The Witching Hour: 11 Enchanting Novels Featuring Witches, Wizards, Vampires, Shifters, Ghosts, Fae, and More!, page 184
“I don’t know, maybe I’m coming down with something,” I said with a half-hearted shrug.
Dante took my hand and rubbed his thumb over the palm in slow soothing strokes. “I’ll get you home.”
We stepped out into a light drizzle. Kane held me close with his arm around my waist. Dante tensed as he looked over at his car that was mostly hidden in the darkness. It took me a moment to realise what he was staring at. I felt the odd arrhythmic song of three people in the shadows near his car.
“We are here to remove the demon spawn from our world,” a thick masculine voice said.
I pulled my dagger from under my skirt and felt Kane retrieve his own as we stepped up to stand next to Dante.
The area exploded with pure white light, and the sound of glass breaking on the ground came a microsecond after the light. I was blind, but I had trained for that. My parents had insisted that I didn’t depend on my sight too much; it was too easy to take away. I instinctively closed my eyes, took a steadying breath, and focused.
My magic and hearing kicked in. The sound of a fist hitting muscle came from my left and the acrid scent of stale alcohol filled my nostrils, but I pushed it all aside to listen to the bloodsongs. They pulsed and called to me. If I could have brought my magic to the surface, I would have been able to see them in my mind’s eye, the blood coursing through their veins. With Dante so close, I couldn’t risk it. I focused on the feeling of their song, enough to give me a blurred image, a dark red outline against the black canvas of my eyelids.
I rushed forward, cursing myself for wearing stupid high heels. I should have known better. I trained and made sure I could fight in every pair of shoes I owned, but that didn’t mean the heels were a good option. The arrhythmic song closest to me had stopped moving. The dark red smudge remained motionless, waiting and watching, perhaps. Or maybe they were blind and waiting for their vision to return. I wasn’t going to give them a chance. I closed the space between me and the song, running as fast as I could across the rough concrete, and swiped upwards at a small spot where the song was louder. I hoped it was their jugular. A rough hand caught my wrist and laughed, mocking me.
So much for them being blind. I didn’t let it rattle me. His contact with my wrist allowed me to focus, to see him more clearly. I wouldn’t miss next time.
“Such a clumsy attack,” a male voice said as the hand squeezed my wrist tighter.
A gasp came from behind me, followed by the distinctive sound of bones breaking. Kane could hold his own in a fight. He’d been on plenty of hunts with my parents and me. Of course, the fact he was a combat witch helped. I punched at what I hoped was the attacker’s throat, a thick mass of red right about where the top of my head was.
The urge to open my eyes emerged when I heard a cry of pain and the sound of breaking bones. I needed to finish this. I opened my eyes, my vision blurry and starting to clear. His head was a large, dark-grey blob. I aimed at the small section of grey between the blob and the wide darkness that I assumed was his shoulders in a dark jacket. He coughed and spluttered before he released my hand, which I used to drive my dagger down into the muscle where his shoulder met his neck. My vision finally cleared as I felt the blood come up towards my hands. It called to me, a reminder that I could end this in a second or two if only I could use my magic.
I didn’t drive my blade too deep. He’d survive. I didn’t know if we were supposed to be killing them or just scaring them off. I didn’t like to kill if I didn’t have to. I wasn’t the monster people thought I should be.
Dante came up behind me. I could feel his blood coating half of his torso. In my mind’s eye, it was a veneer of silk against his warm smooth skin.
“Thank you, Wren,” he said softly.
I spun around and saw his shirt had been torn to tatters. There was mass of red blood and muscle on his left-hand side where the shirt had been.
“Fuck…” I whispered.
He gave me a wry smile. “I’ll take you home.”
“I have my emergency healing kit there,” Kane said.
Dante nodded and got into his car stiffly. I rushed around to the passenger side to make sure he was in a state to drive.
He was leaning back in his seat looking straight ahead.
“I’ve had worse,” he said with a small smile.
“Do you heal yourself?” I asked.
It was a stupid question, but I knew nothing about demons.
“It looks worse than it is. A good night’s sleep and some light healing herbs and it’ll be as though it never happened,” he said.
I caught the slight roughness in his voice. He was clearly in a great deal of pain.
“Who were they?” Kane asked.
Dante shrugged and started the engine.
“I never stopped to ask their names. There are a few groups who work to try and remove all infernal beings from this plane: hellhounds, incubi, and people like me.”
