Page 82 of Ancient Magic

Chapter 15

Valen swiftly gathered his composure and took command of the situation. This wasn’t a random act of violence. Someone was either sending a message to Kane or, more likely, Igor had outlived his usefulness and was disposed of before he could reveal his master’s secrets.

“You search the body. I’m going to look for a trail,” he commanded Gabriel. “We need to know who did this and where they are now.”

Not waiting for his friend’s nod of agreement, Valen zigzagged his way through the auditorium before heading through the outer lobby and up to the mezzanine. There were layers of scents to follow, but none of them fresh enough to be the killer.

He was studying the busted window when he felt Gabriel cautiously climbing the broken stairs to join him.

“Anything?”

Gabriel shrugged. “He’s been dead less than an hour. I couldn’t see any defensive marks, which makes me think he knew his attacker.” He paused as if considering a new thought. “Or he triggered a very nasty trap.”

“I’m going with the knowing-his-attacker theory,” Valen said.

“Me too.”

“Any indication who that might be?”

“Vampire.”

Valen clenched his hands. He didn’t have to ask if Gabriel was certain it was a brother. He wouldn’t have made the claim if he wasn’t one hundred percent sure.

“Who?”

“They were careful not to leave their scent.”

“A rare talent,” Valen muttered in frustration. He’d heard of vampires who had the ability to disguise their presence, but it was the sort of talent that they were careful to keep a secret. Who knew when it might come in handy?

“Did you have any luck?” Gabriel asked, his gaze sweeping over the broken window.

“Maya and Skye were here,” Valen told him.

“In the theater?”

“Here.” He pointed toward the scorch marks in the carpet. Signs that a powerful potion had been activated. “They were attacked by demons coming from that direction.”

Gabriel glanced back at the shattered stairs. They looked as if they’d been hit with a grenade.

“Impressive.”

“Peri isn’t the only dangerous mage in my territory,” he conceded.

Gabriel turned back, studying the mezzanine that had obviously been shabby and coated in dirt before the battle started.

“What were they doing here?”

“I’m not sure, but Igor attacked them from the balcony. I’m guessing they escaped by jumping out of the window.”

“What does this tell us?” Gabriel sounded like a professor prodding his student to think through a problem.

Probably because the older male had once been a mentor at the sanctuary for newly resurrected vampires.

Valen forced himself to shuffle through the few facts they’d managed to discover. It didn’t take long.

“Maya and Skye came to the theater, I assume willingly since they didn’t lodge a complaint with me or Peri about being kidnapped and forced to the city. They were attacked by unknown demons, including Kane’s pet servant.”

Gabriel continued the review of the facts. “Next, Skye Claremont attends your reception for the Cabal leaders and speaks privately with Micha before leaving the building, only to return hours later with two fairies to kidnap Micha.”

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