Page 29

I couldn’t talk to Zoe or Mama about it because they’d probably do something dangerous like hex Carmichael, and probably Dr. Orpheus too. Not that I was even sure he had any truly bad intentions. The thing that scared me, I realized, was that he reminded me of how I was when searching for the cure—single-minded. It hadn’t worked out for me, and well, now I was the vampire in the situation so to speak.

When I got to my office, Zoe was sitting in my chair, spinning around like a kid.

I froze, mouth dropped open in shock.

“Zo? What are you doing here?”

Instead of getting up, she nudged a large coffee at me then propped her long legs on the desk, leaning back like she owned the place.

I snatched up the offering and sniffed. My favorite, a double caramel latte with whip. Deciding it was worth the exchange, I dropped into a visitor’s chair and sipped, letting the magic of sugar and caffeine flow through my system. Gods it was good.

“Mama’s unicorn is being imported from Guatemala and should be here in a few weeks. Some sort of customs hold-up, but I have to admit your vampire comes through on his promises.” Zoe stretched and grabbed her own coffee to gulp at.

I nodded, not even arguing with her about calling Julian my vamp. She did it to poke at me, and I didn’t feel like taking the bait. Besides, he had promised Mama a unicorn when tempting her to move to the island, and it was nice to know he’d followed through. It had to have been difficult as the creatures were extremely rare and a protected species.

But that didn’t mean I should tell him about Carmichael’s threat when he tended to go overboard in the protection department. I chugged more coffee.

“Something’s bothering you.” Zoe put her feet down and leaned over the glass desk. “More than the usual.”

I sighed. “It’s just non-stop.” It wasn’t a lie, but that wasn’t what bothered me either. It was her I was worried about, but I didn’t want her to have feel what I was. Not when it was on my shoulders to fix it. Because I knew my sister, and she wouldn’t let me protect her. She’d do something dangerous and attack the threat. I guess she was more like Julian than she realized.

“It’s more. Spill it or I’ll make you.” Zoe leveled her hazel eyes on me, and I knew she meant it. When we were kids and she was mad, she used to portal me all over the place just to scare me when I was a brat. The worst was a bunker full of spiders. I shuddered and clutched my cup tighter.

“It’s these murders and disappearance,” I said, deciding to discuss the next in my long list of concerns. “Whoever I’m looking for can fit through the ventilation system, which is tiny. But they’re strong enough to rip out a shifter’s throat with their teeth.”

Zoe shuddered this time and wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Sounds like fae.”

“Yeah, but that feels more like a catch-all for something we can’t understand.” I put my head down on the desk.

“It’s not all on you, you know,” she said, making me peer up at her. “You can’t single-handedly rescue everyone on the planet you know.”

“Why the hell not?” I said with a snort, sitting up again. “Don’t be a naysayer.”

“I’m taking that as sarcasm.”

“Suit yourself.” I drained my coffee. “I should get to work. Is that all you came here for?”

Rolling her shoulders back, Zoe licked her lips. “Well, there’s one more thing but if you don’t have time—”

“I always have time for you.” I smiled, but it felt weird to force my muscles into that formation with so much weighing on me.

“I…like someone.” She waited, watching me over the lid as she drank.

“Who?” I asked, my grin becoming genuine. Zoe hadn’t had a real relationship in several years. She’d dated sexy women, but not anyone serious.

“Hazel.” She blushed as she set down her empty cup, waiting for my reaction.

“The sect leader?” I asked. “I like her energy. Have you said anything to her?”

“There’s been some flirting,” she said. “But I was thinking of asking her out soon.”

“I’m so excited for you!” I got up and went around the desk to hug her tight, inhaling her sweet honey scent. “I want you to be happy, Zo. You deserve it.” And Hazel wasn’t a witch to fuck with if a certain vampire caused problems, so at least there was that.

“Thanks, Char. So, what’s the next step in the investigation?” Zoe asked as I released her.

“Honestly? I wish I knew. I’ve been looking through files of workers here, trying to see if anyone matches, but since I don’t really know what I’m looking for…” I shrugged, frustrated.

“You’ll get a break soon. You’re good at looking at things from a different perspective.” Zoe punched me in the arm.