Page 44 of Dead Heat

“A broken mirror. A few physical flaws.” It felt wrong to share the details if she didn’t already know them.

She gazed at her plate. “I imagine his appearance is very important to him. The physical flaws must be hitting him where it hurts.”

“That’s an understatement.”

She looked at me. “Well, tell him I am truly sorry … about everything. I hope he recovers.”

“Thank you, Raina. I’ll pass along the message.” I patted my stomach. “And thanks for the pie, too. It was the most delicious I’ve ever tasted.”

“My pleasure. I love to bake. Chessa’s favorite is my kifla.” She glanced at the sofa. “Isn’t that right, Chessa?”

“I’m not familiar with kifla.”

“I bake a crescent roll and fill it with Turkish delight. It was my grandmother’s recipe. The Bulgarian side of my family were the true pastry experts.”

An idea bloomed. “By any chance, do you know Goran?”

She shook her head. “Should I?”

“He’s a local vodyanoy.” I omitted the fact that he was also a prince cursed to live out his days as a water spirit. I’d let Goran tell his own story.

My comment piqued her interest. “A fellow Slav in Fairhaven? Where can I find this Goran?”

“Last I checked, he was living his best life in Bone Lake.”

A slow smile spread across her even features. “What a coincidence. Swans also live their best lives on lakes.”

I shut the door on my imagination and double-locked it. Nope. Not gonna venture down that mental road. Whatever a swan and a froglike creature chose to do in the privacy of their own public lake was none of my business.

“Goran is a friend. If you find him, tell him I sent you.” If Icouldn’t turn him back into a prince, the least I could do was make his life a little less lonely.

Raina observed me with softened eyes. “You’re very considerate, Lorelei. Maybe this is the reason you have been lured out of isolation.”

“To play supernatural matchmaker?”

She shook her head. “The world is in desperate need of many things, but kindness most of all.”

Now that I’d struck Raina off the list, I had no choice but to cross the border into New Jersey. Carrie and Del Riggio were the only two other names I currently had. I decided to bust out the big guns for my trip—or in this case, one big Gun. Gunther Saxon, mage, fashion icon, and assassin extraordinaire. If Alessandro’s sex buddies reeked of magic as Josie claimed, then I wanted to be packing too.

I picked up the mage on my motorcycle, which he seemed to find equal parts thrilling and terrifying judging by the squeals and fingernail marks he undoubtedly left on my hips en route to the Riggio’s riverside condo in Jersey City.

“Wow. That shaved a couple years off my life,” Gun said, dismounting the bike. He removed his helmet and checked his reflection in the sideview mirror.

“Don’t forget the return journey. That’ll be another two years.”

He fluffed his dark hair. “I might opt for an Uber.” He turned to regard the building. “This is nicer than I expected. When did New Jersey get a glow-up?”

“Trust me. It isn’t the whole state.” I pivoted toward the building. “Just FYI, there’s a doorman in the lobby. He might not let us through.”

Gun patted the pocket where he stored his tarot cards. “Au contraire, dearest.”

The marble lobby would’ve looked more at home in the headquarters of a major corporation. I spotted a sign for a swimming pool, as well as a private entrance for residents direct from an indoor parking lot. I was beginning to think I should’ve researched my options more thoroughly before hitting the Castle’s buy button. The only repairs needed in a place like this involved the espresso machine.

“Carrie and Del must be doing well for themselves,” Gun commented.

“No kidding.”

“Good afternoon,” the doorman greeted us.

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