Page 23 of Xavier

“By the light of the moon

These words I cast

To find what's lost

From now and past.

The one who casts

The mark shall bear

the one who’ll see

and cannot share.

The lights at night

Let the mark appear

As seen by one

Whose spell is clear.

With magic let the

seer be drawn

and bring the lost home

Where they belong.”

Xavier’s lips pressed together. “You can’t go chasing the people who’ve stolen the relics.”

Lissette’s spine stiffened. “I have to. The sooner the thieves are found and the items are returned, the sooner everything can get back to normal.”

“You said it’s against your parole rules. It’s too risky. And you don’t know for sure that putting those reliquaries back will keep any of the so-called bad luck from happening.” He frowned. “And, for the record, the attacks weren’t bad luck or coincidence. You were targeted.”

“I think the missing reliquaries are what’s causing the chaos. If I don’t go after the thieves, who will?”

“The sheriff’s department.” Xavier raised a hand. “I can talk with Remy and have him pass the word on to Shelby.”

Lissette snorted. “She’d sooner spit on me than help me.” Then she shrugged. “Not that I blame her. Still, they know about the thefts, and nothing has been done.”

“Then I’ll have my team work the problem. We have resources the sheriff’s department might not have. Plus, they can look into who’s trying to get to you.”

“You’d do that for me?” Lissette’s eyes narrowed. “What’s the catch?”

He frowned down at her. “What do you mean?”

“There’s always a catch.” She frowned, not willing to trust him, even though he’d saved her twice. Trusting men never seemed to work out for her. “People don’t do anything for others without wanting something in return.”

His lips twisted. “Then you’ve been hanging with the wrong people.”

Lissette snorted. “Tell me about it.” She sighed. “Why would you help an ex-con without wanting something in return?” Her gaze swept him slowly from the top of his head to his toes. “What is it you want from me?”

A frown line appeared between his eyebrows. “I’m not asking for anything.”

“Good,” she crossed her arms over her chest, “because I’m not trading sex for help.”