Page 25 of Magic Unleashed

Her voice was as sharp as ever, and Griff knew there was no dodging this. “Be there within the hour.”

The drive to the station was tense. The streets of New Orleans buzzed with their usual hum, but Griff’s thoughts were elsewhere, focused on the conversation ahead. He’d been avoiding Moreau’s questions about the cult for days, stringing her along with vague updates and half-truths. But now, with everything coming to a head, there was no skirting around the issue anymore.

When he stepped into Captain Moreau’s office, she was already standing by the window, arms crossed over her chest. Her steely gaze pinned him in place the second he walked in.

“Close the door, Broussard.”

Griff complied, shutting the door and taking a seat in front of her desk. Moreau didn’t sit. She kept her eyes trained on him, waiting for him to speak first.

“Look, Captain, I know it’s been slow,” Griff began, trying to ease into the conversation. “But we’ve made progress. I’m convinced Councilman Fontaine is involved, and the people he’s working with are growing bolder, but we’re starting to get a handle on it.”

“Starting to get a handle on it?” Moreau’s tone was incredulous. “Griff, this isn’t some petty crime spree. This is some kind of cult tied to a series of grisly murders, and according to you, tied to powerful figures in the city. You were supposed to have actionable intel weeks ago, and instead, you’re dragging your feet.”

Griff’s jaw tightened. “We’re working on it. I’ve got someone on the inside—someone with ties to that community who’s been helping me track their movements.”

Moreau raised an eyebrow. “Someone? Is this source reliable, or is this another one of your informal arrangements?”

Griff hesitated, thinking of Phoenix. “They’re reliable. They’ve already helped us disrupt a meeting. Fontaine is getting desperate. We’re close.”

The captain eyed him, clearly unconvinced. “You’d better be. If you don’t start producing results soon, I’ll be forced to pull you from the case. We can’t afford to waste time on dead ends, Griff.”

He nodded, forcing himself to stay calm. “I’ll have something concrete soon. Just give me a little more time.”

Moreau stared him down for a long moment before nodding sharply. “Fine. But don’t push me, Broussard. I’m running out of patience.” Griff nodded and stood to leave. As he reached the door, she added, “And Griff—be careful. These people are playing with fire.”

The captain had no idea how accurate her statement was.

Back at his house, Griff paced the living room, running a hand through his hair as the weight of the situation pressed down on him. He was in deep—deeper than he ever thought possible. Phoenix’s involvement complicated everything, and the feelings he had for her only added to the chaos.

Phoenix walked through the door not long after, her expression serious. The usual playful spark in her eyes was gone, replaced by a grim determination.

“What’s going on?” Griff asked as she entered.

“I met with my sisters. We’ve been digging into some old fae texts,” Phoenix said, dropping a book onto the coffee table. “There’s something big coming, Griff. The cult’s planning a summoning during the next celestial event—a full moon eclipse in a few days. They’re calling something more powerful than any demon either of us has ever faced.”

Griff’s chest tightened. “More powerful than the last one?”

Phoenix nodded. “A demon lord. If they succeed, it’ll be unstoppable. The city… maybe even the world won’t stand a chance.”

Griff’s mind raced. “And Fontaine’s involved?”

“More than involved,” Phoenix said, her voice low. “He’s leading it. The councilman isn’t just a pawn—he’s orchestrating the whole thing. And with the eclipse, the barriers between realms will be weak. If we don’t stop them?—”

“We will,” Griff said firmly. “We’ll find a way.”

Before they could plan further, the door opened again. Griff turned to see Maeve Duvall, Phoenix’s aunt, stride in, her presence commanding as ever. She was a striking woman, withan air of ancient power that radiated from her like an aura. Maeve didn’t need to speak to make an impression, but when she did, her voice was like ice.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Detective,” Maeve said, her sharp eyes locking onto Griff. “Getting involved with our world, with Phoenix, it’s going to get you killed.”

Griff squared his shoulders, meeting Maeve’s gaze head-on. “I can handle myself.”

“You think so, but you have no idea what you’re up against,” Maeve continued, stepping closer. “The fae world is not kind to outsiders, especially dragons. Phoenix’s fate is tied to ours, not yours. If you continue down this path, you’ll find yourself consumed by powers you can’t control.”

Phoenix moved to intervene; her jaw tight. “Aunt Maeve, stop. He’s helping us.”

Maeve’s eyes flicked to Phoenix, softening only slightly. “I’m warning you, Phoenix. He’s not one of us. This will only end in ruin.”

The tension in the room was palpable, but Griff stood his ground. He wasn’t going to back down—not from Maeve, not from anyone. His feelings for Phoenix were growing stronger, but his duty to protect the city, to stop the cult, came first. He wouldn’t ignore either.

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