed in his clothes.”

  “I examined both the bodies, and while they did show signs of puncture wounds, we know vampires can seal the wound if they choose, unless it’s a repeated offense. But why would they dump the bodies in plain sight?” Kayana straightened her back, her long locks hanging over the chair’s armrest as she moved.

  “Perhaps that was the plan, to let the humans discover the bodies before we did. Where did you say the puncture wounds were?” Indigo asked.

  “Consistent with drug users. Crooks of the arms and other hidden areas.”

  Why naked, though?

  “If vampires were feeding on them, then they would want easy access all the time,” I mused. “But they might put clothes on them if they wanted them to look like human drug addicts. But maybe something happened, and they ran out of time.”

  “Precisely. Very good, Ms. Hayes,” Nix added with a nod. “But we cannot just assume they were in the same situation as Jason Montgomery. I believe our next course of action is to have Ms. Hayes summon the second victim, so we can question her further. I also have more questions for Mr. Montgomery. I assume he is the one you’ve been glancing at and speakin
g with in this room?”

  Busted. I swallowed hard before nodding.

  “Very well. I will set up a place for you to properly summon the second victim. Tell me what you need, and we will provide it. Cornelius?” Nix greeted Cornelius as he re-entered the room.

  Jeez, these men move silently through the night. It was utterly insane to me how quiet they could be.

  “She was not in her room, and her scent is weakened, as if she hasn’t been there in some time. The puzzles she was working on are untouched,” Cornelius revealed.

  “Very well. This serial murder case seems to have expanded to a missing person’s case, as well. I have paperwork to fill out. The rest of you, sleep if you can. We will reconvene in the morning.”

  Kayana and Cornelius left, but I stayed behind to tell Nix what I needed to summon the second ghost. Jason hung back, as did Indigo.

  “I need the victim’s full name, if you have it. I have some crystals in my room I could use, but if you have fresh mallow or know somewhere we can get some, it would definitely help. Oh, and a washable marker.” I wanted to do a more proper summoning, so I wouldn’t have to leech from Abel’s powers again. I didn’t know what situation he was in, but I didn’t want to leave him weakened.

  “I will ensure those items are available for you. Indigo, is there something you need from me?”

  “Nope, just making sure Rowan doesn’t take any detours on the way back to her room.”

  “A grand idea. Now leave. I have hours of paperwork to do.” Nix waved us away.

  Indigo waited for me at the door, Jason following on my heels. He had been remarkably quiet during my explanation, and I wondered if he was trying to think of anything that might help with the case. Death wasn’t as linear as people assumed. Nothing went in a straight line for a ghost. I saw the look of shock on Jason’s face when he realized six months had passed; while to him, it felt like minutes. Seconds.

  Lost in my own thoughts, I didn’t realize when we arrived at my apartment door. My hand hovered over the knob, but I couldn’t bring myself to turn it. Maybe it was paranoia, or maybe it was good old-fashioned sorrow, but knowing Willow wasn’t on the other side made me want to avoid it at all costs.

  Indigo seemed to sense where my head was at and led me to his apartment across the hall. I went willingly, exhausted from the night’s events and the news that I’d learned still churning through my head.

  Even without Indigo’s guidance, I trudged into his bedroom. After stealing one of his shirts and a pair of gym shorts I knew would be ridiculously large, I changed in the bathroom.

  He waited for me silently, holding me close as I tried to go to sleep. “We’ll find her,” Indigo promised.

  But I worried about that exact thing. What would we find when we found Willow?

  Sleep came, but it was fretful. Every time I closed my eyes, I would be sucked into a nightmare. Each one started the same...A bag was tied over my head, and it was impossible to get any scents through the hood. Voices were muffled. I would force myself awake when the hood was ripped off, and then the dream would start again.

  Indigo held me all night, tightening his grip when I woke, whispering to me that it was all right and it was just a dream.

  But was it truly just a dream, or was I seeing someone’s memories?

  Chapter 17

  I took a deep breath, slowly breathing back out.

  “Focus, just focus,” I whispered as I pepped myself up for stepping out of Indigo’s room. Unfortunately, I didn’t wake up when he left to take a shower, which would have been a great time to sneak out and head back to my apartment. But boy, was I awake when the shower turned off. I had a decision to make. Either I bolted then and there, potentially catching a glimpse of Indigo fresh from the shower, or I waited there and definitely caught an eyeful.

  Mmm...choices, choices. But since I’ll have a long day of conjuring...

  Twisting the doorknob, I opened it a sliver and peeked out. With the coast clear, I swung the door open and strode forward, my escape in sight. Keeping my sightlines low, I slammed into a very firm, warm, wet wall. Taking a step back, the first thing my eyes caught on was an incredibly fit back, muscles bunched together, as water made rivulets down his back and rolled down to the towel loosely secured around his waist.

  My heart jumped to my throat, and my lips suddenly felt unbelievably dry. Licking my lips, Indigo turned right at that moment. His eyes flared with hunger and stirred something inside me. Swallowing audibly, I took a measured step back.

