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“She’s been entirely drained like the last victim,” he said.
Evelyn nodded. “And look where the bite mark is.” She pulled back the dead woman’s dress, revealing a bite mark under her left breast.
“Another intimate bite,” Kade said.
“Do you think there’s more than one killer?”
“Possible, but . . . there are too many similarities between McKenna and Fiona. Both are young women, both drained, both with intimate bites.”
“And both are missing body parts.”
One without eyes and another without a heart.
“Cyrus, this doesn’t make any sense. Clearly these young women have been killed by a vampyr.” She gestured toward the blue-hued skin and the bite mark. “Why take McKenna’s eyes? At first I thought it was a vendetta or maybe a precaution so she didn’t turn, regardless of how vile it was. Now, I’m not so sure. With Fiona’s heart missing . . .” Evelyn shook her head like she couldn’t believe it. “Vampyrs don’t kill like this, Cyrus. Something isn’t adding up.”
Kade sighed, battling the growing desire to tell her he knew about her parents because he knew who she was. He could apologize. They could solve the murder faster, more easily. He wouldn’t have to hold back, and neither would she. But he still didn’t know why she’d left. If it was because of their union, the marriage, he risked her running away again. He needed to continue gaining her trust, and if he couldn’t tell her the full truth, he could at least share a part of himself, show her he understood.
“I’m sorry,” Kade said. “About your parents.”
Evelyn pursed her lips into a sad smile. “It’s difficult sometimes. The sight of Fiona”—she shook her head—“brought me back to that moment.”
“My mother was visiting Sorin in the north on business and was killed by vampyrs.” He returned his gaze to Fiona. He had to bend the truth so Evelyn didn’t suspect anything. “I can’t say with time it gets better, but it does get easier.”
“How long ago?”
“I was fifteen, so a decade.”
“Is that why you’re a huntsman?”
Kade calculated his wording. “There are a lot of reasons I do what I do, and my mother’s death is certainly one of them.”
Evelyn assessed him, silvery gaze drinking him in. Kade waited for more questions. Discussing his mother’s death was a risk, but it was something he could never lie about. Thanks be to the stars above, Evelyn said nothing more.
They left the barn, passing by the manor again. Bleu neighed in greeting, but a flicker of light caught Kade’s attention.
Black candles, ones that hadn’t been there when they’d arrived, lined all the windowsills. A mourning tradition for witches. The flame atop the black wax symbolized the sun above darkness, leading the passing soul to the afterlife.
“Are the Kerrys witches?” he asked, realizing his mistake too late.
Evelyn lifted a brow. “You’ve seen this before?”
Moons. “Yes. I’ve seen a witch’s burial before, but there were hundreds of candles then.” It wasn’t a lie, but he hoped she wouldn’t press him.
The air around Evelyn tremored, the beads of rain slowing. Seconds passed, and then it all stopped, the air snapping to normal again.
“My magic doesn’t sense any other witches inside the manor. I don’t feel magic nearby, and definitely not when we were around Fiona’s body,” Evelyn said.
“Then why the candles?”
“Maybe the Kerrys have a witch heritage. Callum used to have more witches than it does now.” Evelyn clamped her mouth shut, as if stopping herself from continuing.
What would it be like to break her walls? What would it be like if she didn’t hold back?
“I don’t suppose we can ask Fiona’s parents,” Evelyn said.
“No. I don’t think we can. We should consider going to the lake where they found Fiona’s body, though.”
Evelyn nodded. “I agree, but we should look into McKenna’s journal first. I can’t help but think it’s interesting her journal was written in Olde Script and the Kerrys are practicing a witch tradition.”
