by Autumn Dawn
The moment he'd returned, Raziel had informed him of reports that Tomlin had gone over to his grasping cousin; if he hadn't been his from the start.
Bad omen, indeed.
The citadel was bracing for war, and his people weren't happy about it. Many blamed Mathin for being gone so long. If he weren't careful, he might have trouble within his own ranks. The matter required finesse and delicacy, and his presence. He might manage the one, but the second was a sacrifice bound to strike him to the heart. He looked at the messenger. “Come inside. It will take time to write a reply."
The Ronin was clearly unhappy at his directive, but after one wary look at the Haunt, followed on his bike.
"Tell Matilda to craft a letter to her granddaughter. She'll want to hear something cheerful from home,” he told Raziel at his side.
He tried not to think about what he must write.
* * * *
"Bad news?"
Andrea could feel her bottom lip protruding. “Trouble at home. Mathin might not be able to come.” The intimate details of his letter she kept to herself. He sounded as lonely as she felt.
Leo set aside the rifle she'd been cleaning and stretched. “What you need is to keep busy.” She grinned. “Perhaps a little mischief?"
Interested in spite of herself, Andrea leaned back on the couch and tilted her head. “What kind?"
A sparkle in her eye, Leo sat down on the small table before her and leaned forward. “At the same time Jasmine had been kidnapped, some of our women were also stolen. As far as we can tell, all three were Sylphs. One old woman was recovered alive; she was murdered soon after we brought her back. The other two died.” Her mouth thinned. “We never found the killer, but we think it was the same person as sold them to Mathin's sister, Yesande, to experiment on. She coveted their Sylph powers. Here's the riddle: our men can't detect a Sylph. Yet how did they know which women to take? It had to be insider help."
Thoughtful, Andrea considered. She'd never been called on to solve a mystery before, but the idea of bringing a murderer to justice appealed. “Do you have any records of the investigation?"
Leo surprised her by pulling a box out from underneath the table she sat on. One by one she pulled out three thick folders. “Copies of all the files, fished from under my brother's nose.” She smiled grimly. “I hate to see anyone get away with murder."
Impressed, Andrea flipped through the stack. Someone had been very thorough, judging by the volume of materials. Still.... “You do realize I can't read this, don't you?"
"I'll read it to you while you take notes.” Leo handed her a tablet and a stylus. “Ready?"
It took days to finish, and when they were through Andrea had an impressive stack of notes, plus tables of what, where and who. Her head was also swimming. “I've got it!"
"What?” Leo's head snapped up.
"It's Mrs. White in the ballroom with a brick!"
"What?"
Andrea laughed and sipped her tea. “Just a joke."
Rolling her eyes, Leo tapped her own notes. “I've always suspected the Silversmith. He knew all of them."
"So did half the village."
Annoyed, Leo tossed her notes aside and flopped down on the couch, one arm over her eyes. “So what do you think?"
Not to be rushed, Andrea chewed the end of her pen and thought a while. After all, the women had been dead for some time. Justice could wait another few minutes. “I think we're going about this the wrong way.” When Leo took her arm from her eyes to frown at her, she explained, “Neither of us is an investigator. I say, to catch a Sylph-napper, use a Sylph."
Leo eyed her uneasily. “You're pregnant. Besides, Yesande is dead and no else is interested."
"One.” Andrea held up a finger. “Jasmine told me what you did, how you became a Sylph for a while. You could just use your symbiont to suck some pheromone out of me and graft it onto you for a while."
"That's not exactly what I did,” she protested.
"Whatever.” Andrea waved her objections away. “It worked. Two: So far as we know, only Haunt can detect the Sylph. So we ask Scy if there is any other way he can think of, then see if he has any records from his predecessor that might indicate human/Haunt crosses in your midst."
Leo sat up. “That's not possible!"
Andrea gestured to her own stomach. “Is. Scy did say it was rare for your women to have hard labors, seemed to think it a strong indicator of rape, maybe by Haunt. Cases of pre-labor sickness could give a strong clue."
A little green, Leo nodded. “You're right. I never thought of it."