  Don’t look, don’t look, I’m totally looking. Fuck. Muscles shouldn’t have muscles piled on top of muscles on his chest. I’d loved Indigo for everything he was before, but that image of him as a boy slowly burned away to make room for the Alpha standing in front of me.

  “Where were you going, Rowan?”

  The dark rumble in his voice made me snap my gaze to his. I found myself unable to look away as his wolf pushed through. “Heading to my room to change. Big day ahead with the summoning and the mission...” I trailed off. “I mean, there’s all sorts of stuff that needs to...be done...”

  “Hmm. If you want to wait, I’ll change and come with you.”

  “No!” I answered quickly, and maybe too squeaky and fast. I squeezed past Indigo, refusing to look at him again. His stifled laughter followed me as my cheeks burned red. Cornelius sat in the front room and barely acknowledged me on my hurried path to their door. He always seemed to have something to share, even if it was just a look or a word, but this morning, he sulked silently on the couch.

  He and Willow had a strange relationship, ever since they rescued me from the vampires. I never asked because it didn’t seem like either of them understood what was happening between them. But it hurt me to see this strong, untouchable gargoyle look lost and defeated. I’d come to care for him.

  “We’ll find her,” I whispered before slipping out of their apartment and heading to mine.

  As soon as I shut my door, I pressed my back against it and breathed for what felt like the first time since last night. I meant what I said to Cornelius. I would find Willow. She had become family to me in the short time we’d spent together. So what if we’d had a rocky start—what with her helping to kidnap me—but she also helped me escape. She kept me sane those first couple of days. Willow was their captive as well.

  Shaking my head, I refocused my thoughts. Today we would summon the second victim, and for once, I would go in prepared. More importantly I would have backup, not that any of them would be able to do anything against her powers. Ghosts used a spiritual magic that was only accessible to them and necromancers, but it affected everyone just the same. It was what made poltergeists so dangerous.

  Back in my apartment, it felt cold and lonely. The puzzle on the coffee table was finished, and it remained right where we left it. The other two on the dining table were still unfinished and untouched. All puns aside, it felt like a ghost town.

  I walked into my room and changed out of Indigo’s clothes, picking out an extra set to take back over to Indigo’s apartment. Walking to my bookcase, I collected one of the two Tomes that I’d taken with me when I left home the second time with Indigo. One was mine, while the other belonged to a deceased uncle. Abel insisted that I take it because it contained good information concerning vampires. I’d flipped through it a couple times but not often. My Uncle Horace had compiled a lot of interesting theories on vampires, as well as some details about the “Other Side,” a sort of purgatory that some ghosts lived in before crossing over to the next plane.

  Nix had promised to collect whatever information they could find on the victim, which he would provide to me on our way to a secret location where I would perform my summoning. After I gathered my blanket and wrapped it around my clothes, I carried the bundle over to the guys’ apartment.

  I knocked on the door and stepped inside their apartment with my eyes closed, calling out, “You better have clothes on! Otherwise, I brought extra over.”
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br />   “Back to sleeping over, are we? Going to slip out like last time?” Cornelius asked. I opened one eye just a sliver while keeping the other securely closed, seeing Cornelius fully dressed and weaponed up. He had a blade concealed on his hip, but any Mystic or human with a sharp eye would easily catch sight of the pommel. Tucked under his wings, I noticed an array of guns holstered as well.

  Why the man who had built-in weapons carried extra made me even more nervous. What sort of trouble did he think I caused?

  “Packing a lot of heat there, bud.” I glanced at his sword again.

  A growl came from down the hallway, and Indigo stepped out of the shadows, his eyes blazing. His lips were peeled back from his teeth, his canines thickening.

  “Calm down, Indigo. She meant my sword.” Cornelius turned and spread out his wing to show Indigo what he meant. Anger slashed over Indigo’s features as he stormed closer, snatching me up in his grip.

  “Whoa there, nelly,” I said. Indigo set me behind him so fast, I barely had time to blink. I pressed my hand against his taut back, the muscles twitching under my hand.

  “You need to calm down.”

  “I am calm. You don’t need to show her your weapons.”

  “They are for my protection against her. Your little hellion causes trouble wherever she goes,” Cornelius sneered.

  I stepped out from behind Indigo’s back to see Cornelius wink at me. It was good to see some of his humor had returned; although he wasn’t entirely wrong. Indigo sighed, seeing that I hadn’t stayed where he placed me. Instead, he grabbed my bundle of stuff and took it back to his room.

  “Well, that was...”

  “Awkward, yes, but that’s just Indigo being territorial. It’s his time of the month.” Cornelius cringed.

  Oh boy. The closer we got to the full moon, the ornerier werewolves got. In a way, it really was their time of the month.

  “Come on.” Indigo came back out, tugging on a worn leather jacket and looking a little clearer in the eyes. Cornelius headed to the door and went out first. I started down the hall to retrieve my blades from Indigo’s room, surprised to see Indigo holding my holster in one hand and my blades in the other. I strapped the holster on and grabbed my blades.