He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment before meeting my gaze. “You can’t breathe a word of this to anyone, Ava.”
“What is it?”
“It’s true that there was an incident. And yes, a human was killed, but the werewolves didn’t kill him. They did rip his body apart afterward, but that was simply to cover up what had happened to him.”
My mouth fell open. “What the hell has been going on around here?”
“It’s not my secret to tell,” he said. “The one who killed that man did it to save a werewolf cub, and they have left the country since.”
Then it dawned on me. “They left with you,” I said slowly. “You took them away. Why? Was it Lorcan? Is that why he’s not coming back?”
“It wasn’t Lorcan. Or Lucia.”
That took me aback. Who else did he care about more than the werewolves? “I don’t understand. Why did you let the werewolves take the blame?”
“It wasn’t my choice. I brought this… person to see the werewolves, who agreed to offer their protection. The incident with the human was a surprise. The child was saved only for the quick actions of this creature. The werewolves owed their thanks; it was their idea to cover up the death and take the blame. The creature is at a greater risk of being exterminated than even the werewolves, and I thought it deserved a fair chance at life. It was only in the position of danger in the first place because I brought it to the werewolves, looking for answers to questions I had.” He rubbed his face as though trying to wipe away his guilt.
“Well? Don’t leave me hanging. Who is it?”
“More like… what.” He avoided my eyes. “We don’t know for sure, but it may have been a demon.” He chanced a glance at me. “From the book.”
I jumped to my feet. “Are you
serious
? You set a demon free? A human-killing demon from the book that caused the sun to disappear? What the hell is going on, Phoenix?”
He joined me, looking agitated. “It wasn’t… it was a different kind of demon. Not at all what you think.”
“It went on to kill a human. That’s exactly what I would think a demon might do.”
“I’m serious, Ava. Think bigger. Everything was pulled into that book, higher and lesser demons alike, as far as we know. And the problem is that we don’t know enough.”
“The problem is that I know too much! The Eleven claim responsibility for those books. It was supposed to keep balance, and now you’re saving monsters from it?” I curled my fingers into fists. “What if they say I have to kill it, Phoenix?”
“I took the creature away. There’s no need to panic. I’ve brought this demon to an expert who believes she is a protector of sorts.”
“She?”
“Yes, she. She is not humanoid, not like anything else I know, but she helped save more than one life on more than one occasion, and I owed her a chance. I’m confident that she’s not a danger to anyone, but if it makes you feel any better, she’s currently being watched over by the expert who believes this demon either lured the others into the book or was accidentally trapped while helping track them down.”
I didn’t know what to think. “This is just mental. How can you be so sure about any of this?”
“Sure? I can’t. But I have good reason to believe in what I’ve told you. If you had met the creature… but I couldn’t tell you about it. I had to leave so abruptly because of the death. I heard the paragon was returning, and I needed the demon to be out of the country before he did.”
I blew out a whistle. “Does
anybody
tell me the truth anymore?” For some reason, that question made him more uncomfortable. “Is there anything else I should know?” I demanded.
“Anything else is not my secret to tell,” he said, looking as though he meant it.
“I could sleep for a week,” I said. “I’m tired, Phoenix. I’m getting too old for all of this madness.”
“You are very young,” he scolded.
“Well, all of this drama is aging me. Badly. My back hurts. I’m covered in bruises. I’ve avoided the old Council cells twice in a week. I’ve been made an enemy of the shifter pack. I’ve been squished by a werewolf and narrowly avoided a tranquiliser dart. I’ve been in a fight with a shifter, who mysteriously died in the same spot after I left, even though he was supposed to let me champion Esther’s cause with the shifters. I’ve been called a murderer one hundred times. I’ve seen the Senate way too many times lately, and it doesn’t make them like me any more than usual, and I…” I sighed. “I’m glad you’re back. It takes some of the work off my load.”
He snorted, reminding me of his son, Lorcan. “As if you were responsible for any of this in the first place. And you’ll have to catch me up on the drama, but for now, I’m taking it that you’re willing.”
“Willing?”
“To help me find the true murderer.”
“Oh.” I thought about it and grinned. “I’ll make a deal with you.”
He looked stunned. “What sort of deal?”
I closed the space between us. “If I help you with the werewolves, then you find a way to get the shifters off Esther’s back for good.”
He smiled down at me and held out his hand to shake. “It’s a deal.”
I shook his hand, feeling relieved. Powerful allies were the best. “So how are we going to track down this murderer anyway?”
“Go to the previous crime scenes and hope we can pick up something.” He nodded at Icarus. “He will help.”
“Phoenix, what if it really is a werewolf?”