There were plenty of people who fought hard to keep the world as they felt it should be. Hunters, the kind that refused to become enforcers when the new law came in and the world changed, they try to remove all made beings. I had a live-and-let-live attitude. As long as the made stayed within the laws, then I saw no reason to harm them. Others, however, called them abominations, as they had been born as humans and became broken supernals, halfway between human and supernal. They were still fighting to find their place in the world. I could understand their struggle.
18
Thankfully, my flat was tidy when I led Dante into it. To his credit, he didn’t look horrified or disdainful when he stepped into the living area with the large beanbag and a laptop in front of it.
“I’m sorry, there isn’t really anywhere for you to sit,” I said, the shame making my cheeks burn up.
Dante held up his hand and gave me a gentle, genuine smile.
“I’m not judging you, Wren.”
The hardness in Kane’s eyes suggested that he didn’t think Dante was being entirely honest about that.
“Wren, can you get a bowl of hot water and a sterile cloth out? I’ll mix the herbs,” Kane said, his fingers running over my wrist as he did so.
“Sorry, yes!” I said, feeling a complete fool.
I’d treated many injuries, I knew the drill, yet I’d been standing there feeling self-conscious about the incredibly rich half-demon seeing my tiny little flat. I had a cupboard devoted to basic medical things that I raided and filled a large bowl with fresh hot water.
“Can you take your shirt off, Dante?” I asked.
“It’d be best to throw it away,” Kane said as he pushed the bin towards Dante with his foot.
The soft scent of fresh rose made me smile as Kane mixed the various herbs and things to make the healing paste. The look of intense concentration on his face was familiar and comforting. I desperately wanted to reach over and tuck the hair that was hanging in front of his eye behind his ear, but I didn’t think he’d appreciate the gesture with Dante standing right there.
Dante almost took my breath away. He was really living up to the Adonis image as he stood there with his shirt off, exposing his perfectly defined abs and pecs. The clear V leading into his jeans held my attention for a little too long. I placed the bowl of water by his feet and set about cleaning the blood from the large wound that covered half of his side.
“Wren! Where are your gloves?” Kane said.
I frowned and looked down at the thin layer of Dante’s blood on my fingertips.
“You know demon blood is addictive,” Kane scolded.
He was too late. The faint euphoria was already beginning to take hold. Everything looked that little bit brighter and more vivid. The air caressed my bare skin, and the scent of rose was divine as it mingled with the richer scent of something I couldn’t pinpoint. Everything was glorious and beautiful. I needed more.
Kane put his hands on my shoulders and squeezed as he looked into my eyes.
“Wren, get a grip. You’re stronger than this,” he said.
I frowned, and then the panic set in. What if the rise in my magic to meet Dante’s wonderful blood was enough for him to realise what I was? I pushed my magic down deep within myself and frowned as the euphoria went with it. Still the desire to taste his blood lingered, but it was bearable.
Dante frowned at me.
“I’m only half demon. My coven is quite sure that my blood is safe. I wouldn’t have put her in harm’s way,” he said softly, small creases at the corners of his eyes showing his concern.
Kane took the cloth from my hand and brusquely finished cleaning Dante’s wound before he plastered it in a silvery-grey paste.
“There, your own healing will do the rest,” Kane said as he kept himself between me and Dante.
“Your bedside manner needs work,” Dante said coolly. “I’ll pick you up 1pm tomorrow, Wren,” Dante said before he walked out.
I poked Kane in the chest. “Was that necessary?”
“You know who and what he is.”
I sighed, the exhaustion washing over me. I loved Kane, probably more than I was willing to admit, but I didn’t have it in me to get into that argument. He’d never been jealous before, but I’d never really shown any interest in a guy before. Was that what I was doing with Dante? He was gorgeous to look at, but he was also a domineering arrogant dick. I sighed and went to the bathroom to change into my sleepwear. Hopefully the new day would be brighter.
Kane gently shook me to wake me up. I pulled my pillow over my head and groaned.
“You need to eat and pack, ready for your flight,” he said.
“You can go for me,” I said.
He laughed.
“You’re the kick-ass merc, I’m just some lowly witch.”
I pulled the pillow off my head to glare at him.
“Don’t give me that ‘some’ shit, you’re incredibly talented and I’m proud of you,” I said.
His eyes sparked with pride and happiness.
“Dante might be an asshole, but this is your big chance. You don’t want to ruin it by missing your flight.”
