Ravenheart (Crossbreed Series Book 2)

by Dannika Dark

  I lifted a champagne flute, and it clicked against my mask as I tilted the glass for a sip. I needed something to smooth out the rough edges.

  The inside of the mansion twinkled like gold. The crystals on the chandelier were polished, and unlike Viktor’s gothic style, Patrick embraced electricity. Why shouldn’t he? A man who worked for the higher authority probably had truckloads of money and plenty of people to impress. I noticed a table that held a four-tier tray of chocolate-covered strawberries, each lower platter even bigger than the one above. Costumes glided and danced before me. Pockets of laughter were at every turn, and gentlemen bowed as I passed by them.

  I kept beside Christian but didn’t take his arm. Once I caught sight of Viktor at the far end of the room, I slowed down in search of Niko. He would be high up since that would give him a better vantage point of everyone’s energy. Toward the center of the massive room were two curved staircases on either side that led to a second-floor landing with a balustrade running across. I could see all the way up to the third level in the house.

  I spotted Niko’s plaid kilt straight away, even though he was wearing a thin black coat with a hood pulled over his head. It was the only way he could get his katanas inside. He gripped the banister and watched us from above.

  The surrounding rooms were open and therefore safe for Blue to travel in. Our primary concern was locating the exits and private areas.

  Christian branched away and lifted a champagne glass before taking a position at the base of a staircase.

  “Reminds me of my homeland,” a Scottish man said, admiring my outfit. “What city are you from?”

  “I’m not actually Scottish,” I said, gulping down my drink.

  He looked disappointed and turned away.

  I didn’t have time to feel guilty about being rude. Viktor had given us orders not to mingle. I had to admit, this was an interesting event. Without being able to see faces, it was impossible to tell what Breed everyone was, which was the one thing that created division among our kind. Perhaps the mystery was the allure.

  Viktor jerked his head, gesturing to an area on my right. I scanned the array of elegant costumes until I found our Cinderella in an adjoining room.

  Two men flanked her, but neither was Glass. He was taller. When one of them kissed her hand, I thought she might pull out a tomahawk from beneath her dress, but instead, she smiled coquettishly and cracked open her handheld fan.

  Blue agreed to remain visible until Romeo arrived. Wyatt had sent him a description of the outfit so she wouldn’t be difficult to spot.

  I drifted into the room, which was a little less chaotic than the main one. Some guests were sitting on upholstered benches along the walls, others were dancing in the center of the ballroom, and some gathered in pockets near the hearth. Four musicians played stringed instruments from their chairs on the far right of the room.

  There was a whole lot of schmoozing going on.

  I parked my butt by the door so I could text everyone if Romeo appeared. We didn’t have a clue what he’d be wearing. He’d been quite elusive about it in his conversations with Wyatt, more concerned about Blue’s costume. Viktor was right. He probably wanted to creep on her for a while and see if she was his type.

  A servant presented a platter of cheese, and I shook my head.

  Thirty minutes flew by, and I began to notice patterns in the flow of traffic. People came in alone in search of acquaintances or new companions and often left in groups. Blue held her position in the center of the room within view, still entertaining two suitors who were clearly posturing in hopes of winning her approval. Blue tolerated them to avoid standing alone, and she needed to stay visible. I avoided direct eye contact with everyone so no one would recognize my mismatched eyes. I assessed each new guest who entered the room. His walk, his body type, height, and hair color. There were quite a few Chitahs, but none of them was our detective.

  Assuming Glass was Romeo.

  The jury was still out.

  My legs grew restless, so I went into the main room to stretch them for a few minutes. Some of the costumes I recognized, so it was easier to scan the room for unfamiliar ones. I inched closer to Viktor, who held Patrick Bane’s rapt attention. Patrick was easy to identify. Instead of a heavy mask, he’d tied a wide ribbon around his eyes with two eyeholes. Aside from that, not many men in the Breed world that I’d ever met had faded red hair and an Irish accent. He looked like a man who’d acquired immortality in his early fifties.

