“He’s a royal detective inspector. He questioned me this morning—about last night—but my father was there. I had to lie to the detective but… but I think he can be trusted. I just can’t meet with him on campus. Not while my father is in town.”
It’s a risk to disappear from my cottage when my father is still in Fairhaven, but if this detective truly is dedicated to bringing down Radcliffe and the Soldiers of Saint Aldous, I have to see him.
But I’m glad for the ride into town, sandwiched between Luca and Marcus on the pickup’s bench seat, my side pressed against my alphas. He wraps one arm around me, the low rumble of his purr soothing my newest wave of nerves.
Saints, I hope I’m not making a huge mistake.
The drive and the comfort I find in Luca’s arms is all too short. Before long, we’re in the alleyway behind Quill & Clover. Marcus scans the empty alley before nodding and helping me down from the pickup’s cab.
Luca unlocks and opens the back door for us and flicks on the lights.
“So, tell me about this detective inspector. What’s special about him? Did you use your mind magic on him?”
“A little,” I admit. “It wasn’t intentional. Thank you for coming. I hope you won’t get in trouble for this?”
He shakes off my concern with a wave. “I’ll say I came in to stock some shelves. But you’re okay? Truly?”
“I’m okay. And I’m sorry I didn’t text last night. It was…”
He sets a tattooed finger to my lips. “Save it for the detective inspector. I know reliving it again will be painful. Don’t do it twice on my account.”
I nod against him and let his touch banish some of my worries.
That is, until the detective inspector’s knock at the back door to the bookshop.
When Luca shows him in, he looks first to Marcus and then to me. When he sees me, the barest ghost of a smile crosses his lips.
“I was hoping it would be you. Thank you for getting in touch, Miss Rose.”
When he offers his hand this time, I shake it. “Thank you for coming. This is Marcus, my honor guard, and Luca, who was kind enough to offer us this space to meet. With my father still in town, I didn’t think it was safe to meet on campus. Not if you want the truth.”
“That’s my aim, yes.”
I frown, taking a seat on one of the wooden crates of books. “If only that were true for all inspectors.”
“Yes, your local law enforcementhasbeen rather remiss in dealing with the threat the Soldiers of Saint Aldous pose.” He draws out a notepad. “I would typically record our meeting on my phone, but for your privacy, I won’t.”
He holds out his phone for my inspection and then stands with his arms out. “Have your honor guard search me if you wish. The safety of my sources is of utmost importance to me.”
I cock my head and study the alpha for a moment. I had guessed him to be in his late twenties, but now, seeing him without the weight of my father’s attention bowing my head, I see that he’s younger—twenty-six or twenty-seven at the latest. His expression is open, trustworthy.
I cut a quick look at Luca and reach out with my affinity, getting nothing but an alert sort of curiosity off the detective inspector.
“I don’t think that will be necessary.”
He nods in deference and takes a seat on a crate across from me. “Please, start wherever you wish.”
I draw in a deep breath. “I was attacked by the Soldiers of Saint Aldous the day I moved into Fairhaven Academy to start my freshman year. I was caught in an omega trap, and they used a hex known as the Ever Ember hex. We’ve since found it’s used as more than just a weapon, that it originated as the Mark of Baphomet.”
He looks up sharply. “How did you find that out?”
I look to Marcus who gives me a quick nod and undoes the few buttons on his Henley, revealing the ember over his heart.
“A lot of research. Marcus, a Fairhaven professor, and a Fairhaven student each have an ember. We found out that a few other students were ‘treated’ for marks, but I believe they were trying to intimidate our head healer, Doctor Mai Huong. An omega. Based on the students who were marked, we now believe it’s being used as a form of initiation into the Soldiers of Saint Aldous.”
“Do you know who those students were?”
“I know three of them. Andrew Radcliffe, Jaime Brentwood, and Kelvin Montrose.”