I wondered if Dante wasn’t as bad as I’d initially assumed. There had been some moments last night when he’d seemed almost gentle. The craving for his blood was still there in the back of my mind. I didn’t dare tell Kane about it. He’d only tell me to cancel the job and flee the country. It was nothing I couldn’t handle.
“Where are you staying in Dubrovnik?” Kane asked as he tossed my bags from Silk and Thread onto the bed.
“Some apartment in the Old City,” I said as I went looking for suitable underwear.
Would it be ridiculous to pack my nice lacy panties? They weren’t exactly practical, but I did feel really good when I wore them. I threw them into my backpack along with the more practical underwear before I picked out my favourite jeans and shirt from the new Silk and Thread clothes. The rest of the new clothes went into the backpack along with my daggers - I’d splurged on the pair that had been spelled so they’d go through airport security without any problems. They’d cost an eyewatering amount a few years ago, but they’d remained sharp and never given me any trouble in security.
Kane was still in nothing but his boxers when I emerged almost fully dressed. I didn’t like wearing my boots in the flat if I didn’t have to. That led to more cleaning, and I’d rather do less cleaning.
“So, what’s this witch business in Dubrovnik?” I asked as I reached around him to get a bowl for some cereal.
He shifted his weight so that my upper body was pressed against him for a brief moment. I heard the trill run through his bloodsong and felt the blush forming on my cheeks.
“There are some suppliers there I want to talk to about my new paints,” he said.
The look of faux innocence on his face didn’t fool me for a moment. He was fighting to keep the smile from his lips as he ate his cereal.
“Is that so? And you’re entirely sure you’re not going just to watch over me and Dante…?”
“Dubrovnik is an incredible city full of talented witches and herbalists.”
I took a mouthful of my cereal and dropped the subject. I really didn’t want to fight with him, and the gods knew I was happy to have him close on hand just in case something did go wrong. When something went wrong, as it was inevitable that something would in fact go very wrong.
19
Dante arrived exactly on time in a rather bland black car. I supposed he didn’t want to risk leaving the flashy sportscar in the long-stay parking at the airport. He had returned to his normal self with the infuriating smirk on his face and the smooth confident gait that didn’t show any sign of injury.
“The flight isn’t long. I’ve dug up some more information on the area and potential contacts.”
“Good afternoon, nice to see you, too. I’m glad that your injury’s healed well,” I said with a smirk.
“Good afternoon, Wren, you struck me as the type to get very snarky if I tried to make small talk. Anyway, I wouldn’t want to upset Kane further by daring be friendly.”
I sighed.
“Kane’s just a bit protective. He’s all I have in the world.”
Dante frowned and glanced over at me.
“No family?”
“No,” I said more sharply than I intended.
I looked out the window and watched the cream buildings with the multitude of angels go by. The bright red trams raced down their tracks as though they were in a desperate hurry to be somewhere, only to have the traffic lights stop them dead. A small stretch of grass with three benches sat between the main road and the smaller residential road. I didn’t know who on Earth would want to sit there; there was nothing relaxing about sitting watching the swathes of traffic pass you by. Everyone was in a hurry to who knew where.
“I have very few people in my life either. My heritage makes it difficult,” Dante said as the traffic lights turned green again.
I frowned and placed my hand on his as it sat on the gearstick. It was a natural gesture, something I would have done had it have been Kane.
“I’m sorry. I assumed that your heritage made your life easy,” I said, feeling guilty.
He snorted.
“Yes and no. I have amassed a great deal of wealth, but there are many so-called friends who would do whatever they felt necessary to get their hands on said wealth. There are very few people I can trust. You’re the first person who’s treated me like a normal guy in a long time. It’s refreshing. I enjoy your fire.”
I laughed.
“No one has ever said I’m refreshing before.”
He smiled at me, a bright and genuine smile that made his eyes spark.
I looked away for fear of making a fool of myself and becoming a lost puppy in his gaze.
“So, who are these contacts in Dubrovnik?”
His bloodsong was calmer, easier to ignore that afternoon. I didn’t know if he was controlling it or if I was getting better at shutting it all out. Something had meant that I couldn’t hear his song at all when I first walked into that Council room.
“We’ll start with a hedgewitch, as they are usually gossip mills and know something about everything. Then, we’ll need to speak to the missing people’s families; perhaps they can give us something the files have missed.”
