Flashing lights and squealing sirens fill the same street Arcane occupies. All four of us piled into Celine’s car, with Zavier in the driver’s seat. He drives like a maniac, which isn’t a surprise.
We park across the street, but down far enough that we aren’t too deep in the crime scene.
I see the vampire and warlock we interacted with, plussomeone else I haven’t seen before, someone with equal power, chatting with the police. The vampire seems to have a permanent scowl on his face and the new man’s crossed arms scream “don’t fuck with me.” The warlock remains silent, save for a few comments here and there.
“What’s the plan?” I ask and move to look at Zavier … except he’s not there.
The redheaded vampire is invisible to the human eye, but I see his likeness streaking through the night with supernatural speed. The head hotel vampire tracks him too, and I notice his eyes briefly dart in Zav’s direction before he rolls them and settles back on the cop.
“That little asshole,” Celine sighs. “He’s worse than a child. I swear he’s going to get himself killed one of these days.”
“Quite irresponsible,” I add. “Who would walk right into the heart of the scene like that?” Turning toward Ava, I eat my words. Because she is exiting the car and walking right toward it.
“Unbelievable.” I throw my hands in the air. “How did we get saddled with two extroverted, lawless mates?” I ask Celine.
She shrugs and shares a knowing look with me.
I’m going to spank Ava’s ass raw when I have her alone later tonight.
I make to follow her, but she flits her hand at me from behind her back. Sitting back with a hiss, I prepare myself to swoop in and save her should anything go awry. Who’s to say the killer isn’t in the vicinity watching us? Sure, there are cops and other supes, but that doesn’t mean anything when we’re dealing with someone with such erratic behavior.
Celine taps her fingers against the dash of the car, and we both sit in silence while we wait for our partners to return. I watch Ava like a hawk from where she talks to a female detective she seems friendlywith.
The driver’s side door closes as Zav suddenly reappears. He shakes his hair out like a dog, and water droplets spray Celine and me. The drizzle has started to turn into a downpour.
“Gross.” Celine swats at her mate. “I can’t believe you ran off like that. Did you see a lollipop you had to have?”
He snags the finger she wags at him and licks it like one. Her cheeks turn a red shade, and I look away when his eyes heat into molten emeralds. Clearing my throat, I break the sexually charged moment between them, and he glances over like he just remembered I’m here.
“Right,” Zav replies. “I found something.”
“You did?” I ask, leaning forward, gripping the seat.
“Sure did,” he responds with a hint of something off in his tone.
Just then, Ava slides back into her spot in the back with me.
“Well, that was fast. Anything worthwhile?” Celine asks.
Ava shakes her head, a pink strand falling loose from her messy bun. “The detective wouldn’t tell me much but did say it followed the pattern of the last few. One person absolutely decimated to pieces and a copycat of Zav’s scenes.” She shudders.
“Thankfully you have me here and my amazing vampire senses to catch what the humans missed.” Pulling out his phone, Zav zooms in on the scene, focusing on a particular blood splatter pattern in the very corner. It’s so minute it could easily be missed. “An arrow drawn right at Arcane.” With a sigh, he says, “We’ll have to keep our wits about us when we go to the gala. Obviously, someone wants us there, and unfortunately, I think we need to go.”
“I’ll reach out to Luna, and we girls can go dress shopping. I doubt I own anything fancy enough for the gala.” Glancing at her phone Celine grimaces. “We only have a few days before theevent, so we’ll have to make it quick. Do you guys have tuxedos?”
I open my mouth to answer, but Zav is quicker. “No, but that just means Daddy and I get to go shopping. Aw! You’re going to help me pick out my first tuxedo. Father and son bonding moment.” He clasps his hands over where his heart would be, and I flick him on the forehead.
“Shut up.”
CHAPTER 55
AVA
“I still thinkthe light blue dress is the winner,” I say as I admire Celine in her latest try-on.
Normally dress shopping would excite me more. It’s not like I have a plethora of ballgowns hanging in my closet even though I’m a fashion lover, but with everything that’s going on, it’s hard to feel excited.
I browse through a rack of options. Zav said this was a black-tie event and the attendees go all out.
