by Holly Evans
"Do what? Make a fool of myself?" I said with a wry smile and a sharp laugh.
He took my hand and stopped me from stepping away.
"No. You calm my demon side like nothing else," he said, a roughness to his voice that sent a thrill through me.
"I'm going to text Kane," I said.
I couldn't go there. The risk was just too much. Putting my coffee down, I practically ran up the stairs to get my phone and text Kane. He replied a moment later asking which crepe place - apparently there were a few.
Dante had put his shirt on when I returned to the living kitchen area. The well-fitted white linen shirt didn't do anything to reduce my desire to run my hands over him.
"Which crepe place?"
"The one in the main square, opposite the gelato place."
I texted that to Kane.
The reply came in a few seconds later.
"He'll be there in ten minutes."
Dante nodded, the smirk had gone replaced with a small frown. Guilt riddled me. I hadn't meant to upset him.
"I'm sorry... it can't be easy being half demon," I said quietly.
The frown deepened as he looked at me, his eyes searching my face.
"You're the first person to make that comment," he said slowly, cautiously.
I shrugged.
"Well, it can't."
The corner of his mouth tugged up with the thought of a smile.
"People view me as nothing more than a playboy, a rich businessman who can give people the lifestyle they feel they deserve."
I snorted. “People view me as a disposable sword."
"And yet you use daggers..." he said, his fingers trailing down my thigh near my sheaths.
"We should go get those crepes," I said with a smile.
The crepe place was a small hole in the wall on the edge of the square. The seating was all out on the edge of the square, comprised of neat wooden tables and tables. Dante chose a table on the edge of the group of tables with black umbrellas stopping the sun from blinding us. He leaned back in his chair, which was slightly too narrow for his broad muscular frame, and favoured the waitress with a small smile that made his eyes dance. A thread of jealousy ran through me as the pretty blonde blushed and fluttered her eyelashes at him. She gave him her best puppy eyes and chewed on her bottom lip as she very attentively took his order. It was ridiculous being jealous. He was a stunning man, and single as far as I was aware. He was free to flirt with whomever he pleased.
Kane arrived just as I was about to order. He squeezed between the tables at the edge of the grouping and made his way over to us. The waitress looked him up and down, her smile widening. I sighed.
“Two vanilla and blueberry crepes,” I said.
Kane pulled the spare seat around next to me and glanced at the simple white sheet of paper that formed the menu before he squeezed my knee under the table and leaned in to brush his lips over my cheek. He wasn’t usually that affectionate, but it wasn’t a normal situation. I let it slide without comment.
“Any progress on your work last night?” Dante said a little sharply.
The bright sunlight behind Dante put his face in deeper shadow beneath the umbrella, and that gave him an edge, a reminder of the predator that lay just beneath the surface.
Kane smirked at him and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. I felt like a chew toy they were tugging back and forth.
“Yes, it had some very unusual results. I need to ask around the community to see what exactly they mean.”
Dante sighed and almost rolled his eyes.
“I’d been hoping for something more useful.”
Kane ground his teeth, his fingers tightened against my leg.
“I did the best with what I had. Maybe if you had given me something more useful, you would have more answers.”
I held up my hands, which caught the attention of the waitress. She quickly ignored me again.
“Enough. I am tired of you two swinging your dicks around.”
I squeezed my eyes closed the moment the words were out of my mouth. I could feel the shocked gaze of some of the other diners.
Kane laughed, and Dante soon followed. I opened my eyes to see them both looking positively delighted.
“I’ll ask around today and get back to you this evening. I have some leads I can chase down,” Kane said as he relaxed.
“We’re speaking to the family today, so maybe that will also shed some light on everything,” Dante said.
They were talking to each other like normal guys. The tension had slipped away. I relaxed and smiled when the waitress put my order in front of me. One raspberry and vanilla crepe and one chocolate crepe. It was food, it would do.
TWENTY-FIVE
Breakfast continued in a relaxed manner before we parted ways. Dante’s hand was back on my lower back at the first possible opportunity. I wasn’t complaining. There was something comforting about his presence, about that connection. I felt as though I should have been complaining, though, and that left me feeling uptight and confused.
“The family lives about twenty minutes’ drive away,” Dante said as he opened the car door for me.
I squeezed past him, trying not to think about his hard body pressed to mine. I’d already made enough of a fool of myself for one day.
“We’ll be speaking to Darijo’s family. He went missing two days before we arrived here. It took the Council a day to discuss whether it was worth them stepping in, so we’re behind,” he said, frustration running through his words.
I didn’t know much of how the Council worked outside of the ‘executing blood witches’ part. They were in control of the overall laws and such for the supernal community, but the inner workings were entirely alien to me. I should probably have worked on that, but it seemed safer to remain as hidden as possible, and digging into things like that could raise a flag somewhere.
“What if it isn’t the cult? What then?” I asked.
