Dead Heat

Whitewitch Island Paranormal Cozies

Prequel Novella

Patti Larsen

Copyright 2023 by Patti Larsen

Find out more about me at

http://www.pattilarsen.com

***

Chapter One

Benjamin leaned his huge head over the center console of my SUV, dark eyes flashing in the passing streetlights. “I can’t find him, Mother.” His soft, deep voice held a faint whine as my mastiff sighed so deeply that I felt the heat of his breath on my cheek. Gone were the days he could occupy the front seat, the puppy I’d adopted from the Hades Hound program no longer able to squeeze himself into the passenger’s side without having to hunch. As it was, he half-laid across the bench in the back, front paws on the floor, leaving the shotgun position open.

Not that it should have been. I refrained from uttering a swear word, knowing my darling dog didn’t like it when I did. Hard to believe one of the massive mastiffs born and bred to carry out the duties of Guild Hades could be so sweet and a bit of a prude. Part of the reason he failed out at two months old, I suppose, and how he ended up with me.

“Keep trying,” I said, signaling to turn, New York evening traffic making driving a hazard as always. I did love Manhattan, but there were times I wished for a quieter life. That would mean giving up my place as a Guild Artemis Inquisitor, though, unless I was willing to take on a lesser assignment elsewhere. Like my family would allow such a move, let alone my partner.

Speaking of whom. “Where could Elias be?” Benjamin’s concern mirrored mine, but I kept it from the young dog. He might have been fully grown at just coming up to two years old, but he was still my baby. “It’s not like him, Mother.”

Elias Barrow, the hunter half of our little team, had always been the kind who walked to the beat of his own drum. It was part of the reason we got along so well. He didn’t judge me for the fact my grandfather was a Dragon Sentinel or that my whole family were so connected I could just scream sometimes. The fact I’d chosen such a “lowly” (quoting my mother) position as a mere inquisitor meant I had judgment from both sides of the fence. I could handle my parents and their wealthy and powerful friends looking down at me. But I admit, I struggled at first when I was greeted with suspicion and outright dislike from my fellow Artemis members. Elias had volunteered to be my hunter and did everything he could to make me feel welcome. Eventually, the rest of the squad softened, as I proved myself over the last twenty plus years. I owed him a lot, yes, including the leeway to do something he wouldn’t talk to me about. He was family and he deserved my faith.

Even if I was pretty sure whatever he was up to might end up badly.

“Just keep your mind open to him,” I said as we crossed the East River into Brooklyn. My car’s tires hummed over the pavement, lights flashing past us as we quickly reached the other side. I pulled down a side street, out of heavy traffic and now in the waterfront, the docks a few blocks away, large warehouses sprawling out in this industrial area. I checked the address again, the message from my informant flashing on the face of my cellphone.

“I worry about him, Mother.” Benjamin yawed with a squeaking growl, one of his ways of releasing tension.

“Let’s focus on this case,” I said. “We’ll deal with Elias when we’re done.” And oh, I’d be dealing with him. I pulled up to the address, a large building that appeared abandoned, the only lights outside flickering and in need of replacement. My phone buzzed as I stepped out into the damp evening, my boot splashing in a small puddle from the earlier rain. It wasn’t Elias, however, but my boss texting and I eye rolled without comment over the message.

Silo should be there when you arrive. Artemis Team Lead Lorne Ortos must have been using magic to type on his own phone, the massive former inquisitor of stone giant descent making it impossible for him to do so without cracking his screen with the first tap. At least he chose this method of communication. Kind of him, really, if his assignment wasn’t. The weight of his mind was disconcerting, even for someone like me with dragon blood in her near lineage. Just be nice to the kid, Drake.

Nice, right. I can handle this alone, boss, I texted back, knowing it didn’t matter now and that I was the idiot who informed him Elias was nowhere to be found. I should have kept my mouth shut. Instead, when I reported my meeting with my informant, my boss insisted on company, even if that company was in the person of Lake Silo. My favorite new hunter (can you sense the sarcasm?) was fresh out of training and knew more than anyone else in the squad. And he made sure we all knew just how smart and special he was, too, believe it. No one wanted to partner with him, surprise, surprise, which meant he was fobbed off on those of us who needed an extra pair of hands from time to time.

Elias. You owe me.

No one works alone, Ortos texted back. You know why.

I did. I sighed again over my phone and sent, I’ll keep you posted, before tucking the cell away and heading toward the corner of the building. Benjamin had already sniffed out the area, head up, ears perked. I was happy the Hound program hadn’t gotten around to docking his ears

or his tail. Having both gave him a softer appearance than the brutally protective mastiffs that made up the Hound order. Floppy ears and a tail suited my Benny, though he’d certainly gained the mass of his kind, no question.

He’s this way, Mother. The mastiff turned his big head to point his wide nose in the direction I was heading.

Thanks, Benny, I said, smiling to myself. Something moved overhead, my chin rising at the sight of a pair of winged watchers who swooped in to perch on the roof of the next building.

He’s here, the black raven sent, Conscio’s mental voice disdainful. He smells like flowers.

Now, now, my love, the white raven who was his mate chuckled, Caprice’s tone wicked. I’m sure his eyes would still be tasty.

Be nice, you two. I slowed my steps as I neared the corner, my boss’s reminder of why I was required a partner surfacing again.

That pathetic child who plays at hunter is coming as well, Caprice clacked in my head. Are we sure we need him?

The boss insists, I sent back, not trying to hide my approach but quieting my footfalls as much as possible, power snaking out to feel for who it was waited around the corner. I immediately recognized his magic and allowed myself to relax somewhat, despite Conscio’s reply.

We would never let the enemy near you, Georgia, he sent.

Never, Caprice agreed, all teasing gone.

We’d die first, Benjamin sent, clearly and brightly, with innocence and conviction that was his hallmark.

The enemy. A vague and tenuous term for a magic-user no one could find, identify or capture, wreaking havoc in our community, even stirring trouble with the normals. I’d been to enough crime scenes, participated in covering up enough of his messes before humans could find out, and nearly lost my dinner over the spectacles of hurt and horror he liked to leave behind to know he was no ordinary foe, formidable and a threat to all of us if left at large.

One of my fellow squad mates had encountered him two weeks before on her way to a case.

Called it in, panicked, cut off from us the moment she made contact. Benjamin found her. I wish he hadn’t had to see what he saw.

She was the reason we didn’t work alone.

Which meant, as I finally turned the corner, I had to accept that my boss’s decision to foist a big-mouthed newbie on me was a sound decision, even if I used him as a human shield.

Georgia Drake. Take your own advice. And focus on the case.

Wouldn’t you know, Hunter 1st Rank Lake Silo beat me to it?

***

Chapter Two

The young hunter turned to me as I approached, Benjamin circling to examine the very expensive car my informant stood beside with Lake watching me like he’d already solved the case and I was too late and unnecessary. He looked the part at least, if a bit over the top, in tight jeans and a leather jacket, boots I was positive he bought because Elias wore the same kind.

Handsome and at least visibly charismatic, he fit the bill for the typical hunter. They needed arrogance, I’d discovered, and a sense of invulnerability. But most of the hunters I knew had earned that attitude. Lake was a long way from that.

“Finally,” he said. “You kept Mr. Ashbourne waiting, Inquisitor Drake.”

Never mind the enemy. I was going to kill him and blame it on that entity. Everyone would believe me. And no one would miss the little sh—

“Georgia Drake, my stars.” Xandros Ashbourne pushed off from leaning against his shiny sportscar, looking me up and down in that irritating way he had of making every female in his life feel like meat. “Looking good, sis.”

“Xandros.” I let him have a flat expression and tone of voice, refusing to let him get under my skin, especially since I was now facing off with two highly annoying men I would have preferred not to deal with, thank you. Sometimes my job sucked. “You messaged me. What can Artemis do for you?”

He hadn’t changed, though I hadn’t seen him in years. As the only son of a wealthy family, Xandros had spent his life having everything handed to him. I could have had that life but rejected it. Then again, so had my older brother, Mattew, both of us choosing to serve our community, though his rather meteoric rise in the bureaucracy of the World Paranormal and Supernatural Forum was much more political and power-focused than my job. Still, our parents raised us with a strong sense of responsibility and loyalty to the paranormal world that people like Xandros Ashbourne would never understand.

“I thought of you, naturally,” he said, tossing his fake blonde hair from his fake tanned skin.

Wait, did he have scales? And augmented lips and pupils? Someone had been altering himself lately, though the skin of a dragon didn’t make you one. Snort. Did he have any idea how ridiculous he looked? “When I was approached. Criminal activity.” He shuddered, but there was

nothing authentic about it as he blinked his augmented lashes at me, the tips shining with real gold. That made dragon augment, Fey and, yes, the scent of flowers, unmistakable. Nyad.

Awesome. I clenched my jaw as the sickeningly sweet waft of his body odor had my stomach crawling. “You’re the only inquisitor I know, after all.”

Good for him. “Guild Artemis appreciates your civic mindedness,” I said in that same flat tone. “We’re happy to investigate.” Oh, I was lying. There was nothing happy about this situation. Except, perhaps, that Lake hadn’t said a word since Xandros began. What wheels were turning in the young hunter’s mind? Didn’t matter. I was sure whatever Xandros had to tell me was going to be a waste of time and we’d soon be heading back to the office, and I could rid myself of my unhappy extra baggage in favor of finding Elias Barrow and making him regret his absence.

“You don’t have to be rude about it,” Xandros said, rather huffy. “We go way back, George.”

He did not use my nickname. No one gave him permission. And now I was so close to done I almost left Lake to handle him. “And here I thought you’d be happy to see me,” the arrogant snot said. “I’m throwing you a bone here, after all. The kind of case that can make your career.

You’re welcome, George.”

Argh.

“I’m sure Inquisitor Drake didn’t mean anything by it,” the hunter said with smooth confidence and a winning smile that had Xandros now looking Lake up and down, assessing his acceptability as a snack, no doubt. “Tell us what you know, Mr. Ashbourne.”

“Well.” Xandros paused for dramatic effect, while I crossed my arms over my chest and glared in annoyance at his attitude. “Fine,” he tossed his hands when I didn’t relent. “I thought you’d like to know, that’s all. There’s an illegal all-species fight going on tonight.” He turned and pointed over his shoulder. “The third warehouse, that way.”

Okay, that was something actionable. Maybe I was being too harsh.

On it, Conscio sent to me, the ravens already on the move, the soft sound of their wings overhead as they flew off.

“How did you hear about it?” There was no way he’d just stumbled on this information.

These kinds of pop-up fight rings were run by pros who carefully guarded their guest lists.

Conviction of illegal fighting carried stiff fines, especially all-species, because without protections, death and permanent disability were very likely. While legal, sanctioned fights were

permitted, this kind of thing put us at risk of exposure to normals while encouraging creatures not allowed on our plane to cross over to participate.

We had enough trouble with the enemy right now. If I could shut down a big fight club, that would be a solid win for Artemis at a time when the community was doubting us as much as we were doubting ourselves.

“Which one specifically?” I didn’t necessarily need him to tell me, the ravens more than capable. The sorcerer who’d created them—and who I liberated them from a few years ago—had given them both remarkable abilities along with sentience. Even if the site was warded—and it would be—the ravens would find it.

“I have to show you.” Xandros flicked his fingers at me. “In fact, I have a way in for you.”

“Do you?” I wasn’t about to jump on some rich boy bandwagon and if he thought I was going to be his arm candy for the evening, he had another thing coming.

Xandros pointed at Benjamin. “I’d heard about your rather spectacular friend there,” he said.

“You want into the fight? Sign up to participate.”

I hated how good an idea that actually was, though I hesitated, even as my new partner took a step toward Benjamin.

“Allow me,” he said with a little bow. “I’m the hunter here, after all.”

Mother, Benjamin sent with a pained tone to his mental voice. I don’t have to go with him, do I? He makes my head hurt.

I almost laughed, shaking my head. “I’ll do it,” I said.

“Terrible idea,” Lake shot back. “It’s not a secret that a well-known inquisitor has her own Hell Hound.”

I didn’t get to be, Benjamin sent while Lake went on, ignoring the fact my dog was a person, for element’s sake.

“If you walk in there with him, they’ll make you right away.”

“But they won’t make you, is that it?” Did he have a point? I gritted my teeth against the possibility he did and forced myself to consider it. And had to admit he was right.

That hurt. A lot more than I’d ever admit.

Ravens. They were my only hope. There might be a sneaky way in that I could check things out and confirm. Otherwise, it was a full assault without anyone inside and that would be messy.

Messy we didn’t need. Any luck?

Found it, Conscio clacked in my head then gobbled a gronk. Doesn’t look good.

Agreed, Caprice sent with a few clicks of irritation. No way in we can find, not even underground. Whoever is running this show is very good at what they do. Grudging respect from the white raven? We heard the plan. It might work. But the kid is right. Their wing sounds grew closer as the two swooped in and settled on the roof of Xandros’ car. He scowled at them, tried to shoo them, but I glared, and he backed down. If you go in with Benny, they’ll know.

“Don’t scratch my paint,” Xandros grumbled to the birds who both clacked their beaks at him, Caprice chuckling before shooting off a cynical gronk.

I wound it around in my head one more time before swearing softly to myself. “Fine,” I said.

“I suggest you keep a wide berth. Thanks for the tip, Xandros. You can go.”

He spluttered at me. “But I’m part of the team,” he said.

“That’s a great idea,” Lake said immediately, clapping the trust fund waste of space on the shoulder before beaming at me. “He’s our in. Right?”

Xandros smiled back at him, then at me, though his amusement quickly faded. “I can get you in, no problem.”

“Xandros,” I said, voice low and not even trying to keep my frustration from it, “this isn’t your first invitation, is it?”

He fish-lipped, faking shock, one hand pressed to his artificially enhanced chest. “I have no idea what you mean,” he said. “I was just trying to help you. Imagine.”

