Circle of Desire (Damask Circle 3)

“One interesting point. It seems this thing knows about you and Ethan, but not yet about me, which is definitely in our favor.”

“But it doesn’t mean we don’t have to worry about your safety any less than our own.”

Gwen reached across the table and briefly squeezed Kat’s hand. “But if I’m not seen with you, then its thoughts will be concentrated on you rather than me, and perhaps give me a clear field in which to see its mind and know its intentions.”

They could only hope. “Even so, I want you to start using warding stones whenever we’re not here.”

Gwen nodded, then gave Ethan a smile as he sat down with them. “I also got a call from Seline. She thinks this thing is called a mara. It’s an ancient spirit who enters houses either as a cat or as vapor to seduce men in their sleep, then steal their souls.”

“It’s stealing souls, but it’s certainly not seducing men to do it.”

“Not that we are currently aware of, anyway. But Seline’s still digging around, so she might find a reason for the deviation in known behavior.”

“Seline being the head of this Damask Circle you work for?” Ethan queried.

“He’s a cop,” Kat said with a smile. “They tend to dig.”

“They do indeed.” Gwen’s gaze was amused as she looked at Ethan. “And yes, she is.”

“Did she give you any idea how to stop this thing?”

“Not yet, but if it’s some sort of vampire, then we could try all the traditional methods of killing a vampire.”

Ethan’s expression shut down. “I said stop, not kill. This thing has to be brought to justice and face trial.”

“You don’t really believe that,” Gwen said. “And besides, no court or jailhouse currently built could ever hope to hold this thing.”

“You know, I think white ash works against it,” Kat said, remembering the soul-sucker’s reaction in the warehouse. “I think I wounded it when I slashed it with the stake.”

Ethan’s expression was incredulous. Gwen patted his hand. “Don’t worry, dear, it’s going to get a lot worse.” She leaned back in her chair. “I think I might try a little scrying.”

Kat rose and retrieved Gwen’s crystal, then nudged Ethan and nodded in the direction of the sofa. He rose and walked over. She sat down opposite him. Anything else just wasn’t safe.

“So,” she said, “who were you talking to on the phone?”

His gaze was doing a slow tour of her body, lingering appreciably on her bare legs. She hugged a pillow close to her chest and wondered at her sanity in choosing a skirt over jeans. This man had her hotter than hell.

“Nosy type, aren’t you?” His amusement glimmered briefly at her actions.

“It’s a gene all women are born with. You going to answer the question?”

“I was getting an update from my partner. Preliminary analysis confirms a large dog gnawed the bones. They believe it was only one, not a pack.”

“Which is what I saw.” She looked at her grandmother and saw her unfocused expression. The scrying appeared to be working again. “I don’t suppose they have any indication of the time of death?”

He studied her for a moment. “Why is that important, beyond the obvious?”

She hesitated, wondering how much she should say. But it was probably better to be cautious than to give him a sliver of hope—and then have it dashed. After all, the fact that his niece might have three days was little more than guesswork on their part. “Because it would give us an idea how long this thing is keeping the kids before it kills them.”

“They won’t know until later today. Mark will call me as soon as he can.”

She nodded. “Did you tell him you’ve joined us?”

“No. The less he knows in that regard, the better. If the hammer falls, I don’t want to take him out as well.”

“So what reason did you give for suddenly disappearing?”

His smile made her breath catch. “I said I’d met a pretty lady and intended to do nothing more than have incredible sex for the next few days.”