“Lack of evidence has never exactly stopped the Society.”
“Even they have boundaries they will not cross.”
Good to know, even if I’d seen no real evidence of it so far. “So, what happened?”
“Orion’s family?—”
“A man who fed on innocents had a family?” I cut in, surprised.
“He was a man, no matter what else he might have been. We all crave love and companionship.”
“According to the gossip mags, you only crave the latter.”
“The latter is easier to deal with when shadows are a fixture in your world.”
Another interesting comment he undoubtedly would not explain. “I take it Tane went after Orien’s family?”
“Not specifically. He was after an artifact Orion’s family held. He went there when Orion was absent, and when he couldn’t get what he wanted, he destroyed Orion’s wife and children, then ransacked the house until he found it.”
“The Lancet rune,” I said in sudden understanding. “That’s what Tane took, and that’s what Orion is now after.”
René nodded. “And once he gets all three sections, he will annihilate Tane’s family and anyone close to them.”
And in all honesty, I couldn’t fault him for that, no matter what else he’d done or was.
“If you know all this, there was obviously enough evidence to charge Tane, so why wasn’t he brought to justice?”
The smile tugging his lips held little humor. “Why do you think?”
“Tane’s family is powerful, and Orion is a blood witch who hunted innocents?”
“Yes.”
“Orion’s family should not have paid the price for whathewas, though.”
“Theoretically, I agree, but theory and reality aren’t often close companions when it comes to blood magic and soul feeders.”
“Especially when you have the money to pay others to ignore your murderous actions.”
“It happens more often than you think, trust me on that.”
Which left me wondering if he’d ever paid others to look the other way. “Do you think the murders of both Francesca and Marnee are the beginning of Orion’s revenge on Tane and his family?”
And if Orionwasbehind their murders, it might also explain Levi’s brutal death if, as we surmised, Lanie was the woman I’d heard speaking to Luke in that tape. Levi, who had been sexually innocent, had been excellent fuel for her blood mage master.
“Yes,” René said. “Although we won’t know for sure until the forensic medium hands in her results.”
Because a medium could tell whether their souls had left their body naturally or had been violently torn away. I took another drink, although the coffee was all but cold now, then said carefully, “From the little you’ve said of your father, I would have thought he’d ensure Orion was dead.”
“He did.” It was flatly said again. “My father took absolutely everything the man had.”
His power, his soul, his life, Atticus murmured.His father was more than a mere gray mage, I think.
And not a man you’d want to cross, in any way,I replied with a slight shiver.
Did the son take after his father in that respect? He might claim to be an empty canvas, but he was certainly hiding something—something that perhaps evenhewas afraid of.
Which was a rather odd insight about a man I barely knew.