Whatever. I waved off his fake show of offense and fixed my stare on Lake Silo. The hunter hadn’t lost any of his cockiness, which, I had to admit, might actually work to our advantage.

“I’ll tell the boss,” I said, a faint groan in my voice.

***

Chapter Three

I stepped off to contact Lead Ortos, wincing as I used mental connection, knowing it was easier and timelier to do so and preparing myself for the experience. Sir.

He answered as gently as he could. Drake. I knew he tried very hard, but I still staggered a little, calling up the power of my dragon blood to support me. I had no idea how anyone else managed it, to be honest, and knew this kind of communication was rare with him outside his own kind. I take it you found something.

I filled him in quickly on the tip and the opportunity. Ortos listened carefully without interruption, not commenting until I was done.

This is a terrible idea, he growled at me. All right, I’m assembling an assault team now.

We’ll need thirty to come together and another ten to reach you. It was more than a half hour drive, but he was clearly planning on magical means to push the timeline. That meant building a portal, a pretty big expenditure of power for a group the size he was bringing with him. I just hoped this panned out or he’d be in hot water when budget time came around. I need you to get in there and confirm, but don’t take any stupid chances.

Understood, sir, I sent. Paused. Sir, the kid…

Benny will take care of him, Ortos told me, and he’s just green enough and just enthusiastic enough he might pass as some young yahoo out to make a name for himself. He was right, of course . Just keep an eye on him. And keep me in the loop.

He cut off then, the pressure of his mind gone in a flash that left me wobbly and a bit breathless. Benjamin appeared at my side, sliding his shoulder under my hand for me to lean into him for support.

I’ll keep the young hunter safe, Mother, my mastiff said. But do I have to protect the flower one, too?

Up to you, I said with a grin. You’re a good boy, Benny. Ravens. They both left the roof of the car to wing toward me, landing on the thin wire running between buildings overhead. I heard the screech of claws on paint followed by a distressed howl from Xandros. Caprice was still chuckling and preening when they settled. I didn’t comment on her obvious attempt to irritate my informant, instead focusing on the task at hand. We’re going to let Benjamin go ahead with Silo,

I sent. The three of us are going to slip through the wards when they lower them to let our people in.

I don’t like being away from you, Mother, Benjamin sent, a faint whine escaping him.

You won’t be, sweet boy, I sent. I’ll be right behind you. But if something goes wrong on entry it’s better if we’re out of sight so we can help if this doesn’t go well.

If you say so, Mother. Benjamin’s head rose, ears perking. I’ll take good care of the boy. I knew he would . But the smelly one is on his own.

It went rather much better than I anticipated, actually, my worst-case scenario doom swirling occupying my mind as we approached the warehouse in question together. I noted the approaching cars that disappeared somewhat magically through the barrier surrounding the warehouse, the wards set further out than I expected. I felt the repulsion spell on the outside, knowing it would work on normals and many paranormals, too. The trouble with spells like those was they could act in reverse if you knew what to look for, the utter absence of ambient magic almost like a beacon. I hung back, shrouding myself in shadow, misdirection spell sliding gazes away from me. When the ward parted at the arrival of Xandros and Lake, Benjamin barely fitting in the back seat of the sports car with the top now down and my massive mastiff looming over the two in front, I slipped in behind them, on foot, whispering to the wards on my way by.

Dragon magic came in handy, as powerful as it was, but necromancer power, from my grandmother, served me better. It wasn’t hard to deaden the threshold, to glide through with the ravens tucked under my arms, and I quickly slipped off to the side as Xandros and Lake dealt with the guards. One look at Benjamin and they were waved through.

Stay safe. I lifted the ravens aloft and let them fly, keeping my shroud around me as I followed the car and then the stream of people appearing through the small portal someone had set up outside the warehouse entrance. While smaller than the one my boss was going to have built, it still spoke of a willingness to spend magic that boggled my mind. I could barely hear anyone speaking, or the sound of car engines as the few that did park inside the wards pulled up.

The muffling effect of the wards was quite clever, would keep anyone on the outside from hearing a thing. The ravens had been right about lack of entry, too. My examination from the inside, letting magic whisper its way along the edges of the wards, told me they weren’t just surface. We were instead inside a sphere that took in the entirety of the ground beneath the space as well. It was a huge power expenditure to do so, some might call it a waste. Whoever was

behind this fight circuit wasn’t just good. They were clever. And likely had been at it long enough bringing them down would be the solid victory I was hoping for.

Made working with the young hunter who flashed everyone grins like he was king of the world worth it. Mostly.

It was quickly obvious, as I passed the entrance to the warehouse, no expense had been spared in the warding. Not only had they created the bubble around the entirety of the space, it was hollow. I felt my ears pop as I passed through the second layer and into the warehouse proper, the sudden flare of lights—disguised by magic to show an empty, dark space—and cacophony of sound transformed the place into a dirty, dusty nightclub with booming music and chattering guests, excitement travelling through the air like power.

It wasn’t hard to find the fighting pits, where the competitors waited for their turn. I was shocked and disgusted to see a few Hades Hounds present, though it didn’t take much to realize they were mostly half breeds, likely bred to domestic dogs. The thought that someone managed to acquire excomm hounds, those puppies deemed unfit for Hades training, for fights like this broke my heart and made me even more determined to find out who was behind this and shut them down.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” I spun toward the ring in the center of the space, closing the distance a little bit, but hanging back as the crowd surged forward. “Monsters and creatures and demons galore!” Everyone cheered. “Are you ready for bloodshed?”

Again with the roar, this time louder, more primal, the thrum of magic clashing together as the gathered spectators let their own power out to celebrate this horrible event. I held back from that violent swirling, locking my gaze, instead, on the man in the middle of the ring. He towered over the slim woman standing next to him, magic rippling around him, amplifying his voice as the lights over his head swept right and left, giving me an instant headache.

“Welcome to the show!” He spun and left the ring, another man replacing him, calling for the first two competitors to join him. I ignored that unfolding, focusing instead on the departing giant who headed through the middle of the fight pits to the far end of the warehouse and through a door. This had to be the one I sought.

Stay out of sight and work on those wards, I sent to the ravens, side-stepping a pair of imps who tussled in the space between pits, snarling and shoving one another. I’m going to follow the boss and see what I can find out. Imps were a rare sight outside of legal organized fights, rarely

allowed immigration to our plane. They were just too volatile to be trusted. I circled around them, spotting Lake and Benjamin in the last pit, though Xandros was nowhere to be seen. Well, Benjamin wasn’t planning to protect him anyway, so probably for the best if he left.

I slipped around the far end of the pits and made my way to the door the giant had walked through, my distraction magic not working. Of course, if the organizer had paid well for wards of the quality I’d just encountered, he’d also included magical dampening outside the ring. That meant I was on my own, no power for backup, but I hoped I wouldn’t need it. I just needed a name, to identify him, and that would only take a quick peek.

I know what you’re thinking. I could have asked around, but that would have made me too obvious. More than likely, I should have known who the big boss was if I was here for legitimate reasons, so dumb questions would only end in two options: me being caught (not acceptable) or the whole fight ring shutting down and vanishing before my boss could get here (also not going to happen on my watch). Fortunately, Elias had made certain I wasn’t just his inquisitor. Nothing irritated him more than investigators who couldn’t also take care of themselves. So, he’d taught me a few hunter tricks, one of which I took advantage of in that moment.

Namely, the art of arrogance. I’d already had it born into me, even if I didn’t use it on purpose. But he’d convinced me there were times when such boldness was important, even vital, and this was one of those times. Which meant, instead of trying to sneak, I chose the opposite.

With a firm smile fixed on my face, I headed for the door and walked through it. The guards didn’t even try to stop me, though they both blinked. I was inside and closing it behind me before they could muster protest, carrying on with quick and light steps when I found the short hall on the other side of the door to be empty.

Yes, I’d checked to make sure no one was there before I walked in. Some of my magic still worked. Which meant, I had warning as I approached the T in the corridor, a doorway straight ahead, that I wasn’t alone. I paused at the left branch of the hall and peeked around it, spotting my target immediately, flanked by another man just as big as he was. They had to have giant blood, both of them.

The small imp and young man, on the other hand, seemed like ants in their shadows.

“But Mr. Granite,” the imp was saying, body smoking, obviously upset as his red skin took on a faint glow, tail tip twitching from underneath the silk robe he wore, “you promised.”

The big man laughed, stuffing a massive cigar between his thick, blunt teeth. There was an unprocessed look to Marcellus that confirmed my suspicions about his origins, most likely stone giant heritage, like my boss. Though, his laugh cut off into a deep, wracking cough a moment, the slim woman I’d seen with him in the ring hurrying forward.

“Marcellus,” she said.

He waved her off, almost angry, as he jabbed one giant finger at the imp and young man. “I don’t care what I promised,” he snarled. “Get out there and fight. Or my brother here will escort you out.”

It didn’t sound like that escort would mean they got to leave on their own power, either.

I was about to retreat, with confirmation now of who I sought and information to share with my boss, when the woman turned suddenly, her eyes flaring red, black lips parting as I realized my mistake. Not a woman at all.

A demon. And she knew I was there.

“Boaz,” she said, pointing at me. Awesome.

***

Chapter Four

I already had an excuse formulated, at least, so when the lumbering form of who I assumed was Boaz came stomping toward me, I plastered on a nervous smile, rounding my shoulders and nodding apologetically.

“I’m with one of the teams,” I told him as he stopped in front of me, squashed nose off center, beady eyes blinking in slow motion. “I got lost, first time, sorry.”

He grunted but didn’t speak, waving at the hallway behind me. I turned immediately and hustled toward the exit, his heavy footfalls on my heels, the shadow of his big body cutting out the light. It wasn’t until I passed through and hurried away that I let myself breathe, though whether I actually got away with it or not was still to be seen.

I quickly found a quiet corner to message my boss, using my phone this time since I’d have to leave the wards in order to contact him the other way and I wasn’t confident I’d get back in.

Found the leader, I sent. Marcellus Granite, brother Boaz, stone giant descent. They have a demon with them. I looked up as someone brushed past me, noting it was the imp and his friend heading back to the pits. This is a big operation, well run and efficient. Strong wards. I detailed the magic I’d come through before wrapping the message. Working on gaining you easy access.

Frontal assault not recommended. The ravens are working their magic, so it shouldn’t be long now.

The moment I hit send I was on the move, looking for Benjamin and my hunter pain in the butt, spotting them both almost immediately. My mastiff, being full Hound, was bigger than the half-breeds, towering over them by inches and outweighing them by at least fifty pounds. I almost smirked at the nervous expressions on their handler’s faces, wondering if their dogs were even sentient. Of course, Benjamin was a darling, not a warrior, and though I had no doubt he’d fight if it meant saving me. But I wasn’t going to put his sweet nature to the test and force him to battle it out with anyone if I didn’t have to.

“Silo.” I stopped next to Lake, the young hunter turning to flash me an eager smile.

“We’re going to clean the floor with these mutts,” he said. “Right, Benny?”

My mastiff shot me a very unhappy look. Please tell me I don’t have to actually fight.

“You’re forgetting why we’re here,” I snarled at Lake. “Focus, kid.”

He blinked at me, looked at Benjamin, then shrugged. “But we could clean up,” he said with wistful hope.

“Don’t you dare,” I snarled. And noted the imp and young man from my scouting slipping in the back of our fighting pit, huddling together. “Stay here and if they try to assign you to a fight, tell them Benjamin is hurt or something. Do not,” I poked a very stern finger into Lake’s chest, making him grunt from the impact, “allow my dog to go in that ring. Do you hear me, Silo?” He flinched as I pushed harder. “Do you? Because if you’re not hearing me, I swear, you’ll regret it.”

“I hear you, got it.” He backed away, rubbing at the spot I’d pressed into. Yes, I used magic.

The child had to understand I was serious. From his disappointed scowl, he was still working it around in his head, trying to find a loophole. Which had me spinning on Benjamin.

“Bite him if you have to,” I said, before stalking away, heading for the two in heated conversation at the back of the pit.

I would never , Mother, Benjamin sent, hurt tone in his mental voice.

I know, sweet boy, I sent back. That was for his benefit. Does he look scared?

Yes, Benjamin sent. I smell it on him now. I think he understands. Thank you, Mother.

Keep an eye on him, I sent. Ortos is on his way with an assault team. We just need to give the ravens time to break the wards before they get here. Keep your eyes open and do not, under any circumstances, go in that ring.

I won’t. I felt him shudder through our connection. The poor dogs that they want me to fight, Mother. They’re very upset. I wouldn’t want to hurt them.

Good boy, I sent, stopping next to the pair I came to talk to, letting Benjamin’s mind go as I smiled at the imp and young man, waving a little. “Hi,” I said. “I’m George. Kinda new here, with that Hound team.” I turned and pointed at Benjamin.

“That’s nice,” the imp snarled. “Beat it.”

“I’m Thiago Rush,” the young man said, shaking my hand, clearly in better temper than his friend. “This is Aziel.” He eyed Benjamin for a moment, whistling low. “That’s a monster.

Where did you get him?”

“Connections,” I said. “They suggested he might make me some money, so we’re going to see what happens.”

“You won’t get good odds,” the imp said.

I shrugged. “I was hoping to talk to some people, see if there was a way to increase my chances of cleaning up. Any cross-race action going on I can put him in?” Normally, only same-race fights were sanctioned, by class and by talent and power. It was one of the things about illegal fights that made them so horrific. They even had free-for-all events where low-value fighters could join a mass battle at the end. I’d never seen one, but I’d been witness to the aftermath, so I was acutely aware of the stakes here tonight.

“Not sure about that,” Thiago said while his imp friend turned his back on me, tail twitching.

“Folks around here don’t like friendly,” Aziel said. “Get lost.”

Okay then. I carried on, exiting the fighting pit, gaining my bearings while the next set of competitors entered the ring. I tried not to watch, though it wasn’t hard to miss the action since the sides of the fighting space were packed with spectators. I winced at the sound of snarls and the prickle of magic, however, knowing from a final howl one of the competitors didn’t last long.

