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“Everything’s fine,” I promised, forcing my shoulders to relax. “Let’s go home and get some rest. We’ll have a busy day tomorrow wrangling the spirits before our shift at Get Hexed. I’ll explain everything then.”
As we left the Coven estate, I swore I would fix this mess, no matter how much it hurt.
5
“What do you meanit’s gone?” I shouted, kicking a pile of broken treasures and weapons within my private vault.
My head ached, and I longed for a drink, but I had to deal with the aftermath of my masquerade gone awry as ghosts descended on the manor in droves of incorporeal mayhem. A creature used the confusion for their own means, breaking into my hidden safe before the Council restored order.
Silas kicked a box stuffed with small trinkets, his fingers digging into his hair. “I’ve catalogued everything within the vault. Only the Staff of Borislav is gone. Stolen by whoever broke in.”
The power of the curse thriving within the gleaming metal went unmatched in my trove of talismans. For decades, it had remained buried within my father’s own vault of conquered treasures like an undetonated bomb. I understood the danger lurking and stole it, carting it to my exiled manor in New Orleans in a last-ditch effort of rebellion. The staff offered the wielder the ability to control absolutely. Or it would have had my father’s crimes against the Bled witches not corrupted the magick within.
And now, someone had stolen it.
“Have you checked the cameras?” I asked, rolling my eyes at Silas’s vicious snarl.
“Yes, Alexei. Have you not been listening? I’ve ordered all the fledglings and vampire guards on patrol this week to meet me for inspection. Sergei is pulling up the camera footage from the past forty-eight hours, but whoever slipped past no doubt had the wherewithal to wipe the cameras.”
I massaged my temples and finally gave into temptation, stepping out of the vault hidden behind a false bookshelf to pour myself a glass of whiskey from my desk.
“Any suspects?” I asked, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I know you probably already have a short list of creatures within the city capable of such a coup. Though only a select few would even know about the location of my vault.”
He shut the vault door behind me, relocking it. “There are few suicidal enough to stage such an act of treason. Why would someone only take the staff, leaving behind far more lucrative jewels and items of value?”
Of course. Frustration built within me until I felt close to the edge of my vampiric rage, brought on earlier by the almost-kiss with Jade and resulting panic when I saw Trystan watching with calculated interest.
“It was Trystan,” I gritted out. “He knows the staff’s importance, probably recognized it from my father’s collection, and found the means to shame me once more.”
Shame was the least of my concerns at this moment, but I dared not trust even Silas with the truth regarding the staff’s power.
Silas wandered to my leather wingback chair and perched on the arm of the chair, looking thoughtful. “It’s not unthinkable that he would try something like this. Perhaps it was his intention in visiting New Orleans. Find some new evidence of your treachery to bring back to your father?” He eyed me speculatively. “Trystan knows Alistair is soon to forgive your exile and bring you back to Slovenia to resume your preparation as the next king. This betrayal would give Alistair reason to extend your punishment.”
I cursed, pacing the room. “Get someone you trust to find Dubois, trail him, and determine if he or one of his people could have stolen the staff while the revelry distracted us. I don’t want any aircraft leaving the city before dawn.”
“Already on it, my prince. I’ve also sent a vampire to Low Road to thwart any creature who may try to sell the staff on the black market.” Silas’s brows dipped. “What about the Council? Rebecca and Hunt are at the estate discussing clean-up. Should we make a trip to the Garden District before sunrise to inform them of the theft?”
Wordlessly, I snagged my dagger from my desk.
The only prospect on par with Trystan in possession of the Staff of Borislav, set on further ruining my tremulous reputation and relationship with my estranged father, was Rebecca Graves uncovering the forbidden dark magick I introduced into her granddaughter’s life.
Stowing the blade in my pocket, I downed what was left of my drink. “Not yet. I don’t want any news about the staff’s disappearance reaching anyone in the city until I determine the culprit. Nor do I particularly want to remind the Council of its existence.”
The lines around Silas’s eyes deepened. “I warned you about the dangers of toying with magick, Alexei—”
“Don’t,” I snapped, at the brink of my patience. “Rebecca gave me Hell for offering the amulet as a prize last year. Thankfully, she remains unclear of its true power. Just follow your orders, Silas, and leave the rest to me.”
Silas’s phone rang, and he answered it with a clipped voice. From the receiver, I could hear the conversation with Sergei and ground my fangs in rising fury. As he finished the call, I slammed the tumbler onto the table, shattering the glass.
“So, Trystan’s already fled with his pack of rats out of the city? Treacherous bastard!” I raged.
“Alexei, we must stop him,” Silas replied smoothly, already dashing around the office to prepare for the mission to retrieve the staff from Trystan’s slimy grip. “Other than your continued exile, do you realize what leverage the vampire has over you?”
“An in-depth account of my incomparable flair for raucous nightlife in the city?” I mused.
“No.” Silas’s steely gaze narrowed, the lines in his face revealing his disquiet. “He now knows your recent dealings with a certain earth witch. Everyone saw you embracing her as if you would die if you didn’t feel her touch. It’s more incriminating than stealing the talisman from your father.”
If I had a heart, I knew in that moment I would have felt it stutter in my chest.
