‘Most likely. If they wanted me dead, I already would be.’
A deep growl rumbled in Thane’s chest. ‘If you were dead, I’d hunt every damn vampire down, rip their fangs from their undead mouths and stomp on their weak hearts.’
I smiled at him. ‘You’re sweet.’
He grinned. ‘I know.’
We shared a moment before my smile faded. ‘There’s always a chance that it wasn’t a test and it wasn’t an assassination attempt,’ I conceded. ‘Perhaps it was a warning.’
‘To stay out of the Understream and away from this investigation?’
I nodded. Thane frowned but didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to ask if I would heed the warning. My copper-haired werewolf was not stupid.
‘The most interesting part,’ I went on, ‘is that the esteemed Lady Penelope was not in on the plan.’
‘You’re sure?’
‘Positive.’ I lowered my voice even though we were alone. ‘As soon as she heard the noise before the magicked monster appeared, she was terrified. I know what fear looks like, Thane. I’ve seen it in the eyes of plenty of my targets when they realised what was about to happen to them. Lady Penelope thought she was going to die.’
Thane took a swig of his beer. ‘Now that is very interesting indeed.’
We both gazed at the pink and orange swirls lighting up the morning sky.
‘I can petition the vampires, Kit,’ Thane offered. ‘I can ask for permission to join you in the Understream.’
I thought about it then answered honestly. ‘I wish you could be there with me.’
‘Because you’re afraid of the big bad monsters? You want my protection?’
I punched his arm. ‘Because I like having you around, you wanker, and two heads are better than one in matters like this. But the vamps will refuse and the request will put them on edge. It’s better if I do this alone and keep them sweet.’
I thought about what Lady Penelope had said:Everyone deserves a safe space of their own.Until I knew more about who had staged the attack I had to take the vampires at face value and respect their wishes.
‘I won’t break the blood contract I’ve made with them.’ Without appropriate magical protections in place, I’d be a fool to do so. ‘Besides, you’ve got work to do. Businesses to invest in, fortunes to make…’ I waved a hand. ‘You have to keep She Who Commands Werewolves in the state to which she has become accustomed, and cat caviar isn’t cheap.’
On cue, Thane’s ginger cat miaowed imperiously from her position on his lap.
‘You’re telling me.’ He clinked his bottle against mine. She Who Commands Werewolves miaowed again and he quickly started to stroke her before she decided to nip him into submission.
A voice drifted across from the house next to mine. ‘Are you havingbeerfor breakfast?’ Dave called in a scandalised voice from his bedroom window.
‘That depends on what you consider to be breakfast,’ I called back. I’d not yet been to bed so technically this could be considered a nightcap.
Dave scowled and muttered to himself. I waved enthusiastically in return and he grunted and disappeared from view.
‘So,’ Thane said, ‘do you have any theories as to what’s happened to the missing worms?’
I replied in a prim tone of voice that would have impressed Lady Penelope. ‘Captain Montgomery says not to form theories but to wait for the evidence to speak for itself.’
‘Uh-huh. I’ll take that as a no. You don’t have a clue what’s happened.’
‘You know me far too well,’ I said. ‘And right now, when it comes to missing worms, I know nothing.’
I hada decent kip for a few hours then restocked my bag with a wider array of weapons and magical tools so I could return to the Understream with greater confidence. I was due to meet Lady Penelope later that evening to regroup and restart my investigation but, useful as she might occasionally be, I wanted to spend some time down there on my own – especially after what had happened with the magicked monster.
‘Thank you for doing this, Thane,’ I said, kissing him before I left. He’d agreed to stay late at my house to make sure the cats were cared for, and the next day he was planning to ask around the witchery stores about spells used to create attack beasts. He was definitely a delicious ginger sidekick whose help might prove invaluable. ‘I know you’re busy with your own work.’
He dismissed my words. ‘All I do is offer investment and advice to failing businesses from time to time. Usually they run themselves.’ If that were true he wouldn’t have amassed a small fortune from his efforts but I didn’t argue.
