by Jasmine Walt
“Why wouldn’t they?”
Sloane sat forward, eyes flashing. “It’s idiots like you, running around thinking they’re some kind of superhero, who get people killed.”
Before I found out who I was, or what I was, I probably would have agreed with them. I’d been a guild assassin—authorized to kill—and I’d worn that metaphorical badge with honor. But then, I’d discovered my life had been a lie, that every kill I’d made had been an innocent chosen by a dark entity in an attempt to corrupt my soul. Since finding out I was part hellhound, part naga, then discovering I was the daughter of the gatekeeper to hell, charged with protecting the innocent and keeping the seal on the gates closed, the lines were blurred. Now it was also my God-given duty to protect the innocent, to solve the cases that found their way to me, and cleanse my soul of the sin that had been forced upon it. If I failed, when the mantle of gatekeeper fell to me, the seal would crack, and the world would be overrun by demons. As badly as I wanted to defend my actions with the facts, the truth was best left unsaid. My existence, the seal, the whole shebang was on a need-to-know basis, and the IEPEU didn’t need to know.
I stared at the paper, dumbfounded. How could Indra and the gods have allowed this to happen? They knew about me. Knew what my purpose was. Yeah, to the average Joe I probably did look like a vigilante, but passing this law had just made my life that much harder.
Sloane was watching me with a self-satisfied smile on his pasty face, not bothering to hide his pleasure at my predicament. If this was how he got his kicks, I felt sorry for him. I read the paper, which basically prohibited anyone from doing anything that involved meting out justice: following up on official cases, becoming involved in ones that were being investigated without prior written permission, or taking on cases without an official PI license. Suddenly, I saw the vigilante in a different light, because if the IEPEU were doing their job properly, my services wouldn’t have been needed in the eight cases I’d solved over the past six weeks.
“You’re going to jail, and I’ll enjoy putting you there,” Sloane said.
I’d had enough of this judgmental crap. “Why? Because I went after a bad guy? Because I want to help?” I turned to Parker. “Do I really need a badge to do the right thing, to put my life on the line? What is wrong with you people?”
Parker’s expression shuttered. “I was going to ask if you had anything to say in your defense. But you’ve pretty much admitted you were acting as a vigilante tonight by interfering in an IEPEU case, so I have no recourse but to charge you under Act 34, Article 55 of the Vigilante Enforcement Act.”
She pushed back her seat and stood. “Take her to a holding cell. She’ll see a judge for sentencing tomorrow morning.”
This couldn’t be happening. Not to me. Panic bubbled up in my throat, but its expansion was interrupted by a knock at the door.
“Enter,” Parker said.
Another female operative popped her head around the door. “Miss Hayes’s legal counsel is here. A Mr. Indra?”
It was strange hearing my surname, Barrett’s surname. I rarely used it, and it took me a moment to grasp what she was saying. Indra was here.
To her credit, Parker didn’t even flinch. “Tell him I’ll be with him in a moment.”
She turned to me, her face pinched. Did she suspect my legal counsel was Indra in more than just the name?
“You haven’t asked for your phone call yet,” she said.
“I know.”
She swallowed—the only physical sign of her disconcertion.
“You don’t really think it’s him, do you?” her sidekick asked.
“Why don’t you get Miss Hayes a cup of coffee while I speak to her legal counsel?”
Top marks for not losing the professional demeanor. Did nothing faze her? They headed for the door, and I slumped in my seat.
It seemed as if I was finally going to meet Indra.
Ten minutes later, the door swung open. Parker strode back in. I didn’t need to see her tense jaw or flashing eyes to know she was pissed; I could practically feel the tension rolling off her in waves.
“You’re free to go.” The words sounded strangled.
I curbed the impulse to gloat. The woman was like a volcano about to erupt, and as confident as I was in my abilities, I wasn’t dumb enough to prod an angry tiger. I made a move to walk past her, but she grabbed my arm, her grip biting.