  “We are businessmen,” Viktor said to Patrick. “This world has changed so much from the old ways.”

  “Agreed,” Patrick replied, a melodic lilt to his voice. “It was an embarrassment, but we must serve the law first and foremost. I’m willing to let bygones be bygones. There’s no reason to hold any grudges. You were only doing your job.” He waved his champagne flute at the open room. “We’re all doing our jobs.”

  A little boy with a black cape and Zorro mask shadowed behind him, peering at all the giants who were moving about the room. His blue eyes sparkled with curiosity, even more noticeable with the black mask surrounding them. A toy sword was affixed to his hip, and he wore a wide-brimmed hat that kept sliding off to one side. He finally flung it next to a plate of grapes and giggled.

  “Boy, why don’t you take Mr. Kazan’s empty glass and get him a new one.”

  The child, who looked about four or five, reached out for Viktor’s glass. He held it for a moment and stared inside. Patrick mussed the boy’s hair, and the little guy scampered over to the alcohol table.

  I smiled privately when I caught sight of Christian halfway up the stairs, his back to the wall and one foot propped on a higher step, which made it possible to see up his kilt from the right angle. I chewed on my lip as I stared at his masculine legs, but Patrick’s little boy seized my attention when he streaked by me with a glass in hand, champagne splashing everywhere.

  Viktor took the glass. “Spasibo, little one.”

  Patrick bent down and patted the boy on the cheek. The child cupped his hand and whispered in his ear. Patrick nodded, and the child wandered over to a nearby table and eyeballed a tray of cookies. With so many people moving about the house, I didn’t blame him for keeping the boy close. All it takes is one pervert and an inattentive guardian to ruin a child’s life. He was well behaved, though, returning with a cookie in hand and crawling beneath a table to gawk at the costumes parading in front of him.

  My eyes followed Claude as he crossed the room. He seemed unaware a flock of women was following close behind, giggling and whispering what I guessed were sordid fantasies involving the kilted Chitah.

  It looked like we had all the entrances and exits covered, and when I whirled around to return to the room, I bumped into someone.

  “Pardon me, m’lady.” A man in a cape bowed.

  When he stood upright, I flicked a glance between his Phantom of the Opera mask and the red rose in his breast pocket. “Careful where you’re walking, Phantom.”

  “Or off with my head?” he quipped, touching the heart pendant around my neck.

  I resisted the urge to smile and show interest. I had a job to do.

  “So the queen is without her king? What a shame.”

  I adjusted his rose. “You assume the queen needs a king.”

  He inclined his head, one corner of his mouth smiling. I couldn’t see the other behind the white mask. The man had short blond hair, which seemed all wrong for his costume choice. He appeared close to my age, and I wondered what his Breed was.

  “Are you telling me you showed up in that provocative dress with no intention of attracting the opposite sex?”

  “Precisely,” I said.

  “Then the game is afoot.” He lifted my hand and kissed my knuckles. “See you when I see you.”

  As quickly as a waiter flashed a tray in front of me, the stranger vanished. I spun in a circle, and that was when I noticed a tall man moving into the room. He wasn’t the only skyscraper in the crow
d, but maybe it was his swagger that made me pay close attention. The silver jester’s mask that covered his whole face had a mocking smile. Metallic blue surrounded his eyes, and his hat—which covered most of his head—had several pieces bent forward with bells on the ends, making it impossible to see his hair color. Other than that, his attire was unremarkable. A black suit, dress shoes, and no rings or other jewelry.

  I waited impatiently for him to pass as he searched the room.

  A woman shrieked when a man spilled his drink on her shoes, and a few people turned to look. Except for the jester. He was distracted, in search of someone.

  I sent a quick text to the team that we had a possible suspect on the move.

  Viktor pulled some of his mask away and wiped his forehead. He looked nervous about using a member of the higher authority’s social function as a means to bust a serial killer, and he didn’t want us doing anything impetuous that could put lives at risk. We needed to surreptitiously identify Romeo and follow Viktor’s orders on how to proceed.