I paused when I spotted Xandros and almost approached him but held off when I saw the towering Marcellus Granite stop next to him, people parting to give the big organizer space.

Boaz still hovered near his brother, though the demon woman was nowhere to be seen. It was pretty clear to me that my informant wasn’t happy to be singled out and the proceeding conversation, though I missed the details since I couldn’t use magic to overhear, appeared hostile enough I had to assume Xandros had an ulterior motive for bringing me in tonight. Well, whatever his reason, it was obvious Marcellus wasn’t happy with the trust fund fop. When he finally walked away, Xandros shot him a hateful glare that flickered to anxiety when he realized I was watching.

More to the story, but I’d deal with it after my boss and the squad cleaned up this place.

I caught sight of the demon woman a moment later, sliding past the edge of the crowd, pulling a man along with her and decided to follow. She was in with Marcellus so maybe her companion was, too? She led him around the side of the pens for some of the more uncontrollable creatures—they had a spikebear? And two mangaters. Seriously, if any of them got loose, the whole crowd would be at risk.

When I eased to the corner of one of the cages, I caught sight of the demon and her companion, far too close for comfort. Close enough, in fact, I heard them speak quite clearly.

“He won’t agree to it, Octavius,” she was saying. “Marcellus—”

“Marcellus doesn’t own me, Sibyl,” he shot back. “I’m tired of how he treats you. We have to do something.” He ran a hand through his silver hair, dark eyes afraid, tall body leaning toward her in his pristine gray suit, sounding almost desperate. “I won’t stop trying.”

She shook her head before spinning suddenly, fixing her eyes on me again. How did she keep doing that? I knew, of course. Demons had incredible senses and now that she was attuned to my presence, my nosiness had to have triggered her. I was in trouble this time, I could tell from her glare. The last thing I wanted was to have a demon on my trail, let alone alert the big boss that the very trouble her companion talked about had come home to roost.

The creature in the cage next to me let out a massive roar, shaking the bars, startling the demon and giving me time to dash. I glanced back, noticing the black winged shadow that rose from the top of the cage, sending a quick thank you to Conscio.

You’re making yourself too obvious, Caprice sent. Go find somewhere to hide before you blow this whole thing.

She was right, but she didn’t have to say it. Fine, I sent, checking my phone after I wound my way far enough into the crowd that I hoped I’d lost the demon, Sibyl. A return text had landed, the boss less than five minutes out. We’re almost at go time, I sent. You two have the wards handled? I’d never met a set that could stand against their combo magic.

Working on it, Conscio sent. Not much longer. He chuckled. Stay tuned. It’s going to be a show.

Groan. Nothing dangerous, I sent back, hurrying to the far side of the warehouse. Wouldn’t you know, by the time I reached the other end and the far corner of the ring, so had the demon?

Was she hunting me? I spotted her first, at least, though before I could figure out where to go to hide—impossible if she’d managed to track me, though I didn’t sense her magic on me—I realized it wasn’t me she was looking for.

She paused near a side door, stopping to talk to someone standing in the shadows. I didn’t get a good look at the man she spoke to, but it was clear from the intensity on her face she wasn’t happy with the conversation. In fact, she seemed almost afraid. I did see her lips form Marcellus, so whoever this was, she was talking about her boss. He leaned forward when she did, face coming into the light and I realized I knew him, recognized him.

Dante Laught. He’d been arrested before for running illegal fights, but had never been convicted, his money and his lawyers sufficient to protect him. His operations didn’t ever reach

this level, however, and he’d been out of the game, from what I could tell, for over a year. Was he here to build a deal with Marcellus? Catching him in the act would be another major score, because even attending one of these things was a prosecutable offense.

Sibyl walked away from him when he tried to touch her, jerking clear in what looked like an overreaction to me, heading around the far side of the ring, head up, face set. As distracted as she appeared, she was obviously looking for someone. Me, more than likely. I turned and went the other way, returning to the fighting pit and my partner and mastiff. Only to stop again and duck behind a large set of trolls when Sibyl appeared at the same time, Marcellus and Boaz watching from that vantage point.

She said something to him that he didn’t like because he grabbed her by the arm and shook her, violently enough even she winced. If he’d done that to a human, they’d be dead. But even the demon appeared hurt, clutching at the spot when he let her go. A coughing fit took him, and he shoved past her, leaving her to glower at him with the kind of hate Hel was known for.

My phone buzzed, the terse, Here, all that Ortos sent.

Time to move, I sent to the ravens.

Georgia, Conscio sent with three quick clicks, voice choked. Look.

My head jerked up, gaze lining up with the ring and the three large mastiffs in it. While a fourth reluctantly hovered at the entrance, none other than Lake Silo trying to physically push Benjamin in.

SILO. I walked fast, knowing running would draw too much attention. WHAT ARE YOU

DOING?

Keeping our cover. The hunter shot that back at me while Benjamin refused to move one paw past the threshold of the ring. The jeering shouts that rose had bile rising in my throat, a few early adopters throwing bottles and empty glasses at my mastiff who stood, steadfast and grim, head down, not budging an inch.

I was almost there when the announcer gestured at one of the roustabouts standing in the corner. So close, but not close enough to prevent the burly bully from casually striding the two steps he needed to reach my dog, some kind of stick extended.

Benny! Look out! My mastiff turned toward the impending contact, head swinging upward, his snarl loud enough I heard it from ten feet away, as the end of the implement pressed into his

shoulder. Sparks fired off, magical prod sending a jolt of agony through my dog I felt myself, if peripherally, thanks to our connection.

Benjamin hadn’t known a moment of such hurt in his whole life. The Hades Hound program used magic in training, yes, but he’d been exommed before the real hard-core process began and I’d babied him, I admit it, ever since. I had no idea what to expect, therefore, from my mastiff when such pain was inflicted. Would he side-step and cry? Or fight back?

I shouldn’t have worried about him, though that was deep-rooted already. As the magic’s attack peaked, my darling boy’s jaws parted while he turned his giant head and grabbed the prod between his massive teeth. The crunching sound of its destruction echoed in the sudden silence as the roustabout’s face creased in panic. I leaped forward, pushing Lake aside, while the crowd, gone quiet over the moment of drama, burst into mad cheers for my dog.

But it wasn’t over yet, two more roustabouts approaching with bigger prods, one of them with a silver net that rippled with magic. No way was I letting them hurt my boy again. Not now, not ever.

Georgia, Conscio sent, we already set the collapse in motion. Get ready!

I stiffened, torn between my need to send the approaching bullies running in terror from the dragon magic inside me and doing my duty. I chose duty, but only because the timing was (insert chef’s kiss here) perfection.

The wards overhead burst in a downpour of sparks as the two ravens, their combined power seeded into the arch of the dome, fired off in rapid succession like grenades going off. They’d been busy, the pair of them, flying over the whole dome, undermining its strength, until they were able to blow it in a spectacular explosion of power.

I stood my ground, magic fully returned the moment the wards collapsed, the sound of the assault force arriving bellowed from my boss’s lungs even over the screams of the gathering, ready to take down the approaching attackers.

Only to have them run. Smart boys.

***

Chapter Five

I joined Lead Ortos by the front doors of the warehouse an hour or so later, amazed at how efficient our strike team had been. It was hard not to hear the sniffling, sniveling and outright fury from the collective attendees who’d been sequestered in the parking lot under their own wards, ensuring none of them escaped justice. As for the fight teams, they were being led out a group at a time, logged and catalogued by the efficient inquisitors, guarded by their hunters, while the Hades strike force that my boss brought along stood by with their sternly commanding Hounds patrolling at their sides.

“Well done,” Ortos rumbled to me, bending from his looming height, keeping his voice down, gray skin cracking a little, a soft rain of dust falling from his cheeks as he gave me a grim smile. “Tell the ravens I owe them one.”

We’ll hold him to that, Caprice cackled from her perch over the door. She and Conscio would be unconscionable the next little while, preening themselves and looking out over the success they’d made happen like the king and queen they were.

“All in a day’s work, sir,” I grinned up at him.

“Is Benjamin all right?” I’d already told him about Lake Silo’s failure to protect my mastiff as ordered, though it had been a terse moment of anger in the midst of the orderly chaos that had been the rounding up of all concerned. My demands for the young hunter’s badge, head and firstborn had been met with a grunt and a pat on the shoulder, because my boss knew I didn’t mean it. Or thought he knew.

“He is,” I said, my gaze instantly traveling to the large Hound who sat by the side of the ring, keeping out of the way and showing no sign of being hurt at all. “He’s tough, sir.”

“He’s a good boy,” Ortos said. “I’ll make sure he gets a box of donuts when we make it back to the office.” He exhaled, the scent of stone and earth on his breath as he silenced me before I could complain further. “I get it,” he said. “Silo’s not my favorite either.” Ortos hesitated before going on, voice dropping further as two Hades agents strode past in their black flak suits.

“Listen, he’s the Sentinel’s nephew, okay?” He was… oh, come on. Nepotism? In Artemis? “We have to do our best. He’ll dig his own grave eventually.”

“Boss.” I sighed and shrugged. If Guild Artemis Sentinel Harrison Kane wanted his relative on the roster, he’d have it, apparently. But that didn’t mean the kid deserved it or was worthy of the job. He’d just passed hunter training. Did they push him through for the same reason? I knew I didn’t like the brat, and now I understood why. Outside of the fact he’d gone against direct orders and gotten my baby hurt.

“Still no sign of Granite, sir.” One of the Hades teams interrupted, the taller of the two nodding to me. “Inquisitor.”

“Agent Brine,” I said, turning to my boss. “I’ll take Benny,” I said.

“Good idea.” He nodded to the Hades agents. “Let our people handle it,” he said.

“We have Hounds at our disposal, sir,” Brine said. I liked him, what little I knew of him, his merman heritage tinting his skin green, but not hindering him on land.

“Inquisitor Drake and her mastiff have had direct contact,” Ortos said while I inhaled to explain, actually, we hadn’t, when I realized this wasn’t about me. Artemis and Hades occasionally shared cases, but not often. This was less about who was best for the job and more about boundaries. Apparently, stone giant Artemis Leads got what they wanted if they stared long enough.

“Sir.” The agents both saluted finally, after hesitating a moment, before turning and heading out the front doors.

“Thanks for having my back,” I said.

“Always,” the big stone giant said. “Now go find the target and prove me right.” He strode off, massive torso barely contained inside his flak jacket, sparks of magic dribbling from it where it strained to protect him.

I waved to Benjamin who came to my side immediately and checked his shoulder one more time.

“I’m fine, Mother,” he said. “Does Lead Ortos have a job for us?”

“He does,” I said. “We need to find Marcellus Granite.”

I was partway down the warehouse, heading for the back hallway, hoping the target hadn’t somehow escaped, when Lake Silo decided that he was going to make my life miserable by joining me. I felt the ravens swoop low past me, stirring my dark hair on the way by, Caprice chattering her dislike while Conscio clacked his beak at the young hunter, making Lake duck and

cry out in surprise. Amusing as it was to indulge in the duo’s dirty tricks, I had the kid to deal with.

Lucky me.

“Go help the boss,” I snarled at Lake as he tried to fall in step with me.

“I’m your partner,” he whined.

Argh. “You’re not,” I said, stopping and facing him. “Now, are you going to disobey this direct order as well? Or are you going to go be useful?”

He scowled at me, suddenly vicious. “You can’t talk to me like that, Drake.”

“Why, because your uncle won’t like it?” I leaned in, hating what I was about to do but knowing it was my only recourse. “We’ll see about that. Because your uncle and my parents?

Pretty tight, kid.” Okay, not really, but they respected each other, at least, Mom’s position as Emissary to the North American Magic League and Dad’s as Guild Nemesis’ Chief Defender only adding to their influence. Oh, and the fact my grandparents were both Sentinels themselves?

Money and Dragon blood aside, even the Artemis Sentinel would stand down if those four Drakes told him to.

Not that they would. Because I might imply that I’d play that card, but I never, ever would.

Dear legion, don’t ever put me in a position I had to.

Lake backed down, turning and stalking off, head bowed, clearly bitter about the whole thing. Let him be. I had a job to do, and he wasn’t making it any easier.

I passed through the door to the hallway I’d been expelled from earlier, stalking forward with my mastiff at my side, the ravens winging their way ahead. The door at the end stood open, no one home, though it looked like some kind of office. There were two more doors down each side hall, supplies, boxes and alcohol stored there. With no sign of Marcellus Granite or his people, I felt a sinking hole open in my gut that we might have lost them after all.

Mother. Benjamin paused as we retraced our steps to the door at the T, his head up, nose twitching. Something’s not right in there.

I turned and looked inside, crossed into the office space. “I don’t feel anything out of place,”

I said.

He’s right. Conscio settled on the filing cabinet next to me, Caprice circling the ceiling before landing on the desk, pecking at a few things, papers rattling under her white beak.

Something, the female raven said. There’s a ward here.

I felt around for it, turning in place. “I still don’t feel it.”

It was Benjamin who found it, padding forward to the chair behind the desk. Here, he sent.

And exhaled deeply.

The ward melted like wax while I gaped and grasped for it with my power. Complex, intricate and custom designed, this ward was made to hide one specific person from sight, from magical discovery, even from touch. It was incredibly created and had me stunned, but no more so than the sight revealed as the shimmering protection sagged and vanished with a faint sound like a bell going off.

“Looks like we found our target,” I said, sighing at the slumped and silent form of Marcellus Granite collapsed in his chair. Too bad he was already dead.

