Page 3 of The Duke’s Bloody Bargain

Inside, the house was more comfortable than the flat where I’d lived after my parents and sister had died.

A sofa and a couple of mismatched armchairs took up the sitting room, and the curtains were whole and shiny, not riddled with mould and holes. But the window opened to another narrow alley, overlooking a tall brick wall, and the bunch of dried flowers on the mantel did nothing to cheer up the atmosphere.

“She doesn’t look well,” Irene whispered. “And her emotions are all over the place. She’s worried, scared, and tired.”

As a soul searcher, Irene had the ability to detect people’s feelings. Living people, that is. Since I was undead, what I felt remained a mystery to her. Only the special bond between us, due to the fact she’d been my first provider, allowed her to catch a hint of my mood.

Lucy carried a tray with a teapot and a set of cups. I waited for the ladies to sit before sitting on the armchair, trying to catch any scents that might reveal if Graves had been here.

She coughed into her fist, her shoulders shaking. “What’s the reason for your visit?”

Irene spoke first. “We don’t know if you’re aware of what happened at Raven Hall. Your brother Nathaniel left the Dark Court after an argument with the duke without telling anyone where he was going.”

Argument was too gentle a word for an attempted murder. Attempted murder on my part. I’d almost killed Graves.

“We would like to know if he’s been here.” Irene tilted her head, likely studying Lucy’s aura.

Lucy poured the tea. “I haven’t seen Nathaniel in a while.”

“Hasn’t he come here?” I tried not to sound too frustrated, but I didn’t detect Graves’s scent.

Lucy shook her head. “Since Knight is the new Duke of the Moon Court, Nathaniel’s visits have been few and far between. He prefers to stay away. Not that Knight has asked him to. Why are you searching for him? Should I be worried?”

“Not at all.” Irene put down her cup. “If you see him, would you please tell him we would like to talk to him?”

Lucy tugged at the shawl over her shoulders. “Of course I would. But if he’s in trouble, I would like to know.”

I’d done my part. I’d come here and asked about him. But where the hell was that werewolf?

“He isn’t in any trouble.” If anything, I was. “But he left abruptly, and I want to make sure he’s fine.”

If I didn’t make peace with Graves, Irene would give me a piece of her mind.

“The last time he’d come…” Lucy stared at her tea. “It was weeks ago. He gave me some money, which made me think he’d found a good job.”

“Like what?” The only job I’d ever seen Graves performing was chopping wood and barking at me. But he might have hidden talents.

“He didn’t say. As he didn’t say anything about having left the Dark Court.” She rubbed her forehead, paling.

“We’re tiring you,” Irene said. “We’d better go.”

I agreed.

I wasn’t surprised that Graves hadn’t mentioned our fight to his sister. As proud as he was, he wouldn’t let her know he’d been defeated by a vampire.

Lucy stood up slowly, heaving a sigh, and crossed the room. Once at the door, she hesitated, a hand on the knob.

“Is Knight causing you problems?” Irene narrowed her gaze, a sign she was using her power to study Lucy’s aura.

If Lucy was lying, Irene would know it.

“I rarely see Knight.” Lucy lifted a shoulder. “I’m part of the Argos clan, and even though my parents were strong werewolves, well, my powers have never shown. I’ve never turned into a wolf.” Her voice lowered. “Knight doesn’t care for humans, much less for a powerless, poor member of the Argos clan. And I…” She shivered. Her eyes rolled back, and she dropped to the floor.

I could have caught her before she hit the floorboards, but even holding Irene’s hand was difficult. Touching a stranger was impossible.

“Lucy!” Irene crouched next to her and gently patted her cheek. “What’s happening?”

I unleashed my power. My sight, hearing, and smell sharpened. My fangs descended, scraping my lower lip. “Her heart is slow but steady, and the smell of her blood is healthy. I don’t think she suffers from a disease.”