Page 27 of Obsidian Prince

Pete said, “Hi, Colonel, John. What brings you two by?”

“Uh,” Alexander Bennett said. “I, um …” He cleared his throat. He tore his gaze off Liliana finally, looking over to Pete. “Sorry. I came to let you know there’s been another murder, a corporal on my SET team, a hyena-kin. No one remembers him deciding to camp in that area, but his body was found there torn apart like the others.”

Pointedly ignoring Alexander Bennett while he spoke with Pete and Detective Jackson, Liliana faced John Runningwolf. “You are looking well despite the dangerous experiment Andrew Periclum did on you.”

The stocky badger-kin smiled. “Doc Nudd’s been clearing my system of toxins every week or so with his magic. It seems to work. I’m getting the benefits of the nanites like Doc Periclum wanted, but none of the bad side effects.”

“Dying is a very bad side effect. I am glad that you are not dying.”

“Yeah,” He chuckled. “I’m pretty happy about not dying, too.”

Liliana grinned up at him. “This party is the opposite of dying.”

John’s face turned wistful. “I can see that. I wish I’d brought my keyboards.” He sighed. “We’ll have to go investigate that latest murder, anyway. With the victims all being literally torn apart, it’s obviously an Other doing it.”

“I think my friends would welcome you to add your music to theirs. I will ask them to invite you next time. Bring your instrument. I like having many harmonies to dance to.”

“Was that what you call dancing? That was incredible. Made quite an impression on the Colonel.”

Liliana’s smile faded to a scowl. “He can be impressed all he wants. I do not care.”

John’s eyebrows climbed. “Mmm. I see. You don’t care at all about the Colonel being impressed with you.” He glanced at Bennett, who was still talking to Pete but kept stealing glances at them.

Liliana tilted her head to one side, wondering why what John Runningwolf said sounded odd even though it seemed to be a simple statement of truth. “Right,” she said, then shrugged. “I will go home now. My friends will not make any more music. They’ll have to go investigate the new death.”

She walked around the sprawling house.

Behind her, she heard running footsteps. “Liliana, wait.” It was Alexander Bennett’s voice.

Liliana kept walking, ignoring him.

His long strides caught up to her as she reached Doctor Nudd’s driveway.

“Don’t you have a killer to hunt?” Liliana asked.

“Maybe you can help with that.”

Liliana did not look. She had no wish to aid Alexander Bennett just then. “You have clues, a detective, and a smart forensic biologist. You do not need me to help.”

A self-driving cab pulled up. Liliana had told it before she left her house what time to come get her. She opened the door to get in.

“Have I done something wrong?” Alexander asked.

“I see many things, even when I do not look into you.”

“What did you see that has you giving me the cold shoulder?”

Liliana’s shoulders were not cold. She was still hot from her exertion, in fact. And she wouldn’t give Alexander Bennett the time of day right then, much less one of her body parts. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I just don’t want to talk to someone who is cruel to his lovers.”

He winced a little. ‘You saw me and William part ways.”

“You mean, I saw you coldly dismiss someone who loved you. You have made a very dangerous enemy.”

He sighed. “It couldn’t be helped.”

Liliana snorted and got in the car. She told the polite voice of the computer her address, but Alexander Bennett held the door open so she couldn’t leave.

“He wouldn’t have believed any less callous rejection. Too sure of himself.”

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