“If Slade had told us about the garbage boy,” Tanith said, raising a single, rusty brow, “then we might have been able to prevent the murder of a mage.”
“She’s right, Sabina,” Orpheus said. “Look, I respect the hell out of Slade but this is not a game. I want whoever did this found and ended ASAP. And I want you to find him for me. Got it?”
I blew out a long breath. Despite my plan to filibuster on Slade’s behalf, I knew when I’d been beaten. “Yes, sir,” I grumbled.
“In addition,” Orpheus continued, “the Despina has graciously offered the assistance of her personal guard, Alexis.”
I gritted my teeth. It was one thing to force me to head an investigation I wanted no part of. It’s not that I wasn’t sad Marty died, but I didn’t necessarily have a burning desire to declare a vendetta against his killer, either. However, one rarely won an argument with the leaders of not just one dark race, but two of them. But forcing me to work with Alexis? No fucking way. “No offense to Alexis,” I said, “but her assistance won’t be necessary.”
“On the contrary,” Tanith said, her voice steely. “It is quite necessary.”
I looked up at Alexis. She raised a single mocking brow in challenge. Bitch.
“I understand,” I said, gritting my teeth.
Under the table, Adam squeezed my hand as a warning. “With all due respect,” he said, “if Sabina and I are to take point on this investigation, we expect Miss Vega to follow our orders.”
“Naturally.” The Despina nodded. “However, I will remind you that the true chain of command begins with Orpheus and me.”
“Of course,” Adam said quickly.
“We’ll expect daily reports on your progress,” Orpheus said. “And I can’t stress enough how important it is to settle this situation as soon as possible. We can’t afford to have the peace process compromised.”
“Not to be contrary,” I began. Orpheus shot me an ironic look. I ignored it and soldiered on. “But how can we be sure this is all related to the treaty?”
“Mr. Corbin showed us pictures of the murder scene,” Tanith said. “The way that body was staged was clearly a message.”
I flinched. Ever since my freak-out at seeing the mage’s body, I’d managed to not think about the chillingly familiar pose.
“Whoever did this,” she continued, “was familiar with the Dominae’s rituals and wanted us to know that. We’d be fools to not take it as a threat.”
“Sabina,” Orpheus said, his tone dripping with patronizing empathy. “I understand your reluctance to get involved. It’s common knowledge you and Mr. Corbin are old friends and no doubt his ego has taken a hit over our decision. However, given all the trials you endured to stop the war, you of all people should want to ensure nothing stands in the way of getting that treaty signed.”
I clenched my jaw. Normally, I would have argued with him, but it was clear the noose had already tightened. Arguing would only make things worse. “Of course I’m committed to peace.”
Orpheus clapped his hands together. “Then it’s settled.”
Adam raised his hand. “Just to be clear, what exactly is our focus? The human or the mage?”
“The mage. At this point, the human death is low priority unless information comes to light connecting it to the other one. But for now you will follow the trail from Vein.”
“And once we find the vampire responsible?” I asked.
The Despina smiled, flashing fang. “You bring them to us.”
After the meeting, I stormed out of the room, leaving Adam to say his good-byes to the Despina and Orpheus. I’d just made it to the door of the outer office when a female voice called out. “Sabina?”
I turned to see Alexis hot on my trail. An impatient sigh rose in my chest. I knew it wasn’t her fault we’d been saddled with her, but I disliked the Enforcer from the first moment I saw her. “Yes?”
“So what’s our first move?” She moved toward me, her leather holster creaking with each step.
Adam walked out then. His gaze took in the vampire’s eager posture and my grumpy expression. “Alexis?” She turned toward him. “We haven’t been properly introduced. I’m Adam Lazarus.”
She shook his hand, putting a little English on her grip. Adam wasn’t fazed by the display and smiled.
“And that’s Sabina—”
“Sabina Kane, I know,” she said. “Your reputation precedes you.”
I choked out a laugh. “Oh, I just bet it does.”
“I meant that as a compliment,” she said.
That brought me up short. Considering my checkered past among the vampire community, I found it hard to buy her claim. “Really?”
She nodded eagerly. “Oh, yes. Everyone knows that without you two we’d be in the middle of a war right now. I’ve studied your track record as an Enforcer. You had an impressive career.”
