“Kent,” Rachel barked, and Officer Kent hurried to her side at Miss Blair’s cell.
“Yes, sir?”
“Report.”
Officer Kent frowned, but handed over the pages he’d filled out so far. “I was just in the middle of—”
“I’ll take it from here, Wes, thanks,” said Rachel with finality.
“But—”
“You’re dismissed, Wes.” Officer Kent opened his mouth again, but Rachel silenced him with a look and he retreated. Rachel flipped through the pages, then pinched the bridge of her nose. “You broke into Kieran North’s home?”
Kieran couldn’t see Miss Blair from this angle, but he could hear her well enough. He waited, hoping that Rachel might get him an answer to her motives.
“That’s where they found me,” Miss Blair replied, voice strained.
“Why? What were you thinking? He’s a well-respected politician with a lot of influence. Gideon might not be able to help you if North decides to get involved.”
“I never asked for Gideon’s help,” Miss Blair protested.
Gideon must have been a mutual acquaintance, someone with power. The Captain of the Watchmen. That had to be the connection.
“I won’t be able to keep something like this from him. He already knows you’re here. I told him to let me come in first so he could… cool down.” Rachel had appeared indifferent, stern, but it was clear that she cared for Miss Blair. Sisters? They didn’t look anything alike. Rachel was taller, lean muscles clear from her rolled up sleeves and the tighter fit of her uniform. Light complexion and hair, almost pale blue eyes. Perhaps it was a distant relation.
“Just let him in and let’s get the disappointment over with. Haven’t had a good Gideon Preaching Session in a while.”
Rachel flinched. “He’s not… disappointed.”
“Ashamed? Disgusted? I know he thinks I make shitty choices and I’m ruining my life.” Kieran tried to recall his fleeting meeting with the Watchmen Captain a few years ago—who he was now starting to recall was named Blair—and he shared several traits with the woman in the cell. Same dark hair and eyes in stark contrast with cream colored skin. A sibling, he would bet anything.
“Hemakes shitty choices every damn day, so if he says a word to you, I’ll set him straight,” Rachel assured.
Perhaps a sister-in-law then. The conversation hinted at a possible marital relationship between Rachel and Gideon. Although, last Kieran knew, the Captain was unattached. In fact, his skirt chasing was one of his more prevalent descriptors.
Either way, however, Kieran’s involvement in this charade could finally end. Family squabbles were not his concern and it was now clear she was in no real danger. He could now disengage from the plight of Miss Blair without guilt.Thank the gods.
He rose to his feet, drawing Rachel’s notice. She braced, taking a defensive stance as he moved around the desks.
“Who the hell are you?”
“The injured party,” Kieran replied, stepping forward until he was in front of Miss Blair’s cell once again. He cast what was meant to be an offhanded glance in her direction, but his gaze locked onto her. He stared. Numb and deaf to Rachel's questions or attempts to claim his attention.
A shadow loomed just behind Miss Blair, nearly on top of her. Feathered edges and nightmare black silhouetted her body. Kieran’s heart raced. Now, the situation had become altogether something else.
Death.
Miss Blair was marked by Death.
Well. Fuck.
Chapter Two
Inthecenturiespast,it was fae who communed with nature and the magic of the earth. At one time, this connection allowed them to channel and use magic. Now, however, their magic was limited to gifts attuned to their respective Courts. Winter Fae were aligned with gifts of storm, frost, and death.
Kieran’s gift was Death Sense and Miss Sera Blair was shrouded in it. Which meant she had very little time before her demise. And he certainly could not avoid hernow. The obligation to ensure he hadn’t unwillingly sent her into danger was certainly compelling, but using his Death Sense to mitigate death whenever possible was his purpose in this life.
Miss Blair was marked to die. But what was the cause?