Content to have contributed a fresh angle on the case, Andrea nodded. She was getting sleepy. “Bet nobody else wanted to, either. Oh, yes, and three: We can spread a rumor about someone paying for Sylphs again, to raise interest. I bet we could get Jasmine to help set up a sting—an arrest,” she corrected her slang. “I'd rather not tell Mathin what we're up to. He's got enough on his mind as it is.” Plus, he'd be really, really mad if he thought she was putting herself in danger. Sweet as that was, it would really hamper the one thing that kept her mind off her powerful need for him and her fears. She needed this. Besides, there was no reason for him to be concerned. What harm could possibly come to her?
* * * *
Scy sighed and set aside the piece of wood he'd been carving. “I know why you're asking, gorgeous, but the information you're asking for would violate my oath and upset more than one sleeping snake I'd rather let lie."
Leo sat on the footstool opposite him and eyed him suspiciously. “You wouldn't interfere with a murder investigation, would you, Scy?"
One dark brow lifted. “And since when has Jackson authorized you as an official justice maker?"
Pink frosted Leo's cheeks and the tip of her nose, but she continued doggedly on. “Does it matter? None of those he ordained got the job done."
"And you think you can do better?"
"We might."
His gaze remained steady. “This is no light matter you wish to jump into. Those you would tamper with have been under Jackson's surveillance since the incident, with no results. The odds of you—"
"We have a new plan,” Andrea interrupted. “This one will get results."
Wary now, he gave her his full attention. “What plan?"
She gave him her pleasantest smile. “One for one. You tell us what you can, without breaking your oath, who had a rough birth and we'll tell you the plan. But you have to give us your word not to tell anyone what we plan to do."
"But I can ‘hint’ about it, right?” he said rather sardonically. “This seems to be your standard."
"Do you want details or not?” Leo snapped, neatly sidestepping the issue.
He regarded her for a moment without expression. “There are three. One is a female who has been dismissed by all concerned as innocent.” He waited.
"The plan involves bait,” Andrea told him. Leo madly scribbled notes.
The muscles in his jaw tensed. “The female in this case is unusual of the three. Her father is believed to be neither human nor Haunt."
Leo's jaw dropped and the point of her stylus broke. “You can't mean.... “She fell silent at his curt nod, stunned.
Intrigued as she was, Andrea knew that he was purposely sidetracking them, and they couldn't afford it. “The plan depends partly on spreading a rumor."
Scy rubbed his shadowed jaw. “One of the men is a warrior. His father was Haunt."
"Was?” Leo asked, leaning forward. “Mathin the Ravager?” She held her breath.
She wasn't the only one. Every bit as riveted, Andrea leaned closer. What would her Mathin say? Did he know?
Scy's curt nod sent her breath out in a wobbly exhale. She'd never expected this! “We've thought of a way to ambush the bad guys."
Without looking at Leo, keeping his eyes locked on Andrea, he continued with growing ire, “The third is also a spawn of Mathin the Ravager. He sits before you now, growing more concerned about your sanity by th
e second."
Chapter 11
Andrea choked on her own saliva. Mathin's brother? No wonder he was so cute!
Leo actually recoiled. The momentum sent her backwards over a footstool and onto her rump. “Ow!"
A low growl erupted from Scy as he bent down to glower at her where she sprawled on the floor. “Did you think I would suddenly carry you off and eat you? Haven't I had enough chances over the years if that was my plan?"
Aware that Leo's reaction probably hurt, Andrea tried to distract him. “Not to seem rude, but as a half-Haunt, what abilities do you have? Can you hear and smell like they do? Change? Detect Sylphs?"
He ran a hand through his hair, then got up and paced, his expression half-savage. “Partly to the stronger senses. No to the change. Yes to the Sylphs, which means your plan won't work. I knew you for one the moment you arrived, and Leo has been one from the moment she came back from visiting the Haunt."
"What!” Leo squawked. Still pale, she stared at him. At least she was once again sitting on the stool.
He shook his head, a slight, knowing smile on his lips. “Your purging didn't work. Jackson doesn't know, and lucky for you. He'd throw a fit."
Overcome, Leo slapped a palm to her forehead, mouthing silent oaths.
