That felt like a much more logical solution than carrying Jenna in here.
“Your vampire brother just left, chasing a skeleton. Call me crazy, but I think it’s safer inside than outside.” Caroline set her hands on her hip to squint at the burning corpse. “Should someone put that out?”
Dahlia spoke a word that made the pressure in the air drop. A wall of smoke smothered the flames. The fire extinguished instantly.
What remained was a charred, unrecognizable husk.
Dahlia’s hands trembled with anger before she clasped them in front of her. “Aileen, do you remember that favor I said you would one day owe me?”
“I do.”
Dahlia’s rigid back faced us, her posture that of someone who was holding themselves in check by the thinnest of margins. “I wish to call it in.”
“What are you asking?”
Favors in our world were funny things. It was always best not to owe them. Even to friends. Because to refuse them was to court magical repercussions. To many species in our world, Djinn included, favors were magic wrapped in a vow.
I couldn’t say no to Dahlia even if I wanted to. And I didn’t want to.
I knew what the Blue Pepper meant to her. Dahlia’s magic had infiltrated every inch of this place. From the foundations to the roof. To have a murder happen when she’d done so much to make a safe haven where spooks of all kinds could coexist must feel like a violation. To say nothing of the added insult of the arson.
“I want you to find that vampire, and I want you to bring him to me,” Dahlia ground out with a force that hinted at her gathering rage.
She certainly didn’t ask much. I guess I should be happy she didn’t ask me to bring her Ahrun’s head.
“I’ll do my best.”
It would be difficult to promise more than that when up against a vampire of Ahrun’s power. Any doubt that it was Liam and Thomas’s sire following me had disappeared along with Connor. I could also confirm the vampire was definitely not in his right mind.
Killing him would probably be impossible, but I may be able to lure him here. Somehow.
Dahlia’s gaze snapped to mine; her eyes pitch black. In their deepest recesses, there were pinpricks of light. Like tiny stars. “Not good enough.”
My mind buckled. Distantly, I was aware of liquid dripping from my nose and eyes.
Dahlia blinked, releasing me from her hold. Brown bled into the black as she looked away, seeming tired all of a sudden. She pressed a hand to her forehead. “I apologize. That shouldn’t have happened. My control isn’t what it should be right now.”
“It’s okay.”
“There’s no excuse,” Dahlia corrected, angry with herself.
I held silent, wanting to agree, but caution made me hesitant.
Dahlia’s face held regret. “I consider you my friend, and despite what just happened, would never see harm come to you. As penance, I rescind my request. You owe me no favors from this point forward.”
My surprise at her gesture lasted only a second before I was shaking my head. “You’re not the only one who considers the other a friend. I do too. If there’s a way that won’t leave me dead, I’ll deliver him to you.”
That was all I was willing to promise.
Her smile was faint as she dipped her head. “Thank you, Aileen.”
I waved a hand to dismiss her words. Gratitude wasn’t necessary for something like this.
“Given the state of my emotions, I think it best I have some time alone so another accident doesn’t happen. If you could ensure I’m not disturbed, I’d appreciate it.”
“Of course,” I murmured.
Dahlia glided toward the back door that led to the employee section. I waited until she was gone before slumping over the bar top. “What a clusterfuck.”
