“It’s about you. You think it’s your sole responsibility to save everyone. Ever since Dad died and you became alpha, I’ve watched you slowly lose your smile.”
“I have not lost my smile.”
“You walk around like the entire world rests on your shoulders. When was the last time you had fun? Or laughed? Actually laughed?”
Silas shrugged. “I’m a busy person. And do I need to remind you that there’s a killer on the loose?”
“You don’t need to remind me.” She picked at her fries. “Any one of us could be Alex’s next victim.”
“Exactly.”
“Even you.”
“This is why I work as much as I do.”
“But wouldn’t you hate to die knowing you never fully lived?”
Silas rolled his eyes. “Did you get that from a greeting card?”
“No, really, brother. What kind of life is this?” Laina leaned forward and placed her hand on top of his. “Use this new partner. Allow her to help you. Find your center. And for the love of the goddess, find your joy again. I miss it.”
One thing Silashad learned from his encounter with Alex at the crime scene was that the rogue wolf was up to something. If Alex had only wanted to take over Fireborn pack as before, he would have attacked when he saw Silas. How could Alex resist a crack at the alpha? He’d had the advantage. Hell, that amulet around his neck could have blown Silas apart in a heartbeat. But he’d chosen to run. There was something else going on, a reason Alex couldn’t engage.
Silas’s theory was that Alex was still healing. He’d been after human bones, an odd quarry that could be an ingredient in a healing spell. Attacking would take energy. Perhaps Alex was concerned he wouldn’t win a confrontation with Silas at this point. It made sense. He’d avoided using the amulet before to conserve energy.
If it were true Alex was still vulnerable, now was not the time to turn down the heat. Now was the time to press even harder to find where Alex was hiding and who was helping him.
“You can wait out here,” Silas said. After his conversation with Laina over lunch, he’d given in and allowed Meredith to ride along on his investigation of the next healer on his list. But hell if Silas intended to allow her to come in with him. He might have to rough someone up, and he didn’t need miss goody-two-shoes messing up his interrogation tactics. Besides, after last night, he didn’t want to risk her getting hurt again.
“Okay,” Meredith said.
At least she was agreeable. Silas climbed out of the unmarked and crossed the street. Surprisingly, this healer wasn’t in the vampire district. The address was an apartment above a busy Starbucks in the heart of the city.
“Where did you get this list anyway?” Meredith said, appearing beside him.
Silas stopped abruptly, tipping his head back to stare at the bright blue sky. “I thought I told you to wait in the car?”
“You said Icouldwait in the car. I acknowledged that, yes, okay, waiting was an option. Then, I chose to come with you. See how that works? When we’re done here, can you insist I don’t drink your coffee? I’m feeling a little thirsty.” The toothy grin she flashed was worthy of a car salesman. “Now, how did you come about this list of suspects?” She ran her fingers through her hair and pulled it into a ponytail, tying the thick red mass back with an elastic from around her wrist.
He stared at her for a moment, ushering her onto the curb to avoid traffic. “After what happened last night, don’t you think you should stay where it’s safe?”
“Hey, the only person who hurt me last night was you. Don’t push me down and I should be okay.” She glanced at him first, then peered at the slip of paper with the address he was holding.
“Seriously. Your head isn’t even healed yet. Maybe you should take the day off.”And free me from the pressure I feel in my chest whenever you’re around, he thought.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she said. “If you want to do this, you best let me in on the plan.”
With a sigh, Silas contemplated how much to share with her, then figured it would be less hassle to tell her the truth. He gestured with his head in the direction of the Starbucks about a block away and started walking again. “All of these so-called healers were mentioned by clients of a fae bordello, Maison des Étoilles, as places where one could receive healing services that require dark magic. We know Alex is recovering somewhere in the area. One of these names is likely helping him. No reputable healer would become involved with Alex voluntarily.”
“I see.” Meredith glanced in his direction. “Why do you think you can trust a list of names originating in a bordello? Don’t prostitutes have a conflict of interest reporting on their johns?”
It was a legitimate question, one Silas would ask if the roles were reversed. “There are extenuating circumstances. The fae at Maison des Étoilles can read minds. Plus, the madam is my ex-girlfriend.”
Meredith sucked air through her teeth. “Didn’t see that one coming. So you two aren’t an item anymore, but you still go bump in the night every now and again?”
“No. No bumping in the night. We’re just friends. Good friends. I trust her.”
“Ended things on a positive note. Mmhmm. So, how many dark practitioners are left to investigate?”
