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The feeling of butterflies fluttered in my stomach when Kyoko opened the door. She was pretty loyal; I had to give her that.

“Mercy,” Kyoko said, calling me by my given name. “We weren’t expecting you at our doorstep at this hour of the night. Maurice will be thrilled to see you again. However, it will have to wait until morning. He’s finishing his midnight snack—a beautiful redheaded woman we’ve kept locked behind our doors to buy some time until you found us. It helps Maurice fill a void.” Her eyes darkened as she glared into mine. “To be honest, we were a bit surprised how long it’s taken you.”

I didn’t want to give her the impression that her words would faze or upset me, so I stayed silent, staring her down. Kyoko straightened out her pencil skirt and fidgeted with her fingers for a few seconds before we heard footsteps coming toward us. It was clear that I made her nervous, which gave me great satisfaction.

Kyoko’s eyes landed on Dorian, and she licked her lips. “Dorian, looking sexy as ever,” she added right before Maurice stepped between us, causing Kyoko to step back. My stomach churned, but I had to remind myself to be strong. The only thoughts going through my mind were the memories of every God-awful thing he had done to me a year ago.

Dorian grabbed my right hand, and Caleb gripped my left, attempting to push me back, but I kept my feet planted on the doormat, refusing to cower to my enemy.

“Well,” Maurice said, his voice unnervingly calm, “come on in, you three.” His eyes never left mine. A sinister smile flitted across his lips as I walked past him, and it felt like a hard lump was pressing against my throat.

Dorian and Caleb stayed close to me while we entered the home. It felt like I had two bodyguards glued to my hips that I didn’t need. I wondered if the protection was for me or for Maurice and Kyoko. They knew I was on the verge of ripping their fucking heads off.

Kyoko rested her back against the wall by the fireplace while Maurice adjusted his silk, collared shirt and glared at me as if he wanted to devour every part of my soul. My magic stirred.

Relax,Mercy, or you’re going to lose control.

“The dagger,” I said, keeping my voice level. “Where the hell did you hide it?”

Maurice chuckled and turned to Kyoko. “Did you take their precious little dagger?”

Kyoko shook her head and smirked. “No, Maurice. Of course not.”

As much as I wanted answers, the two of them made my skin crawl. Their behavior was odd, and it only made me more nervous about being there. I learned a few things in the brief time I spent around Maurice. He was smart, calculated, and five steps ahead of me.

Maurice didn’t move closer to us, though I could see in his eyes he was ready to strike. He wouldn’t while I had Caleb and Dorian on each side of me, still caging me in. I wanted to kill this son of a bitch, but I needed answers.

“Cut the bullshit, Maurice. Where is it?” Caleb asked.

Maurice chuckled again, then subtly licked his upper lips, his eyes growing darker. “If I had the dagger, Mercy, I’d be plunging it straight into the covens’ chests.

I wasn’t sure how to respond to that.

It wasn’t the death threat. That was expected coming from him, but was he telling the truth? Maurice may be a murderous asshole, but he never hid who he was.

Could it be someone else? Maurice was too narcissistic not to admit how “badass” he was for being one step ahead of us.

“The killings in East Greenwich?” I started again. “Isthatyou?”

Maurice shook his head. “No. I don’t need to kill human scum to get to you. I’ve been watching you ever since you left my lair, you know.” He took a step closer, and Caleb and Dorian gripped my arms, trying to push me back again. “If I wanted you dead, I’d come for you.”

My stomach fluttered again. I didn’t want to be afraid of Maurice, but I was.

“Tatyana?” I asked. “What about her?”

Maurice stood there, non-responsive, then a slow grin formed on his face. “Oh, yes. That onewasme.”

I pounced on him like a lion after a gazelle, a vicious scream tearing from my throat. Green energy flew not just from my fingertips but from my entire body. Maurice plummeted to the ground as I tackled him. I heard a commotion behind me, but I ignored it, focused only on the smug bastard beneath me. I used my superhuman strength and punched him straight in the face, drawing blood from his lip. As I used my powers to pin him to the ground, I slammed my fist harder and harder. I wanted to kill the piece of shit and rip his head off with my bare hands. I could have easily killed him right then and there if I wanted to, but I needed to know why. Why did he kill her?

Strong arms wrapped around my waist, hoisting me off him.

“No!” I screamed, kicking my legs in the air. “I’m not fucking finished, Dorian. Put me down!”

I looked back at Caleb while still wrapped in Dorian’s grasp. He had Kyoko in a firm chokehold. I knew it wouldn’t be enough to subdue her for long unless we plunged a stake through her heart, but it was enough to keep her still … for now.

Maurice stood in front of us, panting, his face covered in blood, while Dorian slowly put me back down on the ground.

“Why?” I asked. “Why did you kill her?” Adrenaline still coursed through my veins, and I was shaking with rage.

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