***

Chapter Six

“Heat suffocation.” I leaned in as Thaumaturge Wither Ground straightened from her examination of the body, the necromancer turning toward me with her glowing blue warding sizzling out. Her huge, dark eyes blinked at me, her pale skin so transparent I could see the blue-tinted blood pumping through her veins under her skin. “Sucked all the oxygen out of his lungs then cooked his insides.” She stepped back, letting her two assistants take over now that she was done. They groaned as they struggled, even with magic, to maneuver the massive body onto the floating gurney. It sagged beneath the weight when they settled Marcellus Granite on the surface, bobbing low to the ground but managing to maintain its gravity spell, if barely.

“Magic?” I had to assume so. Stone giants were notoriously tough.

“Had to have been,” Wither said. “I’ll know more when I do the autopsy. I’ll get right to it when we return to headquarters.” She waved at her assistants who began their exit, my boss stepping aside, Lake lurking near the entry, forced to jump out of the way as the two necroassists floated the body out into the hall.

I was just turning back to the desk and my further investigation, previously paused while we waited for the thaumaturge to finish her job, when someone shouting from that same direction turned my head.

That sounds like the smelly one, Benjamin sent.

Xandros? I waved at Ortos who grunted and nodded to the hunter beside him. Lake seemed put out to be an errand boy but did as he was told, returning a short time later with the overdone trust fund wastrel at his side. My informant looked worse for wear, clearly put out by the fact he was in magicuffs like the rest of the fight attendees and shot me a vicious look that bordered on panic as he lurched into the room.

“George!” He quivered even as he fought to maintain his anger, jerking his arm free of Lake and ignoring the towering stone giant beside him in his visible hysteria. “They arrested me, George!”

“Calm down, Xandros.” I circled the desk and joined him, severing the link on the cuffs and setting him free. “Boss,” I said, “this is my informant, Xandros Ashbourne.”

“Mr. Ashbourne,” Ortos said, nodding. “Thank you for your assistance.”

Xandros seemed mollified, rubbing his wrists where the cuffs had left light red lines across his skin, burning away the fake scales. He’d have to pay to have them redone, poor thing. Snort.

Still, he had delivered and this victory—dead organizer or not—was due to his tip, so I chose to be kind.

“I should say so,” he spluttered. “How dare they manhandle me that way?” His eyes narrowed, fixing on my boss. “I should call your Guild up on charges.”

He didn’t want to go there with Ortos, and the giant lead proved it, looming suddenly. He didn’t normally use his size to his advantage. In fact, I always had the feeling Ortos chose the opposite, speaking softly, never touching if he could help it. But this wasn’t the first time I’d seen him swell to his full height and it impressed me every single time.

And made Xandros blanch and squeak and apology of his own.

“You understand my people are just doing their jobs, Mr. Ashbourne,” Ortos said, voice deep but now booming with the promise of his full volume. Volume that could, given the right circumstances, shatter eardrums, break glass and even crack stone.

“Of course,” Xandros backed off immediately, bobbing a nod. “My mistake.” Money might have bought him a lot in his life, but he’d learned self-preservation wasn’t on the list, apparently.

“May I go now?”

I was on the fence about that but didn’t get to hand out my opinion on the matter, not when a silky voice interrupted. I hadn’t noticed another hunter had joined us, this time with the demon Sibyl in his company. She was firmly magicuffed but seemed unconcerned by the fact, her human coloration faded to pale red, eyes glowing with that same tone, her dark hair falling almost to her hips swaying with a life of its own as she jutted her pointed chin at my boss.

“I wouldn’t if I were you, Lead Ortos,” she said.

“And why is that, Ms…?” He knew very well she was a demon, but treated her exactly as he treated everyone, because my boss was a class act.

“Bael,” she said. “Sibyl Bael. I was Marcellus Granite’s assistant.”

“I take it you’re legal, Ms. Bael,” Ortos said, calm and without judgment.

“I am,” she said stiffly and with great dignity. “Mr. Granite holds my charter.” She seemed to deflate just the tiniest bit before going rigid again, not quite as confident. “Though of course, now that he’s dead, that charter’s ownership is in question.”

“Send her back where she came from,” Xandros snarled then, though the anxiety in his face, the way his hands twitched, how he looked toward the exit told me my guess that he’d brought us here to satisfy his own needs was fulfilled.

“Why did you call me, Xandros?” I waited for him to answer, but he didn’t.

He didn’t have to. “Mr. Ashbourne owed my employer a great deal of money,” Sibyl said.

“Three quarters of a million dollars, to be exact.” Even Ortos low whistled at that number. “So, you see, he had an excellent reason to not only want this ring shut down, but to kill Mr. Granite.”

I wasn’t so sure about that. Xandros obviously called me in to arrest Marcellus, effectively ending his debt. Self-serving? Yes, totally. But a killer? I wasn’t sure he had it in him. Still, someone like Xandros could turn into a cornered beast as much as the next person, so I couldn’t discount her theory entirely.

We were interrupted by another hunter and yet another person tied to the victim, the hulking Boaz joining us, head down, shoulders bowed, coming to a halt next to Sibyl who patted his arm gently as though he were some sort of pet and not her boss’s brother.

“And you, Ms. Bael?” I prodded her just to see where the cracks might be as her head swiveled to face me again, those fiery eyes unnerving. “Did you have a reason to kill your employer?”

“She had nothing to do with it.” It was the first time I’d heard Boaz speak, and though he didn’t look up or straighten out, making no attempt to flex his size as my boss had done, it was clear from the threatening tone in his voice he felt protective of her. Why was that, exactly?

“Sibyl didn’t do anything wrong.”

“It’s okay, big boy,” she said, full lips pursing. “I had no reason to kill Marcellus,” she said.

“Didn’t you just hear what I said? He holds my charter. And he doesn’t have an heir.” Not even his brother? Hmmm. Interesting. “With his passing, I might be forced to return to Hel.” She didn’t crumble, but she looked anxious suddenly. “I can’t go back.”

“I’m sure everything will be sorted out in good time.” Leave it to Lead Ortos to try the soothing hero route. He was good at it, too, something to do with that rumbling voice and maybe, in her case, the fact he was the same race as her former boss helped.

Whatever the truth, she seemed to settle somewhat, though as we were interrupted for the final time by yet another soul, she fell against him as though her life was ending, and he was her only lifeline.

“I want my defender,” the man I’d overheard her talking to by the cages said. “My name is Octavius Dole, and this is my property.”

***

Chapter Seven

It was getting very crowded in the small office doorway and hall, my boss’s deep frown turning his face down into a disapproving mask of unhappiness that meant he was about to send everyone away. Or leave me to sort out the mess.

Guess which one he picked?

“Inquisitor Drake, I need to oversee the rest of the exodus to headquarters,” he said. “I trust you to carry on in my stead.”

“Thank you, sir.” I watched as the seas parted for him to exit, but followed him despite my orders, stopping him just before he exited the hallway into the main warehouse. “Sir, one moment.”

He paused to listen as I filled him in on all the things that I’d seen prior to following the body, the interactions and conversations I’d attempted to overheard. Including mentioning the fact I’d spotted Dante Laught on the premises, though I’d already shared that in one of my texts.

“I have Hades Hounds looking for him,” Ortos said. “Looks like you have a list of suspects to interrogate. I’ll give you all the leeway you need. But Octavius did ask for a defender, and we have to allow him representation.”

“Yes, sir,” I said. “I’ll be careful.” No way was I jeopardizing this operation. Thinner threads had been pulled in big cases to make the whole thing fall apart. I would not be the puller.

“I have every faith in you.” He paused. “Elias?”

I hesitated before shrugging. “You know what he’s like, sir.”

“I do, unfortunately.” My partner had been an endless source of discomfort for Ortos and me, as well. “When you talk to him, tell him I want to see him in my office. At his convenience.” I didn’t take Ortos’ tone lightly, nor his sarcasm, letting him go to do what he needed to do so I could focus on what I needed.

But when I turned back to the crowd of people on the cusp of my crime scene, I realized my mistake. I left the other half of my temporary partnership on his own—the other hunters had already exited—thinking he was in charge.

“You will answer our questions,” the idiot was saying, a finger jabbing at Octavius who had turned a dark shade of red despite his human appearance, “or you’ll find yourself in the darkest hole we can find without a chance for a trial.”

“Hunter Silo.” I spoke his name between clenched teeth, Lake trying to ignore me while I firmly stepped between him and the man in question, forcing him to back down. Then again, maybe it was Benjamin showing his fangs, something he rarely did, as my mastiff lurked and watched, that had the young blood stepping off. Whatever the reason, he didn’t look happy.

He didn’t know what unhappy was. He’d better hope he didn’t find out.

“If you’ll all follow me, please,” I said. “We’re going to have this conversation elsewhere.”

They did as they were told, flanked as they were by myself and my mastiff, my rather useless hunter at least doing that job well. By the time we exited and I had them all corralled in the nearest fight pit—you better believe I chose that spot on purpose, Sibyl’s distaste, Octavius’

discomfort and Xandros’ disgust putting them all at the disadvantage I wanted them in—seated on the low benches provided for the fight teams, it was obvious to me that Sibyl was now looking to Octavius to be her new charter holder while Boaz’s feelings for her showed in aching guilt on his face. I felt pity for the poor soul, at least where it came to his heart, though was his obvious love for his brother’s charter demon a motive for murder?

I didn’t get to say a word before Lake fired up his idiocy again.

“Every one of you had motive to kill Marcellus Granite,” he said with such arrogance I wanted to smack him. Because while that might be the case, some of their motives were tenuous at best and hardly explored enough to challenge them with a guilty charge.

“Hunter Silo,” I said.

He ignored me.

“Where were you when Mr. Granite was killed?” Seriously? We didn’t even have a TOD

from the thaumaturge yet. What was he doing? Showing off, being a jackass, and ruining my investigation.

Can we help? Caprice chattered in my head.

We can, Conscio answered for me. He joined us, landing on the far end of the bench, his mate settling next to him. “Georgia,” he said, gronking once before going on. “We found something.”

“I’m a little busy right now,” I said, taking the bait.

“That’s all right,” Caprice said. “We really need a hunter. Can you spare yours?”

Lake immediately perked up. “Of course,” he said, chest puffing out, nodding to the two ravens. “Show me what you found. You can deal with these.” He waved a casual hand at me before striding off, following the now flying ravens away from me and to where I didn’t know.

And frankly, didn’t care.

You owe us, Caprice sent.

So many donuts, Conscio sent.

Done, I sent. And realized I had two more players I really wanted to talk to. Sir, there’s a fight team I need to speak to.

Go ahead, Ortos sent.

Aziel and a kid named Thiago Rush. I think he’s a sorcerer, sir, likely the imp’s handler.

Let me see what I can do. He cut me off without the usual softness and I grunted a bit from the break in contact, doing my best not to show it. Instead, I nodded to the foursome on the bench, Benjamin casually sniffing each of them before looking up one at a time and growling softly. They knew what Hades Hounds could do, so his presence was more than sufficient to keep them from bolting. If only they knew he’d lick them to death before hurting a hair on their heads.

Does it mean I’m a bad dog if this is kind of fun, Mother? He glanced my way, a flicker of guilt passing between us.

Of course not, I sent. You’re the best boy, always. Enjoy yourself.

He chuckled out loud, a truly terrible sound if one wasn’t accustomed to it. Xandros let out a little squeak of terror, Sibyl inhaling sharply, Octavius gone pale now. Even Boaz seemed nervous. Perfection.

“Guard them, Benjamin,” I said out loud. “I’ll be right back.”

“They’re not going anywhere.” He’d lowered his voice and gave it that gravely growl the Hades Hounds had perfected, sinking to his haunches with his teeth showing in a smile.

You really are enjoying yourself, I laughed in my head as I strode away.

I don’t like scaring people most of the time, he sent, but they aren’t nice, so they deserve it.

I agreed completely, carrying on with my goal. Because there was one way to tell for certain, now that the wards were gone and my magic worked, just who had access to the victim around time of death.

Casting the tracking spell was easy enough, of course, the glowing lines of power that radiated out from the doorway of the office connecting to anyone who had been here in the time frame I allotted, between seeing Marcellus last and locating his body. The real problems were twofold: one, that the glow filled the entire room instead of focusing on the desk, likely a byproduct of the spell that had disguised the body in the first place. And second, I had a window to deal with, at least an hour between the dropping of the wards and Benjamin’s discovery, which meant this wasn’t a lock and load.

Still, as I traced my way along the thicker vein of glow to the exit and noted most of the lines connected to the four people being carefully guarded in the fight pit, I noted two more wandered off toward the front doors and knew my last two suspects were already outside.

Not for long, however, a Hades agent delivering the imp and young man to me within moment, nodding to me as I dispelled the tell-tale threads of power that identified them and gestured for them to join the others in the pit.

They didn’t say a word, though they both looked upset. They chose another bench, across from the previous four, clearly seeing themselves as disconnected from management. That didn’t bother me so much, not at all, actually, because if they turned out to be innocent, they might be able to provide me with inside information about Marcellus that could solve the case.

Having suspects on alternate sides was always a bonus.

The imp shook his cuffed hands at me, snarling. “You gotta let us go,” he said.

“I don’t have to do anything of the sort,” I said. “You’re under arrest for illegal fighting. And until you can provide proof of your landed immigration status, you may face deportation, too.”

Fury crossed his face, but he didn’t comment as Thiago quietly whispered to him before speaking to me. “We heard Marcellus Granite died. Is that true?”

“It is,” I said, “and the reason all of you are here.” I gestured at the other four while the imp’s eyes flew wide.

“We didn’t kill nobody!” He lurched to his feet, only sitting back down when Benjamin swung on him, snarling.

He’s lying, Mother, he sent. But not in the way he means. The mastiff shook his big head. I don’t understand.

“You’ve killed plenty,” Xandros jabbed a finger at the imp. “I’ve seen him, George. I watched him kill every night he fought.” He seemed to take that personally, for some reason

before gulping and shrinking back as if realizing he’d just incriminated himself. Since he’d originally told me he’d never attended one of these matches, right?

Maybe that’s it, Mother, Benjamin sent.

