A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire 1)

“You saw him leave but did not see me enter?” he questioned.

Dammit. “No.”

He looked over his shoulder at me. “Why would you think you should check it out?”

I stiffened. “Why not? Shouldn’t people be concerned when they see murderous gods leaving mortals’ residences?”

An eyebrow rose. “Shouldn’t mortals be more concerned about their safety?”

I snapped my mouth shut.

The god turned away, and without his piercing gaze on me, I took a moment to really look at him. He was dressed like the last time I’d seen him: dark breeches, hooded tunic, sleeveless and black. Gods, he was even taller than I remembered. There were also leather straps across his chest and upper back, securing some kind of sword to his back. The hilt was tipped down and to the side for easy access. I didn’t remember seeing him with one when I encountered him before.

Why would a god need a sword when they had the power of eather at their fingertips?

I shifted my weight. “She was killed like the Kazin siblings, wasn’t she? That’s why you’re here.”

“I was alerted to one of them entering the mortal realm,” he said, edging around the body of Miss Joanis. So, someone was aware of him tracking the responsible gods. “I got here as fast as I could. Madis was lazy this time. Leaving her here. I was looking for some evidence of who she was when you arrived, let yourself in, and failed to check the rest of the home.”

My eyes narrowed. “You mean when you failed to announce your presence?”

He looked over his shoulder at me. “Come now, do you believe someone who harbored ill will towards you would’ve announced their presence?”

“No. I believe that someone who doesn’t, would,” I replied. “All others would end up with a dagger in their chest.” The corners of my lips turned down. “That is if I had a dagger.”

“Perhaps you would still have a dagger if you didn’t go around stabbing people.”

I actually still had one. Tucked in my boot. Not a shadowstone blade, but a slender iron one. However, that was beside the point. “I don’t go around stabbing people.” Usually. “And you owe me a shadowstone dagger.”

“Do I?”

I nodded. “You do.”

“By the way, how did your stepbrother come upon such a weapon?”

It took me a moment to remember the lie I’d told him. “Someone gave it to him for a birthday. I don’t know who or why. My stepbrother has never expressed interest in weapons.”

“You do realize that it’s forbidden for mortals to hold shadowstone daggers.”

I did, but I lifted a shoulder in a shrug.

One side of his lips tipped up, and then he looked away. “Did you let go of what you saw at the Kazins’ home like I asked?”

My spine stiffened. “I don’t recall that you asked. More like demanded. But, no, I did not.”

“I know.”

“Were you watching?”

Molten silver eyes connected with mine. “Perhaps.”

“That’s…creepy.”

One broad shoulder lifted. “I told you I would. I figured I should keep an eye on you. Make sure you didn’t get into any more trouble.”

“I don’t need you to do that.”

“I didn’t say you did.” He inclined his head as he eyed me.

“Then what are you saying?”

“I wanted to,” he said, and he sounded surprised by the admission.

I opened my mouth and then closed it. How…how was I supposed to respond to that?

“What did you find out?” he asked after a moment.

It took some effort to gather my thoughts. “If you were watching, you should know.”

That faint grin reappeared. “I imagine you discovered that no one had anything bad to say about those mortals.”

“In other words, you already know I didn’t find out much,” I admitted. “Has…have there been any more deaths? Besides this one?”

He shook his head. “Do you know her?”

“I…I know of her. She’s a seamstress. Andreia Joanis.” I inched forward. “She’s very talented. In high demand. Or was.” I cringed a little. “I actually saw her earlier.”

His gaze sharpened on me. “You did?”

I nodded, looking at the body. “Yeah. It was only for a few minutes. She was bringing a gown to my mother,” I told him, thinking that piece of information didn’t matter. “What a strange coincidence, right?”

“Right,” he murmured.

When I looked up at him, I saw he watched me in that intense way that felt as if he could see everything I wasn’t saying. “Did you find anything that could indicate why Madis did this?”

The god shook his head. “Nothing.”

“But you believe that she died for the same reason as the others?”

“I do.” He dragged a hand over his head, shoving his hair out of his face.

I started to speak but stopped.

“Why do I sense you want to ask something?”

The frown returned. “You’re a god. How do you not know what the other gods are up to?”

“Just because someone is a god doesn’t mean they have some sort of inherent knowledge of the comings and goings of other gods, or the reasons behind their actions,” he answered. “Neither would a Primal.”