Circle of Fire (Damask Circle 1)
“Yeah, she was.” Maddie grimaced and rubbed her arms. “What happens if he tries to kill you again?”
He shrugged. “At least we’ll know whether he’s involved or not.”
“But—”
“Maddie, the kids are what matters, nothing else. If we don’t find them before the new moon, we won’t find them alive. Now come over here and get warm.”
She hesitated, then realized she was being silly. He certainly wasn’t showing any inclination to carry on their flirtation. He’d admitted it was nothing more than an act.
“We have to find them.” Too many people had died because of her. She didn’t want her nephew to join the list.
She knelt down next to him and held her hands out to the flames’ warmth. “Did you ever find any of the other teenagers who were missing?”
He nodded. “We found eleven.”
She eyed him for a moment, then looked back at the fire. Something in his blue eyes told her she didn’t want to know the rest of it. “And?” she asked.
“It looked as if they’d been used in some sort of sacrifice. They’d been drained of blood.”
Drained of blood … She blanched. Christ, they weren’t dealing with some sort of vampire cult, were they? “You’re not saying—”
He sat back on his heels, his face grim. “No, it’s not a vampire, or anything as simple as that. I think we’re dealing with some sort of magic ritual.”
Why would anyone in his right mind think a vampire was a simple solution? What sort of world did he live in? Obviously a delusional one. For a start, there were no such things as vampires. She shivered and crossed her arms. It was just another reminder of how little she really knew about the man kneeling next to her.
“What makes you think Hank and this Eleanor are involved with the disappearances?”
“The man’s not what he appears to be. He’s involved somehow; I just know it.”
“And Eleanor?”
He hesitated. “The same can be said about her.”
Despite his earlier promise, it was obvious he still wasn’t telling her everything he knew. “Then how safe was it to reveal yourself at the café? Wouldn’t it have been better to remain hidden?”
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Firelight caught the hairs on his arms, making them gleam softly. “I honestly don’t know. I just have a feeling that time is running out, and that nothing will be gained by hiding. I’ve learned to trust my instincts in cases like this.”
Just as she’d learned not to trust hers. It had been the instinct to protect herself that had led to all the trouble in her life. She swallowed the lump in her throat and pulled her eyes away from his steady gaze. “Are you a cop or something?”
He hesitated. “I’m a private investigator, of sorts.”
“Of sorts?”
He shrugged and didn’t elaborate. Frustration ran through her. Why wouldn’t he tell her anything about himself? Didn’t he trust her?
“So, you charm the pants off this woman.” Her voice held a slightly sarcastic edge that made her wince inside. “Then what happens?”
He rose, moving away from her. “What happens next depends very much on her. Do you want to shower first?”
She glanced up at him. His bright gaze told her nothing, but she sensed he was suddenly annoyed. Over what, she couldn’t say. “No, I’ll stay near the fire a bit longer.”
He nodded. She watched him walk away and wondered what was going to be harder—being in the same room as Hank, or watching Jon flirt with another woman.
JON ACCEPTED A GLASS OF WINE WITH A SMILE OF THANKS and leaned against the mantelpiece, watching Maddie. She was across the room, chatting with another guest. There was no way anyone would know, simply by looking at her, that she was terrified.
He sipped his wine and heard her laugh—a sound so warm and free it made him smile. Her hair fell down her back like a river of flame, gleaming brightly whenever she moved. Even with the long, loose, jade-colored shirt hiding her slender figure, she looked good.
As if she felt the weight of his stare, her gaze turned to his. In her expressive eyes he again saw wariness and fear—not of the situation, but of herself.