“Thanks,” I said, uncomfortable with both the praise and her use of the past tense.
“So,” Adam said to cover the uncomfortable silence. “What’s the plan?”
I glanced at the wall clock. I opened my mouth to speak, but Orpheus stuck his head out of the door. “Sabina, Rhea asked me to remind you about your training session.” He glanced at the clock. “It starts in five minutes.”
I frowned at the mage leader, confused. “But I thought you wanted us to get started on finding the killer?”
“Adam and Alexis can begin without you. Rhea has something important to discuss with you. About the favor you asked of her last night.” I assumed his vague cageyness was due to Alexis’s presence. But I managed to put it all together and realize Rhea needed to discuss Maisie with me.
“Are you sure that can’t wait?”
The leader met my eye, his expression solemn. “Positive.”
I sighed. “Understood.”
He nodded and disappeared back into his office.
“Okay,” I said slowly. “Here’s what we’ll do. You and Alexis head to Vein and get a briefing from Slade. Maybe he’s got some new information that will help us figure out where to start. We’ll rendezvous back at the apartment after my training session and figure out next steps.”
“Sounds good.” Adam stepped forward and gave me a quick peck on the lips. “See you later.”
I felt Alexis’s eyes on us during the exchange, but I was trying very hard to ignore her existence.
I turned to go without a glance at the vampire. However, she wasn’t going to let me get away that easily. “Miss Kane?”
Tamping down my frustration, I turned with raised brows.
“I look forward to working with you.”
I paused. Maybe I was being unfair with her. After all, it’s not like she had a choice about working with us on this case. I forced my shoulders to relax. “Me too,” I lied.
8
After I left Adam and Alexis, I raced up to the gym to make my training session with Rhea. I walked in at exactly 7:59.
Rhea was already there, of course. “You’re almost late,” she joked.
I paused, dropping my backpack on one of the blue mats that covered half of the gym’s hardwoods. “Almost late is the same thing as on time,” I snapped.
She waved a hand to dismiss my logic and busied herself setting out props for that night’s lesson—bundles of herbs, ceremonial daggers, the usual. “Sabina?”
“What?” I picked up a bundle of dried sage and lavender from the table. Normally the soothing scents would have helped me relax, but I was in no mood.
“What’s the matter?”
I slammed a smudge stick on the table. Broken sage leaves scattered across the surface like aromatic confetti. “Nothing!”
Her brows snapped up.
I sighed, knowing she’d drag it out of me by force if necessary. “It’s Orpheus.” My lips didn’t form his name so much as expel it like a bad taste.
“Oh?” Rhea said. “What’s he done now?”
“He’s forcing Adam and me to take point on the murder investigation.”
Her brows furrowed. “The mage who was killed last night?”
I nodded.
She shrugged. “Are you mad because you don’t want to be involved or because he didn’t ask you nicely?”
“Both!” My chest hurt. Pressure made my lungs tight. I hated it when she was so insightful. “Plus, they’re insisting we let one of the Despina’s guards tag along. You should see her, Rhea. She wears more leather than a fucking cow. She’s a walking stereotype.”
Rhea raised an eyebrow. “She’s an Enforcer?”
“Was.” I nodded. “Before she became Tanith’s guard.”
“So you two should have a lot in common.”
That stopped me. Her observation was too close to the truth to be comfortable. “Hell no,” I lied. “I was never that much of a cliché.”
“Sabina.” Judgment weighed her tone.
“What?”
“I’m sure Orpheus had good reasons for putting you and Adam in charge. Besides, maybe it’s a good thing for you to have a mission. You’ve been a little restless lately.”
I grimaced. “Maybe.” I had been feeling at loose ends for a while. With the exception of my magical training, I didn’t have much to do. Adam still had his duties as a Pythian Guard to keep him active, but I’d been feeling about as useful as a three-dollar bill. I’d tried to convince myself that I’d finally gotten the peace I’d dreamed of during all those months of disaster. But deep down I suspected that I wasn’t the type of female who thrived in calm waters because I was always waiting for the next tidal wave.
She patted my hand. “Just focus on the mission and try to ignore the fact that Orpheus can be an incredible ass without even trying.”