“It’s not.”
“But what if?”
He sighed. “Then Icarus will deal with the traitor himself.”
I shivered, wondering what a werewolf’s punishment looked like.
He looked over my shoulder and smiled. “There’s Icarus’s mate. She must have worried when he didn’t return to the den.”
I looked around to see a relatively small werewolf running toward us. She loosed a pained howl when she saw Icarus’s body, but when she reached us, she sniffed him. Reassured that he was okay, she chuffed happily and lay next to him.
“She’ll watch over him until he wakes,” Phoenix said. He ran his hand across her back. “I’ll be back for him tomorrow.”
She acted as though she were alone with Icarus, and Phoenix held his hand out to me. “Come. We’ll give them their peace.”
He led me away from the werewolves. We wandered toward the campsite of the trucks and grinned at the shouts of dismay and frustration.
“We should probably unlock those trucks,” he said, “before the waking werewolves tear them apart getting themselves free.”
We ran to the camp. A couple of the hunters tried to stop us, but Phoenix soon put them in their place. “This order has been cancelled. Didn’t you get the word?”
“Yes, but we’ve already loaded five of the animals into the trucks.”
“Then I’d advise you to leave the trucks and get out of here before they wake up,” Phoenix said in his cold, authoritative tone. “They won’t be held responsible for the people they eat.”
I hid my smile as the man swallowed hard and nodded. “Come on!” he shouted at the rest of his people. “It’s over. Let’s get the hell out of this shithole.”
We waited until they’d left then opened all of the trucks. I felt bad for the sleeping werewolves, but at least they would wake up safe.
“And I think we should heed our own advice,” Phoenix said wryly. “They won’t wake up peacefully from a sleeping agent. In fact, I can’t imagine what the Senate were thinking. The wolves would have woken up
en
route and destroyed everything in sight until they found safety again. Or at the very least, until they woke up properly.”
“Maybe they were nudged in a certain direction,” I said.
“By whom?”
“The paragon.” I seemed to be the only one who could see the truth—there had been no werewolf problems before the paragon arrived.
“You think he led them astray? Gave them bad advice to make a terrible situation worse?”
“I do,” I said. “And I don’t think he’s going to stop there.”
“No.” He studied me. “He won’t stop with the werewolves, either. Have you ever considered the idea that Mac originally held those shifters captive to protect the entire species from the paragon? For the greater good, as it were. A lone shifter can get into trouble, but if the pack as a whole does as it’s told…”
That made me uncomfortable. Maybe the paragon was an even bigger source of trouble than I had imagined.
Chapter Thirteen
“Thank you,” Phoenix said when he pulled up outside the cul-de-sac after driving me home. “There’s nobody else I can trust with this. I should have known I’d come back to find you fighting my battles.”
The atmosphere grew intense for no other reason than the way he was looking at me. I held his gaze with great difficulty. “It’s not like I’m not going to benefit. The werewolves are just the initial target, right? We’re all in trouble if we can’t save them.”
His searching gaze continued for a moment longer, and my cheeks burned. I had missed him, and I couldn’t hide how glad I was that he was back.
“You should get inside,” he said softly. “Ready yourself for our investigation. It could get rough.”
“See you later then.”
We both hesitated before I reached for the door handle. I let myself out and waved him off, taking a deep breath to clear my head. Then I caught the stench of ammonia outside the cul-de-sac.
“What the hell?” I walked around to take a look. The walls outside were drenched with urine. “Those little
shits
.” Shaking my head, I headed toward my house.
Peter was standing at his gate, waiting for me to pass. “Was that Phoenix?”
I froze to the spot, suddenly feeling as though I had been caught doing something terrible. “Yeah. He turned up today, got me out of a tight spot, and gave me a lift home.”
He stared at me in silence, a suspicious frown marring his features.
“Right, well, I’ve a lot to catch you all up on. Meet me in my house if you’re interested.”
“Val’s inside. I’ll bring her with me.”
“And Emmett?”
“He’s with Melody.”
“Oh.” My cheeks burned again. “See you in a few minutes then.” I turned and shoved my hands in my pockets.
What the hell is wrong with me?
Carl and Esther were watching a DVD in my living room.
“Lots to say, waiting for Peter and Val to arrive before saying it,” I called out as I hurried past them to the kitchen.
Carl followed me. “You okay? Your voice is all high-pitched and weird.”
“I’m fine. It’s just been a fucked-up day. I’ll tell you about it when the others get here. Want some tea?”
“I’ll make it,” he said, shoving me out of the way. “Your tea could clear drains.”
I lightly thumped his side and walked over to the fridge to get milk. “Phoenix is back.”
