Page 28

As if he could sense Blair’s stare, the man tossed a glance over his shoulder before standing with a smirk. “Ah, you must be Mr. Saltonstall.”

Blair crossed his arms self-consciously, unease prickling up his spine. He hadn’t even told Iris his surname, had he?

The stranger before him was impeccably dressed in a tailored shirt and slacks—and there was Blair in a worn pajama top he’d bought at a thrift store with a stolen credit card. The man’s confident smile bordered on arrogance. With his military-grade haircut and alert amber eyes, he would have looked more fitting as an officer on horseback during the revolutionary war than reading about decluttering tips in Iris’ living room.

The man took in Blair’s disheveled appearance, his gaze roving over the raw patches on his cheeks that had begun to swell. A shameful heat rose to Blair’s injured face.

“Have a good sleep?” The stranger’s tone was mocking, but for some reason, Blair found he appreciated the attempt at humor. To his surprise, a hesitant grin crossed his face as he shook his head.

“Not really, no.”

Blair poured himself a tall glass of water, glancing surreptitiously at the stranger. A pulse of transparent energy hovered around him like a forcefield, the same kind of energy that surrounded Gabriel. As Blair had only ever noticed that particular phenomena in witches, it didn’t exactly endear him to the man.

“Who are you?” he asked suspiciously.

“Clement. I’m a friend of Gabriel’s. Unfortunately, he and Iris appear to be out.”

Blair wouldn’t presume to know his new roommates' patterns after a single night, but he couldn’t imagine that Iris and Gabriel made a habit of vacating the premises before sunrise. Not to mention, what kind of friend visited at such an early hour, especially right after a holiday? He hoped this man was telling the truth.

“And they thought I needed a babysitter?” Blair asked.

Another crooked smile. “While that would have been amusing, no. I arrived unannounced. I need to speak with Gabriel about an important matter.”

Blair mulled this over as he took a sip of water. His head was still pounding, and the dim room made him feel slightly off balance. “How do I know I can trust you?” he asked.

Clement flicked a piece of lint from his sleeve. “I wouldn’t recommend trusting anyone without due diligence. However…” He straightened his back and took a few steps closer. “I must ask the same of you.”

Blair swallowed, but he made an effort to stand his ground instead of backing away. He wouldn’t allow himself to be intimidated. Especially not by a friend of Gabriel’s.

“I’ve learned some things about you, Blair Saltonstall,” said Clement, looking a little too pleased with himself. “I think you’ll find I’m quite well informed. Firstly, I know you were born in Boston in 1680. Or thereabouts. They didn’t keep good birth records in those days, did they?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Don’t interrupt me.” Clement took another step closer and Blair paled. “Born to Jocatta and Thomas Saltonstall. You now reside in Plymouth, in a house overlooking the ocean.”

Blair’s teeth clenched. “Not anymore.”

“No.” Clement grinned at Blair’s naked discomfort. “I can see that.”

“What do you want from me?” Blair’s knuckles were white around his water glass.

Clement shrugged. He leaned back on his heels, reminding Blair bizarrely of Lucy. Blair twisted her ring around his finger as he waited for Clement to speak.

“Just a few simple answers. Nothing painful, I assure you.”

Blair closed his eyes, composing himself with difficulty. He squared his shoulders. “Fine.”

“Excellent.” Clement’s razor-sharp eyes rested on Blair’s silver ring before rising to fix him with a pragmatic stare. “Why did you come here? What is it about Iris and Gabriel that interests you?”

Blair should have known that this man’s questions would be neither painless nor simple. “I can’t tell you that.”

“Why not?”

Blair glared at him. “Because it isn’t my secret to tell.”

A twisted smile marred Clement’s features. He clucked his tongue. “Well, I could force you. But perhaps my friends wouldn’t appreciate that. They have grown rather fond of you.”

Blair snorted. Gabriel was about as fond of him as dry rot.