Page 40 of You’re So Vein

“Alyra had poison in her system, mixed with her blood,” Mina says.

“And you think because I mess around with potions, that I might have something to do with it?”

“It has crossed our minds,” Beth says sweetly.

“I never mixed anything for Alyra except for a killer blood cocktail.” Lilac grins, revealing a pair of elegant, curved fangs. “I don’t mean that literally, of course.”

I set down my drink, suddenly not thirsty anymore.

“Also, bold of you to confront me in the hopes that I’d confess.” Lilac shakes her head. “Risky. If I’m the husker, I’d be suffering from an insatiable appetite for blood. What’s to stop me from killing all of you?”

“Er…” I exchange a look with Beth, who shakes her head.

“Exactly. Perhaps the Nevermore Coven should exercise a little more caution in their investigation. I’m not the only Dusk Court vampire in Argleton, you know. There are plenty of ex-members at Sanctus who are far more unscrupulous. There’s Dalton La Rue, Huxley Vale, Elery Anne—”

“And Augustin Durant,” I whisper.

Beth rounds to me, her eyes flashing. “How do you know that?”

“He… er, told me.” My cheeks blush. “When we were locked in the stationery cupboard.”

“Oh, yeah, Augustin is Dusk Court, although he left with his parents some years before I did. They just disappeared in the middle of the night. Supposedly, his father was on the outs with the priesthood, but I don’t know if I believe—” Lilac snaps her mouth shut. “Never mind. I was surprised to see him here, playing such an active role in public life. He never participated much at court; he was always out in the gardens, talking to the plants, or in the library, studying herbology texts.”

“What kind of magic does he have?”

Lilac shakes her head. “I want this husker caught as much as anyone, but I won’t give away Dusk secrets, especially when they’re not mine.”

Damn vampires, always so tight-lipped.

“Thank you for your help,” Arabella says.

“If I show up on your doorstep with a bunch of gold bars I need disappearing in a hurry, you’ll remember you owe me.” Lilac shrugs as she slips out, leaving the snug doors closed.

We pull our chairs in close together. Every Nevermore Coven member glares at me. I pretend I don’t see.

“So, Lilac seems suspicious,” I say. No one acknowledges me.

“We didn’t know that Augustin was Dusk Court,” Maisie whispers.

“I don’t see why it matters.”

“You don’t see why it matters?” Beth’s voice rises in pitch. She slides onto the floor and twists herself into a yoga pose. “I’m so stressed right now, my chakras are all out of alignment.”

“I think what Beth is trying to say is that Augustin comes from the court with the magic required to create a poison that would knock out Alyra. And he was outside Sanctus the night she died, agitated about something,” Mina says.

“There could be a logical explanation for that,” I say. “Augustin is always agitated.”

“Why are you defending him, Komal?” Beth glares at me.

That’s a very good question.

Why am I?

Because in all the years I’ve faced off against Augustin Durant at council meetings, he’s fought ardently and annoyingly for what he thinks is right. He earnestly believes in bureaucracy and rules and the proper way of doing things. I can picture him banning the Gorilla Gardener for public gardening without a license. I can’t picture him husking anyone.

Because I spent the evening trapped in a cupboard with him, and he was a perfect gentleman.

Because he drew circles on my back when I was afraid.