The landscape around us was truly stunning. We followed a road that hugged the coastline, giving us panoramic views over the ocean to my right and the stark pale hills to my left. Lumps of pure white rock jutted out between the cream scrubby grasses and hardy green bushes. The hills themselves rose up at an incredibly steep angle. My mind flitted to the horror it would be to fall over the edge. There would be nothing to stop us, nothing to hold onto.
I refocused my mind back on Dante and the investigation I was supposed to be helping him with. I still didn’t understand why the Council had chosen me, of all the mercenaries.
“Then we’ll chase down any leads Kane might come back with from the witch community. Given the highly unusual nature of that blood and the fact they tried to chase us off, I think we can safely say there is something there we need to look into. It may not directly tie with the missing people and the cult, but there is a strong chance it will lead us back there eventually.”
He sounded so confident, so sure that this would unravel for him and that it was a simple case of tugging the right threads. I was in awe of that assurance.
“Don’t worry, I can do all of the talking,” he said with a smile.
I wrinkled my nose. He’d likely have to. He put his hand on mine.
“We all have a first case. There’s no shame in it,” he said gently.
I didn’t say anything as I tried to keep myself calm and collected while his bloodsong kicked up into a higher gear. Closing my eyes, I breathed in the fresh sea air and focused on the peace that brought me as I tried to block out the intense beat that was washing over me. I needed to do better, else he’d be the end of me. Literally.
I’d gotten a handle on my magic and had managed to mute Dante’s bloodsong - I was still aware of it, but it wasn’t trying to drown me anymore - just in time for him to pull up in front of the most beautiful house I’d seen. It was a simple square white building with small square windows and an almost flat red tiled roof, but it had crisp lines and screamed money. The manicured flower beds along either
side of the driveway were bursting with colour that stood stark against the cream surroundings.
I followed Dante to the generously sized porch and tried to calm my nerves as we waited for someone to answer after Dante knocked. His fingertips fluttered over the palm of my hand, and I found myself smiling. He wasn’t as much of an asshole as I’d initially assumed. The door swung open to reveal a man in what looked to be his late forties with dark hair, hazel eyes, and a deep rich tan.
“I’m Dante Caspari, from the Council. We’re here about Darijo’s disappearance.”
The man looked between us, his eyes pausing on my jeans before he exhaled slowly and stepped aside for us to enter.
The interior was clean and simple, but it further highlighted the wealth of the owners. The white walls were bare except for a few beautiful pieces of art. The man led us down through the huge open-plan kitchen that must have been as big as my apartment out onto a terrace complete with large pool. The views over the ocean below were absolutely breathtaking. I was fighting hard to keep my composure, and I had no doubt that I was failing.
A younger woman brought out a pitcher of ice water and a trio of glasses.
“Darijo was a good boy. He didn’t dabble in anything he shouldn’t have,” the man said.
Something about him was bugging me. His shoulders were slightly hunched, and his mouth was pulled into a soft frown. His eyes were hard and his body entirely still.
“Did he have any interest in the local cult?” Dante asked.
The man’s eyes hardened further, and he tensed. He knew something about the cult, but it didn’t look like we’d be able to get those answers without roughing him up. I got the impression that the Council wouldn’t approve of those methods - not on good upstanding fox shifters, anyway.
The man’s eyes flicked to mine, and a shiver ran down my spine. I couldn’t pinpoint why, but something about him and his eyes in that moment triggered my instincts, telling me to run.
“No. I don’t know what you mean by a local cult,” the man said.
Dante raised his eyebrow.
“The cult you, yourself, reported to the Council a month ago,” Dante said coolly.
The man’s face split into a false smile. “Oh yes, I’m sorry, it’s been a very long few days.”
“What were Darijo’s hobbies and interests?” I asked.
The man’s face fell again, and he flexed his fingers. He was practically vibrating from his need to get out of the situation.
“He, er, he liked video games and swimming at the beach.”
“He was seventeen. We’re going to need you to be more honest with us,” Dante pushed.
“This interview is over,” the man said, standing.
Dante and I stood, too. Dante stepped around the small table and into the man’s personal space.
“No, this is not over. Now tell me what it is about your son that you’re trying to hide,” Dante growled.
“He spent time with some mud-blooded runt, Seada. He claimed he loved her. How could he love her? She was half fox and half corvid, it is unnatural,” he spat.
“And you believe he ran away to be with her?” I asked.
“Get out,” he snarled.
Dante put his hand back on my lower back and nudged me to begin leaving. I wanted to get more information from the man, but I had to follow Dante’s lead.
“We’ll need Seada’s details,” Dante said.
“My wife will give them to you,” the man said as he stalked off to the edge of the terrace.
The woman that had served us the water handed Dante a slip of paper without saying a word. He glanced it and gave the paper to me as we stepped out of the door.
I frowned at an address and the word Olapireta beneath it.
Dante put his arm around my waist and whispered, “Not until we’re on the road,” in my ear.
What on Earth was going on?
TWENTY-SIX
We were back on the road when Dante relaxed some and I finally felt like I could talk.
“So, what are the Olapireta?”
