Niko nodded, his expression brightening. “Splendid news. I can tell by your light that it went well.”
I laughed and cleared my throat. “I must be crazy for dating a detective.”
“Why is that? He’s on the right side of the law, so I’m sure he has admirable qualities.”
“That’s exactly what I’m worried about. The fact he can scent my lies makes me nervous about him asking the wrong questions. I’ve killed a lot of people, Niko. He might decide to put me in cuffs if he finds out.”
Niko gave me an impish grin. “Is that not what you intended?”
“Very funny, but I’m not into bondage. What about you? Isn’t it hard to date and bring women here? Or does Viktor not allow visits?”
Niko held out his hand, and a flame of blue light appeared in his palm. “Dating isn’t a concern I trouble myself over.”
I watched as he moved his hand around, controlling the light as if it were a separate entity in his hand. I wasn’t able to master light so perfectly, so I watched him in awe. “Is that something I can learn?”
“This requires an enormous amount of control, and that’s not something easily acquired in a short period of time. Perhaps one day when you’re as old as I am,” he said, rolling the light around in his palm. “I can only imagine what this must look like. These kinds of talents are what perpetuated the myth among humans that we were sorcerers of black magic. They didn’t understand what they were seeing.” He pointed his index finger, and the light briefly danced on the tip before melting back into his palm.
“Do you play the violin?” I asked.
His brows arched. “If I had that kind of talent, I might not have ended up here. Why do you ask?”
I shrugged. “A few nights ago, I thought I heard a violin. Then again, I hear all kinds of mysterious sounds in this mansion. Sometimes the wind finds a way in through the cracks of a window and plays like an orchestra.”
“This house has many ghosts, and they don’t all belong to Wyatt.”
The light tumbled between his fingers in a magnificent display and flared a radiant gold that no sunset could rival.
“What’s going on in here?” Gem asked. “I’m feeling left out.”
The light shattered in Niko’s hands, falling to the floor like dying embers from a fireworks show.
Gem stood beside Niko’s chair and smiled at me. “I can tell by the look on your face that you had a good time with Glass.”
“You’re in a clever mood,” Niko said, tilting his head in her direction.
“Stop reading my light.” Gem gave a playful shake of her head “Viktor sent me to find you. There’s been another murder.”
I didn’t have to look at a clock to know it was three in the morning. Niko had given me a quick lesson on how to use my Mage energy to tell time, although that had brought up a hilarious conversation about daylight saving and time zones.
“What’s he want us to do?” I asked.
Gem tightened her kimono, her damp hair pulled back. “Investigate the crime scene. We have to leave this minute.”
Niko furrowed his brow. “Everyone?”
She sat down on his armrest and played with the tie on her silk robe. “He didn’t say, but I should probably go.”
“No, Gem. I don’t like how those women affect you.”
“What if there’s a marking or tattoo?”
He rose to his feet. “Then we’ll take a photograph or describe it. We all have important tasks in this group.”
She sulked. “Yeah, but I feel useless—like I’m not pulling my weight.”
Niko’s crystalline eyes picked up colors in the firelight as he averted his eyes. “You’re anything but useless.”
I stood up, adrenaline kicking in. “We should get dressed and hurry before the sun comes up.Ugh.It’s too early for dead bodies.”
