He scoffs, though the remark lands—I see it in the flicker of his eyes.
"Will you allow me to cover the expenses of the funeral?" I ask, measuring him.
"What do you think, Hawthorn?" Jace crosses his arms, his voice sharpening. "And if you're done making your offers, it's time for you to leave."
I incline my head, curt. "I wish you wiser decisions in the future."
I turn on my heel, the phone already vibrating in my pocket as I step out into the cool evening air.
"Ruaidhrí," I say into the receiver. "Talk to me."
"We had an attack," the púca reports. "Looks like a vampire."
"Vampire?" I stop beside the car. "I thought we had wards placed."
"We did. Should've held. Didn't. No idea how, but somebody failed."
"The attacker?" I ask.
"Whoever it was, the vampire escaped. I'm on my way to check the security footage, but I wanted to let you know, because…" He hesitates.
The pause is a warning.
"Ru?" I press.
"Darlene. She's dead, Darius. Drained dry. I'm… I'm sorry."
Darlene. The thought feels improbable.
"Keep me updated," is all I say before ending the call.
I slide into the back seat. "Darrows' house. Fast," I tell the driver.
We arrive within minutes. As I step out, the driver starts to speak.
"I'll go alone," I tell him, preempting the offer.
My strength rises and wanes with sun and moon, each cycle amplifying or softening me in rhythm with the world. I'm not at my height tonight as I was the first night I burned them, but two vampires are still within my power.
The ward is the only obstacle. Yet as I approach, there is no shimmer, no pulse of druidic magic. It has been broken.
I step through the gap and walk straight to the front door.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Asher
Kayden's pacing grates.
"Sit," I tell him.
"I don't see how sitting fixes anything," he snaps.
I rub a hand over my face. "Astrid's tracing the seller's number. We need facts before we move." I've said it many times. "Charging in and carving a path won't help."
"She's out there.Our wife. Cold.Dead! And you're still playing detective," he yells.
This isn't about me. It's pain looking for a target. I feel it too, but I don't let it run freely.