His nostrils flared and he tensed again, a small muscle ticking in his jaw where he clenched his teeth before he exhaled slowly.
“They are purists. They were formed a number of centuries ago. They feel that people like me are impure and should be removed from the world. Along with certain types of witches, anything not pure in its heritage, and some types of fae.”
I frowned and tried to picture what awful bitter people would think like that. Of course, there were those types of people all around the world in different shapes and forms, those that felt a small narrow band of people were the only good ones.
“Are they dangerous?” I asked.
“Yes. I’ll have to check in with the Council and see if they’re aware of them being here and get a record of the membership in the area.”
He looked rattled and gripped the steering wheel in a death grip as he took long slow breaths.
“You’ve had a run in with them, haven’t you?” I asked softly.
He rolled his jaw.
“They tried to kill me and my brother when we were fifteen. They almost succeeded in burning our house down. My girlfriend at the time was killed in the fray.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, but it felt weak and worthless.
He gave me a small sad smile.
“We need to pay a visit to this cult and see how they’re involved in all of this.”
And just like that, the subject was closed.
Dante took the road leading up through the hills away from the soothing sensation of the ocean. The hills climbed up around us at sharp imposing angles. There was a feeling of being trapped there. The bright blue sky started to cloud over with thick grey clouds that threatened heavy rain. Everything about the situation felt like a warning - a trap, even. I laughed to myself; how ridiculous I sounded, even to myself.
There were no other cars on the road as we headed deeper into the hills. Small houses and buildings occasionally dotted the landscape on either side of us, but nothing of any substance. Finally, we turned down a small narrow road that was only wide enough for one car at a time.
“The cult is ten minutes down here,” Dante said.
Then we stopped dead.
The engine died and the front of the car bumped against something before it stopped. I could feel the magic once the car had stopped and let me focus, a great thick wall of it. Dante exhaled slowly and got out of the car, where he proceeded to punch the air in front of the car. Small pale shimmers formed around the area where he’d punched it, the magic rippling away before it faded back to nothing.
“I don’t think you can punch your way through it,” I said with a smile.
“It made me feel better to try,” he said with a half-smile.
“It must have taken a lot of magic to pull this off, right?”
I didn’t know much about magic, though as a hunter I’d been taught the basics that I needed to know. I knew to avoid any powders, dusts, and such, especially if they smelled of cherry blossom. Kane had taught some simple healing salves, but outside of what my instincts told me about my own blood magic, that was all I knew.
“Yes. They must have someone quite powerful, and if my senses are correct, that someone is also a blood witch.”
My heart stopped, and my blood ran cold.
There was a blood witch in there? Of course, they would be at the heart of a cult, wouldn’t they? I mean, they couldn’t be running a healing facility or something noble. There was someone in there who could tell me about my magic, though, and maybe why my parents vanished in the night. Magic runs down bloodlines, so there was a chance we were even related somehow. But they were also in a cult; but then, what if everyone was just assuming the cult was bad because, well, it’s a cult?
My head was spinning. I felt nauseous. Dante wrapped his arms around me and stroked my cheek, his ice-blue eyes kind and soft. They’d be anything but if he knew what I was.
�
��It’s ok, they won’t hurt you, not from out there,” he said gently.
I gave him a weak smile.
“It might not have been a blood witch. It could have been a blood sacrifice by another form of witch,” he said as though that were comforting.
I laughed, I couldn’t help it.
“Well, I feel so much better knowing that it might have been that someone was brutally killed and drained of their blood to form this wall instead.”
Dante snorted and rubbed his thumb over my cheekbone.
I frowned. “So what now?”
“Now we know they’re hiding something, and it must be something big for them to put so much effort into keeping people out.”
“Why do I get the impression that’s made you all the more determined to get in?”
He gave me a wicked grin. Fantastic, we were going to try and break into the cult where they might or might not have sacrificed someone just to make a magic wall.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Dante had decided that trying to break in in broad daylight wasn’t the best plan, so instead we were paying Saeda a visit - Darijo’s girlfriend. Dante was convinced that the cult was behind the missing people, and I couldn’t deny that it did seem likely given that cults didn’t have the best reputation. And, from what the Council had said, they had become active some three weeks before people started vanishing. Still, some part of me wanted them to just be a group of people who wanted some peace and quiet. If there was a blood witch in there, it would be nice to know they were kind and protective rather than the monster we were made out to be.
Saeda lived in a small house at the end of the cluster of identical houses, each with white walls, red tiled rooves, and a small neat garden in front. They had beautiful views out over the ocean with glimpses of the city below. I hoped one day to live somewhere similar. Not too flashy, just quiet and peaceful with views out over the ocean.
Dante put his hand on my lower back and snapped me out of my daydream just before an older woman with long black hair and dark amber eyes opened the door. She tilted her head slightly to one side and pursed her mouth. Everything about her screamed corvid shifter, from the choice of loose dark clothes to the small, almost fluttery movements of her body and the calculating understanding within her eyes.
