Page 8 of Twilight Longings

Kincaid nodded. “You ready?”

“Not really, but let’s go.”

Moments later, they materialized on Izabela’s front porch. Kincaid rapped on the door.

She opened it immediately. “First one, and now both of you,” she grumbled. “I thought I had seen the last of you two three years ago.”

“I’m happy to see you, too,” Saintcrow said dryly. “You gonna let us in?”

Her gaze moved over her visitors from head to foot. “Do either of you mean me any harm?”

Saintcrow looked at Kincaid and shook his head. She asked the same damn question every damn time.

“Not you, or anyone else in your house,” they answered in unison.

She smiled faintly and unlocked the screen door. “You may come in.”

Kincaid nodded. “Thanks.”

“So what brings the two of you here?” No sooner had she made herself comfortable in her favorite rocker than the gray cat jumped onto her lap.

“We searched Luca’s house,” Saintcrow said. “Unfortunately, some new people bought the place and had it renovated. There’s no trace of him anywhere.”

“The only thing we could find is this,” Kincaid said, and offered her the blade. “Any chance it might help?”

Izabela turned the weapon over in her hands. It was heavy and because it had been crafted by dark magic, it carried the scents of all the people whose lives it had taken. But it also carried the faint scent of Luca’s blood, although she wasn’t sure it would be of any help, since he no longer resided in his own body. “A piece of Luca would be better,” she said, grimacing as she laid the dagger on the table beside the rocker. “But this may help a little. Have you no idea where he might be?”

Kincaid shook his head. “None.”

Saintcrow grunted softly. “I take it the black box wasn’t any help?”

She shrugged. “It carries his scent, nothing more.”

“What will happen to the body he’s occupying now?” Kincaid asked.

“I doubt he will harm it as long as it is useful to him.”

“And if he tires of it?” Saintcrow asked.

She lifted her hand in a negligent gesture. “He will likely move to another. Depending on the mental strength of his hosts, he will be able to compel them to do his bidding as he did with Rhinehart.”

Saintcrow swore softly. Dammit! If Luca managed to transfer into a man with a weak mind and great physical strength, and if he was still in control of his magic, there wasno telling what harm he could do. They had to find him, and soon. But how?

“Is there anything else you require of me?” Izabela asked, a feral gleam in her eye.

Kincaid and Saintcrow exchanged glances.

“Not at the moment,” Saintcrow said.

“Then payment must be made.”

Saintcrow muttered an oath when she left the room, returning a few moments later carrying two small glass vials. When she stood before him, he bit into his wrist and held it over one of the containers, watching with faint amusement as his dark blood filled the bottle. All told, she must have taken a pint or two since his first visit. he mused, as she capped the bottle and slipped it into her skirt pocket.

Kincaid grimaced as he bit into his wrist. She was like the witch equivalent of the Red Cross. When the second vial was full, he said, “You’ll let us know if you discover anything?”

“Of course,” she replied with a wicked grin. “But it will cost you.”

Kincaid grunted softly as he followed Saintcrow out of the house. For a moment, they stood on the porch. “Keep in touch,” Jake said. “And let me know if there’s any change in Kadie.”

---