  Sweat touched my brow. The leather instrument of torture wrapped around my waist was starting to constrict my breathing—even my cleavage had a rosy hue. I couldn’t see the suspect anymore; he’d gone into the room where Blue was.

  Since Niko couldn’t read text messages, I moved briskly up the stairs until I reached the second floor landing. “A gentleman just walked into the ballroom,” I said. “You should see his mask.”

  Niko leaned over the banister. “It’s a good turnout this evening.”

  “The musicians are where all the action’s at.”

  Now he knew to keep watch. I could only imagine what a mess of energy this party must have looked like for him.

  I glanced up and saw Christian descending the stairs, so I followed behind since he had overheard my conversation with Niko.

  I lifted another champagne flute, smiling and nodding as I weaved through the crowd. My outfit received a few admiring glances, but it paled in comparison to some of the bejeweled dresses that looked as though they’d been dipped in gold and diamond dust.

  I stopped and rubbed my temple, dizzy from the noise and movement.

  A kilted Vampire gripped my arm and whisked me into a private hall. “What’s the matter with you?” Christian asked.

  “I’m about to have a heatstroke.”

  “Funny, it feels quite cool to me,” he said, waggling his eyebrows. “Why don’t I escort the lady outside for some fresh air?”

  Christian’s pace was rushed. Had Blue and Romeo left the room? We walked down a long corridor and swung left. The moment we stepped outside and I felt the crisp air against my skin, I kicked off my shoes.

  “You might need those,” Christian murmured, turning to face me.

  “Why don’t you squeeze your feet into those tiny little coffins with heels and tell me how wonderful they are.”

  “Who was the peckerhead you were talking to in there?”

  I shrugged. “A gentleman.”

  “Ah yes, one of those. You can’t trust a phantom.”

  I furrowed my brow, staring off at the bushes.

  Christian waved his hand in front of my face.

  It didn’t seem worth mentioning that Wyatt had lifted up his skirt in the front and was draining his bagpipe in an official’s backyard.

  When the back door opened and a couple appeared, Christian pinned me against the house, his body pressed close. We couldn’t do much with the masks, but he caressed my shoulder and put on a show.

  “This night is beautiful,” Blue said, arm in arm with the jester. “I feel like I’m in a dream.” The door closed behind them, and they moved farther out.

  “It is, but it could be even more beautiful. May I remove your mask?”

  My body stiffened when I recognized Glass’s voice. It really hadn’t struck me until that moment how betrayed and deceived I felt. I fought to rein it in so he wouldn’t pick up my scent.

  I glanced where Wyatt had been pissing and didn’t see him anymore.

  “Stay still,” Christian hissed, his hands on my body like a familiar dream.

  “Your beauty surpasses the stars,” Glass said.

  I rolled my eyes into the back of my head, and Christian gave me a body nudge.

  “Now you,” Blue urged. “I want to see my Romeo.”

  The silence was unbearable. I tried to peek around Christian, but he held me in place, his hand creeping behind my thigh and sending warm tingles in all the wrong places.

  “Well?” she asked. “Why am I the only one revealing myself? I thought you and I had a connection.”

  “People are not always who they seem, Tabitha.”

  That was the name Wyatt had given for Blue. Since we didn’t know what Romeo’s preferences were, we’d told him she was a Mage. Maybe that was what he preferred.

  “I don’t care about looks,” she said. “Did you wear a mask with the other women you met online?”

  “Keep your voice down,” he said. “No one needs to know our business.” Then his tone smoothed out like melted caramel. “Maybe I’m hesitating because we’ve had a real conversation. The masks have given us the chance to know each other on an intimate level, and I don’t want to lose that feeling. Why don’t we leave the party and go to my house? I can cook you dinner.”

  I tried to move, but Christian nibbled my ear.

  “Not until you remove your mask,” she said.

  “Only if you don’t run.”

  She laughed. “Why would I run?”

  His voice became clearer, not muffled as it had been, which led me to believe he had taken off his mask. “Because… I am your mortal enemy.”

  Blue feigned shock by gasping. “You told me you were a Mage.”

