Page 24 of The Lord of Whispers

Luke looked at me.

“Lord Belford was found this evening, after his confrontation with Cole. Stabbed. Several times.”

Alarie gasped.

“Was a healer called?” I asked, ignoring Alarie’s shock.

Luke looked at Alarie as if deciding something.

“It’s ok, Jay. Al can know. Yes, I was called on to heal Philip.”

Alarie made another small intake of breath. It appeared that she hadn’t known that her friend was a prolific healer, which wasn’t much of a surprise. In the days of the dying magic, no one asked questions about another fae’s magic.

“So, what did Philip say happened? Did he say it was Cole?” I interrogated.

“Philip didn’t say anything, Jay.He’s dead.”

I saw Alarie’s grip tighten on Luke’s arm.

“Since when have stab wounds been beyond your ability to heal, Luke?” I questioned.

“I should have been able to heal him.” Luke looked down at his hands. “But I couldn’t,” he finished, like the admission physically hurt him.

“Iron?” I asked analytically, still looking for an explanation for the night’s events.

Luke licked his lips and shook his head.

“Grey should have known that that little spectacle he had me put on with Cole would result in some kind of backlash. That murderous little twat,” I seethed, referring to Cole.

But I knew it wasn’t just Grey who was to blame. I’d gone the extra mile to embarrass the little lordling and hurt his pride after what he’d said about Alarie. He’s lucky that was all I did.

“That’s just it, Jay,” Luke continued. “It wasn’t Cole.”

“How do you know?” Alarie asked before I could.

“Because several people said they were with him from the time he stormed off to the time Philip was found,” Luke replied.

“That doesn’t mean anything,” I said. “Who vouched for him?”

“There are several people, Jay. Not all of them are from House Tragon, either. Rhett told me himself that he saw Cole standing across the room at an after party at House Tragon. Rhett said he didn’t see him leave the entire time.”

“Convenient,” I said skeptically. “I’m getting to the bottom of thistonight,” I continued, rising from my large cognac leather chair.

“You coming, Luke?” I barked, already walking out of the room.

“See you tomorrow, Luke,” Alarie promised.

“Yeah, Al, ‘night,” he said, squeezing her hand before getting up and walking out of the room to follow me.

I came home late that night after investigating Lord Belford’s death to find Alarie at the bar having a glass of red wine and reading.

“So?” she questioned tentatively, as I made my way straight for the scotch.

I made a straight line with my mouth. “Too many reliable eyewitnesses have confirmed that Cole was accounted for when Lord Belford would have been attacked,” I replied.

“Do you know who else might have done it?” she asked.

“Not yet. Cole’s hand might not have been the one to do it, but I have no doubt it was done on his behalf. I just can’t prove it.” I sighed.

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