Scy returned his attention to Andrea. “Those who can tell already have knowledge of you both, yet have done nothing at this point. Why do you think you'll have sudden success now?"
Questions spun in Andrea's mind. She searched his face. “You must not be as strongly affected by the Sylph pheromone as the Haunt."
"Why do you say that?"
A tiny smile edged at her lips. “I don't see you, er, perusing Leo with the vigor typical of a full blood."
"The way your lover pursued you?” he asked softly. “That is how you know so much about it, isn't it?” When she said nothing, his gaze slid to Leo. “There are herbs a man can take.” His smile held little humor. “I've become intimately acquainted with Leo's fertile cycle, when the pheromone is strongest. It is not something a man wants to encounter unprepared."
A pink blush made Leo's expression of misery more acute. “I'm sorry.... “She stumbled on the words, unable to go on.
He picked up the wood he'd been carving, just held it. “It doesn't matter."
But it had to. Andrea's throat ached. How apart he must feel—one of the Ronin, but more as well. Was that why he hadn't yet married? Did he dread his wife discovering who he was and possibly loathing him for it? To be the child of rape ... she couldn't imagine. But this was so much harder. “Do you have any brothers and sisters?” she asked softly.
"No. No family that acknowledges me. Mathin's other spawn and I don't talk, nor do we have feeling for each other.” His face hardened. “Our sole link in common doesn't make for cozy conversation."
The next question that spun in her mind made her blush ten shades of red, and it was far from delicate. But really, how..? “Er,” she cleared her throat. “Um, how does ... uh, being half Haunt affect your ... your.... “She couldn't say it.
He tilted his head curiously. “What?"
She waved him off.
"What?” he demanded, growing impatient. “Say it!"
Andrea toyed with the edge of her shirt tail, examining it in minute detail. “Are you only allowed to mate with one woman?” She couldn't believe she'd just asked him that.
For a long moment he stared at her in utter silence. “I'm flattered,” he said slowly, “but—"
"Not me, you idiot!” she hissed, mortified. He thought she was propositioning him! She darted her eyes in Leo's direction and mouthed, “Her!” Fortunately Leo was looking anywhere but at them.
Vastly relieved, he exhaled and relaxed, resting his forearms on the back of the couch. “Oh.” His grin was slow and very heated. “Why do you think I'm in such a hurry to find a mate, or such a popular lover? I satisfy—and find satisfaction with—my partners without pressuring them to give up more than a maiden should. But I find myself growing restless.” His hot gaze captured Leo's, and his voice dropped to an intimate murmur. “It is time for more."
Leo shivered.
Sorry she'd asked, Andrea cleared her throat and said briskly, “Right. Thank you. Now, about the kidnapped Sylphs...."
All friendliness faded from his now mocking expression. “You want to know if I did it.” Before she could answer yea or nay he continued in a tone that dripped sarcasm, “Yes, I took five women—"
"Five!” Leo exclaimed.
He spared her a glance. “There were two others from other settlements that you haven't heard of.” He returned his attention to Andrea, but this time his soft tone ached. “I took five women, including my grandmother, and sold them off to a mad woman for her sadistic experiments."
An ache so fierce it closed her throat made Andrea look away. She had to tell Mathin about this man!
Much subdued, Leo asked, “Can you help me purge the pheromone from my system, Scy?"
"I don't know. We can try, though I don't know why you'd bother. The swamps aren't exactly swarming with men who'll notice."
"No, only one killer who's hunted down Sylph before,” she snapped.
"And you'll not go near him.” He straightened up. “It's too dangerous."
Leo's expression remained mutinous.
"Don't press me, woman.” A hint of Haunt fire made his blue eyes glow. “Not over this."
Understanding too well that Leo was playing with fire and what kind, even if Leo didn't, Andrea reached over and gripped Leo's shoulder, saying calmly, “The plan was to quietly surround ourselves with protection and then spread a rumor that an old friend of Yesande's wished to take up where she left off."
"No."