That sounded simple enough. I didn’t have many dealings with hedgewitches. Having grown up around Kane and his coven, I didn’t really have a need to go to hedgewitches. They were solitary witches who lacked traditional magic and had often turned their back on the Crone. The Crone was the goddess of the witches, and she was said to be a particularly fickle and difficult goddess to deal with. Where coven witches had magic that ranged from elemental, such as fire or ice, to plants, life, and more, depending on their bloodlines, hedgewitches were somewhere between herbalists and alchemists. They dealt with smaller magic: enchanted stones, small visions of the future, temporary sigils, and the like.
Most people dismissed hedgewitches as the Crone’s cast-offs. They hid in plain sight and were the first port of call when you needed to find out something about a supernal group, particularly coven witches. The ones I’d met took a great deal of glee in handing over information on coven witches, not that I could blame them, given the poor way they were treated.
“How long have the people been missing?” I asked, hoping that was a reasonable question.
I had no idea if it was normal to look into missing person cases, the closest I usually got was trying to figure out which tree a nymph had stashed an unsuspecting runner in.
“Three days, including today. The priests and priestesses are all asking around to see if there’s a god involved with the cult in the area, as they could have been taken for ritual killings. There was a bad case of born wolf shifters being taken for ritual sacrifices to the shadow god a couple of months ago.”
I was horrified. The gods hadn’t much appealed to me; I was aware they existed, but I hadn’t felt as though any of them had chosen me. The idea of taking innocent lives and killing them in what must have been a brutal fashion… Kane had told me about some of the larger rituals that involved blood, including the making rituals. They were extremely painful for the participants, a truly awful way to die.
“There will always be extremes, Wren, it’s our job to stop them and to help keep the balance,” he said gently.
20
Dubrovnik was beautiful in a stark and rocky way that I loved. I’d grown up in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands surrounded by greenery and mountains, but Croatia was the complete opposite of that. I watched the cream and white landscape pass us by as Dante drove us down to Dubrovnik proper. The steep inclines on either side of the road were covered in short hardy grasses with frequent almost-white lumps of stone protruding out. There was a feeling of joyful wildness about the place, and it brought a grin to my face. As we started down the long and steep roads towards the city proper, I looked out over the stunning ocean with small islands dotted not too far out. I’d missed being near the ocean in Prague. I hadn’t realised just how much I loved being near the great expanse of salt water.
Dante took my hand and rubbed his thumb over the palm in slow soothing strokes. “I’ll get you home.”
We stepped out into a light drizzle. Kane held me close with his arm around my waist. Dante tensed as he looked over at his car that was mostly hidden in the darkness. It took me a moment to realise what he was staring at. I felt the odd arrhythmic song of three people in the shadows near his car.
“We are here to remove the demon spawn from our world,” a thick masculine voice said.
I pulled my dagger from under my skirt and felt Kane retrieve his own as we stepped up to stand next to Dante.
The area exploded with pure white light, and the sound of glass breaking on the ground came a microsecond after the light. I was blind, but I had trained for that. My parents had insisted that I didn’t depend on my sight too much; it was too easy to take away. I instinctively closed my eyes, took a steadying breath, and focused.
My magic and hearing kicked in. The sound of a fist hitting muscle came from my left and the acrid scent of stale alcohol filled my nostrils, but I pushed it all aside to listen to the bloodsongs. They pulsed and called to me. If I could have brought my magic to the surface, I would have been able to see them in my mind’s eye, the blood coursing through their veins. With Dante so close, I couldn’t risk it. I focused on the feeling of their song, enough to give me a blurred image, a dark red outline against the black canvas of my eyelids.
I rushed forward, cursing myself for wearing stupid high heels. I should have known better. I trained and made sure I could fight in every pair of shoes I owned, but that didn’t mean the heels were a good option. The arrhythmic song closest to me had stopped moving. The dark red smudge remained motionless, waiting and watching, perhaps. Or maybe they were blind and waiting for their vision to return. I wasn’t going to give them a chance. I closed the space between me and the song, running as fast as I could across the rough concrete, and swiped upwards at a small spot where the song was louder. I hoped it was their jugular. A rough hand caught my wrist and laughed, mocking me.
So much for them being blind. I didn’t let it rattle me. His contact with my wrist allowed me to focus, to see him more clearly. I wouldn’t miss next time.
“Such a clumsy attack,” a male voice said as the hand squeezed my wrist tighter.
