I knew it had ended when all eyes swung to Vlad.
Ahmed gestured to the side of Vlad’s face. “The scars are missing.”
Vlad nodded.
“The height is wrong,” Clive added, “and the hair is a couple of inches too long. The killer saw Vlad from a rooftop while Vlad was turned to the side, talking with Cadmael.”
“This fae thing,” Adaeze began, “can look like anyone?”
“Why are you believing this ridiculous story?” Pablo spat.
Joao’s beautiful face darkened in a momentary display of disgust before it cleared again. I had no idea how these two worked together. “Because this makes sense,” he said. “Far more than a phantom uprising of vampires wanting to return to the days of vampire hunters sneaking into our daytime resting places to stake us while seizing our fortunes. I, too, was involved in the investigation in Rio. Other than the way in which the humans were killed, there was no evidence that a vampire was involved.”
Joao pointed at Clive’s now dark screen. “We cannot drain a victim that quickly and no one vampire, even in the throes of blood lust, would entirely drain a victim. We simply can’t hold that much blood. It’s ludicrous and why previous investigations assumed it had to be a group of vampires working together.”
“But why does it pretend to be one of us?” Adaeze asked, looking at Ahmed and then Cadmael. “Is this retaliation for Budapest? You said the fae prince possessing our people was killed. Were these things in league with him?”
Ahmed shook his head and then looked at the others, who wore equally confused expressions. “The killings started before the Budapest meeting.”
“Have any of us encroached on fae land?” Joao asked. “I know Sebastian isn’t here to ask anymore,” he said, looking at Vlad, “but had you heard about Underhill being compromised by any of us?”
Sebastian had been the other European Counselor and one of those killed in Budapest. As an English vampire, he oversaw the UK, which was where many fae strongholds were. The fae could be and were anywhere in our realm, but historically there was a larger number in the British Isles.
Maybe that’s not it at all, I said to Clive. You guys only care about vampires, but is the same thing happening in cities where a different supernatural being is in leadership? In werewolf-run cities, are victims being found mauled to death? We need to ask Bracken.
Do you mind if I do it now? I think it would be better if they were involved.
No. Go ahead.
“In the interest of transparency,” Clive said to the room, “my wife’s great-uncle is a supernatural historian. If you’d be amenable, I can call and ask some of these questions. It occurs to me that this may be happening to other groups, not just us, but since we aren’t paying attention, we haven’t noticed.”
Vlad raised his eyebrows in response. I was pretty sure the little shit knew I was in Clive’s mind, chatting with him.
The other vampires glanced at one another. Finally, Adaeze said, “Yes. See what he might know.”
Clive scrolled through his contacts and tapped on Bracken.
How do you even have that?
I thought it would come in handy, and look, it did.
Smartass.
It rang once and then we heard, “Hello?”
Clive didn’t bother tapping on the speakerphone. Everyone could hear perfectly well without that. “Good evening. This is Clive, Sam’s husband. I remembered you saying you worked at night, so I hope I haven’t woken you.”
“No. Not at all,” Bracken said, his voice brightening with interest.
“Good. I think it only right to tell you that I’m meeting with others of my kind right now and that they can all hear you.”
Pablo looked pissed that Clive was telling someone they were there. Adaeze and Ahmed were staring at the phone, but both gave a slight nod, clearly agreeing it was right to inform him.
“Are you agreeable to this discussion?” Clive asked. “Or would you prefer not to speak with us?”
“How interesting. Am I allowed to know who’s with you?”
Pablo threw an arm out in a slashing gesture. Vlad rolled his eyes at the display.