“I don’t know how you did it, and I don’t care. This is the human realm, and even the gods aren’t above the law. Cross me again, and I promise you no god will be sweeping in to save your ass.”
The leash on my anger snapped, and heat rushed through my body. “What the fuck is your problem? I’m trying to help, but instead of letting me, you’re being a dick and pissing all over the place to mark your territory. Maybe if you’d just focused on your job, on catching the vamp instead of dragging my arse here to gloat about your fancy new law, we’d have been able to track the SUV and catch the fucker. The trail is probably cold now, and the fact he got away is your fault. Explain that to the families of the missing persons.”
Yeah, it was harsh, but I wasn’t in a forgiving mood. Plus, watching her face drain of color gave me a thrill. Leaving her seething, I headed out the door into the corridor beyond.
Ajitah strolled out of his interview room, rubbing his wrists. “Are you all right?”
“Just peachy.”
Parker stepped around me and headed down the corridor. “Follow me.”
She led us to the front desk, where a tall, broad man with exceptionally glossy dark hair and mocha eyes stood waiting for us. His skin was nut-brown and smooth, with a strange inner glow that made me want to take extra blinks when looking directly at him. IEPEU operatives had stopped what they were doing to hang around in the foyer and just stare at him. I noted several glazed expressions and slack mouths. Was this what being in the presence of a god did to humans? Parker, like Ajitah and me, seemed less affected, which led me to conclude that her bloodline was probably less human than she liked everyone to believe. If the glowing skin hadn’t tipped me off, the kooky effect he was having on the operatives would have. This was the infamous Indra, finally, in the flesh.
He fixed his gaze on us as we approached. A tingle of awareness shot through me, forcing my spine straighter and dusting the cobwebs from my mind.
“Malina. Ajitah. It’s so good to finally meet you both.” He smiled, showcasing even, white teeth, before making a sweeping gesture toward the door. “Shall we?”
The operative at the desk handed us paper bags containing our personal effects. I pulled out my comm and Vindra.
“Thanks.” I got a glare in response. “Well, fuck you too.”
Ajitah gripped my elbow gently. “Let’s get out of here before they change their minds.”
“Guys!” Drake enveloped us in a bear hug. “You’re safe.”
“Thanks to you,” I said.
He pulled back and shrugged. “Yeah. Eamon had to call in the big guns.” He glanced across at Indra.
Ajitah was staring at Indra. “I didn’t know gods had legal expertise.”
“We’ve picked up a variety of skills over the decades, and it was the least I could do. I apologize for taking so long to get there. I had to swing by the high court judge’s house to get an exemption for you.”
“An exemption to the act the council signed?”
He nodded, his eyes darkening. “I’m sorry, Malina, the council isn’t aware of the existence of the hellhounds or the fact the seal needs to be continually recharged. We’d like to keep it that way, which is why I had no way of curtailing it when the bill was presented. I voted against it, but the other representatives voted in favor.”
His words were an aural caress, and the last vestiges of my annoyance melted away. “I understand. But how did you get the judge to sign an exemption?”
He sighed. “I had no recourse but to tell him the truth. I trust William to keep our secret.”
M
y pulse jumped. “So I can carry on doing what I do?”
He grinned. “You better not stop, young lady.”
His smile was infectious, and I couldn’t help but return it. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome, and remember, my doors are always open should you need anything.”
Bidding us farewell, he turned and strode off down the street, his dark trench coat billowing out behind him like a superhero cape.
Drake clapped his hands. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m bloody starving. Let’s grab some grub and then head back to go over the case.”
Drake, Ajitah, and I were congregated around the kitchen table while Toto lounged by the back door, his head on his paws, eyes sleepy. This had become our go-to place of late: our go-over-the-plan, debrief, and takeaway spot. It had only been six weeks, but it felt as though I’d been working with these guys forever, which reminded me I really needed to check in with Carmella and Aaron soon. Almost three weeks had passed since I’d last met up with them, around the same time we’d caught this case.
“We just met Indra,” Ajitah said for the third time.
“Get over it.” I reached over and grabbed the last chicken ball off his plate.