A gasp came from behind me, followed by the distinctive sound of bones breaking. Kane could hold his own in a fight. He’d been on plenty of hunts with my parents and me. Of course, the fact he was a combat witch helped. I punched at what I hoped was the attacker’s throat, a thick mass of red right about where the top of my head was.
The urge to open my eyes emerged when I heard a cry of pain and the sound of breaking bones. I needed to finish this. I opened my eyes, my vision blurry and starting to clear. His head was a large, dark-grey blob. I aimed at the small section of grey between the blob and the wide darkness that I assumed was his shoulders in a dark jacket. He coughed and spluttered before he released my hand, which I used to drive my dagger down into the muscle where his shoulder met his neck. My vision finally cleared as I felt the blood come up towards my hands. It called to me, a reminder that I could end this in a second or two if only I could use my magic.
I didn’t drive my blade too deep. He’d survive. I didn’t know if we were supposed to be killing them or just scaring them off. I didn’t like to kill if I didn’t have to. I wasn’t the monster people thought I should be.
Dante came up behind me. I could feel his blood coating half of his torso. In my mind’s eye, it was a veneer of silk against his warm smooth skin.
“Thank you, Wren,” he said softly.
I spun around and saw his shirt had been torn to tatters. There was mass of red blood and muscle on his left-hand side where the shirt had been.
“Fuck…” I whispered.
He gave me a wry smile. “I’ll take you home.”
“I have my emergency healing kit there,” Kane said.
Dante nodded and got into his car stiffly. I rushed around to the passenger side to make sure he was in a state to drive.
He was leaning back in his seat looking straight ahead.
“I’ve had worse,” he said with a small smile.
“Do you heal yourself?” I asked.
It was a stupid question, but I knew nothing about demons.
“It looks worse than it is. A good night’s sleep and some light healing herbs and it’ll be as though it never happened,” he said.
I caught the slight roughness in his voice. He was clearly in a great deal of pain.
“Who were they?” Kane asked.
Dante shrugged and started the engine.
“I never stopped to ask their names. There are a few groups who work to try and remove all infernal beings from this plane: hellhounds, incubi, and people like me.”
There were plenty of people who fought hard to keep the world as they felt it should be. Hunters, the kind that refused to become enforcers when the new law came in and the world changed, they try to remove all made beings. I had a live-and-let-live attitude. As long as the made stayed within the laws, then I saw no reason to harm them. Others, however, called them abominations, as they had been born as humans and became broken supernals, halfway between human and supernal. They were still fighting to find their place in the world. I could understand their struggle.
18
Thankfully, my flat was tidy when I led Dante into it. To his credit, he didn’t look horrified or disdainful when he stepped into the living area with the large beanbag and a laptop in front of it.
“I’m sorry, there isn’t really anywhere for you to sit,” I said, the shame making my cheeks burn up.
Dante held up his hand and gave me a gentle, genuine smile.
“I’m not judging you, Wren.”
The hardness in Kane’s eyes suggested that he didn’t think Dante was being entirely honest about that.
“Wren, can you get a bowl of hot water and a sterile cloth out? I’ll mix the herbs,” Kane said, his fingers running over my wrist as he did so.
“Sorry, yes!” I said, feeling a complete fool.
I’d treated many injuries, I knew the drill, yet I’d been standing there feeling self-conscious about the incredibly rich half-demon seeing my tiny little flat. I had a cupboard devoted to basic medical things that I raided and filled a large bowl with fresh hot water.
“Can you take your shirt off, Dante?” I asked.
“It’d be best to throw it away,” Kane said as he pushed the bin towards Dante with his foot.
The soft scent of fresh rose made me smile as Kane mixed the various herbs and things to make the healing paste. The look of intense concentration on his face was familiar and comforting. I desperately wanted to reach over and tuck the hair that was hanging in front of his eye behind his ear, but I didn’t think he’d appreciate the gesture with Dante standing right there.
Dante almost took my breath away. He was really living up to the Adonis image as he stood there with his shirt off, exposing his perfectly defined abs and pecs. The clear V leading into his jeans held my attention for a little too long. I placed the bowl of water by his feet and set about cleaning the blood from the large wound that covered half of his side.
“Wren! Where are your gloves?” Kane said.
I frowned and looked down at the thin layer of Dante’s blood on my fingertips.
“You know demon blood is addictive,” Kane scolded.
