Page 20 of Deadly Lineage
This time, Boone’s darting tongue wasn’t nearly as erotic. It was a reminder of just how depleted he was—what he’d put himself through for me.
No, not for me, I silently scolded. Boone had done that for the victim, and to help solve this growing case. I was digging a deep enough emotional hole. I didn’t need to add those kinds of thoughts to the pit.
Boone took a couple larger sips and managed a piece of candy. His tense body eased, muscles loosening until he felt like a limp noodle. Ever so slowly, his eyelids fluttered until slivers of emerald peeked through. A lazy grin slid its way across his face.
“Hey, O’Hare. Thanks for catching me.”
I blew out a quick huff of relieved air. “Are you trying to get me killed?” I asked. “In case you forgot, I promised your father—yourvery powerfulwarlock father—that I’d take care of you.” I shook my head. “You had absolutely no business trying that, and should have let Noland’s soul go the second I told you to.”
“I couldn’t,” Boone rasped.
“As in physically impossible?”
“Not that. I had to hold on, had to get his body out of that lake. I couldn’t just leave him. I—”
“I get it, but one victim is enough, don’t you think?”
Boone’s grin widened. “I didn’t know you cared, O’Hare.”
I rolled my eyes to cover my flinch. Oh, I cared. I cared far too much. “You’re a brat. I have no idea how your momma and pops put up with you.”
Mentioning his parents erased Boone’s grin. “Yeah, about that… Could you not mention this to them?”
My eyebrows shot skyward. “I believe that would be mutually beneficial.” I had no wish to rile Nikodemus Holland. Momma Boone wasn’t wise to worry either.
Boone chuckled, voice still incredibly raspy, before he let loose a heavy sigh. “While I hate to leave this comfy little nest you’ve created, I think I can sit up on my own now.”
I started to say something but tripped over my words so badly that only incoherent grunts managed escape. Boone just grinned and chuckled as I released him. I kept a hand on his elbow when I saw him wince.
“Thanks. I better not try standing yet. Think I’ll just sit here and commune with the weeds. They’re pretty things. Remarkably soft too.” Boone patted the ground to his side, running his fingers lovingly over the greenery.
With difficulty, I pulled my gaze away from Erasmus Boone as I heard the boat’s motor come closer. Shouts and loud calls took over as they killed the engine and allowed the boat to drift to the shore.
“Go on,” Boone said. “Shoo. I’ll be fine here.”
Standing, I brushed the dirt and debris from my pants. Pointing a finger, I ordered, “Don’t move.”
Boone offered me a cheeky grin and said, “Cross my heart and hope to—”
“Don’t you fucking dare finish that sentence.”
Boone’s soft, raspy chuckles followed me as I walked toward the lake’s edge, closer to the boat and our latest victim.
“What have we got?” I asked, helping haul Noland’s soaked body out of the boat. His skin was gray but appeared intact. Fullydressed, Noland’s corpse was waterlogged and heavier than he would have been while alive. The water made his blacker-than-night hair even darker, nearly shimmering blue. Only a hint or two of gray marked his temples. I knew enough about warlocks to know that meant he was a young one. Even the black tipping his fingers was barely formed.
“Christ,” I muttered while running my hand over the top of my head. “He’s barely old enough to be on his own.” That still made this young warlock about twenty years older than me. But by warlock standards, Noland was little more than a babe.
“We did a quick check for ID,” Officer Danube said, getting out of the boat. His feet and pants were soaked, and probably uncomfortable. He just shook out his leg and moved closer.
“I’ve got ID,” I said, shooting a glance in Boone’s direction. He gave me a little finger wave when he noticed. My neck heated, but I was just relieved he was doing what he’d promised and was where I’d left him.
“The necromancer?” Danube asked, and I cringed.
“Erasmus Boone,” I corrected. “And yes, he is a necromancer.”
Danube didn’t appear to understand my rebuke and continued. “What was all the screaming about? I’ve never seen one of them do that.”
“I have.” Officer Johns walked up, planting his feet beside me, hands on hips. “I came when I heard the radio chatter. Is this really another one?”