“Is that what’s wrong?”
“No. Peter’s just acting like—”
The door slammed shut.
“That must be him,” I said brightly. “Looks like you’re in charge of everyone’s tea.”
I left before he could ask me any more questions. I couldn’t explain why I was feeling so weird. It had occurred to me that I might have a slight crush on Phoenix, and I definitely had a lot of history with Peter, so when one asked about the other, I tended to feel… off balance.
Once everyone had their tea and biscuits, I caught them up on the day’s events. Talking business helped get my head back in gear.
“Is there anything we can do to help?” Peter asked.
“To be honest, I’m not even sure there is. Unless…” I tapped my chin. “You could try to find out more about the deaths of Mac and Greg. I promised Phoenix I’d focus on the werewolf problem, but we still need to find a stopgap to the shifter issue until the new alpha turns up and settles things. As long as the shifters are on our backs, we’re not going to get a moment’s peace. I smelled the whole marking-of-territory thing going on outside the cul-de-sac, and I’m not impressed.”
“That was a pack of teenagers messing around,” Carl said scornfully. “It was no big deal. Anka chased them off. They took one look at her rolling pin and scarpered.”
“I wish I had arrived sooner,” Val said. “I would have made them scared to urinate in their own homes, never mind ours.”
“They’re just kids,” Carl said.
“But it’s not like they’ll stop there,” Esther said. “And if they get in Ava’s way, they could make the situation worse for the werewolves.”
“I just can’t believe Lorcan’s not coming back,” Peter said. He glanced at Val. “At least Lucia’s bound to come back soon, eh?”
But the hellhound didn’t exactly look pleased.
“And I’m just relieved that the werewolves have never killed a human.” I cocked my head to the side. “That we know about anyway.”
“I thought they did weeks ago,” Peter said, looking confused.
“Oh, they just covered it up for, um, some other creature that Phoenix was taking care of. But it’s out of the country now, so that’s… are you okay, Peter?”
He nodded, but he had just choked on his drink, and his face turned red as he hacked up a lung. Carl thumped him on the back until the coughing fit passed.
“I’m okay,” Peter said at last, but his cheeks remained red. I felt a prickle on the back of my neck at the idea that he was hiding something from me, too.
“I don’t get why the paragon is so opposed to the werewolves,” Carl said. “He has to be the one committing these murders.”
“That’s what I thought,” I said. “But I don’t think he is. I think that he’s just using tragedy to suit his agenda. And the thing about the werewolves covering up a death for someone else has me thinking. What if it’s happening again, except this time, whatever’s doing the killing is trying to make it look like a werewolf attack?”
“What if you’re wrong?” Esther said, looking worried. “What if the murderer is really that savage? You’re in danger if you look into this, Ava.”
“I’ll be with Phoenix.”
All of them looked doubtful.
“And Icarus.”
The room relaxed.
“Besides,” I said. “If I do this, then Phoenix has promised to get rid of the shifter annoyance for good.”
“How is he going to manage that?” Peter scoffed.
“I don’t know, but he said he would, so I trust him,” I said.
“Well, I don’t,” he retorted.
“Well, I have to,” I snapped. “He’s our best chance.”
“But the werewolves aren’t your responsibility,” he said. “And what’s happening to them is shitty, but you’re throwing yourself in the fire alongside them. When are you ever going to learn?”
“Learn what?” I asked coldly. “To be like you and not give a shit about anyone else?”
Peter’s face fell.
I rubbed my temples. “I didn’t mean that. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine,” he said. “I should head on anyway.” He got up from the chair and left the room.
I followed him outside my house and tugged on his arm. “Peter, wait.”
“It’s cool,” he said. “I understand.”
“No, you don’t.” Keeping my hand on his arm, I sighed. “It’s been a rough week, and I took it out on you because you keep voicing the things that I’m scared of. I’m scared that helping the werewolves will bring a fire on us, too. I’m scared that Phoenix can’t be trusted, and I’m worried that the shifters will never back off and leave us alone. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”
“I’m okay.”
“Great, but what I said wasn’t true.”
He hesitated then.
“I know you care about other people,” I said. “And I’ve seen you make changes to your life. Not just for Emmett, but for you, too, and that’s healthy. I picked at a scab because I was being a bitch. I just wanted you to know that I noticed, and I think it’s great that you’re getting your life together.”
He heaved out a sigh as though a heavy weight had just been lifted off his shoulders. “I’m trying to give you your space, Ava, but I’m getting tired of waiting around. Are we ever going to go back to the way it was?”