He was too late. The faint euphoria was already beginning to take hold. Everything looked that little bit brighter and more vivid. The air caressed my bare skin, and the scent of rose was divine as it mingled with the richer scent of something I couldn’t pinpoint. Everything was glorious and beautiful. I needed more.
Kane put his hands on my shoulders and squeezed as he looked into my eyes.
“Wren, get a grip. You’re stronger than this,” he said.
I frowned, and then the panic set in. What if the rise in my magic to meet Dante’s wonderful blood was enough for him to realise what I was? I pushed my magic down deep within myself and frowned as the euphoria went with it. Still the desire to taste his blood lingered, but it was bearable.
Dante frowned at me.
“I’m only half demon. My coven is quite sure that my blood is safe. I wouldn’t have put her in harm’s way,” he said softly, small creases at the corners of his eyes showing his concern.
Kane took the cloth from my hand and brusquely finished cleaning Dante’s wound before he plastered it in a silvery-grey paste.
“There, your own healing will do the rest,” Kane said as he kept himself between me and Dante.
“Your bedside manner needs work,” Dante said coolly. “I’ll pick you up 1pm tomorrow, Wren,” Dante said before he walked out.
I poked Kane in the chest. “Was that necessary?”
“You know who and what he is.”
I sighed, the exhaustion washing over me. I loved Kane, probably more than I was willing to admit, but I didn’t have it in me to get into that argument. He’d never been jealous before, but I’d never really shown any interest in a guy before. Was that what I was doing with Dante? He was gorgeous to look at, but he was also a domineering arrogant dick. I sighed and went to the bathroom to change into my sleepwear. Hopefully the new day would be brighter.
Kane gently shook me to wake me up. I pulled my pillow over my head and groaned.
“You need to eat and pack, ready for your flight,” he said.
“You can go for me,” I said.
He laughed.
“You’re the kick-ass merc, I’m just some lowly witch.”
I pulled the pillow off my head to glare at him.
“Don’t give me that ‘some’ shit, you’re incredibly talented and I’m proud of you,” I said.
His eyes sparked with pride and happiness.
“Dante might be an asshole, but this is your big chance. You don’t want to ruin it by missing your flight.”
I wondered if Dante wasn’t as bad as I’d initially assumed. There had been some moments last night when he’d seemed almost gentle. The craving for his blood was still there in the back of my mind. I didn’t dare tell Kane about it. He’d only tell me to cancel the job and flee the country. It was nothing I couldn’t handle.
“Where are you staying in Dubrovnik?” Kane asked as he tossed my bags from Silk and Thread onto the bed.
“Some apartment in the Old City,” I said as I went looking for suitable underwear.
Would it be ridiculous to pack my nice lacy panties? They weren’t exactly practical, but I did feel really good when I wore them. I threw them into my backpack along with the more practical underwear before I picked out my favourite jeans and shirt from the new Silk and Thread clothes. The rest of the new clothes went into the backpack along with my daggers - I’d splurged on the pair that had been spelled so they’d go through airport security without any problems. They’d cost an eyewatering amount a few years ago, but they’d remained sharp and never given me any trouble in security.
Kane was still in nothing but his boxers when I emerged almost fully dressed. I didn’t like wearing my boots in the flat if I didn’t have to. That led to more cleaning, and I’d rather do less cleaning.
“So, what’s this witch business in Dubrovnik?” I asked as I reached around him to get a bowl for some cereal.
He shifted his weight so that my upper body was pressed against him for a brief moment. I heard the trill run through his bloodsong and felt the blush forming on my cheeks.
“There are some suppliers there I want to talk to about my new paints,” he said.
The look of faux innocence on his face didn’t fool me for a moment. He was fighting to keep the smile from his lips as he ate his cereal.
“Is that so? And you’re entirely sure you’re not going just to watch over me and Dante…?”
“Dubrovnik is an incredible city full of talented witches and herbalists.”
I took a mouthful of my cereal and dropped the subject. I really didn’t want to fight with him, and the gods knew I was happy to have him close on hand just in case something did go wrong. When something went wrong, as it was inevitable that something would in fact go very wrong.
19
Dante arrived exactly on time in a rather bland black car. I supposed he didn’t want to risk leaving the flashy sportscar in the long-stay parking at the airport. He had returned to his normal self with the infuriating smirk on his face and the smooth confident gait that didn’t show any sign of injury.
“The flight isn’t long. I’ve dug up some more information on the area and potential contacts.”
