by Meg Anne
They’d been at this for nearly four hours. Since the professor couldn’t meet with them right away, Skye had suggested they hit up the library for some research. Why she thought that would be helpful, she had no fucking clue.
Skye spent the time searching through an ancient text, trying to locate the runes from crime scene number one. Meanwhile, Lucas studied the photos his partner had brought him from the latest crime scene.
So far, they’d found nothing.
No wonder she hadn’t finished college; the whole studying for what felt like eternity thing wore her out.
“This is awful,” she groaned.
Lucas didn’t seem to notice. He was intently focused on the crime scene photos that James dropped off. What does he see?
“Hey.”
He looked over at her for the first time, worried creases between his brows and on either side of his mouth. “What’s up?”
“Why don’t we get out of here for a while? We can’t meet with Professor Zane until two, so let’s grab a bite to eat.”
His eyebrow lifted, amusement replacing the worry on his face. “You asking me on a date, Giovanni?”
“It’s just lunch, so don’t get too excited. Everyone knows lunch dates are relationship enders.”
“So we’re in a relationship, huh?”
She cocked her head to the side. “A working relationship.”
“Ah yes, how could I forget.” The playful smile that had started to grow during their banter faltered, and Lucas sighed, some of the light dimming from his eyes. She blinked, and his smile was back in place.
“Where do you want to go?” She forced her voice to be chipper as she closed the tome that had sucked some of her life away for the last four hours.
“It’s a college campus; I’m sure there’s a café or coffee shop within spitting distance.”
Skye laughed. “I mean, I’m sort of in a monogamous relationship with your sister’s coffee these days, but I could definitely do with a caffeine infusion.”
Lucas’ grin widened, flashing her those twin dimples. Skye sucked in a breath as their eyes met and held. How bad could sleeping with him really be to their current situation? Maybe it would give them a new perspective if there wasn’t all this sexual tension between them.
“Skye,” he warned. She was too wrapped up in her thoughts to notice the expression on his face. It wasn’t until the chill raced up her spine that she realized they weren’t alone in the archive section anymore.
“Isn’t this a nice surprise?”
The deep voice triggered a surge of terror. She spun to see the Druid standing just behind her. Lucas drew his weapon, and Skye backed up until she was next to him.
“Easy there,” the Druid mocked, “wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”
“I think you have that backwards,” Lucas snapped, his voice cold.
“Perhaps, but I’ve been at this a lot longer.”
“And just what is ‘this’?”
“Magic, you fool,” the Druid snarled, his lip quirking up from beneath the black hood. Like before, it was the only part of his face that was visible. “I assume that since you’re here, you are looking for a way to stop me.”
He took a step toward them, and Lucas used one of his hands to pull Skye behind his body.
“You should know,” the Druid continued, “it won’t work. I will kill both you and your sister. This Gypsy cannot stop me.” He turned his hooded head, and even though she couldn’t see them, Skye felt his eyes bore into her. “Perhaps I will take her as my own. It seems she has a taste for Druids. Seer, would you like to be my pet?”
“You will not fucking touch her,” Lucas growled.
“You won’t be able to stop me once I end your life.” The Druid turned to address Skye directly. “I will see you soon, Gypsy.” He disappeared, and Lucas lowered his gun. He pulled Skye against his body, and she held on as she began to shake.
How the hell had he caught them in here? So off guard?
“You okay?” Lucas asked, not letting her go.
“I’m fine.” She pushed away and straightened her shirt.
“I won’t let him take you.” His blue eyes were serious and filled with emotions she just wasn’t ready to confront, even with her earlier thoughts of sex.
“And I won’t let him kill you.”
He smiled, but it was empty. “Then I suppose we have some work to do. Still want that coffee?”
“We’ve gone far past want and have arrived directly in the need category.”
“Then let’s go.”
Chapter 18
Lucas
The campus was bustling as they walked out of the library. Lucas checked his watch; it was just past one o’clock, which meant they had a little less than an hour before their meeting with the professor.
Skye stood next to him, twisting her hair into a braid to keep the long strands from flying into her face due to the force of the wind.
“They don’t call it the Windy City for nothing,” he quipped, instantly regretting the terrible joke.
Skye stopped and threw him an incredulous look, her hands still holding her hair in place. “Seriously? That’s what you’re going to go with?”
Blood rushed to his face, its signature heat creeping up his neck. There was no getting around it, so Lucas just shrugged and looked away.
“I didn’t peg you for a dad joke kind of guy,” she teased, keeping pace with him as he headed to a small coffee shop in the next building.
He’d take her ribbing about bad jokes over the fear-induced adrenaline surge he’d felt at the sight of the Druid any day. Lucas couldn’t believe that bastard had snuck up on them. Again. It was really hard to see the enemy coming when he could just appear and disappear at will.
“That guy needs a fucking bell,” he muttered, shaking his head.
Skye laughed. “Like a cat?”
“Exactly. I’m tired of him just popping up without warning.”
