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Colton nodded. “Riley and I will head over to the scene. Get Anaisa and meet us there.”
Steele walked to the deck before he shifted to the shadows and disappeared.
Riley put her hand on Colton’s arm. “I am so sorry. I know you and Oliver were close.” Her hand slipped away. “Who is doing this?” she asked, not expecting an answer.
Colton huffed. “I don’t know, but if he accuses you of being a traitor one more time, I’m going to kill him.”
Her heartbeat spiked because he wasn’t lying. “He is upset. And understandably so. Give him some time to process what’s going on. Hopefully, Anaisa can shed some light on the situation.”
Colton didn’t wait. His shadow enveloped hers and in seconds they coalesced near Oliver’s home. They saw the clan members huddled together in the distance and walked toward them.
Ferguson turned as they approached the kill site. “Dannika wants this traitor found. Since Anaisa has tested the cougar clan, we are assuming it’s a reaper.”
Riley shook her head. “Don’t jump to conclusions. The demons have abilities we are yet to understand. Maybe one of them can travel the pathway silently.”
Ferguson arched an eyebrow. “That’s an interesting possibility. If it’s true, we will need to increase patrols at all clans and ensure they work in pairs.”
Colton nodded. “That’s an excellent idea. At the very least it will ensure Steele thinks twice before accusing my mate a third time.”
Ferguson growled. “He blamed Riley for this?”
Riley sighed. “He is upset. He...”
Ferguson’s eyes glowed red. “That is no excuse. Colton wouldn’t have left your side since the attack on Aaron. Steele would know this. Anaisa cleared you two hours ago, yet he thinks you acquired a reaper blade and assaulted a senior member of the clan. A battle-hardened soldier.”
Riley squinted. “You’re the second person to say it was a reaper blade. How can you be sure?”
Colton pointed at the throat of the severed head. “The cut is too clean to be anything but blessed steel.”
Riley put her hand over her mouth and looked away. It was difficult to equate Oliver’s smiling face with the open mouth scream that hung on the severed head.
The priestess approached with Steele and knelt by Oliver’s body. Her flashlight was in her hand as she was the only one in the clearing that couldn’t see in the dark. The stars glittered through the trees as an owl hooted in the distance.
She touched Oliver’s chest, her head turning to the side as if she were listening to something only she could hear. “There is a taint of demon. A powerful demon.”
Steele glanced at Riley. “Are you saying this was Deruthel?”
Her lips pursed. “Maybe.” She patted the body. “I sense something else.” She pulled a satchel from Oliver’s pocket.
Steele leaned closer. “What is that?”
“A hex bag,” she said and disgust.
Ferguson’s eyes widened. “That is Haitian is it not?”
Anaisa nodded. “I can’t explain why it is here. I can tell you that my people cannot travel to your lands undetected. Either the demons left it or Oliver was in contact with a Bokor.”
Riley knelt down beside Anaisa. “How can you be sure it was a Bokor and not a priestess?”
She smiled. “Because I am currently the only priestess and someone of power made this.”
“Can you tell when it was made?” Riley asked.
“No.”
“Is it possible that Hakim made it?”
Anaisa rolled the bag between her fingers. “Yes, but that would suggest Oliver was in contact with him.”
