“I’ve been doing so much research it feels like a full-time job,” he fills us in. “Like, you may have to start paying me. I’ll make a time card and everything, that’s how much effort goes into what you’re asking for.”
“Have you found anything?” I ask while making a mental note to buy more cutesy oven mitts for him as a thank you.
“A plan is slowly coming together. Very slowly. Hiding you from multiple wolves and their senses for an extended period of time is tricky enough. But concealing you in their own den and then cutting through all the magical mess in Concordia and tracking someone down… I’ve put one successful locator charm on Bane’s watch, but I’m his mate and wanted to be found. This evil killer guy definitelydoesn’twant us blowing up his spot and we don’t even know him or his name.”
“We have something that belongs to the killer.” Marlow holds up the pick. “Can’t you use this?”
“Sure, possessions are great for locator spells.Outsideof Concordia.” Josh rolls his eyes. “Can you use this?” he mimics. “Honestly, leave magic to the professionals.”
“If you figure it out, we’ll make you employee of the month,” Marlow encourages.
“We really appreciate this,” I add.
"Using magic to enhance your ability to sense this guy is our best bet, but it’s going to take a while since I have zero experience casting for demons," he warns. "My plan is to use potions for everything. It’s not my craft, but it is my mom’s, so I’m somewhat familiar with the mechanics and she won’t suspect anything if I ask a million ‘hypothetical’ questions about brewing methods. I'm still tracking down some rare ingredients, and it’s going to take some experimenting to get everything right since I can’t rely on help from other witches or covens."
"Can we help? Is there anything you need from us?"
Josh looks from me to Marlow, who is picking up different crystals from the coffee table and putting them against his wrist and seeing if anything happens.
"Uh, thanks for offering, but I've got it." He's fighting a smile, likely thinking we'll be most helpful by staying out of his way. Neither of us has an aptitude for magic. "I know waiting around isn't the most fun but surely you can occupy yourselves somehow."
"Whatever will we do to keep ourselves busy?" Marlow asks with exaggerated cluelessness.
I have a few ideas, and judging by the heated look in his eyes, he does too.
"Wow, walked right into that one," Josh mutters.
Before we can say anything else, the doorbell rings. We all freeze, shooting each other nervous glances.
Josh gets up and edges to the window, cracking the curtain open. I cross my fingers, hoping it's just the mailman or something simple.
The doorbell rings again, and Josh winces at what he sees. When he turns around, he presses a finger to his lips, signaling for us to be quiet. "Bane, you better get down here. We have company."
He grabs the Cloak of Cloaking hanging by the door and quickly ushers us into the kitchen. Marlow doesn’t even complain about the thing being ugly as hell. Sharing a one-person cloak isn't ideal, and for good measure Josh mutters an incantation to help shield us. He mouths “be quiet” and then dashes to the door as his mate joins him.
The door opens and I hear them talking distantly, two familiar voices with a neutral, deep-voiced man joining in.
“A detective?” Josh echoes. “What brings you to our doorstep?”
His name is Ethan Harper and he says something about asking a few questions, but I tune out the rest, too focused on what my senses are screaming at me. My nose recognizes another shifter easily enough, but an instinct has the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. The man hunting for Marlow is an Alpha werewolf. Everything inside me is on high alert, zeroing in on the potential threat.
My cousin has reached the same conclusion, his voice tight. "From Brighton, right? You're here for the escaped prisoner."
"Word gets around, huh?" the detective remarks.
"No, Adelaide's keeping it pretty quiet, but I heard it directly from my sister." Adelaide isn’t broadcasting news about the escaped prisoner with the general public, but the authorities in Brighton obviously found out when they showed up to apprehend a man who wasn’t there. This detective is supposed to find Marlow.
"Well, would you two mind speaking to me?"
"Sure, though I doubt we can be much help,” Josh says as they lead the detective into the living room. “We go into Iron territory occasionally, but we weren't there when any of this happened, and we never met the prisoner."
The detective claims the chair opposite the couch, giving us a clear view of the large man with dark blond hair in his professional, boring suit. The fabric strains against his imposing frame, doing nothing to hide the quiet confidence of an apex predator. Those golden eyes sweep the room, cataloging every detail.
"Maybe you could tell me something about Wynn Blackwood."
Right to the point, this detective. Josh and Bane freeze mid-motion, hovering over the couch. They exchange a quick glance before sitting down. Not exactly subtle, but hopefully not damning either. Anyone would startle when a detective knocks on their door asking questions about family.
Especially when the detective is also a very large werewolf.