“Hey!”
I quickly bit into it. “Too late,” I said around a mouthful of deliciousness.
His gray eyes fell to my lips, darkening tellingly.
I ducked my head, cheeks heating.
These little moments of sexual tension were becoming more frequent, making my heart race and turning the inside of my mouth to dust. I swallowed and took a sip of my cola. When I looked up, Ajitah was picking at his food.
Six weeks of dancing around each other. Six weeks of working together, chilling but keeping it professional. It was becoming more difficult not to act on my impulses. Until a couple of months ago, relationships had been off the table for me. Having to lie about what I did for a living, having to lie about who I was, had put a nail in the coffin of any relationship before it began. So I’d stuck to infrequent one-night stands when the itch got too strong to ignore. But now, my situation was different. I was different. No longer an assassin, I was surrounded by people I could share my secrets with. Ajitah was one of those people, and I wanted him.
“Malina!”
The boys came swarming in, still wet from the pool. Aria trailed in after them, her face flushed, eyes sparkling. I giggled as they surrounded me, all eager for a hug.
“Have they behaved themselves?” Ajitah asked Aria.
She smiled. “Angels.”
Ajitah raised a brow. “I struggle to believe that, but I’ll have to take your word for it.”
“You will indeed. Boys, it’s time for a snack.” She glanced at Ajitah. “Is it all right for them to have it up in the east wing while watching cartoons?”
Ajitah nodded. “Go for it.”
The boys took turns hugging Ajitah before following Aria out of the room in single file.
I sighed. “She’s amazing with them.”
“So are you,” Ajitah said.
His eyes locked onto mine again, and my mouth forgot how to chew.
Drake cleared his throat. “So, what’s next?”
“I say we drop it,” Ajitah said, his gaze still locked with mine. “The IEPEU are on it, and we’ve already stepped on their toes. We should let them deal with the problem.”
“I disagree. We took on this case, and we have an exemption to keep pursuing it. More people working it gives us a better chance of catching the culprit before he takes another person.” No dead bodies had turned up yet, just five missing females. My gut told me we were on a clock.
“What do you suggest we do?” Drake asked.
I tore my gaze from Ajitah and fixed it on Drake. “We find out who the SUV belonged to, maybe track where it went?”
“And how are we going to do that?” Ajitah asked. “Did you happen to get the plates?”
I shook my head. “But there must be a way to get hold of traffic-camera footage for around that time. Maybe we can get a license number off one of those?”
“Good idea.” Drake pushed his plate away. “I’ll make a few calls. I have a friend who works for the civilian police in their traffic enforcement department. I’ll see if I can sweet talk her into helping.” He stood and ambled toward the door. “Enjoy the rest of your meal.”
With the definite sly tone to his voice, I knew he’d picked up on the tension between Ajitah and me. There was no doubt in my mind I’d be hearing about it soon when he quizzed me for details.
I finished up the noodles on my plate and drained my glass. “I’m gonna hit the pool. I’ll catch you later.”
Ajitah’s shoulders slumped. “Yeah, I’ll let you know if Drake comes up with anything.”
I was no fool. I recognized disappointment when I saw it. Ajitah had hoped I’d stick around and spend time with him. I’d love nothing more, but one-on-one time was dangerous territory for someone who wasn’t sure what she wanted. It was cruel to string him along, though. Maybe the best thing to do would be to tell him I wasn’t interested and be done with it. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do that because it would be a lie. I wanted Ajitah as more than just a friend. I craved his company, his smile. I loved hanging out with him and the boys. He made me feel . . . normal. I wasn’t ready to give up on that yet, and maybe with a little more time, my heart would be sure. A face flashed before my eyes—hawkish, brutal, and beautiful. I blinked it away.