“Inquisitor,” Thiago said in a much more reasonable tone, one hand holding his friend back,

“we didn’t like Mr. Granite, but we didn’t kill him. He was a terrible person.”

“A liar and a cheat,” Aziel said, bitterness almost palpable.

“No matter Mr. Granite’s character,” I said, “I now have proof that all of you,” I swung a finger around the semi-circle they’d created in their seating, “were in proximity to him prior to his death. It’s only a matter of time before I sort out which of you actually committed the crime.”

“Lots of people were in that office tonight,” Sibyl spluttered.

“You used a tracking spell,” Thiago said. I nodded. “Do you have time of death?”

A clever one. Never a good sign. “I do not. Yet.”

“Then you have nothing,” he said, tugging on the imp’s arm. “And we’re done talking.”

From the sudden silence and grim nods from the others, he’d just made my life a whole lot more difficult.

***

Chapter Eight

I had two Hades agents, and a pair of Hounds watch them for a moment as I retreated to regroup, Octavius’ repeated request for a defender echoed by the others so quickly I knew I’d made an error and should have sequestered them instead of allowing them to stay together. My mind clearly wasn’t on the case, worry about Elias and frustration with Lake Silo, not to mention Benjamin’s close call, had me irritated and on edge. Enough to knock me off my game.

Pull it together, Georgia.

I took a moment, sending out a few inquiries to some contacts I wished I didn’t have to reach out to, but knowing cutting to the chase was the quickest route to answers I needed. I stared into the still-glowing office, frowning at the blur of golden light, frustrated by the masking spell that made my magic ineffective, only to note a small pulse near the doorframe. I prodded it with power, a soft bubble I’d missed wriggling away from me as I tried to touch it. It evaded me, scooting down to the floor before zigzagging to the middle of the empty opening before I managed to corral it and pop it with an audible sigh of released magic and a halo of sparks.

That turned to a bright and shining thread leading, not out the exit as the others had, but to the left toward the other door at the end of the hall.

Someone had masked their trail from me. The same someone, no doubt, who built the spell that hid the body in the first place. Clever, so clever. I found myself pacing along the length of the thread to the doorway in question, pulling it open with magic at the ready. The whole room glowed, much like the office did, no thread to follow. But there was nothing in the small space aside from a few piles of boxes, labeled as alcohol for the attendees. But wait, was that a scuff mark on the floor? I hit the space above the scuff with a sharp jab that impacted a feeling I recognized now, since this was the second time in about an hour that I’d encountered it.

The ward fell faster this time, with my encouragement, the quick reveal uncovering the tall and wryly grinning man on the other side. He saluted me, stepping over the threshold of his decaying ward to hold his hands out to me, wrists in the offer.

“Dante Laught,” I said, triggering magicuffs immediately. “You’re under arrest.”

***

Now we know how he always managed to escape us, Ortos said. Clever magic, that. I couldn’t help but agree. You like him for the murder?

Details certainly pointed toward that, but I wasn’t about to jump to conclusions. We know he hid the body, I sent. Let’s see what reason he gives first.

Done, he sent. Keep me posted.

I think I was getting used to his ponderous mental presence coming and going, because I didn’t flinch this time when he cut me off. Instead, I turned to focus on the man seated before me, Laught’s sly grin still firmly in place. He might not have had the towering physical presence of the stone giants, but he was big enough to be intimidating to most people, though his charm was his notorious secret weapon.

“This used to be my outfit, you know,” he said, unprompted, leaning back, dark suit cut perfectly to his muscular body, shaved head and full, salt-and-pepper beard oddly appealing though he wasn’t my type. He radiated masculine energy and I suddenly realized he was still using magic, despite the cuffs. I reached out with my own power and sighed at what I found.

“Incubus,” I said. And not chartered, either. Free and clear and permitted to live here instead of Hel. I wondered how he managed that as he chuckled.

“Very good, Inquisitor,” he said, nodding. “Not even magicuffs can cut that kind of magnetism. Sorry about that.”

I swathed him in a solid blanket of my own wards, feeling the effects diminish, if not go away entirely. “And now we know how you charm your way out of so much,” I said. That was puzzle piece two.

“Now you do.” He squinted up at me, green eyes as unnerving as the demon’s but in a different way. It was like he could see through me and read my soul. I hoped he enjoyed the trip because I wasn’t about to let him get to me. “You think I killed Marcellus.” He sighed and shook his head, gentlemanly in his tone and words, polished, a far cry from the victim’s heavy-handed way of doing business. “I’m afraid I made a terrible mistake cloaking his body. But I found him dead just as the wards fell and your squad took over so I knew if you found him, things would be much worse. A full murder investigation would take more time than was convenient for me to wait in a closet.” He laughed. “Clever you,” he said, admiration shining in his eyes. “No one’s ever figured that out before.”

“Thank my Hound,” I said, Benjamin sitting next to me, panting and grinning back at the incubus. “He’s the one who detected it.”

“Good boy,” Dante said to my dog.

I like him, Mother, Benjamin sent.

It’s just demon magic, sweet boy. “You were saying this used to be your little side show?”

Dante shrugged. “Marcellus was my assistant once upon a time,” he said. “I shared too much, I fear, taught him too well. He ousted me with my own demon’s help a year ago and I’ve been trying to find a way to take my business back ever since.” Green eyes narrowed, the pressure of his magic retreating. “I know how that sounds, believe me. And yes, I had a demon charter, whatever you make that mean about me.” What, enslaving one of his own race would lower my opinion of him or something? I wasn’t sure it could go lower, but yes. Yes, it could. “I didn’t kill him. I simply covered up his murder for my own ends.”

He’s… not lying, Mother. Benjamin sounded hesitant. Or maybe he is. My mastiff let out a massive yawn with a growl beneath it. I can’t read him very well.

Demon magic again, Benny, I sent. It’s all right.

My mastiff whined softly, shaking his big head. Maybe I don’t like him so much after all.

Good boy.

“You had Sibyl’s charter.” Why would she turn on him?

“I’m afraid I was foolish,” Dante said, spreading his hands wide, flash of diamonds from a massive ring catching the low light in the room. “I trusted Marcellus, signed some papers I shouldn’t have. Among them was an agreement to transfer Sibyl’s charter. Had I known, I would have taken steps and eliminated both of them. But as things worked out, I didn’t get the chance.

One moment this was all mine,” he spread his arms wide, “and the next, he was in my seat and that idiot brother of his was throwing me out in the street.”

“You’re digging yourself deeper in the suspect hole,” I said.

Dante laughed, nodded, hands falling to his thighs with two soft thunks. I had to focus tightly, layering on more wards, to keep that sound from stirring things inside me that were not welcome, thank you. I was single by choice and no incubus was going to make me act against my wishes. If only he didn’t smell like salted caramel and spring…

“I suppose I am,” he said. “But I know you’re the kind of inquisitor who doesn’t jump to conclusions. Yes,” he laughed again, a soft and alluring sound that had Benjamin whining once more and licking his chops, “I know who you are Georgia Drake, granddaughter of dragons.”

That was just creepy and did the job the wards couldn’t, cutting through his intense magnetism and turning me cold against him. He must have known he’d overstepped because his amusement died, leaving stern grimness behind.

Our little conversation wasn’t meant to go any further anyway. As I inhaled to tell him he was my prime suspect, something flew out of the dimness and tackled him, hissing and spitting while red flames tried to engulf him. A Hades agent was on Sibyl before she could do any real damage, but it took a moment to contain her while Dante stood and backed away, fear on his face for the first time.

“She’s your killer,” he said. “You saw. She’s insane, like all demons of her breed.” Right, they were different species, from the same plane or not. I had no idea what Hel’s hierarchy was like, but clearly incubus outranked plain old demon. “I wouldn’t put it past her to—”

“Liar!” She shrieked that with an attempt of power behind it, the cuffs shocking her as they had been since she attacked him, her magic contained around her, making her wail and flinch as her own power inflicted the damaged that she intended back on her. “You killed Marcellus, Dante. You did it!”

I wasn’t surprised to hear a shout, to see the lumbering form of Boaz Granite shoving his guard aside and heading in our direction, reaching us in surprising speed just as Dante responded to Sibyl.

“My dear Sibyl.” He’d softened, fear retreating, pressure of his natural state aimed directly at her as she crumbled. I waved off the guards who responded to the approach of Boaz who came to a halt right behind her. “I never wanted to hurt anyone. But now that he’s dead, darling Sibbie, I want you to know something.” He reached up to his jacket’s lapel and slipped free a piece of paper that he handed to me. I skimmed it with surprise growing as I realized what I held.

“Marcellus agreed you belonged with me. He signed you over before he died. You’re mine, my darling, and always will be.”

She stared at him in horror before bursting into tears.

***

Chapter Nine

Sibyl quickly recovered, shrieking all over again. “I’d rather go back to Hel,” she snarled.

“That won’t be necessary.” Dante’s smile was soft and almost kind, but it gave me a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. “I can’t wait to get you home.”

Mother, Benjamin growled in my head, I don’t like him at all now.

Me either, sweet boy. “Enough of this,” I said, glaring at the Hades agent who shrugged at me in apology.

“Sorry, Inquisitor,” he said. “She’s slippery.” He glared at her while she ignored him, clearly terrified and shaking so much she could barely walk. She half-turned, seeing Boaz standing there, and leaned against him for support.

“Take her back,” I said to the victim’s brother. “I’ll be right there. And you.” I jabbed a finger at the incubus who reached for his charter, only to deny it to him. “Sit, stay and be good.”

Benny?

I’ll watch him, Mother. My mastiff growled, for real this time. I could feel his anger and his power dissolving any kind of charm spell Dante might have been trying to impose. He’s not going anywhere.

“Have fun with my Hound,” I said sweetly before turning and following the staggering demon, aided by the looming stone giant, to where she finally collapsed on a bench and sobbed into her hands. Boaz stood back but his eyes never left her as I sat next to her and waited for her to pull herself together somewhat. Boaz watched with rather uncomfortable intent while Octavius paced and argued with his own Hades guard, obviously wanting to be with her as well.

One extra suspect was enough, thank you.

“I’m sorry,” I said, meaning it, hoping Sibyl believed me. “I assume you have good reason not to want to be tied to Dante Laught.”

“He’s a monster.” Her whisper was paired with a shudder, voice hoarse and thick, gone the poise and grace she’d shown since I met her, replaced by a terrified demon who shook with her fear. Boaz nodded ponderously, face a set mask of dull nothing, though I had no doubt fury seethed beneath his surface. “Please, Inquisitor, don’t let him take me.”

“He won’t touch you ever again,” Boaz said. “No one will, Sibyl. I’ll make sure of it.”

Threats aside, she had a powerful ally, though what would happen, I wondered, if she openly rejected him?

“Did you kill Marcellus?” I already believed she didn’t. It sounded like she had good reason not to. Though, that was his signature on her charter, signed over to Dante. Then again, things like that were easily faked. Did she find out Marcellus was selling her to her old owner and killed him for it?

Boaz twitched, hand reaching out, frowning finally, as though to keep her from answering.

From incriminating herself? “I didn’t,” she said, fury seeping in past her grief and horror, “but now I wish I had.”

Fair enough.

“I need to see Sibyl!” I looked up as the Hades guard preventing Octavius from approaching fired up a repel spell that would knock the man on his butt. Instead, curious to find out what this trio might reveal if allowed to speak, I waved for the agent to let Octavius come closer. He stumbled his way to us, falling to his knees at her feet, laying his head in her lap while she hesitantly stroked his hair.

You better believe I didn’t miss the flicker of hate on Boaz’s face, or that he looked away, just for a moment, hands fisting at his sides.

“It can’t be true,” Octavius said, choking on tears. “I heard what you said, Sibyl, it can’t be.”

“It is, I’m afraid,” she said, regaining some of her self-control.

“I’ll buy you from him.” Octavius sat up suddenly, the demon cupping his face in her hands.

“I’ll pay him whatever he wants.”

“But, my dear,” she whispered, “that’s the point, isn’t it? I’m not for sale.” And she began to cry all over again.

“Leave her alone, Dole,” Boaz rumbled. “She doesn’t need your kind of help.”

But she did need his, hmmm?

Octavius spun and shot the victim’s brother a withering look. “Stay out of this,” he said. “As soon as my defender arrives, we’re leaving.” He nodded like he’d just solved everything, though the desperate panic in his eyes told me he knew he was being delusional. “It will all be fine, my dear.” He patted Sibyl’s hand.

“No one is doing anything,” Lake Silo proclaimed—yes, in a loud and proclamatory voice that had my jaw jumping, “until Marcellus Granite’s murder is solved.” He came to a halt with his hands on his hips like he was some kind of hero riding in to the rescue.

We distracted him for as long as we could. Caprice’s irritation wasn’t lost on me, her endless clicks and gronks echoed by her mate.

He’s insufferable, Conscio sent. Please, let me eat his eyeballs.

They’d probably poison you, my love, Caprice sent. You’re on your own with that one, Georgia.

Great. Thanks for trying. I stood and faced off with my so-called partner, trying to lead him aside to have a little chat, but he ignored me, pulling his arm free of my hand as he turned and gestured with grand intent. Only then did I notice the smugly smiling Xandros Ashbourne on his heels, arms crossing over his chest, without a guard to be seen in his proximity. It seemed the two had made some kind of pact and I knew to the core of my soul I was going to regret ever saying yes to any of this.

“I know for a fact,” Lake said, “thanks to Mr. Ashbourne, that Octavius Dole and this demon woman already have an arrangement. Don’t you?” They both flinched, Boaz rumbling something under his breath, while burning bile rose in a little bubble to press hard against the back of my throat as I realized he’d beaten me to something important after all. “Mind telling us what that arrangement might be? Murder, perhaps?”

Okay, all annoyance aside, I spun and confronted the two myself. “Mr. Dole,” I said, voice low and harsh, “Ms. Bael, what is he talking about?”

Sibyl’s lips clamped together, Octavius flushing and shaking his head.

