Page 50 of Hextreme Measures

“Not unless you know something about banshees.”

“I just know that they’re not allowed in the city,” Dex replied. “It’s something that goes back like 30 years.”

Sully rested his elbows on the bar. “Who told you that?”

Dex shrugged. “It was one of the stories they used to tell around bonfires when I was a kid.”

“Meaning it might not be true.”

“Most of them were true, if exaggerated,” Dex countered. “Seriously, man, what’s going on?”

Since Dex was a paranormal, and he might have information, Sully opted to give him a barebones recounting of what had happened. When he was finished, Dex remained rooted to his spot.

“That’s … weird.” He shook his head. “And there are infected people locked away right now?”

Sully had been careful not to involve Angelique in the story, just in case Biff came sniffing around. “Yes. We need a cure.”

“The story I heard mentioned a cure. One time. Thirty years ago.”

“Yes, we’ve talked to that woman,” Sully admitted. “She doesn’t know who cured her. She’s given us some ideas, but we’re still working on it.” He paused a beat. “Tell me what you heard about banshees not being allowed here.”

“There was some sort of spell,” Dex replied. “I don’t know the specifics — magic has never been my area of expertise — but somebody cast a spell that kept banshees out of the city. When they showed up, they were supposedly repelled within a few days.”

Sully thought of the story Ofelia had told him about fighting a banshee and getting on Ellen’s radar. “There have been a few banshees in the city since then.”

“Yeah, but not as many as you would find in another city. My theory is that those banshees are just off enough that the spell doesn’t affect them the same way it does regular banshees.”

That fit with Dora’s theory that some of the banshees were evolving, Sully internally mused.

“Think of it like shifters,” Dex continued, missing the fact that Sully had veered off into a different thought. “If a spell is specifically pointed at wolf shifters say, it could affect fox shifters. It could affect hybrids. It just might not affect them all the same way, even though they’re really close in the genetics department.”

It was an extremely interesting theory, and it gave Sully one more thing to think about. What if it was like the wolf and fox shifters? Stories suggested that they’d once been the same species and then split. Perhaps it was the same for the banshee they were looking for.

“Here you go.” Dex presented Sully with the cocktails in a flourish. He’d gone all out with the garnishes.

“Thank you.” Sully took the glasses and put them on a tray. “I’m going to borrow this. We’ll bring them back in the morning.”

Dex waved him off. “It’s not like we don’t know where you live.”

“Thanks. You’ve given me a lot to think about.”

“I hope it helps.”

“Me, too.”

OFELIA HAD BEEN GRATEFUL FOR THE cocktail when he brought it to her. They’d both downed them and then passed out, exhaustion claiming them quickly. Sully was certain his sleep would be restless, but when he woke the next morning with Ofelia’s head resting on his shoulder, he realized he’d slept the entire night without moving a muscle.

“Morning,” Ofelia murmured as they both slid out of sleep together.

“Morning, baby.” He kissed the top of her head. “Did you sleep okay?”

“Better than I probably should have.”

“Why would you say that?”

Ofelia shrugged. “I feel guilty for sleeping when Angelique is running out of time.”

He made an exasperated sound. “Fe, you’re doing the best that you can. We’re doing the best that we can. Don’t make this worse than it already is.” He regretted the words the second they escaped his mouth.