She shook her head. “No, I haven’t. But three bodies in a week can’t be a coincidence, and we need to figure this out before whoever’s responsible decides to go for number four.”
“Yeah, I hear you.” I hadn’t expected to be shunted back into the thick of things the moment I arrived home, but shit happened. “We’ll help,” I said.
“Of course we will,” Kipa added.
“Good, because I have a feeling we’re going to need the extra help.” Herne pushed play on the video again, and we watched in silence as the remains of the man vanished into a puddle of goo. “Something big is behind this. I can feel it. And I don’t think whatever it is, is going to be friendly.”
Goosebumps raced down my arms, and I shivered. His words struck a deep resonance inside me, and I could almost hear the whispering of spirits around me. Yes, we were back all right.
CHAPTER THREE
We had no sooner settled into one of the empty offices when Ember popped in. Kipa excused himself as she settled into one of the chairs. She looked good, but strained.
“How are the triplets?” I asked.
“Thank gods I have a nanny,” she said. “They’re good. Growing like weeds. Hey, I thought I’d drop a little information before you say something that lands you in quicksand. First—about Yutani and Lyrical?—”
“I thought I sensed some underlying discomfort,” I said. “What happened?”
“They’re both dealing with major unresolved issues, yet the fools went ahead and bound themselves together. Lyrical is his muse now, and that’s making work difficult. For one thing, most of the Leannan Sidhe aren’t monogamous. But Yutani is. And Lyrical thought she could sidestep that part of herself?—”
“Aren’t you half Leannan Sidhe?” I asked. “How did you do it?”
“My father’s side—the Autumn Bane blood—is territorial, and it seems to help calm those urges. Both bloodlines cancel each other out, in a way. But things got so tense between Yutani and Lyrical that Herne and I sent her off to visit a priestess who might be able to help her. As far as Yutani’s concerned, she’s on a road trip. As to Yutani…” She paused, then gave me a long look that I understood.
“Yeah, I know.” When I’d first started hanging out with Herne and Ember, Yutani had developed an obsessive crush on me that had been difficult to squelch. He’d finally backed down, but apparently, he still had that proclivity. “But if they’ve bound themselves together on a magical level, he’ll never be free. Unless, will the fact that he’s a demigod help?”
Ember rolled her eyes. “Coyote’s supposed to help him, but as usual, he’s not all that reliable. We’re just hoping that somehow, Echira—Morgana’s priestess—can help Lyrical find a way to release the bond. When Lyrical returns, I’ll open my temple and install her as my high priestess.”
I tried to keep down a snort. “You have a temple?”
Ember gave me a snarky look. “No…not yet. Morgana insists it’s time I open one, but I have to tell you, the idea feels weird to me. Technically, I’m no longer her priestess, but I still answer to her. And Cernunnos insists she’s right. So yeah, I’m going to have a temple. It just feels so overwhelming,” she added, rubbing her head. “I’m only a couple of years into this goddess gig, and I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. I don’t talk about it much, but it’s just weird. Angel and I commiserate on a regular basis.”
I nodded. “It must be a lot harder for Angel, given she was human and not Fae to begin with.”
“You’re right, but we’ll leave that discussion for later, when we can relax with some wine and pizza. Anyway, so Lyrical’s on sabbatical and it would probably be best if you didn’t mention her in front of Yutani. Not unless he brings it up.” She stood. “I’ll let you and Kipa get settled. Talia can get you what you need from the supply closet.” Pausing at the door, she added, “I know this is only temporary, but I’m glad we’re back together again.”
I gave her a wink. “Me too, to be honest. Me too.”
An hour or two later, Herne peeked around the corner of the door. Kipa and I had been organizing the office. We’d talked it over and, after helping out with this case, Kipa would mostly be the one coming into the office. He needed something to do, and I needed to figure out what to do with my life. Oh, I was still a priestess of Arwan and Cerridwen, but I needed an actual occupation to focus on. I’d kept in touch with Llewellyn, a friend of mine, and he’d offered me a spot in his magic shop any time I wanted, but I couldn’t handle reading cards for the public again, and I couldn’t accept.
“Well, you know I’ll always keep your space open for you,” he’d said.
Even though I couldn’t take him up on it, I planned on paying him a visit as soon as I could. I missed him and his husband, Jordan.
“Can you come into the breakroom? We got another call from the cops. They found another body this morning,” Herne said.
I gathered up my things—we’d been given tablets, phones, and everything we needed for now. Herne didn’t like members of the Wild Hunt using their own devices for the job.
“You aren’t going to make us get tattooed, are you?” I asked. “I already have so many birthmarks they might conflict.”
Everyone who worked for the Wild Hunt had to get a tattoo marking them as part of the organization—a dagger down their forearms, surrounded by vines.
Herne laughed. “No, you and Kipa are just consultants. We’ll pay you, of course, but you have your own lives and your own destinies. Don’t worry about that.”
“When’s Viktor arriving from Annwn?” I asked.
“He and Sheila are due back tomorrow,” he said. “I had to promise to buy them a house for Sheila to agree. But I need Viktor, so it’s worth it. Don’t tell her that I said that, please. I don’t want her gloating.” He winked, motioning for us to follow him.