“I told you,” he said. “Defender.”

“And yet, you keep talking,” I said, tsking in frustration. “Fine. Separate them again.” The Hades guard did so, leading Octavius away. I looked up at the now silent and sullen Boaz Granite. “I don’t suppose you feel like telling me anything?”

“Got nothing to tell,” he rumbled.

“I’d think you’d want to find out who killed your brother,” I said.

Boaz hesitated, then sighed, big hands finally uncoiling from the fists he’d maintained since Octavius arrived. “My brother was no saint, Inquisitor,” he said. “But he taught me to keep my mouth shut.”

“You’re not doing yourself any favors.” I waited, hoping he might crack.

Instead, the stone giant just stared at the ground, lips thinned, as still as a mountain.

I let his guard lead him away and turned to face off with the rest of my problem. I jerked on Lake’s arm hard enough that he couldn’t pull free, moving (shoving) him (firmly) into Xandros before letting go. “Tell me what you know.”

“I’m on this,” Lake said, disdain so clear in his voice he had no idea how close he was to death in that moment.

“I,” I snarled in his face, “am your superior officer, Hunter 1st Rank Silo, and if you ever speak to me like that again, in the field or otherwise, you will find yourself riding a desk for the rest of your career.” He spluttered while I faced him down and refused to let his uncle’s impressive position force me to back down.

He must have seen my determination or awakened to the fact he was on the brink of something he’d never come back from, because Lake sullenly shook his head. “All I know is what Xandros said.”

I spun on my informant who held up both hands, smug smirk gone, the smart boy. “I swear,”

he squeaked. “All I know is they have some kind of connection, and it’s not just the fact Octavius is in love with her.” He shrugged. “Everyone knows it.”

I let out a long, aggrieved exhale before pulling myself together. “You two seem to forget,” I said, low and angry, “this isn’t some game, some chance at advancement ahead of yourself,” I glared at Lake, “some amusement or way to get yourself out of a debt you owe,” that was for Xandros. “This is a murder investigation. And I will personally deal with both of you if you get in my way again.”

They backed off, and I let them. I needed to get my temper under control. This wasn’t like me at all. I could blame it on Elias all I wanted, even suggest to myself maybe Dante Laught’s power lingered enough it sent me in a spiral. I knew better.

Focus, for legion’s sake.

I had one person in all this I could talk to and not have to worry about legal implications. Or, at least, I was fairly certain of that. I took the chance and crossed to where the imp and his friend sat, whispering, suddenly irked all over again they hadn’t been separated. Whatever. They looked up as I joined them, the Hound guarding them bowing his big head to me before backing

off a step to give me space. I was already on my last nerve and let the two in front of me see it, knowing I was acting like a bully and a bit embarrassed by the fact, but done with being lied to.

“You,” I said to Aziel, “are here illegally.” He gaped at me and while I didn’t have proof—

that was one of the inquiries I’d made—from his reaction I was dead to rights. “And you,” I turned to Thiago, “summoned him.” Another flinch, this one more obvious, the young man clearly not very good at hiding his emotions. I wouldn’t lay bets on him for his poker talent.

“That means both of you are being charged with some pretty serious crimes outside of murder.

While there’s a very strong possibility, Aziel, you’re going back to Imperious before your feet hit the outside of this building.” They both swallowed hard while I let them absorb the severity of their present circumstances. “Tell me what you know, and I’ll see what I can do about all of that.”

“We didn’t do anything, Inquisitor.” Aziel had finally dropped the angry imp act, looking as worried as his sorcerer friend. “I swear.”

“But you had a conflict with the victim,” I said. “What was it about?”

They exchanged a look before Thiago sighed. “It doesn’t matter now, Az,” he said. “We might as well come clean.”

The imp let out a soft string of words in his own language that were likely swears before he sagged, tail drooping to wrap around one tiny ankle. “Fine, yes, I was angry. We both were.”

Thiago nodded in response. “I’ve been fighting for Marcellus for a year, but only because he promised me once my contract was over, he’d help me go legit.” And he believed that? I almost felt sorry for them both. “We’re ready to move up to the real circuit,” Aziel went on with some eagerness surfacing, and more than enough genuine distress I believed him. “This was supposed to be my last night.” He kicked at the dusty floor with one bare foot, long, sharp claws cutting through the dirt. “I was mad, but I didn’t kill him. There wasn’t anything we could do about it.

Marcellus dying doesn’t get me into the majors.”

He was right about that. “You had to know he was lying to you.”

Thiago sighed as Aziel tried to protest. “We suspected,” he said. “That’s why we had an alternate plan.”

“Thiago!” Aziel blanched, turning a pale pink as he looked around, voice dropping to a hiss.

“Shut up.”

“I won’t.” The sorcerer met my eyes, his own determined and mouth in a grim set that aged him past his obvious early twenties. “We made a deal with someone else if Marcellus didn’t come through.”

“Let me guess,” I said. “Dante Laught.”

They both gaped like I was magic. Well, I was.

“He came to us at last week’s match,” Aziel finally admitted, “and said if Marcellus played us false, he’d come through for us. We just needed to work for him.”

“And you agreed,” I said.

They exchanged a look then shrugged. In that moment, they both seemed so very young and vulnerable to me, a couple of kids looking to make something of themselves, only to be sucked into the kind of situation that could get you arrested, hurt or killed.

“What was his price?” Because there had to be one, right? I might as well have muzzled them both. Which had me playing the bully all over again. “Need I remind you,” I said, “Thiago here might have legal rights, but you don’t, Aziel.” I didn’t agree with the law, with deportation.

There were good reasons why imps and demons and other creatures left their own planes to come to this one in search of a better life. I had no doubt Aziel’s prospects back home were likely dismal. I’d been to Imperious before, as a child, and remember the heat, and the stench but, more importantly, the lost and downtrodden look of the regular citizens, pitying them while their leaders took everything of value and left them nothing. I’d asked my mother, and ambassador then, why we didn’t do something, and her answer had left me cold.

“We can’t,” she’d said. “They’re not our people.”

Standing there, watching Aziel’s face crumple and tears well in the corners of his shining black eyes, I felt like a monster myself. Because he was people.

“Please, don’t send me back.” He confirmed that was his deepest fear, much as Sibyl’s had been returning to Hel. “I’m telling the truth.”

“So, what was the price?” Ashamed of myself? You bet. Getting the answers that I needed anyway? That was the job. And I’d be speaking out for him with Guild Hestia when the time came, despite what he’d done.

If he answered me.

“Look into Octavius Dole,” he finally said, Thiago hugging him with one arm around his shoulders. “Dante told me to prove something and I’m pretty sure I did.”

“What’s that?” Just tell me, kid.

Aziel’s tail twitched in agitation. “Look, I just know what it feels like when a demon has an unhealthy relationship with a human, okay?” He hugged himself now, looking away. “Dante suspected it and wanted me to prove it. And tonight, I did. We would have been on our way,” he turned to his friend, grief in his voice. “We would have made it, Thiago.”

I wasn’t listening, not really. Because a horrible understanding had woken inside me and there was only one way to find out if I was right. “Thank you,” I said. “I’ll be back.” And, with that, I was striding toward Octavius with my stomach churning against what I was about to ask.

It all fit, didn’t it? His fawning over her, the way he clung to her. Wanting to buy her charter… I choked on words as I stopped in front of him, Octavius gaining his feet. He must have known I knew, because his eyes flooded with tears and he wailed softly, mimicking the move Sibyl had done not so long ago, hiding behind his hands.

“Mr. Dole,” I said, almost hissing, keeping my voice down while it shook with the intensity of my disgust, “tell me you didn’t sell your soul to a demon.”

***

Chapter Ten

He nodded through his sobbing. It took him several minutes to pull himself together while I stood back and did the same, everything in me writhing in revulsion. There were certain acts that you just didn’t entertain. Killing a Hell Hound was one of them, their spirits capable of haunting you forever and making misery for you and your family bloodline until that bloodline died out.

Stealing dragon scales was an instant death sentence, the power in them so intensely focused you could blow up a city if you knew how to tap into them.

Taking the life of a unicorn. Enough said.

But selling your immortal soul to a demon was head and shoulders above any of those transgressions. Unless he could find some way to reverse it, he would be lost to Hel from the moment he died and would remain there, a slave of that plane, until the Universe itself was done.

Horrifying, the thought, and suddenly I wasn’t so sympathetic to Sibyl and her plight, knowing what she’d done.

Unspeakable.

Octavius finally pulled himself under control and straightened his shoulders, dropping his hands to his lap, face attempting composure while his lips and chin continued to quiver. “I did it,” he said. “I sold my soul to her a year ago, just before Marcellus ousted Dante Laught.”

“Why?” I couldn’t keep the judgment, the disgust from my voice. “What could possibly have possessed you?” No pun intended because it seemed she hadn’t possessed him first. He’d be a shell by now if that was the case, the reason why I hadn’t suspected this outcome. He’d done it of his own volition.

“Marcellus,” he choked on the name, rocking as he held himself, face twisting back into his own horror and grief. “He tricked me. Sent her to seduce me. I always adored her. She swore we’d be together forever.”

Stupid fool. And another excellent motive for murder. “One would think,” I said, “that would be an excellent reason to want him dead.”

“No!” Octavius leaped to his feet. “We love each other, truly. She would never hurt me.”

Blind, as well as stupid, what a shame. Except, Sibyl claimed she loved him too, for what that was worth.

“Until you die,” I said, “and then what?”

He shook his head, dazed at last. Until he perked. “It doesn’t matter now, don’t you see? I have the answer.” His plan dawned on me as he said it. “I buy her charter, I own her. And the contract I signed is null and void. And we truly can be together.”

“With you owning her,” I growled, “instead of her owning you.”

Octavius swallowed hard, shaking his head. “I would free her,” he whispered. “To be her own demon.”

He. Wow.

Big breath, Georgia Drake.

“Does she know that was your ultimate plan?” I waited for his answer while he snuffled, wiping his nose on the pocket square he clutched in one hand.

“No,” he said. “I didn’t kill Marcellus. Yes, I asked to buy her charter before. He always turned me down. This wasn’t an actual plan, though I always knew it was an option. But it’s an even better one now.” His face contracted, pleading with me. “Laught will sell her to me, won’t he?”

I wouldn’t count on that but didn’t say so out loud. Pity and revulsion fought a raging battle while I tried to decide if he was a killer or just a fool.

“If you’re done,” Lake chose that very moment to interrupt like I hadn’t just told him to back off, “I think it’s pretty clear who the killer is.”

Almost done here, Ortos sent. Silo says you have your murderer. He sounded skeptical as though waiting for me to shoot the kid down.

Soul sale, I sent. The demon and Octavius.

Ortos’ magic rumbled through our connection, forcing me to turn away so the others didn’t see me wince. Bring him in, he growled like an earthquake was ready to take out the world.

Yes, boss. I spun back and nodded to the Hades guard. “Take him to HQ,” I said, doing my best to ignore the smug look on Lake Silo’s face.

Before turning and heading to the demon who was clearly the center of all of this.

She watched me come with huge eyes filled with understanding, waiting for me to come to a halt in front of her before speaking. Why wasn’t I surprised to hear a shout and the heavy footfalls of an approaching stone giant as I confronted her? I waited until Boaz appeared for the

second time, clearly to defend her, standing behind her and staring me down without touching her while I shook my head at his dedication.

If she noticed he was there, she said nothing about it. Did she take his looming presence for granted? Possibly. Which meant she might not know how he felt about her. Not that it mattered now. We had more important things to discuss.

“I did it,” she said after a moment, voice cracking. “I bought Octavius’ soul. But I had to.” I didn’t speak, let her dig her hole back to Hel herself. “Marcellus forced me to. He used his power over me to make me do it. I didn’t want to.”

I watched her tears trickle and did my best not to be swayed. “I suppose you’re going to repeat that you really are in love with him. And expect me to believe it now that I know you own his soul.”

She blinked through that moisture and nodded. “I don’t expect anything of you,” she said.

While Boaz twitched behind her. I looked up at the perfect moment and caught, ever so briefly, the flash of bottomless grief that passed his rigid face before the stone settled again.

“Good.” I inhaled sharply. “That’s a death sentence, Sibyl,” I said then, angry all over again.

“At the very least, you’ll be deported.” She nodded. “How did you think you’d get away with it?”

“I didn’t have a choice!” She wailed that excuse again, though I had to admit, it was valid.

Charter holders had full control over demons and their actions. It was the only way the World Paranormal and Supernatural Forum would allow them onto our plane in the first place.

Everyone knew demons couldn’t be trusted. At least, that was the party line. But, on the other side of the coin, they could still be held accountable for crimes, even when their charter holders ordered them to act illegally. Yes, the law was one-sided, but the facts remained.

Not the first time I questioned such authority, but buying a human soul…

“It’s not her fault,” Boaz finally spoke up. Sibyl spun and looked up at him. So, she hadn’t known he was there. And not a scrap of guilt registered, so she couldn’t know how he felt.

Instead, she appeared grateful for his interjection. “Marcellus made her, just like she said. I was there. I heard him order her to do it. My brother was guilty, not Sibyl.”

If only it was that simple. But I knew Guild Nemesis would never accept that as a defense.

Though it might keep her from death, she’d be going back to Hel, no handbasket required.

Mother. Benjamin joined me and I spun to find another Hades Hound had taken his place, Dante Laught waving at me, smiling again, clearly enjoying the show even from a distance. I believe her. I feel sorry for her. He whined a little and licked her hand. She stared at him in shock before looking up at me for permission, fingers outstretched.

“He won’t bite,” I said.

She slid her fingers over the soft bridge of his nose, down his long ears, finally scratching his cheeks as he groaned and leaned in. “I’ve never met a kind Hound,” she said, distracted from her own distress for a moment. Benjamin had that effect on people, I noticed, and I let him do his magic without casting a single spell.

