Once Bitten (Shadow Guild: The Rebel #1)(46)
“Um, I’m wanted for a string of serial killings. My face is on posters in pubs. Of course I’m invested in clearing my name.” My throat tightened at the thought of Beatrix.
“That’s not the only reason.”
“How do you know?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I can feel it.”
“Some bastard killed my friend, okay?” The words burst out of me. “My only friend, a year ago. And I found her dead.”
“The woman you asked me about.” His voice was softer.
“Yes. And there were no leads until this guy ended up dead with the same little spiral burn on his neck.”
He nodded. “I see. I’m sorry.”
I shook away the thoughts, hardening my face as I crossed my arms over my chest and raised an eyebrow. “Tell me more about your interest in this murder.”
I could tell from his dissatisfied expression that he wanted to ask me more about Beatrix, but he just nodded. “Fine. I like to keep track of everything that happens in this city. And I believe that there may be a necromancer in town.”
Just like Mac suspected. “And that’s bad?”
“Exceedingly. They are powerful, dangerous, and unscrupulous. There is one particular necromancer that I’ve clashed with since I came to England.”
“From where?”
“I thought you didn’t want to get to know each other.”
“Fine.” I didn’t really need that information, anyway. “So you think the killer might be this necromancer?”
“Yes. And I think he might be up to something that threatens me and my empire. An acquaintance tipped me off that he came into town about a year ago. At the same time, a valuable dagger of mine was stolen. Perhaps by him.”
“You think he used it in the murder.”
“It was capable of great magic, so yes, it is possible. When our victim was killed, there was a flare of magic—likely from a spell performed at the time. I tracked that magic and was going to investigate the scene when you showed up.”
I supposed the story worked. And the flare of magic described the crazy symbol inside the victim’s chest. There was no way I’d be letting my guard down, though. “You have no idea what this necromancer is after?”
“No.”
“Why haven’t you looked for him, then? Why give me clues?”
“Because you’re competent and skilled and will get the job done. Leaving me free to spend my time on other things.”
“Like?” He’d better be trying to solve this damned murder, too, if I was going to trust him.
“I’ve been hunting the necromancer here in Guild City.”
“Caught him yet?”
“Sadly, no.” His voice had a wry lilt that I liked. “But there have been flares of dark magic at the churches surrounding Guild City. Ones in the human realm.”
“That’s strange that he would be in the human realm.”
“Not that strange. Many supernatural live and work there. You’ve just never seen them.”
“Right. Say I believe you. Say you have nothing to do with this at all. Where do we go from here? Do you have any clues for me?”
“I was rather hoping you’d have some for me.”
“I did find something.” I hesitated.
He moved nearer, his steps slow, as if he wanted to avoid startling me. I thrust out a hand. “No closer.”
“Nervous?”
His mind control power didn’t work on me, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t afraid of him. “You’re a vampire, for God’s sake. With fangs and maybe even super speed.”
“Yes to both, but I don’t attack unarmed women.”
“Armed ones?”
“Rarely. And only if they’re out for my head.”
“I suppose that’s fair.”
He shrugged. “I’m a feminist vampire.”
“Vlad the Impaler is a feminist?”
“Searching for history?”
“I don’t even know your name. Everyone just calls you the Devil.”
“If it fits….”
“It does. But I’d like a name.”
“Grey.”
“As in shadows?”
“As in Gardens.”
My jaw nearly dropped at the joke. He could joke? “Grey Gardens?”
“Of course as in shadows.” He leaned against the desk. “Now, do you trust me enough to tell me what you found in the body?”
I dug my mobile out of my pocket and pulled up the picture so that he could see it. Maybe he would know more than Mac had. “His heart was missing. And this symbol was burned inside.”
A small smile stretched across his face, a smile of pure satisfaction.
“You know what it is?” I demanded.
“Not exactly. But I know we can use it to track the killer.”
“Couldn’t we have used the spiral-shaped burn mark to track him?”
“No. That’s a generic mark of necromancer magic. Small and untrackable because it contains so little magic.” He pointed to the phone. “That is evidence of powerful magic. Big enough to leave a stain on the victim and the murderer. The Sorcerers’ Guild can perform a spell that will locate the person who also bears this mark on their soul. That will be our killer.”