I hadn’t heard from Garuda in six weeks. I’d casually asked Eamon about him, but even he’d come up blank. Garuda was out there. I tried not to dwell on it because doing so kick-started the familiar tug-of-war between my instincts and my heart. Garuda was my natural predator, a naga killer, and he’d almost ended me when he’d been controlled by the Daughter of Chaos. The scroll that had allowed her to compel him was gone—I’d burned it to ash with my hellfire—but the incident had stirred up Garuda’s innate instincts, and now he couldn’t trust himself to be around me.
It was for the best. Safer. But it didn’t stop me wanting to see him again. It would be unfair to Ajitah to start anything while I was still conflicted. Leaving him to his meal, I headed to the pool to swim away from the angst and clear my head of the two men who made my pulse do crazy things.
3
An hour and a half later, showered, dressed, refreshed—and positive we would catch a break in the case soon—I scanned a text from Carmella begging me to meet up at Loki’s for a drink. The pool had reenergized me enough to consider doing just that.
I bounded down the stairs, Toto at my heels, intent on finding Drake to get an update before heading out. I caught him as he entered the foyer all dolled up and smelling fresh.
“Hey?” I cocked my head. “You got a date?”
He flashed his dimple. “Sarah suggested we meet up for a drink.”
“Sarah?”
“My friend at the Transport Enforcement Department.”
“Does she know you want information?”
“Not yet, but I know what I’m doing. I’ll have what we need by the time I return. Trust me.” He winked and headed out.
“Malina?” Eamon appeared in the sitting room doorway.
The lights beyond were dim, and his face was a pale smudge against the darkness. The blue pill Drake had sent off to his friend at the lab for testing had yielded no conclusive results. As far as the lab was concerned, it was as innocuous as a painkiller, but Drake and I knew it had to be more than that. Eamon was a hellhound, and hellhounds didn’t need painkillers. We metabolized too quickly for most drugs to have any effect and were also immune to everyday human ailments. The pill was now sitting in a drawer in Drake’s greenhouse until we figured out what to do with it.
I was all for confronting Eamon, but Drake was worried Eamon would simply deny anything was wrong. We’d have tipped him off, and any hope of finding further clues or evidence would be ruined because he’d be on guard.
He was right, of c
ourse, but it killed me not knowing what was wrong with Eamon. Obviously, something was making my father sick.
“Honey? Are you all right?” he asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
I smiled and walked toward him. “I’m fine. What are you up to?”
Eamon retreated into the room and sat on his favorite chair. “I was wondering if you wanted to watch a film with me?”
My plan to meet up with Carmella fizzed out. He looked so hopeful.
“I’d love that. I’ll make popcorn.”
Aria appeared with a bowl of popcorn, and I chuckled, taking it from her. “Thank you.”
“I’ll fetch drinks,” she said.
I busied myself with finding a DVD.
“Garuda called me today,” Eamon said.
A lightness filled my chest as the breath whooshed out of my lungs. I kept my back to Eamon, making a show of fingering the DVD spines. “What did he want?”
“He’d like to come and work with us again.”
My mouth was dry, my pulse a crazy flutter. As much as I wanted to see Garuda, my body’s instant flight response told me I wasn’t ready.
“Malina? What do you think?”
I turned to face him. “I think we’ve got this. If anything changes, I’ll let you know.”
He scanned my face, his gaze softening. “I’m sorry this is so hard for you. I had hoped that with you being only part naga, it wouldn’t affect you so. But I can see the struggle in the tension of your shoulders and the wariness in your eyes whenever his name is mentioned. What happened with the scroll was horrific. I cannot even begin to imagine how terrified you must have been.” His lips twisted. “Trust me, I had some choice words for Indra on the matter. If he’d destroyed that scroll as promised, none of this would have happened. You and Garuda would have become accustomed to each other’s company by now.”
“Why does it matter so much? I mean, why do you want us to work together so badly?”
He blinked as if taken aback by the question, and then dropped his gaze to brush an imaginary speck of dirt off his shirt. “Garuda is an invaluable resource, and he will be an asset to this team. Your team. The fear and wariness you have will pass, and Garuda will find his equilibrium again. The scroll is gone. What happened in the Underground will never happen again. You can trust him.”
