Once Bitten (Shadow Guild: The Rebel 1)
“Yes?”
“When you are looking for me, don’t use your mind control powers on my friends.”
“What do you mean?”
“You used mind control on my friend Eve. Don’t do that. Ever.”
“Friends already, are you?”
“Yeah, and I don’t have many of those, so I’m going to protect her.”
A small smile tugged at his lips. “I quite like you.”
“It’s not mutual. And it never will be if you treat my friends like that.” I couldn’t imagine ever liking him. It was such a weak word for a man like him. Loathe, lust, love.
Love?
Where had that one come from?
Insane to even think the word. It had to be magic. Hell, in this world, anything I didn’t like I could explain away with magic. Convenient.
I gave him a hard look. “Before we go any further, I need to know why you are interested in this murder.”
“Murder is always interesting.”
“Don’t try to smooth-talk me. I’m still not one hundred percent convinced you don’t have some role to play in this.”
“Yet you returned here?” Concern flickered across his face. “You should protect yourself better. If you think I’m involved, you shouldn’t be here. It’s dangerous, and I don’t like it.”
“You know nothing about me.”
“I’d like to change that. For example, you seem very invested in this murder.”
“Um, I’m wanted for a string of serial killings. My face is on posters in pubs. Of course I’m invested in clearing my name.” My throat tightened at the thought of Beatrix.
“That’s not the only reason.”
“How do you know?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I can feel it.”
“Some bastard killed my friend, okay?” The words burst out of me. “My only friend, a year ago. And I found her dead.”
“The woman you asked me about.” His voice was softer.
“Yes. And there were no leads until this guy ended up dead with the same little spiral burn on his neck.”
He nodded. “I see. I’m sorry.”
I shook away the thoughts, hardening my face as I crossed my arms over my chest and raised an eyebrow. “Tell me more about your interest in this murder.”
I could tell from his dissatisfied expression that he wanted to ask me more about Beatrix, but he just nodded. “Fine. I like to keep track of everything that happens in this city. And I believe that there may be a necromancer in town.”
Just like Mac suspected. “And that’s bad?”
“Exceedingly. They are powerful, dangerous, and unscrupulous. There is one particular necromancer that I’ve clashed with since I came to England.”
“From where?”