“He’s an excomm,” I said, catching her startled eye-widening, her slow smile of delight as my mastiff licked her cheek, leaving a slobber trail behind. “He just looks mean.”

“I do not,” Benjamin said in a soft voice that had her leaning in to press her forehead to his, half laugh-crying as she wiped away his slobber. “I’m sorry this happened to you, Sibyl.”

She caught her breath, tears falling to his fur. “Thank you, Benjamin.” She leaned back then, the mastiff laying his head in her lap as Octavius had done, and I tried not to flinch at the weird mental overlay, though she seemed so much calmer with my dog’s attention focused on her.

“When I was offered a charter by the Hel League, I jumped at the chance.” She flashed me a smile that was far too innocent for a demon, surely. “We all hope for one someday, those of us in the order. Dante was so nice, at first. And being an incubus, we had a lot of fun together.” She didn’t blush, or if she did, I couldn’t tell. I did, though, trust me, grateful she kept her head down, hands stroking my dog’s ears over and over as more tears dotted his black fur like shining diamonds. “Until it wasn’t fun anymore.” She held out one hand, showing me her wrist and a long, narrow scar that cut through her red flesh. Demons were hard to hurt physically and often healed without a mark. What had he done to her to make such damage linger? One demon would know how to do that to another, obviously. Okay, yes, now I was in full empathy and sat next to her while she went on. “Marcellus talked me into tricking him. I never thought it would work.

But he had such great ideas and Dante had grown… complacent.” She shrugged, shaking back her gorgeous black hair, face composed. “I couldn’t believe it when it did. And then Dante was out, and I was free.”

“But you weren’t,” I said. “Marcellus was your owner then.”

She hesitated before answering. “He wasn’t all bad,” she said. Boaz made a soft sound that caught my attention, but his expression remained still and empty, so I let her go on. “Nothing like Dante. But yes, you’re right, of course. And I loved Octavius.” She shrugged, a delicate motion of her narrow shoulders, offering me a little smile. I was ready and watching, but this time Boaz didn’t react to Sibyl’s proclamation. Was I reading things into this I shouldn’t? No, I had to trust my gut. He was definitely in love with her and would protect her with his life, that much was obvious. Even against his own brother? But stone giants didn’t have fire magic, so I let that line of thought go. “I know you don’t believe me, but I really do love him. And I hated having to follow through on Marcellus’ order. But I did because I had to.”

I believe her, Mother, Benjamin sent.

“Did you know Marcellus was going to sell you back to Dante?” That was the final piece of her puzzle I needed to put together.

Again with the pause. And then a sharp nod. “I found out tonight,” she said, voice going cold. “Dante told me, and I confronted Marcellus about it.” That’s what those two conversations were about. She hadn’t been looking for me after she spoke to him. She was looking for Marcellus. “I was furious. Angry enough to kill him, of course.”

Boaz rumbled softly, closing the distance just a little.

“But you didn’t,” I said.

“She didn’t,” Boaz said.

“Like I said,” she gently pushed Benjamin away, ignoring her protector altogether, “I wish I had. But no.” She hugged herself tightly before turning to me. “Dante did it, Inquisitor. Though there are more secrets here you might not know. Like Thiago Rush.” She nodded toward the imp and his sorcerer friend. “Have you wondered why a sorcerer might align himself with an illegal imp in a fight ring when his kind are in demand?”

I hadn’t thought about it that way. “I’m sorry, Sibyl,” I said then, standing. “I think we both know how this ends for you.” I motioned for the Hades guard to take her. “We’ll have more questions for you at headquarters.”

She went quietly and without comment, though she did look back over her shoulder at Dante who waved at her and blew her a kiss as she left. I watched Boaz watch her leave, and when he turned back to look at me, he surprised me by speaking.

“My brother made a lot of enemies,” he said. “Knew a lot of secrets he had no problem sharing if the price was right or to keep people in line.”

“Including you, Mr. Granite?” Did Marcellus have dirt on his own brother?

“Naw,” he said, voice sad. “I’m the dumb one. I was lucky he kept me around at all.”

That sounded like something he’d been told all his life. “Who do you think did it?”

Boaz hesitated a moment before looking down. “Whoever did,” he said, “my brother probably deserved it.” I let the Hades guard lead the now visibly grieving stone giant away.

Should we ask the two in question about what Sibyl said? Benjamin waited patiently for me to decide while I observed Boaz as he settled on a bench that bowed beneath his weight and then rested his elbows on his knees, face in his hands, and stopped moving, a statue of sorrow.

Yes, let’s. I couldn’t help the victim’s brother with his self-esteem issues, nor the fact Marcellus was a criminal and a terrible person. All I could do was solve the murder, though I wondered if the killer was worse than the victim in this case, or someone just pushed to the brink of their coping skills.

Mind caught up in compassion and the law, I made my way to the imp and sorcerer with my mastiff padding beside me, pausing with my head cocked to one side while I looked them both over.

Even as Benjamin whispered in my mind. That one isn’t human, Mother, he sent. Not completely. He crossed to Thiago and sniffed his face, the horrified young man meeting my eyes with desperation as my mastiff turned to me. He’s half imp.

“Leave him alone!” Aziel tried to push Benjamin back, but my mastiff just stood there, an immobile mass of black fur and muscle, not hurting the imp but not giving way, either. While Thiago burst into tears.

“You know,” he wailed. “And now you’re going to take my magic.”

***

Chapter Eleven

I let him cry it out for a bit before sighing. “Thiago,” I said, “mother or father?”

He hiccupped his way to an answer. “Mother,” he said, looking at Aziel who sadly nodded.

“Our mother.”

Brothers? This explained a great deal. It was hard not to toss my hands and sigh deeply.

Dealing with interspecies issues wasn’t easy on a good day. But mating between races, unsanctioned as this had to be, meant Thiago wasn’t supposed to have retained any of his imp heritage if he was to remain on this plane.

“You were supposed to have your magic removed as a baby,” I said, feeling tired suddenly, under the pressure of all this grief I seemed to have found myself embroiled in. Because his was no less than Sibyl’s, Thiago hugged his brother and nodded.

“My dad protected me,” he said. “Never told anyone Mom was an imp. She was here on a diplomatic mission, one of the junior assistants. When I was born, she snuck me to him and begged him to raise me as human.” He blinked at me, tears slowing but not stopping. “I had no idea until my power woke when I was a teenager. Dad told me everything. Sent me for training. I managed to hide that I wasn’t human, but when Dad died and I went looking for Mom, I found out about my brother.” He shrugged. “I needed to meet him.”

“So, you summoned him and the two of you cooked up this plan to have Aziel stay here with you.” Family, what a mess.

“You can’t take his magic,” Aziel said. “It’s all the magic he has. He’ll be empty.”

“I can’t do anything about that, I’m sorry.” I really was, but again, the law and my morals weren’t always in total alignment. “It was smart, you know. Anyone who did sense imp power would assume it was Aziel.” They glumly nodded in agreement. “Marcellus found out, didn’t he?”

Thiago’s pleading eyes said everything I needed to know. “We didn’t kill him.”

“I would have,” Aziel snarled.

I believe them, Benjamin sent. He was my truth barometer, though his previous interaction with Dante Laught had me wondering if he might be off kilter just like I was.

“Aziel is a champion of the circuit,” Thiago said, pride now ringing in his voice. “He should have been in the majors. He would have won everything.” He finally sagged back and sighed himself. “It’s not fair, but we tried and failed and that’s that. We didn’t kill Marcellus.”

“And Dante? Did he know about you, Thiago?” He must have.

“Not as far as we know,” Aziel said.

“You must have had a plan for down the road if you did manage to go legit.” I looked back and forth between them while they stared at me. “If Dante got you out and set up on the legal circuit, what would stop Marcellus from outing you, Thiago?”

They clearly hadn’t thought of that, faces both falling abruptly. I was surrounded by idiots.

But it was that reaction that convinced me at last they had nothing to do with Marcellus’ death.

“We didn’t think it all the way through,” Aziel admitted.

“We just wanted out. Aziel deserved his chance.” Thiago hugged his brother again. “We’re in this together, no matter what happens.”

He might not feel that way if Guild Hestia decided Aziel was going to be deported or worse.

Put to death. Not that it mattered right now.

Hades Agent Brine led them away, nodding to me, but I barely acknowledged the motion, mind lost in thought, going back to Dante Laught over and over again. It had to be him. Without Benjamin’s truth meter working, however, it would be up to the law to decide.

I was about to reach out to the boss when my phone buzzed, and a message landed that had me ready to choke someone. The very person who started all of this in the first place.

Time for Xandros Ashbourne to come clean.

I found him sipping coffee with Lake, the pair of them congratulating each other on a job well done while I came to a stomping halt in front of Xandros and shoved my phone in his face.

“That’s from my mother,” I said, snarling it, “thanks for making me contact her.” Not that I didn’t love Mom or anything but reaching out to Morgana Drake meant triggering a tsunami of emails, texts and phone calls that reminded her I existed. Thanks to Xandros, I’d be enduring the endless questions I hated ( When are you getting married? Why don’t you join your father in Guild Nemesis? I know he’d love that. Are you ever going to give me grandbabies? ) and for that, he’d suffer.

Xandros blanched. “You talked to Morgana?” He obviously feared her rather than respected her, so I leaned into it for all I was worth. If I was going to have to bear the unbearable, he was going to pay right along with me.

“I did.” I dropped my arm to my side, furious now, not even trying to hold back, because he’d been lying all along about his motives and there was more to the story.

“Take it easy, Drake,” Lake growled, pulling the tough guy card. He did not want to do that with me right now. Big mistake.

“Did your new bestie tell you his family cut him off, Silo?” My sweet tone was sickly, cut with venom that had him retreating a little, glancing at Xandros with real surprise. “He didn’t?

What a shame.” I wanted to slam both of their heads together and just barely held onto myself while gesturing to the Hades agent standing by. “Take him,” I snarled. “He’s going in with the rest of the rabble.”

“You can’t do this!” Xandros tried to fight, but the magicuffs were already on, snapping into place before he could fight. “I told you about the ring. I got you this win. You owe me!”

“Maybe if you had told me everything,” I snapped back. “Maybe if you informed me that you were deep in debt to the murder victim and had no way of paying it, Xandros, I might be more amenable to your situation. But you know what? You didn’t. You chose to lie. And that makes you a criminal and a suspect. Take him away.” I turned my back on him and faced off with Lake who had regained his composure and tried to look stern.

“Nice catch,” he said.

“Shut up,” I snarled on my way past him, fuming. Not that I believe Xandros killed Marcellus. Yes, his dragon mods meant he likely had access to some small fire power, but that didn’t mean anything. Would he have sufficient control to suffocate the stone giant without burning him to a crisp?

Wait. That stopped me in my tracks and had me smacking my thigh with one hand while Benjamin whined.

What’s wrong, Mother?

How? I turned on the mastiff with a scowl. How did the killer subdue Marcellus long enough to kill him? My eyes rose and my gaze settled on Dante Laught. Unless he had the power to do so.

Benjamin nudged me with his wet nose. I can’t help, he sent. I can’t read him, I’m sorry.

Don’t be. I started walking again, Xandros already off my plate and out of my mind. Let him sweat it out in the cells with the others and see if his family was willing to come to his rescue.

Likely, if only to prevent further embarrassment. It was the only revenge I could exact. And he had brought me this case, so.

Grumble.

***

Chapter Twelve

Time for a regroup. I stood in the threshold of the office with the ravens perched on the desk, Benjamin at my side, glaring at the chair the victim died in.

“We’re missing something,” I said. “No,” I shook my head, “I am. I forgot to ask the important question. How?”

“Indeed,” Conscio said. “You’re thinking Dante charmed him.”

That was definitely a possibility. “But does an incubus have fire magic?” I’d forgotten my childhood education. “And who freed him? Do we have any idea who held his charter and why he was released?” I could guess at the latter. Likely he just charmed his way into it. Stupid, really, chartering an incubus. Not my problem, until it was, right now.

“I know it’s probably not going to work,” I said, “with all the interference from the ward spell, but I’d like to get a look at the timeline, if possible.”

“We can do the hallway,” Conscio said.

“Brilliant,” I said. “Can you two do it? I want to focus on watching.”

The ravens instantly took to wing, passing through the doorway and then hovering, one glowing white, the other exuding black mist, as their power combined to show me who had walked up to the office door and when.

There was enough in and out I was glad I chose to watch, from Boaz’s lumbering form to Sibyl taking his place, Marcellus entering and leaving a few times himself.

We’re doing a few hours, just to be careful, Caprice sent.

Here, Conscio sent. We’re close to the time we arrived now.

I saw Aziel and Thiago escorted in misty outline past the door, on their way to the conversation with Marcellus. And there was me, poking my nose around the corner, before taking off again, Boaz in pursuit, Sibyl leaving a short time later. Marcellus retreated to his office, then emerged when his brother returned, both heading for the exit. They came back again, only to have Xandros enter the image.

“So, he was here,” I said. “Carry on.”

The ravens did as commanded, Xandros exiting a few moments later, looking ragged and upset. They fast-forwarded through the timeline until Sibyl returned. She left in a hurry, also

looking upset. Boaz left shortly after. The final person who approached the door was none other than Dante Laught. He entered the office and came out about five minutes later, hurrying away to the right, head down, muttering to himself. Already casting his second spell? More than likely.

“It looks like we have the right person, Mother,” Benjamin said as the ravens let the spell go and winged back into the office to land on the desk side-by-side, preening one another as they often did after casting together.

“Looks like.” I waved at them all to exit with me. “Let’s go send him down a hole for the rest of his existence.”

***

Lead Ortos nodded to me as Dante Laught was sealed inside a bubble of power, taken into custody by a Hades team to be transported to headquarters. It was frankly nice to see both Guilds working so well together, a real testament to my boss’ ability to lead, as far as I was concerned, and had me confident we’d arrested the right person.

Well, persons. Because no one in this mess was innocent, sadly.

