Embers (Dark in You 4)

Harper narrowed her eyes. “You said ‘if’ he’s grieving. Why wouldn’t he be? You think he could be the one who killed her?”

“You don’t?”

She thought on it for a moment. “He seemed pretty close to Alethea, so it’s hard to imagine him ever hurting her. I was actually thinking that the Horseman could have killed Alethea because he knew that Jonas would never stop looking for her. That made her a problem, didn’t it? Because if Jonas had found Alethea, he’d have also found the Horseman.”

Inclining his head, Knox said, “Yes, she was a liability.”

“You know, I didn’t figure Alethea for the kind of person who’d beg anyone for anything—not even for her life. She must have been truly terrified.”

Knox hadn’t thought of that. He nodded. “Alethea would never let anyone see her cry, let alone the entire world via a YouTube video. As you say, she must have been terrified.” But of who?

As Jonas didn’t answer any of his calls, Knox went to the Prime’s home the following day. But when Levi spoke their names into the built-in intercom of the keypad near the front gates, the butler claimed that Jonas wasn’t fit to receive visitors. In other words, he was drowning his sorrows.

“His control over his gifts isn’t at its best,” the butler told Levi. It was no surprise, since grief had a way of shaking a demon’s control. “Perhaps Mr. Thorne could return in a week or so.”

Knox lowered his window and spoke into the intercom. “It’s essential that I speak with your Prime. If I could afford to give him time, I’d do so. But this is much too important.”

There was a short silence, and then the butler sighed. “If you insist, Mr. Thorne.” There was a loud beep, and then the iron gates opened.

As Levi drove toward the large mansion and Knox took in the expansive lawn, statues, fountain, and thick white columns, he recalled how Harper had once branded the place so showy that it was soulless. Knox could agree with her. He’d like to think his own estate possessed some character and personality. Jonas seemed too intent on being flashy to give this place a homey feel.

Levi accompanied Knox up the slate steps to the front door, where the butler waited, looking anxious. Their shoes clicked on the stone flooring as the butler led them through the open entryway, down a long hall, and into a large parlor that smelled of polish, wood smoke, and brandy.

The thick velvet drapes were closed, and the lights were off, but Knox spotted Jonas in the plush armchair near the fireplace. The flicker of the flames illuminated his vacant expression and red-rimmed eyes. He looked both dazed and devastated.

“I was clear that I wanted to be left alone, Rodger,” Jonas slurred. He looked to the doorway and froze at the sight of Knox and Levi, who slowly crossed to him. The door closed quietly behind them as Rodger quickly scampered away.

Jonas snickered at Knox. “Why are you here? Come to gloat? No doubt you’re glad my sister’s dead. She can’t cause your mate any more upset now, can she?”

Knox wasn’t going to even credit that snipe with a response. He’d expected Jonas to lash out in such a way, which was why he was tremendously glad that Harper hadn’t insisted on coming.

He wouldn’t lie to Jonas and claim to be grieving Alethea’s death. They both knew that, since she’d made a point of insulting his mate every chance she got, he’d felt nothing but distaste for Alethea near the end. His demon, who had never liked her, didn’t feel even so much as an ounce of pity for her.

With a shaky hand, Jonas grabbed a crystal tumbler from the table and slurped the brandy. “I’ll bet Harper’s throwing a celebratory party. She probably plans to play the clip of Alethea’s death in HD in your fucking home theater. Oh yes, she’ll be loving this.”

With an inner sigh, Knox arched a brow. “Are you done?”

Jonas glared at him. “God, you’re cold. You took Alethea to bed countless times, yet you feel no grief at all, do you?”

“You’re going to spew shit at me for not caring for her as you did? I would have thought you’d be more interested in seeing your sister’s killer pay.”

Jonas stilled, eyes sharpening. “You know who he is? Give me his name.”

“I don’t have his name. Yet. But I intend to ID him. I need your help to do that.”

Sagging into the chair, Jonas glanced at the fireplace. “If I knew who he was, he’d be in my dungeon right now.”

He has a dungeon? asked Levi.

Apparently so, said Knox.

Huh. Didn’t expect that.

“What about the humans she spent time with?” Knox asked. “Have you interviewed them?”

“I already spoke to them after she first disappeared. None knew where she was. Since I couldn’t have them reporting her disappearance to the human authorities, I had to tell them all that she moved away. None of them have contacted me recently, so I’m assuming they didn’t see the video clip before I had my contact at YouTube take it down.”

“I’m assuming you asked your contact if he had any information on the person who uploaded the clip,” Knox prompted.