She has power in her blood. Magic in her soul.
Aunt Rowan’s thoughts echoed in Helena’s head.
Ellie’s blue eyes widened. ‘Holy Hecate.’
Clio looked from Cynthia to Helena and then to her aunt. ‘Oh, my goddess.’Cynthia is a witch.
This changed everything.
Cynthia took a deep breath and the rain eased to a soft patter. ‘I have no wish to be rude, brother, but I think everyone is missing the point. We went to Damien Sinclair’s gaming hell. Yes. But we weren’t in any real danger. If he had gotten violent at all, Helena would have unleashed a flood on him that would have swept him and the bastards he runs with into the Thames. What is far more important than what we did is what we discovered.’
Cynthia’s faith in Helena’s ability to protect her barely registered as Helena processed the shocking news that the woman claiming her attentions and stirring her desires was actually a fellow witch.
‘Tell them, Helena.’
‘Erm, yes. Right.’ She forced herself back to the moment. There would be time to speak with her coven about Cynthia later. Right now, she needed to focus on the case. Because discovering who killed Hubert Burrows was far easier than untangling the mystery of his wife.
‘Cynthia’s right. We got a name, Uncle Lachlan. Of the man who killed Hubert.’
Uncle Lachlan gripped his fork like a weapon. ‘Who?’
‘George Lippert.’
Uncle Lachlan’s brows drew down in a frown. ‘I don’t know him.’ He looked to Thomas. ‘Have you heard of the man?’
Thomas was still glaring at Cynthia, his jaw muscles twitching.
‘Thomas, have you heard of George Lippert?’
‘Never. Did Sinclair mention him?’
Helena couldn’t stop her smug smile. ‘Not aloud. But when Cynthia asked if he killed Hubert, that’s the name he thought. Clear as I’m speaking to you now.’
‘You asked him outright? Are you trying to get yourself killed?’ Thomas’ face darkened with rage as he swung his gaze back to his sister.
Something in his tone caused a reaction in Helena. ‘Stop yelling at her! She is trying to solve this case and has gotten further than you or Uncle Lachlan.’ She flicked her gaze to her uncle. ‘Sorry. But it’s true. And she’s right. If Sinclair had tried anything, I would have stopped him. Bluster all you want, but Blair women are far more capable of protecting our own than any pack of men.’
Cynthia inhaled sharply.
Damnation. Did I just call her my own?
Panic rushed Helena’s next words. ‘I just mean, she is Clio’s sister-in-law now. So, Clio’s family is our family. And we protect our family. That is all I meant.’
‘Marvellous!’ Ellie’s wide smile only made Helena feel like a bigger fool. ‘And because of Cynthia and Helena’s excursion, we have a name to pursue.’
‘We have a name that Lachlan and I will pursue,’ Thomas countered. ‘You will stay put, Cynthia.’
Clio’s fingers sparked as she turned to her husband. ‘Darling, it’s never wise to tell a woman what she can and can’t do. Especially if that woman is as free-thinking and intelligent as your sister.’
‘Blustering dunderhead!’ Sir Robin hopped to the other side of Clio’s chair so he could peck at a fleck on Thomas’ jacket shoulder.
Thomas ignored the bird. ‘Cynthia isn’t like you. She doesn’t have the powers you and your family have.’
Helena bit her tongue as Aunt Rowan shared a knowing look with Ellie.
The gas lights flared, a sure sign of Clio’s temper. ‘She has the protection of our powers. Even you must admit, with Helena by her side, Cynthia is safer than she would be with anyone else. I kept you protected against certain danger not so long ago, or have you forgotten? Because I’ll gladly remind you.’ The sparks flying from her finger leapt into a single flame in her palm.
Thomas took her hand and placed it against his heart, snuffing out the fire. ‘You keep me safe always. But she is my sister, and she has already suffered enough. I don’t want any harm to come to her.’
