Page 66 of Ascension of the Pack

Steve sighed. ‘Off the record, is Daniella okay?’

I hesitated for a beat. ‘She’s fine.’

‘And the dragon?’

‘Off the record?’

‘Yeah.’

‘The dragon was a bitch.’

‘Was?’

‘Now she’s a dead bitch.’

Steve sighed again. ‘All right. Just … watch yourself. I know you’re Queen and all, but a big enough show of strength will paint a target on your back. Some darker elements in the Other are attracted to power, and not in the worshipping way.’

‘What other way is there?’

‘A covetous way. If you’re too strong, they’ll want to recruit you or kill you. Watch your back, Lucy,’ he repeated but his warning had come weeks too late.

‘Always,’ I promised.

I wondered if he knew about the Domini. Some of his words suggested that he did but that wasn’t a conversation for today, and certainly not over the phone. If he did know about them, though, maybe I could recruit him to help me with my new purpose in life: destroying every single one of them.

‘I’ll close Daniella’s case,’ he said gruffly. ‘Next time when you call me in then resolve the problem yourself, do let me know so I’m not chasing my tail.’ His voice dripped sarcasm.

‘Consider my wrists thoroughly slapped,’ I said contritely.

‘Good.’ He hung up.

I winced; I really hoped my actions hadn’t damaged our relationship because I had precious few friends left. Theywere dropping like flies. I’d have to meet Steve for coffee at Rosie’s one day, repair things and see what he knew about the Domini – if anything.

I turned to Liam. ‘Can you find Debbie and Tarkers for me?’

He stepped back from the security console. ‘You got it.’ He hustled off and I sat at my desk, staring out at my burned garden. As I waited, a thought occurred to me and I hauled out my phone to ring Joyce, a local dryad that I knew.

‘Queen Lucy,’ she answered. ‘How can I help you?’

I explained my situation and listened carefully to her answer. When I hung up, a small smile was playing at my lips. I’d needed some good news, and this certainly was it.

There was a firm knock at the door and the three men strode in. Liam took up his position on the security console and Debbie and Tarkers took the guest chairs opposite me.

I had one last job for them. ‘If we’re laying David to rest in Nina, his parents won’t have a body to bury – they won’t even know he’s dead. They deserve that much.’ I handed Tarkers David’s glasses and his phone. ‘Make sure his flat is empty then burn it down. Let his family know that he was killed in the fire. They deserve closure.’

Debbie nodded briskly. ‘You got it.’

Tarkers was bouncing his toes. ‘I do love a spot of arson.’

Oddly enough, the thought of setting fire to a building lit something within me too – literally. My fire magic flared eagerly and it took me several seconds to calm it down and push it back down to its normal level. Being a fire elemental would take some getting used to.

When my magic was under control, I cleared my throat and said, ‘Make sure no one else is affected. Clear the building and keep the fire contained.’

‘I’ll get a water elemental on standby,’ Debbie confirmed.

‘Good,’ I said. ‘Maybe you can speak to Maxwell and get him to burn it for you. He has excellent control of his fire.’

‘I’ll ask him,’ Debbie promised.

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