Deadly Vows (Lizzie Grace 6)

“Murder?” I cut in. “I thought the groom had had a heart attack?”

“That’s what his poor bride initially thought, but the ambulance crew discovered otherwise and called Aiden.”

“I take it an autopsy has been performed?”

He nodded. “It revealed he’d lost all his blood and his heart was missing.”

I blinked. “How?

”

“Via a cut under his ribs, apparently.”

“How big was the damn cut?”

“Tiny.”

“Then how—”

“We have no idea,” he cut in. “If it happens again, I’ve suggested they bring you in. You might be able to pull something useful from the poor sod’s memories.”

“Only if his death is fresh.”

The brain didn’t die the minute the heart stopped—generally, there was up to a six-minute window of brain viability in which memories could be read. After that, deterioration began. But even within that window there were some levels of memory that could be affected, particularly short term. In the past, reading the minds of the dead had provided vital clues about the killer, though it wasn’t without cost or dangers. There were plenty of stories around about psychics being ensnared by death while psychically connected to the mind of another, and it wasn’t something I wanted to risk too often.

“Fresh or not,” Monty said, “your other psychic senses might pick up something Aiden and I missed.”

I couldn’t help smiling. “Once upon a time, you would never have admitted my psi skills were useful.”

“Yeah, but I was young and dumb back then.”

My smile grew. “So, do you think we’re dealing with some sort of vampire?”

He hesitated. “The typical vampire bite mark was absent, but the whole ‘no blood’ thing does tend to indicate a bloodsucker of some kind.”

“The kind that apparently also has a liking for hearts.” I shuddered at the thought. “At least that should narrow down the search parameters.”

“One would think so, but my research has so far revealed a surprising number of supernatural beasties that like their blood with a bit of human heart on the side.”

“Then let’s hope it’s nothing more than a top-up feeding and the creature behind it has long gone.”

Monty snorted as he climbed to his feet. He was tall and well-built, with bright silver eyes and short crimson hair that gleamed like dark fire. “In this reservation? Unlikely.”

Which was a sad but true statement, thanks to the fact the reservation’s largest wellspring had been left unguarded for entirely too long. While wellsprings—and the wild magic that emanated from them—were neither good nor bad, an unprotected one would always draw evil. The larger wellspring might now be fully protected, but the waves of its power would still be echoing through the darker places of this world. It could be years before the reservation stopped being the spirit world’s number-one vacation spot.

I followed Monty into the kitchen and dumped my cup in the sink. “I’d better get going so you can get spruced up for your date.”

“You’re not going?” he said, surprise evident in his voice. “I thought Aiden, as head ranger, would be invited for sure. Most of the local dignitaries are going to be there.”

“He was, but he’s working the late shift tonight.”

Monty grinned. “In other words, he didn’t want to go hobnobbing. He just wanted alone time with his girl.”

“A truth I cannot deny.” I rose on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He nodded. “I might even bring Bree with me—she has yet to taste the delights that are your cakes.”

I raised my eyebrows. “This wouldn’t be another ploy, would it?”