I gave him a puzzled stare. “But that’s impossible, and why would you want to go back to that? Neither of us was in a great place, and we clung on to each other for support in all of the wrong ways.”
He swallowed hard. “Are you saying this is it? That there will never be a me and you again?”
I hesitated too long, and pain reared in his eyes.
“I can’t see the future,” I said at last. “But I’m not sure I’m ready for that kind of heavy relationship. Everything we do affects Emmett, and that’s a lot of pressure on us when we both care about him so much.” I couldn’t read his expression. “Stop looking at me like that. I’m not perfect, Peter, and I don’t know if I’m ready.”
He pressed me against the wall, one hand on my hip and the other on my cheek. He stroked my skin, and my heart rate increased. I did miss him, but being with him had worn me out in a lot of ways. The thought of going back to that filled me with just as much dread as excitement. If I went back, that might mean throwing away the last year of progress I’d made. Was it going back or forward? I just didn’t know, and I couldn’t tell if my own intentions were good or right.
He pressed his lips against mine briefly then pushed harder, forcing my mouth open with his tongue. I held on, stunned by the memories that resurfaced.
He pulled back. “Okay,” he breathed. “I can take the idea of not going back, but I won’t give up on a fresh start.”
I just still wasn’t sure what
I
thought about that.
***
Phoenix knocked loudly on my front door. By the way he knocked, I could tell he had an actual reason for being there for a change. I had to be honest and admit that I had missed the way he used to show up.
My
troubles had brought
him
trouble; the first vampire had taken Phoenix’s daughter, Lucia, to get to me. After Phoenix had raged at me—and I’d seriously feared for my life at the time—our easy friendship had seemed to die a little. Maybe it hadn’t died, but it’d definitely grown sickly. He said he didn’t hold it against me, even after he had persuaded his children to leave my safety and join him in his.
I realised later that when he’d said his goodbye that day, Phoenix had decided I wasn’t worth the trouble and that he had other priorities. I missed having that friend, the one everyone else was scared of, the one who showed me his vulnerabilities. It had been nice to feel… trusted, I suppose. Phoenix was an enigma, and I had missed trying to figure him out. That I found him attractive was just a bonus.
So maybe that was why my heart leapt in my chest at the confident knock at my door. I wouldn’t have to coax him out. When I answered the door, he was all business, despite looking more way more casual than usual. His hair was tied back into a loose bun, and he was wearing jeans, a vintage T-shirt, and a brown leather jacket.
“Been shopping lately?” I asked.
Ignoring the question, he gripped my arm and pulled me outside. “Come,” he said. “We’re going to get some protection.”
“From who?”
He seemed to realise he was taking me outside without a coat on.
“Sorry,” he said, suddenly grinning. “I’m eager to move on today. But as we’re going to be busy, we’ll need to leave those who depend upon us with a little extra protection in case something happens while we’re gone.”
“And we’ll do that how?” I turned my back on him and went inside.
He followed me. “There’s a natural witch in the children’s home who will be more than happy to leave, even if she has to help us to do it.”
“What can she do?”
He hesitated, and I turned to look at him. I laid my hands on my hips. “What can she do, Phoenix?”
“Plenty of things. She can provide a temporary protection with little effort.”
“So what’s the problem? I can hear the
but
in there, so you might as well spit it out.”
He sat straight-backed on my sofa, looking too big for the room. “She sometimes can’t control her magic. When she can, it’s supremely powerful.”
“And what happens when she can’t?”
He gave me an innocent look. “There can be side effects. And she has a bit of a temper. That can sometimes manifest.”
“Wait a second,” I said, freezing to the spot. “Are you talking about Noah’s girlfriend? The girl who tried to destroy Parker and Jess with magic? The little—”
“Parker was about to burst into flames,” he said, interrupting my fury.
“He was not! Anyway, I thought the natural witch was much younger, as in, a little kid.”
“I still have my suspicions about another child, but it’s hard to tell for sure sometimes. They like to play… tricks or claim responsibility for other people’s talents.” He sighed. “It can be tiring, but I hear they’ve made strides in my absence, and I’d like to see for myself.”
“I don’t think she likes me very much.”
“She’s a teenager,” he said. “She’ll get over it.”
But I wasn’t so sure.
“Trust me,” he said with a surprisingly charming smile. “It’ll be worth it.”
“Fine,” I said reluctantly. “But if this goes wrong, you owe me a drink.”
He laughed. “It’s a deal.”
Grumbling, I pulled on my jacket and followed him to his car. I groaned when I saw it was his official Senate car that made people stare when we drove by.
“You know I hate being a spectacle,” I complained as I sat in the cushy passenger seat. It was more comfortable than my armchairs.