Page 55 of Dance With Death

Leif sinks back. “Huh. Unlikely. That’s an odd and risky move. The detectives were there and would’ve questioned him if they’d seen the guy.”

“Still, he could be the missing shifter, and that’s why he didn’t hang around,” says Rowan. “What did he look like?”

“Darker skin than you and hair in that style.” I point across the café to a group pretending not to watch us, including a guy with his head shaved and left longer on top. “But not him.”

“Was he a definitely a shifter?” asks Leif.

“The stench of the hospital interfered, so I’m making a presumption.” I continue to unsubtly study the human group. “I haven’t seen Kai on any occasion recently. Is he under curfew again?”

Rowan shrugs. “Or he left town? His dad was pretty pissed that night at the party.”

“I do hope Kai has not left now that he’s aware of the danger to his life.”

“Another reason Kai might leave. To escape the threat,” Leif suggests.

I pull a disparaging face. “You of all people know that running from a supernatural threat is pointless.”

“Violet!” says Rowan in hushed shock.

“Apologies, Leif. Excuse me.” I abruptly stand and approach the table of local teens, with Leif immediately at my shoulder.

They’re wearing the local school’s black and white uniform, school bags beside them. Honesty, I never understand their desire to spend more time with each other. They’ve already been forced to interact at school for hours on end. Don’t they want a break?

A girl with brown hair in a braid sits affectionately close to a guy with a buzzcut and hard expression. Another, beside him, with hair similar to Rowan’s, is shoveling fries into his mouth.

“Where is Kai?” I ask. Nobody responds, staring at me with a mix of worry and disdain. “Is he still residing in town?”

Buzz cut guy leans back and links his fingers behind his head. “I heard there’re zombies in town.”

“Excuse me?”

“Zombie shifters.” He tips his chin. “Is that what happens when your necromancy goes wrong?”

I hold his look, not blinking. “I have not utilized my necromancy skills on a shifter, neither do zombies exist.”

“My dad’s on the council. Heard him talking to Mum about a zombie at the witches’ property. The mayor called in your father, but nobody’s allowed to talk about it.” He gives a smug smile and arches a challenging brow.

His companions don’t seem surprised by news of the undead—the guy beside him that I identified earlier snickers, while the girl continues to drink her coffee. The detectives were wrong. News has spread.

“Yet you and your father have spoken,” I reply evenly. “And again, zombies don’t exist.”

“Then what do you call a necromancer’s… thing?” asks the girl beside him, genuine interest in her eyes.

“Not a zombie.”

“But you control the dead, right?”

I give her a long look. This absurdity is not helpful to me. “Where’s Kai? I require a meeting with him to ascertain his physical state.”

“Why? Is he a zombie?” The smug guy laughs.

“Don’t say that, Dale,” says the girl and slaps his arm. “Nobody’s seen him since his birthday.”

Dale shrugs. “Kai might be at home.”

“Hiding from zombies.” The second guy puts in, and licks ketchup from his fingers.

I grind my teeth at their continuing mindlessness as Dale and the girl laugh.

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