  “Do you still trust me, Tabitha? I’m not going to hurt you.” Glass sounded like a little boy in that moment—insecure, hurt, unsure of himself. His tone belied the person I knew.

  I pushed Christian back when he started kissing my neck.

  “Why would you date a Mage?” she asked, trying to pry information out of him. Blue was unflappable and always stuck to the rules.

  “Because… because Chitah women don’t want me. The others rejected me.”

  “I find that hard to believe.”

  “Really?” he snapped. “Quit trying to be nice. I can smell your insincerity. The last thing I need is a woman’s pity.”

  “Pity?”

  Now Christian and I were both peering around to look at them. Blue had two or three feet of distance between them. Glass held his oversized mask in one hand, eyes downcast. I glanced up and searched for our team. We weren’t supposed to cluster together in one area in case the suspect took off on foot. Christian caressed my neck with one hand and sent a text to Viktor with the other. Apparently his kilt had pockets.

  A woman nearby shrieked with laughter as a man pursued her. They disappeared around the side of the mansion.

  “We don’t have privacy,” Glass said. “I can’t talk to you here.”

  “If you can’t talk to me here, then you can’t talk to me anywhere. I don’t see why Chitah women wouldn’t find you attractive.”

  “Are you saying I need to stick with my own kind?”

  Blue was growing frustrated but tried to maintain composure. “Why do you keep twisting things around?”

  Christian placed his mouth against my ear. “His hair is naturally black. I noticed it a while ago. Sometimes Chitahs will dye it.”

  I remembered seeing Glass’s dark roots, but it hadn’t occurred to me that he colored it. I’d been around long enough to learn that traits deviating from the norm were considered defects. Esteemed women chose men with desirable qualities to father their children. I’d observed the same to be true with most every Breed who could procreate. Relics chose partners with specific skills to ensure their children inherited only the best traits. No one wanted defects—physical or otherwise. God, no wonder he’d resorted to online dating. It was probably the reason why his kindred spirit
rejected him. But of all Breeds, why would he choose a Mage?

  Then again, why not? I bet he felt superior, knowing he could kill them with one bite. He hadn’t revealed to Wyatt what his Breed was, so he was luring these women on false pretenses. I wondered if they panicked when they met him, if he scented their fear or disgust.

  Glass sought women with the characteristics he desired—ones he couldn’t have.

  “Tabitha, I don’t want to spoil our evening. Let me explain. At least come to my car where we can talk privately.”

  He was trying to lure her away. He probably had his gun and handcuffs in his car, but all it would take was a bite with two fangs to paralyze her.

  Christian wrapped his arms around my waist. “Patience.”

  I hadn’t noticed I was shoving against him to get at Glass, trying to lift my skirt for the dagger strapped to my thigh.

  “Why didn’t you just tell me the truth?” Blue pressed.

  “The truth?” He laughed haughtily. “Would you be here if I’d told you the truth? No. People say they want the truth, but that’s a lie. Don’t you see? The truth is an illusion; we only want the fantasy. The truth keeps us from having it. Tabitha, please don’t run away.” Glass erased the distance between them, reaching out to cup her face in his hand. “I’m looking for my princess. I’m a loyal male. You can trust me.”

  “Bullshit!” I yelled. It was an impulsive reaction, but I didn’t like how close he was getting to Blue’s neck.

  Glass spun around, and his canines punched out. He took a deep breath, nostrils flaring as he tried to figure out who was interrupting his failed attempt at wooing.

  I stalked toward him so he could get a better whiff of betrayal and anger.

  “Mind your own business,” he snarled.

  I tore away my mask. “This is my business. Keystone business.”

  When he recognized me, he slowly turned his gaze toward Blue and realized this was a setup. In a swift movement, he snatched her wig, taking the cap with it and releasing her brown hair. The anger was never more palpable on his face than in that moment when the hunted became the prey.

  Christian swiftly circled Glass so we had him surrounded. “Looks like you picked the wrong girl to have a fairy tale with, Detective.”