“Good job, as always, Georgia.” Ortos reached down to offer Benjamin a pat. “You did very well, all of you.” He waved to the ravens hovering overhead. “Sorry about the kid.” He sighed deeply. “You managed to get the job done even with him making a mess. You never fail to come through, and I appreciate that.”

Wow, pride from my boss? Reminded me I rarely got anything of the sort from my family.

Not that I was comparing.

“Thank you, sir,” I said. “I’ll see you at the office.”

“Go home,” he rumbled at me. “You’re off shift. Take tomorrow, too. You earned it.” He headed out, stomping his way toward the giant SUV he drove, barely squeezing behind the wheel and driving off as the last of the main team exited, a few forensics folks left behind to clean up and make sure no normals stumbled on something they shouldn’t.

Benjamin and the ravens were already heading for my car when I realized I’d forgotten to sign off on the scene. Without my magical clearance, the cleanup team wouldn’t be able leave after doing their jobs and the last thing I wanted was to be heading back to Brooklyn in my pajamas when everyone realized my mistake. “Go on ahead,” I said. “I’ll be right there.”

“I’m coming with you, Mother.” Benjamin turned but I was already on the move.

“Get in the car,” I said. “I’ll be two minutes.”

I felt him whine in my head but obey because he was a very good boy even when he didn’t want to be.

That had me smiling, though when my phone buzzed just as I passed through the main entry to the warehouse, I stopped almost immediately. As I read, I realized I’d made a terrible error and headed at a solid jog toward the office and the dead man’s desk, rummaging through the side drawer, then the one above it, cursing softly when I found what I was looking for.

I now knew who actually killed him, and I was pretty sure I also knew why.

But before I could alert anyone or make another move, motion at the door had me looking up and into the grim and unhappy face of the murderer.

Boaz Granite nodded to me, shoulders slumping, but he didn’t seem all that guilty over killing his own brother. “You found it,” he said. “No one knew about it, but I figured you might find it. Before I could get away.” He wasn’t cuffed anymore.

“What did you do to your Hades handler?” I’d missed this, chosen to believe Dante was the guilty party, when it was Boaz all along. For the same reason, though, or partially. Benjamin, it’s Boaz. I need backup.

Nothing. Oh, crap. Dante’s ward was still interfering with magic. Why hadn’t I let the mastiff come with me?

“He’s dead,” Boaz shrugged. “I choked him with my cuffs.” He looked down at his wrists, both dripping blood, sluggish and deep brown. “It hurt, but I had to.”

“Had to get to this.” I held up the plastic mask and small cylinder attached to the whole thing innocuous in appearance, though would have raised questions if I had just stopped a moment and checked the desk more thoroughly. It had been well buried, though, and for good reason. The clear plastic wasn’t anymore, stained dark, only magic keeping it from melting to nothing, I figured. “Your brother’s medicine.” BENNY!

Mother? I heard him, but his voice was faint, so faint…

“Marcellus had dust lung,” Boaz said in the most mournful voice I’d ever heard. “Since he was a kid. No one knew. He kept it a secret.”

The cough. I’d seen Marcellus coughing earlier, twice, thought nothing of it. “I’m sorry to hear that,” I said, carefully, cautiously. Boaz didn’t seem threatening just yet, though the casual way he talked about murdering the Hades agent guarding him certainly sent shivers up my spine, as did the slowly pooling blood at his feet from his cut wrists. He ignored them, shrugged.

The office! I shouted that in my mind.

On my way, Mother! I could almost feel my mastiff flying over the pavement. Now to keep the victim’s brother from killing me before help arrived. Because I had no doubt that my magic, as strong as it was, would be sorely tested against a stone giant.

“He needed heat to warm his airway so the dust wouldn’t settle.” He gestured at the mask in my hands, a few drops of blood flying toward me. “Didn’t take much to turn up the heat.”

I looked down at it, felt the magic in it almost depleted. “You used it to kill him.”

Boaz sighed deeply, hands thudding against his thighs while his shoulders rose and fell in an almost defeated motion. “I loved her,” he said. “And he sold her to that monster.”

This was about Sibyl, I knew it. “Does she know?” I asked that gently, leaning into empathy as much as possible.

“No,” he said, still dull and empty. “I’m going to go get her now, before your people can do anything to her.” Get her? He had to know she was at Artemis HQ. What was he planning to do?

Not that I thought he’d succeed in any such plan, but he’d make a big mess if he was allowed to try. His gaze rose to meet mine. “This is all your fault.”

And attacked with the kind of speed I hadn’t expected from someone his size.

I threw magic at him, feeling it ricochet off his tough hide, feeling his hands seize me and knowing if he got a solid strike in, I was done. Instead of killing me, however, he tossed me aside, slamming me into the filing cabinet before spinning and running out the door. Pain exploded through my right side, air exiting my lungs and making me gasp and choke, falling to my hands and knees.

That was how Benjamin found me, panting and terrified. “Mother! Are you all right?”

“Help me up.” I wheezed a little but managed to stand. “We have to find him. Did you see him?”

“No, Mother, but the ravens are tracking him.” We exited the office together, me shooting off a send to Ortos as my mastiff leaned into me.

Found him, Georgia, Caprice sent. He’s trying to get away.

We won’t let him, Conscio sent with conviction.

Do not let him touch you! Panic burst inside me at the thought of the massive paws of the killer wringing the life out of my friends.

Like he could catch us. Hurry, Georgia.

I had just emerged from the front door, pushing myself to run, when I spotted the ravens dive bombing Boaz. He was swinging at them, trying to hit them out of the air, but they were far too fast, even for his amazing speed.

Magic pumped through me, the dragon waking and offering a solution I hadn’t thought of. I gathered the power to me and let it build as I half-ran toward the stone giant, shocked when I realized I wasn’t the only one on approach.

Too late, though. Just as I heard Lake Silo say, “You there! Where do you think you’re going?”, the spell erupted out of me, engulfing Boaz in a sticky, heavy ball of power that sucked itself tightly around him, like freezer wrap, but breathable.

Hey, I wasn’t the murderer, here.

The trouble was? He didn’t get caught alone. Turned out Lake was just close enough to my target he got caught up in the process. As Boaz roared and fought, half-turning toward me, I caught the terrified and screaming face of my (former temporary) partner staring back at me from inside the spell’s confines, body pressed flat against the struggling stone giant like a squashed bug on a windshield.

Oops.

***

Chapter Thirteen

I sat back from my computer, sighing deeply and rubbing at my temples, the early morning sun casting long, yellow beams over the floor of the bullpen, dust dancing in them. I checked my coffee cup, gulped the two sips of ice-cold java left, then stood to go for a refill.

Wait, you say. Didn’t the boss tell me to go home? That was before I trapped Artemis Sentinel Harrison Kane’s nephew in a binding spell against the belly of a stone giant murderer and had to leave him like that until they arrived at the station.

An hour later.

Snort.

I wasn’t laughing, I swear.

I’d managed to keep a straight face as the spell was cut loose, Lake tumbling away from the now quiet Boaz Granite, cursing at me in a string of words that really weren’t meant for polite company. I tried to apologize, I swear I did, but he wouldn’t listen, and I might have let out a few snickers, for all that, so there you go.

I was still at the office.

At least the boss went to bat for me, and I heard Lake had already been transferred to a different division in Artemis, so all was well, right? I leaned my hip against the counter in the break room, listening to the steady drip of fresh coffee, feeling the weight of the night’s activities settle on me. My shoulder, hip and ribs weren’t happy, though a quick trip to the infirmary had set me right, for the most part. At least nothing had been broken. I knew how lucky that made me.

As I headed back to my desk, I caught sight of Sibyl Bael being led away by Guild Hestia agents and stopped them, not to keep them from doing their jobs—that was inevitable now—but to say goodbye.

She smiled up at me, tremulous and afraid, but didn’t break down again. “Thank you for finding out who did it.” She shook her head. “I had no idea.”

“I know,” I said. “I’m sorry, Sibyl.” I was getting tired of saying that to her. “I’ve put in a word to Hestia for you. Not sure what good it will do, but I tried.”

Sibyl’s smile widened a little. “You’re not what I expected from a Drake,” she said. “I’ll land on my feet, here or in Hel.” She swallowed, terror returning. “Or otherwise.”

They led her away while I decided to push a little harder. At least deportation meant she’d survive. Though were did demons go when they died?

I had no idea. Shuddered at the thought. If she was afraid to die? I didn’t want to know.

The boss waved me into his office on the way by and I paused, waiting for him to speak.

“You’re lucky Harrison Kane isn’t taking action,” he sighed. “Turns out the kid’s a pain in the ass to everyone he meets.” Ortos’ eyes glittered with good humor. “Nice catch on Boaz, by the way.”

“I’ll send my sympathies to the Agent Brine’s family.” It had been the merman who had been guarding Boaz, who bore the brunt of the killer’s wrath. I hadn’t known him well, but I owed him that much. My least favorite part of the job.

Ortos grunted agreement, shuffling some papers.

“What’s happening to the imp kids?” Why did I care? I just did.

My boss sat back, his chair creaking in a threatening chorus of grinding bolts and hydraulics which he ignored. “The imp is going back home,” he said. “And the other one,” he checked his paperwork, “Thiago Rush? The sorcerer? He’s going with him.”

Which meant he’d keep his magic. I don’t know why that made me smile, but it did. Maybe because I fully expected the two of them to find a way to come out on top, no matter what. At least, I hoped so and wished them well.

“Octavius Dole is going down,” the boss said, “for selling his soul. Won’t know until they decide what they’re doing with the demon girl whether he’ll be freed from the contract or not.

Dante Laught still has it and won’t give it up.”

I might still have held possession of the actual papers, but magic was more binding than ink.

I nodded. “He made his choice.”

“He did.” Ortos squinted at me. “He walked, you know.”

I knew. “Dante will have his day in court,” I said.

The stone giant behind the desk shrugged, a grinding sound making my teeth ache. “And Xandros Ashbourne?”

Ortos snorted. “You know what happened.”

I did. “His family got him off.” Naturally. And exactly why I distanced myself from my own.

Nothing irked me more than special treatment.

“Elias?” My boss waited for me to shake my head then waved me off. “I told you to go home ages ago.” Only to rescind it. Had he forgotten? From his raised eyebrow and crooked smile, he hadn’t. “Big night, Georgia. Big win. Be happy.”

“Yes, boss.” I waved back and headed for my desk, abandoning my coffee and smiling at my mastiff. “Ready?”

I was partway home when my annoyance at Elias finally surfaced again. ELIAS. Nothing.

You can’t ignore me forever, Elias. Nada. Stop being childish and answer me.

Georgie-porgie. He sounded tired, and worried. Not overtly, but I knew him well enough to sense when he was anxious. I’m fine. Just busy.

Like Hel. No way was he brushing me off. We’re supposed to be partners.

We are, he sent. But this has nothing to do with us. I have to go.

Elias! Too late, he was gone.

“Mother,” my mastiff said, head cocking to one side as he met my eyes in the rearview, “why is Elias at Pelham State Park?”

I caught my breath. “He’s where?” That was the East Bronx. What was he up to?

He’s not alone, the mastiff sent. Mother, I think he’s in danger.

“Hang onto him, Benny,” I sent. “We’re going to find out.” Ravens.

On our way, they sent.

While fear sat heavy in my chest.

***

I’m running, staggering, stumbling through the darkness, knowing he’s ahead. Alone. Doing the one thing that I begged him not to.

It’s going to get him killed.

Panting breaths expel mist, the chill air of the silent forest engulfing, swallowing me whole, while the black beast ghosts past me, two more soaring by on wings. A shadow and his pale companion, gone into the night.

I’m too late, I’m sure of it, and yet I cannot slow my steps, will never retreat. Never abandon him though he’s left me behind.

He’s about to give his life to protect me. Why won’t he let me do the same for him?

The unexpected rush of power hits me, a blast of hot magic exploding outward with such force it strikes me like a blow, silent and invisible, bowing trees towering overhead with the same might as it impacts me. I’m unprepared, terror in control, leaving me open to the impact, throwing me back. The unyielding trunk of the tree stops my flight with a crunch of bone and bark. It takes my desperate breath, fading consciousness prickling with frenzied dread and the searing agony of burning power, as I claw toward the surface but fail, the dark taking me to silence on the other side.

All I hear is the rush of wings, the dog barking, barking.

And the sound of him screaming my name—

***

Want to know what happens next? Find out in Dead Even, free at all retailers!

About the Author

Everything you need to know about me is in this one statement: I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was a little girl, and now I’m doing it. How cool is that, being able to follow your dream and make it reality? I’ve tried everything from university to college, graduating the second with a journalism diploma (I sucked at telling real stories), am an enthusiastic member of an all-girl improv troupe (if you’ve never tried it, I highly recommend making things up as you go along as often as possible) and I get to teach and perform with an amazing group of women I adore. I’ve even been in a Celtic girl band (some of our stuff is on YouTube!) and was an independent film maker (go check out the Lovely Witches Club at https://lovelywitchesclub.com). My life has been one creative thing after another—all leading me here, to writing books for a living.

Now with multiple series in happy publication, I live on beautiful and magical Prince Edward Island (I know you’ve heard of Anne of Green Gables) with my multitude of pets.

I love-love-love hearing from you! You can reach me (and I promise I’ll message back) at patti@pattilarsen.com. And if you’re eager for your next dose of Patti Larsen books (usually about one release a month) come join my mailing list! All the best up and coming, giveaways, contests and, of course, my observations on the world (aren’t you just dying to know what I think about everything?) all in one place: https://bit.ly/PattiLarsenEmail.

Last—but not least!—I hope you enjoyed what you read! Your happiness is my happiness.

And I’d love to hear just what you thought. A review where you found this book would mean the world to me—reviews feed writers more than you will ever know. So, loved it (or not so much), your honest review would make my day. Thank you!

Table of Contents

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Table of Contents

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen