“How did you know about the book?”
Meredith looked confused. “We talked about it with Jason and Selene.”
“No.Wedidn’t talk about it. I talked about it with Jason and Selene. You weren’t in the room.”
“Silas, lower your gun. What’s wrong with you?”
“Are you a skinwalker?”
“My mother is a skinwalker. I’m a shifter. I told you—”
“So you canonlyturn into a fox?”
“Yes. You know that. Why are you yelling?”
“Then why did Astrial think Soleil pushed her down and came back here, when Soleil is dead, and the only person standing here is you?”
“I have no idea. There was no one at the door when I arrived. I let myself back here. By then, whoever took the book was gone. Wait? Someone disguised themselves as Soleil? It must have been Alex.”
“How would Alex know Soleil was dead?”
“How should I know?” She raised her hands slightly. “Lower your weapon.”
“You knew Soleil was dying. You left the hospital to come here without speaking with me first. Why didn’t you wait for me?”
“Because I knew that Alex wouldn’t wait. What are you implying?”
He stepped forward, his gun pointed at her head. “Did you kill Soleil in order to get the book?”
Meredith shook her head and spread her hands. “You know it wasn’t me. Look at me, do I have the book?”
She didn’t. He wanted to believe her. Against his better judgment, he lowered his gun, then raised it again half-heartedly.
“You show up here out of nowhere and become my partner. Who are you really? Why did Soleil say you weren’t who you say you are?”
“I have no idea why Soleil said what she did. I am Meredith Turner, daughter of Grayson and Olivia Turner of Crescent Moon pack.” She took a step toward the door.
“I have to take you in,” he said. “Soleil is dead and you pulled the trigger.”
Meredith shook her head. “I can’t go with you. You don’t understand.”
“I came as soon as I could,” Grateful called from the hallway. Silas glanced at the witch for a fraction of a second. It was a fraction of a second too long.
A red blur bolted between his legs and past Grateful who leapt back and flattened herself against the wall. Meredith, in her fox form, raced down the hall. Silas aimed. He had a clear shot, but he hesitated, unable to bring himself to pull the trigger. She skidded around the corner toward the exit. He forced himself to aim again. This time he fired. His bullet barely missed the fox and lodged in the wood floor. Astrial’s screams pierced the corridor.
“What the hell?” Grateful yelled.
Silas dodged around Grateful. “Meredith is helping Alex!” He ran for the foyer. By the time he reached Astrial, the fox was gone.
“It happened so fast. I would have stopped her Silas, honest. I wasn’t expecting it. I’m sorry.” Astrial pressed a rag to her bleeding head.
“It’s not your fault.”
Grateful sidled up to him, staring out the open door. “Meredith is helping Alex? It can’t be true.”
He looked at her then and noticed she’d been crying. He wiped a stray tear from the witch’s cheek. For the first time, it hit him that Soleil was dead. Gone. His chest felt heavy.
“I can’t believe she’s dead,” Grateful whispered. “Soleil was a bridesmaid at my wedding. She gave me a hand-embroidered baby blanket at my baby shower not two weeks ago. She was one of my best friends.” The powerful witch rubbed circles over her belly, suddenly looking vulnerable and unbelievably sad.