Skye didn’t respond right away, so he snuck a glance at her face. Her eyes had a faraway cast to them, like she was lost in a memory.
“You okay over there?”
Skye blinked a couple of times before looking at him. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“I asked if you were okay.”
“Oh, yeah. I was just thinking. Your words reminded me of something my Gran mentioned once. I was trying to see if I could remember the conversation or context, but no dice.”
Lucas lifted a brow. “Suggesting the Druid wear a cat collar reminded you of your grandmother?”
Skye laughed. “It was more of the ‘without warning’ piece. I remember her mentioning something about Druid wards once, but that’s it.”
“Great. More magic we don’t understand.”
“I’m doing the best I can,” she protested.
“Hey, I’m not saying that as a slight at all. Your insights have been invaluable so far. Without you, he’d have already won. We’ll just keep following our leads until they take us right to him. It’s always worked for me in the past.”
“The MacConnell tried and true method, huh?”
“No reason to mess with a good thing,” he said with a grin as he held the door open for her.
She just shook her head and moved past him into the coffee shop.
There was little in the way of food to choose from, just a few pre-packed sandwiches and salads that had seen better days. Skye wrinkled her nose and put a sandwich back in the case.
“We’ll stop by Lizzie’s for dinner once we finish up here. My treat.”
“That sounds amazing!” She gave him a thankful smile and grabbed a protein bar from a small jar.
They placed their order with a barista who completely butchered their names. Lucas and Skye were still laughing when they sat at a small table in the corner of the shop.
“How exactly did Skylar turn into Twyla?” she asked with a snort.
Lucas shook his head. “No clue, I’m still trying to figure
out how Lucas turned into Loomis. Is that even a name?”
Skye shrugged. “All I know is that you are officially Detective Loomis now.”
“Don’t you dare.”
She gave him an impish smile and took a tentative sip of her Americano. She grimaced but took another anyway. “Your sister has ruined me for all other coffee. If I wasn’t in dire need, I wouldn’t even bother.”
After trying his own, Lucas was forced to agree, although he’d had far worse at the precinct.
“So, tell me something about you.” He set the coffee down and folded his arms.
“What do you want to know?” Her fingers fidgeted with the cardboard coffee sleeve, which allowed him to freely study her. Her dark hair was pulled up, but strands had escaped in the wind and were framing her face. Skye was looking down at her cup, so he couldn’t see her eyes, but her long lashes cast shadows on the tops of her cheeks. The bite of the wind had brought a hint of color to her cheeks, giving her an almost youthful glow. His eyes drifted to her lips, which looked even more delectable than usual in her dark red lipstick.
“Lucas?” Skye asked.
He blinked. Busted. “Something not many people know,” Lucas answered quickly. He watched as her brows drew together while she considered his question. She fascinated him, something no woman had ever done before. Most were entirely too predictable.
Skye Giovanni was anything but.
“I hate matching socks.”
Lucas’ brows rose, and he repeated the words, uncertain he’d heard her correctly. “Matching socks?”
“Yes.”
He looked down under the table at her feet. “I’ve only ever seen you in heels; do you wear socks often?”
“Often enough. I just keep them in a drawer and pair them as I go.”
“You don’t fold your socks?”
Her head snapped up. “Who the hell folds their socks?”
“Um, I do, along with ninety-nine percent of the population. It’s much better than the alternative, which is sock chaos.”
“I like a little chaos.” She grinned, and he had the urge to reach across the table and claim that snarky mouth with his. “Tell me something about you.” She took a drink of her coffee, and Lucas pulled his eyes away from her lips.
“There really isn’t much to me. I don’t live life dangerously in mismatched socks.”
She pursed her lips, but he could see the amusement dancing in her eyes. “What about your apartment?”
“What about it?”
“Well, you’ve lived there for some time, and you have a dog.”
“Yeah.”
“But you still haven’t unpacked everything.”
He shrugged. “I get busy.”
“Too busy to get settled?”
“I just don’t see much of a point. The things I use are put away, and the stuff I don’t need I left in the boxes.”
“Then why not get rid of that stuff?”
He took a deep breath. It was a simple question with a complex answer. “It’s stuff I couldn’t part with after my parents died. I don’t really want to go through the boxes. It was hard enough to pack them up when we sold their house.”
She reached across the table and touched his hand. “I’m so sorry, Lucas. I didn’t know. I shouldn’t have pushed.”
He liked the feel of her hand on his, so he covered it with his other one and rubbed small circles with his thumb against her soft skin. “It’s alright.”
They sat there for a few minutes, his thumb continuing to brush against the back of her hand. From the outside, Lucas knew they appeared like any other couple. Just two people stopping for a quick caffeine boost together. No one would suspect that she was a Gypsy Seer haunted by visions of death, or that he was a homicide detective being hunted by a Druid who wanted to murder them both.He nearly laughed at the absurdity of it all.
He glanced down at his watch. “Oh shit, we better go.” Not wanting to release her, he linked their fingers as they stood up and stepped out into the wind again.
