Page 15 of Chains of Blood and Darkness

I stepped out of the Nephilim’s bedroom, my fists clenched and pulse racing, and focused on putting as much physical distance between me and Serenity as possible. Not because I was angry with her, but because I had to remember she was a means to a precious end. And yet she was also a flame, calling to me.

I didn’t want to get burned.

I rubbed the scratches on my face. She was right—they should have completely healed by now. As the day grew to evening, the sun cast deeper shadows into my home. Each one seemed to whisper Vlad’s name, a constant reminder that I was never truly alone.

My long strides took me down the hallway to my office. The antique sconces cast a flickering light that danced likethe jazz musicians in the Quarter’s lively night scene. Every step I took on the aged hardwood floors echoed the rhythm of my beating heart. No woman had had this effect on me in centuries.

As soon as I walked in, I saw Enzo perched in a leather armchair facing my desk. I studiously avoided his curious gaze. He would detect my rapid heartbeat and notice the beads of sweat that had broken out across my forehead immediately and want to know why. Nothing ever got me riled up like this except hunting an enemy.

He raised an eyebrow at me. “Is she awake?”

“Yes.” I kept my face carefully arranged as I walked toward the large mahogany desk and took my seat behind it. My fingers clenched the armrests as I tried to calm the emotions roiling inside me.

“And?” he pressed.

I switched on my laptop. “And what?” My words came out crisper than I intended.

He let out an exasperated sigh and rolled his eyes. “Did you take the girl?” His tone was laced with irritation.

“No.” I shook my head and pulled up the reports on our family enterprises, particularly the casino.

Enzo’s jaw dropped and his eyes bulged. “What do you mean, no? She has the ability to activate the Aeternum Stone.” He could barely keep his anger in check.

I glanced only quickly at Enzo before returning my attention to the reports in front of me, detailing recent disturbances at our gambling house. “The Nephilim must willingly offer herself to me for the stone to work. If I force her or use compulsion, her power won’t be released, andwe’ll be no better off than we are now. No, I need to seduce her into truly wanting me.” I sighed and rubbed my temples, trying to focus on the task at hand. “What’s the latest update on Crimson Stakes?”

Enzo’s lip curled into a sly grin, his eyes shining mischievously. “Do you really want me to go over the mundane reports, or would you rather talk about the Nephilim down the hall?”

I glared at him, my jaw tensing as I tried to contain my frustration.

He frowned. “I haven’t seen you this upset since the Unseelie and the dark Fae moved into the French Quarter.”

I refused to divulge anything to him, even though he was my closet ally and like a brother to me. I couldn’t show any weakness, not even to him.

“Enzo. Tell me the reports on Crimson Stakes.”

“What’s going on outside it, you mean? The cops, including our friend, Detective Louis DuPont, have been making inquiries up and down Bourbon Street about the Nephilim.”

I leaned back in my chair, puzzled. “Why does DuPont care about a missing girl? He’s homicide.” We’d tangled before and he considered me to be the devil incarnate. Maybe I was.

“Apparently, his daughter is this Nephilim’s best friend. His daughter has been putting up missing person flyers all over town.”

I cursed under my breath. I had been so focused on Serenity I hadn’t had my people check Joy’s activities. Not a mistake I would make again.

DuPont was a bulldog, and now his daughter would be a yapping chihuahua nipping at my heels. Wonderful. “I want you to watch the girl. See if she learns anything.”

“And if she does?”

I shrugged. “Then…Serenity will have her best friend at her side.”

Enzo tapped his fingers on the armrest meditatively. “There’s something else. Two more murdered girls have been discovered in the French Quarter. Their bodies were found close to Crimson Stakes.”

I narrowed my eyes. “That’s not us. Who is doing it?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. DuPont is determined not only to find Serenity but to find out who’s murdered these girls. I think DuPont believes Serenity might be the next victim. He also got wind of the auction at Ravenwood Estates and has become more than curious.”

That wasn’t good. “Does he know of our world?”

He shook his head. “Not yet. But the man’s persistent.”

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