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“I suspect he was looking for sellable items. Aiden did mention a few days ago that there’d been a rash of car break-ins lately.”
She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe. “And did he break in?”
“He didn’t get the chance—and he bolted the minute I called out.”
“All of which doesn’t really explain the uneasy vibes.”
I wrinkled my nose. “As I said, it was just nerves. Nothing to worry about.”
She snorted. “Yeah, trusting that statement. You want me to make you a loaded coffee to calm said nerves?”
I smiled. “If I have too many more of those, I’ll be well on my way to becoming a lush. What time is Kash picking you up?”
She glanced at her watch. “In twenty minutes.”
“Then you’d better get ready. I’ll head downstairs and finish the prep for tomorrow.”
She nodded and continued on into her bedroom. Once I’d changed out of my wet jeans and shoes, I went downstairs and spent the next couple of hours baking slices and finishing off the veg and salad prep. By the time I’d finished, it was close to eight and my stomach was rumbling a loud reminder that it hadn’t yet been fed. I made myself a steak sandwi
ch, grabbed a piece of the freshly made chocolate-and-salted-caramel brownie for dessert, and then headed upstairs to catch up on the news.
My phone rang around nine; the tone told me it was Aiden. I hit the answer button and said, “Hey handsome, how’s your night going?”
“It was perfectly fine until a few minutes ago.”
“What’s happened?” I asked, even though it wasn’t exactly hard to guess.
“It would appear the vamp with a taste for the newly married has struck again.” His voice was heavy. “And this time, he’s killed them both.”
Chapter Two
“Shit.” I rubbed my eyes with my free hand. “Do you want me there to attempt a reading?”
“Yes. I know it takes a toll on you, but it might be the fastest way to track down the thing doing this.” He hesitated. “Belle’s at that restaurant opening in Argyle—will that be a problem?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve done a long-distance connection, but there’s little point in worrying about it until we know if it’s worth trying. Where are you?”
“I’m at the station—the call has only just come in. I’ll pick you up in a couple of minutes.”
“Okay.”
I hung up and ran downstairs to the reading room. The spells protecting the room shimmered briefly as I entered, a visible indication that they were active and working. Though relatively small, this room was probably one of the safest places in Victoria when it came to dealing with any sort of magic or occult entities. While the building as a whole was surrounded by spells that guarded us against all manner of things—from preventing anyone intending us harm entering the café, to protecting us against a wide variety of supernatural nasties—there were a whole range of additional measures within this room. No spirit or demon was getting in here, even if it somehow broke through the main spells.
I opened one of the storage compartments hidden behind the bookcase and grabbed the backpack we now held ‘at the ready’ for situations like this. It not only contained my silver knife—fully sheathed and tied securely into the pack so there was no chance of Aiden or any other werewolf touching it—but also a selection of potions, amulets, and holy water, which gave us basic coverage for all manner of nasties. Combined with the multi-twined copper and leather charm around my neck—which was probably the most powerful item I’d ever created, and one I’d duplicated for both Aiden and Belle—I should be well protected.
I only wished it were that easy to protect myself from Clayton.
I shoved the thought back into its box, grabbed my coat and keys, and then headed out into the rain-swept night, huddling under the overhanging veranda for protection as I waited for Aiden.
Once again, the feeling of being watched stirred.
I clenched my fingers against the repelling spell that pressed against my fingertips, a little alarmed by the automatic nature of it. Though it was personal magic rather than wild, it nevertheless shouldn’t have happened. Spells had to be spoken—they didn’t just appear as and when needed. But maybe this was another example of the wild magic changing the rules when it came to what I could and couldn’t do.
I studied the street warily. While chatter and music came from Subway down the road, there was no one on the street and few cars driving by. I had no sense of anyone hiding in the shadows, and there was no caress of magic to indicate a witch might be near. Which, if they were shielding, was not unexpected.
And yet…
My gaze rose to the rooftops of the buildings opposite. It wouldn’t be the first time a foe had hidden up there, waiting for the right moment to strike. But I still couldn’t imagine Clayton doing so—not on a night as hideous as this. Besides, he wasn’t the type to stalk his prey. He’d strike fast and hard, as he had with the whole marriage thing—there’d been no more than a week between my father and Clayton agreeing on ‘the deal’ and the marriage contracts being signed. Aside from the priest who’d performed the ceremony, the only witnesses had been my parents. It was little wonder that few in Canberra even knew about it—the documents had been sealed, and Clayton had apparently been carrying on as any single man would—well, aside from his apparent inability to get an erection, that was.
