Page 26 of Cold Sacrifice

He raised his eyebrows a couple of inches. “Oh. So you mean—”

“Gotta go,” I said, and shut the door in a hurry. I definitely didn’t want to try explaining my relationship with the detective to anyone. Not even Joe.

When I reached the doors, a couple of council guards were waiting. They didn’t take me into what I thought of as the throne room, where I met with the elders. They led me down a corridor I couldn’t remember walking through before. It looked similar to a hospital hallway, with wide, closed doors on either side and the subtle scent of bleach.

Halfway down the corridor, one of the guards pushed open a door. He didn’t speak. Council guards rarely deigned to talk to me. They both stared over my head, faces empty, and waited for me to walk into the room before pulling the door closed.

The room wasn’t huge. There was a bed, a small fridge, a table with three chairs, and a nightstand beside the bed. In the corner was an off-white leather recliner, and there was a small television high on the wall. There was a wall of closed drapes nearly the same color as the recliner, and I got the feeling that if I pulled them back, the view would be a brick wall.

Wes had been sitting at the table, but stood when I walked in. “Thank you for coming.”

I pulled out a chair, then set the bag of goodies on the table. “I brought snacks.”

He waited for me to sit before he sat. Apparently, he was a gentlemanly wolf. “Snacks,” he said. “Why?”

I answered truthfully. “Because the last time I saw you, you looked hungry. And because you looked like you’d forgotten how pleasurable food could be.”

He frowned. “I don’t think…” But he hesitated. “What kind of snacks?”

I grinned and dug into the bag. “There’s a candy bar full of almonds and chocolate and something gooey.” I slid it across the little table until it touched his fingers. “There are donuts that my friend Lucy made. She’s the best baker in Jakeston. The best cook, too.” I unwrapped a cream-filled donut, then placed it on a napkin beside the candy bar.

I looked down into the bag to see what else was there. “We have chips, peanut butter crackers, and some beef jerky. More candy.” I took the remaining two donuts out and then dumped the bag onto the table. “Just try the donut first.”

He was so hesitant that it struck me as weird. He lifted his nose to the air and inhaled, just barely, and then reached for the donut. He knew exactly where it was.

I opened a bag of peanuts as I watched him. His movements were hesitant, as though he either believed he might be poisoned or that he wasn’t supposed to be snacking with the woman who had Voss’s secrets inside her.

But finally, he lifted the donut to his mouth, and he took a bite.

I watched him savoring that treat, his eyes hidden behind the dark glasses but his enjoyment impossible to hide. I said nothing, just slid both the remaining donuts over to him. He ate them all, then washed them down with half a bottle of water he’d had sitting on the table when I came in.

“Thank you,” he said, finally. “Those are…addictive.” But he didn’t smile.

“I’ll tell Lucy you loved them. She’ll be pleased,” I said.

“I saw something when I was searching your memories for Gavin Voss,” he said. “I didn’t know what it was at the time, or even that it was important, but it came back to me as I slept. I need to find it again and follow it to the end.”

“Okay,” I said. “What exactly is it you’re looking for?” I used my arm to push the pile of snacks to the side of the table. I’d leave them there for him to take with him when he went home, though he probably only wanted more donuts.

“It was a face,” he told me. “When I’m inside the memories, when I’m reading someone, it’s almost like I can see again.” For a brief moment, grief flashed across his face.

I took both his hands in mine and squeezed his fingers gently. “I’m ready.”

I was expecting the vibrations and tugging, so it was less startling this time. But now, he released my right hand and took my left between both of his. “I won’t need them both anymore.”

I was good with that. While he went after Gavin Voss, I could make use of the time by researching. I wanted to do what Max was currently doing and see what I could find out about a vampire-killing entity, but instead, I found myself doing a web search of the name Weston Korda.

There were pages of hits, but none of them were about the man currently holding my hand—another of the council’s wolves. Apparently, they liked to collect us. And because he wasn’t online, not even a hint of him, I was reasonably certain he’d simply changed his name.

I’d just decided to search instead for supernaturals who could compel vampires when Jared texted.

I’m heading to bed. Wish you were here.

I smiled and tapped out a quick reply. Me too. I’m at the council.

Joe told me. I spoke with Bastien, as well. I’ll tell you when I see you tomorrow.

I love you, I told him.