“I need a copy of the autopsy reports,” I said through gritted teeth.
He waved his hand. “I will ask the medical examiner to keep you updated. She is an acquaintance of mine.”
I eyed him. “You bounced on her, didn’t you?”
He smiled “I did not, as you so charmingly put it, ‘bounce on her.’ I was involved with her sister a few decades ago.”
I rolled my eyes. “The human police aren’t going to cooperate with me. They’ll probably deal with the High Coven, maybe Gemma. But I need–”
“Access. Understood. Steve will be told to cooperate fully. All of my demons will help in any way they can.”
That was too easy. Of course, Samael loved watching my debts pile up, and he particularly enjoyed when I had to rely on his people. I scowled at him and opened my mouth.
A rough meow sounded and I whirled.
“Lia?” I let out a wet laugh as I looked up. The small black cat was sitting in a branch of the huge oak, her white paws gray with soot.
Samael glanced at my face, and a gust of air slid along my skin as he rose on invisible wings, reaching for the cat who yowled at him. He handed her to me and I buried my face in her fur with a choked sob.
“I thought you were dead.”
She bit me gently and let out another meow before purring wildly. Samael brushed a tear from my face.
“Your emotions are intense, bounty hunter.”
“Because I’m human, Samael.”
“Half. The other half makes you one of us. One ofmine.”
Lia reached out a paw and Samael glanced down. The cat wanted his attention and I laughed as she bumped his hand with her head.
“I have a missing witch and a dead coven to deal with,” I said. “I’ll see you later.”
“Yes,” Samael said, his tone a dark promise. “You will.”
4
Danica
Aknock on the door sounded a few minutes after I got back to my apartment. Evie was still lying on the sofa, her eyes open as she stared at nothing.
She’d smiled for the first time when I placed Lia on her chest, her eyes popping open in incredulous joy. The cat was now nestled beneath the comforter, purring up a storm as Evie slowly stroked her head.
Kyla glanced at my sister as I led her in, sympathy written across her face. I didn’t know the wolf, but so far, I liked what I’d seen. I still wasn’t happy about taking on an ‘intern’ for my brand new business, but I needed all the help I could get.
Kyla sniffed at the air. “Coffee?” she begged, the desperation clear. I grinned and turned back to the kitchen, pouring her a cup.
“I’m going to hunt down whoever murdered the coven,” I said. “But there’s something else.”
I filled her in about Riona. “Honestly, if this had happened after I knew the coven had been slaughtered, I would’ve said I couldn’t help. But I gave her mom and her sister my word.”
Kyla smiled. “Good thing you’ve got a brand new partner. Uh… intern.” She winked at me, and I couldn’t help but laugh. Then her face turned serious. “Where do we start?”
“I need to go check out Riona’s apartment. There’s a chance she was kidnapped, and if she’s alive, she’s counting on us to save her.”
Kyla was studying my face. “You think she’s dead.”
“I think she never would’ve missed her sister’s engagement party.” I glanced at Evie, who was still staring at the blank wall as if it held the answers to the universe. “But we work it. She might’ve pissed someone off. Hell, she could’ve broken an ankle walking a dog and trusted the wrong person to help her. She might’ve been kidnapped by the guy she dumped. We look at all angles.”
