Page 23 of Evidence of a Folktale

“We should just have you run the security.” Bel raised onto her toes and kissed him. “No one would dare approach the sets.”

“I’d do it if it kept you out of this weather.”

“I wish… I’ll be okay.” She squeezed his hand as they separated to go to their respective cars. “And Eamon?”

“Yes, Detective?”

“I know I give you a hard time about breaking into my place, but do me afavor?Never stop.”

Bajka fellinto a routine over the next few days, and Bel found a rhythm even though Olivia ignored her. She was too busy to dwell on their rift, or at least that’s what she told herself. Between the night shoots and the overtime, she barely had time to sleep, and Eamon’s love of cooking came in handy. On the nights they didn’t stay together, he left meals in her fridge, most of which she ate while running out the door.

The outdoor shoots were brutal, but the first fan event was thankfully a different experience. The show had rented the hotel’s convention center and hosted a two-day meet-and-greet. Photo ops, signings, Q&A panels, merchandise tables. It was a madhouse, but Bel enjoyed herself. The event was indoors and heated, allowing her to focus on the charm of the convention and not the ice biting with ruthless fangs at her skin. Eamon had also purchased a ticketso he couldmove freely about the hotel. He kept his distance, but Bel thoroughly enjoyed looking up from her position guarding the signing tables to find his death-black eyes watching her. She enjoyed sneaking off to make out like teenagers even more.

The weekend was overwhelmingly hectic, but by the time Monday morning rolled around, Bel found she was happy to return to work. The lack of murders, the presence of famous actors, and Eamon sticking by her side did wonders for her love of the job. He’d been careful to support her without becoming overbearing or suggesting she quit, and as she poured coffee into her thermos, she remembered why she loved being a detective.

“I’ll drive you,” Eamon said as he jogged into his kitchen. “It snowed heavily last night, sothe roads will be messy. Plus, today’s shoot is on my property, so I might as well.”

“Really?” Bel smothered Cerberus’ meaty head in kisses as they said goodbye. “I didn’t know we were shooting on your land.”

“To be fair, half of Bajka is my land.” Eamon snagged his keys and helped her carry her things out of the front door. “The filming scouts didn’t realize this was my property when they selected that section of the woods. I had my lawyer work with the town to approve the permits, so the crew doesn’t know they’ll be on the Reale Estate, but because it’s mine, I figured I should come along and watch the action.”

“The action, orThe Action?” She swung her hips seductively as she walked ahead of him.

“Dating a detective means I get away with nothing.” He jogged to catch her, slapping her ass playfully before climbing into his truck. “In all seriousness, I’m curious how much has changed compared to the last time I was in Hollywood. I didn’t care to linger around the crowds in town, though, so I haven’t had a chance to examine the process or the equipment.”

“I don’t blame you,” Bel said as he started the engine. “But watching them film is cool. I’m unfamiliar with the industry, so it’s been an experience.”

Eamon threaded his fingers through hers as the truck aimed down the snowy drive, and the two chatted as he pushed through the barely plowed roads that led into the mountains. It had been snowing on and off over the past few weeks, leaving the ground magical but bitter, butthis snowfall had Belthankful she’d been locked away in Eamon’s mansion. White coated the land with her deadly beauty, and the only reason they made it to the location in suchgoodtime was because the icy trails seemed almost a game for him.

“I’m dreading the cold,” she said as they parked. “The shots will be beautiful, but it’ll hurt.” She gripped the door’s handle, but the moment the door cracked open to allow a sliver of fresh mountain air into the truck, Eamon’s hand shot out and seized her wrist, refusing to let her leave the safety of the truck’s cabin. Bel quirked her eyebrows at him, the force on her arm almost bruising, and she opened her mouth to ask why his black eyes had suddenly darkened when she understood. Eamon sat frozen in the driver’s seat, fist gripping her wrist with a predatory hunger, and bile ran up her throat at the meaning.

Blood. Eamon Stone smelled blood.

“Human?”Bel asked.

“Yes,” Eamon answered.

“Fresh?”

“Yes.”

“Close by?”

“Yes.”

Bel cursed. “Is it possible that a crew member cut himself setting up the equipment?” she asked. Eamon didn’t answer, but he didn’t need to. She read the answer in his hunger. An accident hadn’t spilled the blood he scented.

She cursed again. “Okay…” She avoided Eamon’s gaze as she stepped out of the truck. She didn’t want him to witness her falter.

They’d parked beside the other vehicles in the trail’s pull-off, which meant they needed to travel the rest of the way on foot. She’d been looking forward to today’s shoot. The scenes filmed in town depicted normal life, but the paranormal aspects of Aesop’s Files often occurred in the woods. She’d been eager to observe how the show created its monsters, but now, she wanted to climb back in the truck and drive home because if he smelled that much blood, a body would follow.

“Everyone looks fine,” Bel whispered as they approached the bustling location. The director was shouting orders. Deputies already stood watch to keep any rogue fans obsessed enough to brave this weather away, and cameramen were positioning their shots. No one was bleeding out in this endless expanse of white.

“It’s not here.” Eamon lifted his nose into the wind and inhaled. “It’s close, but not here.” He extended a hand, and when she took it, he pulled her through the deep snow into the trees.

“I hope a fan didn’t do something stupid and get themselves killed,” she said, dread creeping into her gut as they battled the fresh drifts. Everything within her pleaded with the powersthat bethat this was an accident.That thistragedy of spilled blood didn’t herald a new darknesscometo plague Bajka, but with every step, her anxiety mocked her. This deep in the woods after a heavy snowfall? This wasn’t an accident.

“Wait…” Eamon pulled her to a stop and inhaled. “This way.” He tugged her forward, and after two minutes, a pop of morbid color filled their vision.

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