“Good afternoon, nice to see you, too. I’m glad that your injury’s healed well,” I said with a smirk.
“Good afternoon, Wren, you struck me as the type to get very snarky if I tried to make small talk. Anyway, I wouldn’t want to upset Kane further by daring be friendly.”
I sighed.
“Kane’s just a bit protective. He’s all I have in the world.”
Dante frowned and glanced over at me.
“No family?”
“No,” I said more sharply than I intended.
I looked out the window and watched the cream buildings with the multitude of angels go by. The bright red trams raced down their tracks as though they were in a desperate hurry to be somewhere, only to have the traffic lights stop them dead. A small stretch of grass with three benches sat between the main road and the smaller residential road. I didn’t know who on Earth would want to sit there; there was nothing relaxing about sitting watching the swathes of traffic pass you by. Everyone was in a hurry to who knew where.
“I have very few people in my life either. My heritage makes it difficult,” Dante said as the traffic lights turned green again.
I frowned and placed my hand on his as it sat on the gearstick. It was a natural gesture, something I would have done had it have been Kane.
“I’m sorry. I assumed that your heritage made your life easy,” I said, feeling guilty.
He snorted.
“Yes and no. I have amassed a great deal of wealth, but there are many so-called friends who would do whatever they felt necessary to get their hands on said wealth. There are very few people I can trust. You’re the first person who’s treated me like a normal guy in a long time. It’s refreshing. I enjoy your fire.”
I laughed.
“No one has ever said I’m refreshing before.”
He smiled at me, a bright and genuine smile that made his eyes spark.
I looked away for fear of making a fool of myself and becoming a lost puppy in his gaze.
“So, who are these contacts in Dubrovnik?”
His bloodsong was calmer, easier to ignore that afternoon. I didn’t know if he was controlling it or if I was getting better at shutting it all out. Something had meant that I couldn’t hear his song at all when I first walked into that Council room.
“We’ll start with a hedgewitch, as they are usually gossip mills and know something about everything. Then, we’ll need to speak to the missing people’s families; perhaps they can give us something the files have missed.”
That sounded simple enough. I didn’t have many dealings with hedgewitches. Having grown up around Kane and his coven, I didn’t really have a need to go to hedgewitches. They were solitary witches who lacked traditional magic and had often turned their back on the Crone. The Crone was the goddess of the witches, and she was said to be a particularly fickle and difficult goddess to deal with. Where coven witches had magic that ranged from elemental, such as fire or ice, to plants, life, and more, depending on their bloodlines, hedgewitches were somewhere between herbalists and alchemists. They dealt with smaller magic: enchanted stones, small visions of the future, temporary sigils, and the like.
Most people dismissed hedgewitches as the Crone’s cast-offs. They hid in plain sight and were the first port of call when you needed to find out something about a supernal group, particularly coven witches. The ones I’d met took a great deal of glee in handing over information on coven witches, not that I could blame them, given the poor way they were treated.
“How long have the people been missing?” I asked, hoping that was a reasonable question.
I had no idea if it was normal to look into missing person cases, the closest I usually got was trying to figure out which tree a nymph had stashed an unsuspecting runner in.
“Three days, including today. The priests and priestesses are all asking around to see if there’s a god involved with the cult in the area, as they could have been taken for ritual killings. There was a bad case of born wolf shifters being taken for ritual sacrifices to the shadow god a couple of months ago.”
I was horrified. The gods hadn’t much appealed to me; I was aware they existed, but I hadn’t felt as though any of them had chosen me. The idea of taking innocent lives and killing them in what must have been a brutal fashion… Kane had told me about some of the larger rituals that involved blood, including the making rituals. They were extremely painful for the participants, a truly awful way to die.
“There will always be extremes, Wren, it’s our job to stop them and to help keep the balance,” he said gently.
20
Dubrovnik was beautiful in a stark and rocky way that I loved. I’d grown up in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands surrounded by greenery and mountains, but Croatia was the complete opposite of that. I watched the cream and white landscape pass us by as Dante drove us down to Dubrovnik proper. The steep inclines on either side of the road were covered in short hardy grasses with frequent almost-white lumps of stone protruding out. There was a feeling of joyful wildness about the place, and it brought a grin to my face. As we started down the long and steep roads towards the city proper, I looked out over the stunning ocean with small islands dotted not too far out. I’d missed being near the ocean in Prague. I hadn’t realised just how much I loved being near the great expanse of salt water.