Unwilling to hear a word against their idea, Leo stood up. “You have no authority over us, Scy, and taking this to my brother won't stop me. Why give up this chance—"
Equally furious, and far more tense, he moved closer until they were almost nose to nose. “You don't know the man you're dealing with. Even I could barely take him—"
"Even you?” she demanded, incredulous. Her expression became so patronizing that Andrea groaned. This was not good.
Oblivious to the buttons she was pushing, one by one, Leo went on, “You may be a decent hunter, Scy,” she gestured to the snake skins, “but I've yet to see you practicing with the warriors or besting anybody."
Andrea put the back of her hand to her brow and groaned. No brother of Mathin's would take that lying down.
"Perhaps because there would be no contest?” His tone was absolutely confident, almost insolent. “I'm no easy mark, blue-eyes. If nothing else, Mathin's blood makes me a soldier you pray you'll never see in action.” He tossed the wood block on the table. “I've known from childhood that none of these could ever take me."
Knowing that Leo was on the brink of causing a war, Andrea jumped into the gap. These two might be destined to explode sometime, but she didn't want to be anywhere near the fallout. “Okay, so modify the plan. It's still good and that guy should be brought to justice. What would you do differently?"
It took a moment, but gradually Scy unwound enough that he no longer looked capable of eating anyone. “I don't know. Something that doesn't involve this ‘bait’ idea. Preferably something that depended on you both being locked safely away."
"Don't concern yourself,” Leo told him coldly. “We never expected—or wanted—you to become involved.” She flicked her hair over her shoulder and headed for the door. Before she could blink Scy was there, blocking the way.
"I'll make a deal with you, blue-eyes.” He was smiling, but there was no fun in it. “If you can take me down right here and now, I'll give you my favorite rifle and my snake skins. You'll have to be at least that good to get near your target.” When she didn't move, just eyed him suspiciously, he taunted, “Come on, gorgeous. Show off some of those moves your brother taught you. I know you're not helpless, but it'll take a lot more than a few defensive tactics to kill a
son of Mathin."
Andrea jumped up and put one hand on each of them before what she could see coming happened. They didn't really want to go there, did they? “I believe you, so let's not waste time with this, shall we?” Her calm tone belied her thumping heart. “We can just as easily come up with a new plan, can't we, Leo?” When both combatants stared at her suspiciously, she lifted her brows in mock surprise and made an “O” of her mouth. “Unless you'd like me to leave you two here alone to resolve this?” She tried for a leer.
It was comical how swiftly the two broke apart.
"Stay out of trouble,” Scy warned them. One hand rested on his hip while the other ran distractedly through his hair. He was half-turned away, and breathing rather hard. Andrea knew he'd be watching them.
Leo's chest moved more rapidly than normal, too. There were a lot of teeth in her smile. “Of course. Would I ignore you?"
Andrea hustled her away before anything could come of Scy's hot look. Once outside, she scolded mildly, “You'd better stop baiting him unless you'd like to be bitten."
"He annoys me.” Leo shot an irritated look at his house as they walked away.
"He likes you."
"Hah! He acts like my brother,” Leo complained bitterly.
Andrea doubted his thoughts were fraternal. “Let me rephrase that. He wants you."
Frozen in her tracks, Leo goggled at her. “That's not true. He's never seen me like that."
Searching her eyes for clues, Andrea asked, “Are you sure? Or is that just what you'd prefer since you don't want him back?"
As she walked, Leo toyed with the edge of her jacket cuff and looked everywhere but at her. “We're friends of a sort. Have been for a long time. We carry on very well this way. I insult him, he parries. Sometimes we talk. That's all I want. Anything else would be too complicated."
"Why?"
But Leo didn't have to answer. Their wandering had taken them to a bakery, and the delicious smells inside the mellow lit shop quickly distracted Andrea. “What is that yummy looking pastry?” She pointed to rounds of what looked to be puff pastry sprinkled with green nuts and drizzled with caramel sauce. On either side of the dessert, tiers of tartlets, delicately browned, triangular biscuits and fan-shaped, pastel cookies dominated the sweets section. Domes of bread, ranging from family size to single serving, took up much of the rest of the shelves. Some of the bread had been shaped into fancy twists and fish shapes.
