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“If that’s the case, then maybe it revolves around Frankie and the man she was with, as they were the first to die.”
“I doubt Frankie was anything more than a convenient soul to consume and use.”
“Which still leaves us with Frankie’s victim.”
“Did Larissa know him?”
“No. She just said he wasn’t a wolf.”
“And you believe her?”
“Yes.” I finished the brownie and licked the chocolaty almond remnants from my fingers. “She said he looked peaceful—like he was asleep—so she obviously got a good look at his face.”
“If he was the target, then the soul eater is free to do as it pleases.”
“But why would it then go after Marlinda and Aron? Frankie had plenty of neighbors—it would have been far easier to go dine on them rather than taking the time to hunt down everyone else involved in calling it forth.”
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Belle shrugged. “Given they were using the board without any sort of protection, it would have some sense of their souls and that, in turn, would make them very easy to track down. Of course, it could also be nothing more than payback for being called into this realm.”
Which was certainly possible. Spirits—or rather, dark spirits—were well known for turning against those who controlled them if they got the slightest chance. I stirred the half-melted marshmallows into my hot chocolate and then took a drink. “I might go across to Émigré and talk to Maelle. Larissa insinuated that Janet was a friend of Marlinda’s, so it might be worth asking if I can search her apartment again.”
Belle raised an eyebrow. “Wouldn’t that task be better done by Aiden?”
“Probably, but I don’t think our resident vampire would appreciate too much contact with the rangers. Besides, I did promise to update her, and I’d hate to be breaking that promise.”
“Good point. Especially if, as we suspect, she’s more than a little capable of magic.”
“I’m thinking she wouldn’t need magic to take care of either of us. She’d just take a lovely long drink when we were least expecting it.”
“True.” Belle finished her coffee, and then added, “Are you still wearing that charm I made?”
“Are you?” I countered, even though it was obvious she wasn’t.
“Point taken.” She grinned. “Perhaps in the next day or so, we need to combine efforts and make a deterrent that will go with all outfits.”
“Yes.” I hesitated. “Although it might be better to wait until this case is over and Ashworth is gone. He’s suspicious enough of the two of us.”
“He’s a chip off your grandfather’s block, though, isn’t he?”
“Indeed.” My voice was wry. “I’m a disappointment, apparently.”
She laughed. “Like you haven’t been told that a billion or so times in your life already.”
“Yeah.” My smile faded. “The problem is the wild magic. It interfered in another spell at Frankie’s house, which only served to clarify his suspicions we are not what we seem.”
“Meaning he’s likely to inquire about us?”
“More than likely, I’d say.” I grimaced. “Of course, it may not matter in the end. Not if the council decides to uphold the witch ban and chuck us out of the reservation.”
The sharp blast of a car horn cut off any reply she might have made. “And that will be Zak.”
I shook my head in mock sorrow. “It’s a sad state of affairs when a date no longer comes to the front door, and simply honks on his arrival.”
“It is indeed, and I don’t care.” She rose, gathered her coat, and then kissed my cheek. “Be careful with Maelle. I still don’t trust that woman.”
“She doesn’t intend me any immediate harm.”
