Shedding his suit jacket, he took a seat at the designer table off his kitchen and flipped open his laptop. A few hours of work would clear his head. Sure enough, one of his scouts had a start-up he thought was worthy of Jason’s attention—a tech company called Spackles with a patent for LED paint. It went on white but could change colors when connected to a power source. Jason clicked the link for background and financials.
Another email popped up, this one from Ryker Vandoren, an owner whose small business Jason had funded only a few months ago. Jason hadn’t had high hopes for the project. It was a small occult shop in the vampire district, a niche market for sure and not in line with his usual investment profile. But Ryker had proved persuasive, supernaturally so, and before Jason could think too much about the opportunity, he’d already written the check.
He clicked on the email.
Jason,
Per our agreement, I’ve transferred to your account ten percent of my first quarter’s net profits. See attached.
Ryker
Attached was a transaction confirmation in the six-figure range. Jason blinked, then logged into his account to double-check the amount. His eyebrows shot up. Perhaps Ryker’s shop was a good investment after all.
His phone vibrated on the table. Laina.
“Rehearsal is tomorrow, Friday, seven o’clock. It will take several hours, so prepare yourself.”
“Why hello, sister. It’s good to speak with you. Of course I will attend your wedding rehearsal. I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Seriously, Jason. I’m not trying to be crass here, but I don’t want your vice getting in the way this weekend. You can’t be hitting on my bridesmaids or ushering the florist behind our cabin.”
“I can go a day without having sex. I won’t explode or anything.” He was tempted to tell her he hadn’t been with anyone in weeks but didn’t want to jinx it.Pride goeth before the fall.
There was a long pause on the other end of the line.
“Are you still there?” Jason asked.
“Yeah… I know you can do it, but I need you sharp. Like I really need you and your wolf hypervigilant, understand?”
“Why? I’m not the one getting married.”
Silence. He checked his phone to make sure it was still connected. “Silas was going to talk to you about this,” she said finally.
“Spill it.” Silas wasn’t exactly chatty these days. If he had something to talk to Jason about, it was most certainly bad news.
“He put the word out about Alex and Nickelova to Soleil and the other celestial fae at Maison des Étoilles.”
Maison des Étoilles was a bordello owned and run by celestial fae—fairies that drew their powers from heavenly bodies. The madam, Soleil, was an ex-girlfriend of Silas’s. True to her name, Soleil’s anchor of power was the sun, a boon for Silas as her presence could delay his need to shift. They’d broken up recently, but the two had remained friends, which was helpful to Jason’s detective brother because the bordello tended to serve the underbelly of the city. The girls knew things and, lucky for Silas, were willing to talk.
“That’s old news, sister. He asked her for help months ago. Last I heard, there’d been no sign of Nickelova or of Alex since you ripped through his abdomen. He’s probably dead.”
“There wasn’t any sign. Until now.” Her voice trembled on the other end of the line.
He nudged his laptop away to make room for his elbows, using one hand to massage the base of his aching skull. “What’s happened?” He’d had enough of the anxiety roller coaster, but there was no getting off this ride, not until Alex and Nickelova were dead.
“Someone broke into the vault at Bojingles Fae Hospital and stole fire lily juice. There was nothing on any of the internal security recordings, but when the invisible thief was leaving the hospital, a device outside the entrance caught her moonlit reflection in the glass door to the building. A specialist on Silas’s team blew it up and refined the image. It was Nickelova.”
“Fire lily juice?” The juice of the fire lily could only be collected and administered by the fae, but it could cure a wide range of injuries and illnesses in supernatural beings. “She’s still trying to heal Alex.”
“That’s what Silas thinks too,” Laina said. “I nearly bit Alex’s abdomen in two. He was bleeding out. I have no idea how she’s kept him alive so long, but what else would she be doing with it?”
“Does Silas have any idea where she is now?”
“That’s where Soleil comes in. One of her patrons was asking around about supernatural healers last night. Could be a coincidence, but…”
“It could be someone helping her,” he finished.
“We all know if she is anywhere near Carlton City, she’ll target my wedding. Pack security is on high alert. And if she succeeds in healing Alex, the entire pack is at risk.”
