‘I’ve long been around people who were adept with magic,’ Callum said. ‘I’ve seen it used many times and it feels … familiar. Maybe that’s why it looked so natural.’
Dylan tried not to raise his brow. Instead, he glanced at Callum over the rim of his glass. ‘Like Kyan with the Druids?’
Callum’s lips ticked up. ‘Sure.’
An internal snarl of frustration meant the next mouthful of Dylan’s drink went down like fire. But if he turned this conversation into an interrogation, Callum would become unbreakable. Keeping it light and teasing might be the only way.
‘What about you?’ Callum asked. He turned, leaning on the bar, the muscle beneath his shirt flexing as he set all that focus on Dylan. ‘If you could become anything, what would you choose?’
Something that would get you to tell me your secrets.
Something that would take away my father’s grief and the fear I have of feeling it myself.
‘Something that would make me strong enough to find my mother’s killer and kill them before they killed me.’
Callum’s eyes shaded with understanding, and … respect? ‘How about this,’ he said, all trace of mischief gone. He picked up his glass and it winked with reflected light as he held it up. ‘We find them, and that doesn’t happen? I’ll help you kill them myself.’
There was a real, disarming promise in his words.
So, Dylan matched the action. ‘You think you could?’
Callum’s infamous grin flashed. ‘I’d sure have fun trying.’
A smile threatened Dylan’s mouth. He clinked his glass with Callum’s. ‘Deal.’
‘Now,’ Callum said, eyes flicking to the mirrored bar. He straightened at something he’d seen, that charm slinking back. ‘We have a meeting to attend.’
Dylan followed him to Nicole and Remi’s table, scanning the room for the person they were looking for. She slid into their booth moments after they did.
‘Xinyi,’ Callum purred. ‘Did you miss me?’
Nicole
XINYI WAS EASILY ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFULPEOPLENicole had ever seen.
A wall of silky, pin-straight black hair fell to her waist, her pale skin gleaming softly in the low light. Her dark eyes were both unamused and intent, full lips done in a dusky rose. She breathed confidence behind a gentle sweetness without saying a single thing.
Nicole could feel the curious sharpness beneath it.
‘Xinyi turned what were practically Liverpool slums for the Chinese seamen into one of the oldest Chinatowns in Europe,’ Callum said.
Nicole’s brows rose. She must be semi-immortal at least if she’dbeen here in the late 1800s, even though she only looked to be in her twenties.
‘You still talk as much as I remember,’ Xinyi said smoothly.
Callum grinned and Dylan’s lips twitched.
‘I hear you and Kyan wanted an audience with me,’ she said, gaze sliding to Remi.
Remi seemed to have mentally stalled. Nicole schooled her expression to hide her surprise. She’d never seen Remi shy.
‘We need a supernatural, or human, who might be able to help us,’ Dylan said, giving her a moment. He looked to Callum again, as if uncertain to ask. ‘Who might help us … borrow something of historical importance as soon as possible. Do you knowanyone?’
‘What have you got yourself into this time?’ Xinyi asked Callum.
He looked positively dangerous. ‘Let’s put it this way: it will change the dynamic of supernatural society for the better. We both know someone will owe you. You know every supernatural in this city, at least who’s who and where. Speaking of which, we need to talk later about a Varian attack by the docks.’
‘Another?’ She made an unamused sound and flicked her fingers over her shoulder. Someone appeared at her side and she murmured to them before they disappeared just as suddenly.