Chapter 19
Skye
Skye glanced down at their inter-linked fingers and nearly sighed. Damn. If he was irresistible from afar, it was even worse when they touched. The combination of his vulnerability and closeness had her damn near swooning.
She sensed that he needed the physical contact after their encounter with the Druid, and if she were completely honest with herself, she wanted it as well. Unfortunately, nothing short of being naked and beneath her sexy detective would curb the cravings she had for him.
Or on top.
Hell, at this point, she’d settle for a light pat down.
They walked along the campus until they reached a large red brick building toward the back. When they stepped inside, the smell of old books welcomed them. She inhaled deeply, smiling as the musty scent filled her lungs. She might hate studying, but she loved that smell. There was something so incredibly wonderful about it.
Lucas led her down a hall, dropping her hand when they stopped in front of a frosted glass door with Dr. Benjamin Zane, PhD in bold black letters.
“Here we go,” Lucas muttered as he opened the door.
At first glance, Professor Zane looked more grandfather than academic. He was a shorter, portly man in his late fifties. His short white beard matched the hair on his head, and he wore a sweater that was clearly made for him by his more enthusiastic than talented significant other. Skye was immediately charmed.
When they entered his office, he smiled widely. “Detective MacConnell, I presume.” He removed his glasses and stood to shake their hands.
Lucas grasped the man’s hand with his. “Thank you for meeting with us, Professor.”
“Oh, please, just call me Ben.” He turned his grin to Skye. “Who is this lovely young woman?”
“Skylar Giovanni, but please, call me Skye.” She smiled as she shook his hand.
“Giovanni, huh?” He paused to scratch his head. “That’s an Italian name if I’ve ever heard one, and you have the look of a Gypsy.” He winked lightly at her, but Skye felt some of the color drain from her face.
“Why would you assume I’m a Gypsy?”
“I only said you have the look of a Gypsy, but based on your reaction, I’m guessing there is some of it in your lineage. Dear, not only do I study Celtic history, but the history of the world’s greatest Seers. I’ve met quite a few Gypsy women in my days.” He winked and sat back down behind his desk.
Skye and Lucas shared a look before taking seats opposite of him.
The look of a Gypsy? What the hell did that mean? Was it her dark hair or maybe her eyes that gave her away?
Once he was settled, Ben rested his hands on the mahogany surface and peered at them curiously. “So, what can I do for you both?”
“We have reason to believe someone is using Druid runes in occult type murders.”
The smile fell from Ben’s face. “That’s unpleasant.”
“You could say that again,” Skye muttered, not noticing the intent way the professor watched Lucas.
“You mentioned photos on the phone? May I see them?”
“Here’s what we have.” Lucas pulled out his cell phone and held it up for the professor to see.
Ben peered at the screen closely, his eye’s flaring wide as he scrolled through the pictures. “These are very unpleasant indeed.”
“Do you know what they mean?” Skye asked, leaning forward.
“I can tell you that this is ancient magic, and powerful too.”
“Magic?” Lucas asked, earning a slight glare from Ben.
“Yes, Detective. Magic. Although I will have to presume that since you contacted me, you already assumed so. This kind of magic has been around for centuries, probably since the beginning of time itself. Druids used spells to heal the sick and protect their people, but as in any society, there were also some who sought to rule and destroy. These runes are involved in some of the darkest Druid magic I’ve ever seen.”
Skye shivered. That’s what she had been afraid of.
“How so? What do they mean?” Lucas asked.
“Well, based on the structure of the runes, whoever committed these murders is trying to trap another Druid. But what I don’t understand, is why they are being used today.” Ben’s focus never left the image on the screen. Troubled creases deepened around his eyes and his mouth was drawn into a tight line.
“What do you mean today?”
“These are ancient symbols, ones that haven’t been taught in, oh… at least a half century.” He cleared his throat, and Skye caught the way his eyes darted up to Lucas and back down to the image.
“A copycat maybe?” Lucas suggested.
“I doubt it. As I said, this isn’t even in the most detailed of history books. Only a true practitioner would be familiar with this kind of spell.”
“But you know what they are,” Lucas pointed out. “Doesn’t it stand someone else might as well?”
Ben shook his head. “When I first got started, I studied with a man in Scotland who was rumored to be the last remaining pureblood Druid. He showed me different types of runes that aren’t known anywhere in the world, because they were hidden from those who sought to use them for evil. Dark magic should never be touched, Detective. It corrupts; and once that process starts, it’s nearly impossible to stop.”
The warning in his voice sent a chill down Skye’s spine.
“Tell me about the other aspects of the murders,” Ben said as he handed Lucas back his phone.
“The bodies were burned beyond recognition and, so far, my people haven’t been able to determine what was used to cause the fire to burn so hot.”
Ben stood and began to pace behind his desk. “No, they wouldn’t be. I doubt they’ll ever be able to figure it out. It would be nearly impossible to determine—”
