Page 9 of Deadly Lineage
Aurelia’s head tilted and her eyes narrowed. “That particular human makes your heart rate increase and speeds blood flow to your neck and face. You stutter more and your palms sweat. You tend to—”
“Stop.” I ran my fingers through my already-disheveled hair. “Gaia, you pay that much attention to my reactions?”
“You act as if it is difficult.” Aurelia rolled her eyes, their Caribbean-blue color startlingly clear and bright. “I assure you, I do not wish to notice so much. It is far more difficult to ignore than absorb.” Maintaining a polite distance, Aurelia continued, “Your reactions are similar to nearly all species when they desire another as a mate.”
Thank Gaia I wasn’t taking a drink when Aurelia spouted that utter nonsense. Even without fluid in my mouth, I spluttered. “W-what? Sweet Gaia, please tell me you’ve said something similar to Hellfire Rayburn.” I leaned forward, desperate to hear that Aurelia had called out a powerful fairy for something as commonplace as earthly affection.
Aurelia acted as if she were considering my question before shrugging and answering with an unsatisfactory, “I am uncertain.”
I hadn’t thought smiling and laughing would ever be possible again. Of course, I’d been wrong. Chuckling, I clapped my hands and said, “I’d love to see it if you do.”
“I fail to see what would be so amusing.”
“I know.” I just laughed harder until those chuckles came perilously close to sobs. Wiping the tears from my eyes, I sat back in my barstool and contemplated Aurelia and her words. Since I wasn’t someone who routinely lied to themselves, I answered, “I do like him. Probably more than I should.”
Especially given Franklin’s reaction. If there was a universal truth binding all the species together, it was their fear of necromancers. Humans feared priests and priestesses, but zombification was a human condition other species need not worry about. Necromancers could affect all species.
“Are you certain there is nothing you would like done to this human?” Aurelia asked.
“No.” I vehemently shook my head. “Absolutely nothing. He’s one of the good ones, Aurelia. Those ranks are small enough. No need to marginalize them more.” Despite Franklin’s reaction, I still believed that down to my very core.
Aurelia looked momentarily disappointed. “I will heed your will, but this human detective needs education. You pose the greatest threat to my kind and I do not fear you, Erasmus.”
With that parting statement, Aurelia disappeared. I had no idea how djinn traveled. Hell, I wasn’t sure how fairies and brownies translocated. However they managed it, it was a handy skill. For Aurelia in particular, it was the ultimate mic drop.
Chapter
Four
Franklin
I figured death warmed over looked better than me when I walked into the precinct three hours after crawling into bed. I wish I could say I’d at least gotten those precious hours of sleep. I hadn’t. I lay there, tossing and turning. Boone’s haunted green eyes stared back at me every time I closed mine. I’d hurt him. Why that bothered me was a mystery I didn’t want to delve into. I had too many damn unknowns eroding my life to endlessly worry over that one. And yet that’s all my brain wanted to do. It was fucking frustrating.
“O’Hare! My office.”
I’d barely placed my coffee mug on my cluttered desk when Captain Cicely’s voice echoed over the din of the bullpen. Slipping out of my dress jacket left me in a short-sleeved, pressed shirt and purple paisley tie.
“Not the best way to start the morning,” Becks said, her deep-brown eyes peeking over the top of her computer screen. “Captain was here before me. Good luck,” she offered before going back to her work, dismissing me.
Knowing Ebony Becks was typically the first one into the office, that did not bode well. Offering a quick, “Thanks, Becks,”I received a thumbs up while her head remained buried behind a nondescript screen.
Running my hand over my tie, I straightened my appearance. The summer heat was in full swing, humidity high and already stretching my deodorant to the limits. My dress shoes tapped hollowly along the linoleum floor as I made my way down a small hall to Captain Cicely’s office. I didn’t fear the woman, but I did have a healthy respect for her. I’d be the ultimate fool not to.
Knocking on the doorframe, I asked, “Okay to come in?”
The captain waved me forward while sitting in a chair that was at least two sizes too large for her smaller frame. “Sit down, O’Hare.”
Doing as I was told, I eased my tired frame into the cracked pleather seat and leaned back. A heavy, reluctant sigh slipped past my lips and drew Captain Cicely’s attention.
Her eyes narrowed as she scanned my appearance clinically. “You need another cup or twelve of coffee.”
Despite the circumstances, I managed a chuckle. “I’ll continue working on that.”
Captain Cicely glanced at her computer screen, running through the report I’d hastily typed up early this morning. It was preliminary, but it was enough to get Captain Cicely’s attention.
She tapped the screen. “I’ve read this report half a dozen times and I still don’t think I understand. What the hell happened out there?” She gave me her full attention, pulling off her readers and tossing them onto a nearby pile of papers.
“I wish I knew.” And that was the honest to God truth. “And before you ask, Boone’s not sure either.”
