“Okay. Okay. Calm down,” Cain said.
Before she knew what she was doing, she’d moved into the demon’s arms and laid her head against his chest. She didn’t care that he was in the demon form. At least he didn’t pretend he wasn’t what he was. At least he wasn’t ripping people up with knives. At least it was food, not sport or simply for power.
A moment later, his large hands stroked through her hair, his claws barely skimming her head. It was more comforting than it should have been. The scary feelings around him started to fade—either that or she was becoming more acclimated. What was it with her and monsters? At least this time she didn’t love one, and she knew going in what he was. But did that make any difference? She’d still slept with him and was prepared to do it again and again, no matter how many times was necessary to get from him what she needed: her freedom.
“Why did he put hearts beside your name?” Cain’s voice rumbled over her.
“Don’t be stupid. You know why.”
He sighed. “You were lovers. No wonder he’s saving you for last. It’s how I would do it.”
Tam cringed at that, but if the demon noticed, he didn’t say anything.
“I need to go to the meeting,” he said after a few minutes of standing like that. “I don’t know if Dayne can do the same magic, but I’ll take the scroll and we’ll find out. We might still be able to get what we need without your involvement.”
He gathered the magical bags and placed his hand over a spot on the cave wall that jutted out in the shape of an egg. It opened and he tossed her things in. “I’m sorry, but if you’re going to be in my caves, I have to up the security on your supplies.”
“You really think I’d go against you like that?”
“I don’t trust you. You don’t trust me. It’s what we have in common.” Even as he said it, Tam knew it wasn’t all they had in common. Besides Jack and the other cycler that was about to be history, Cain was one of the very few beings in existence who could really understand.
Chapter Five
Father Hadrian sat at the table, his expression blank of emotion. Anthony had started the meeting, and the demon leader was late again. Bringing Anthony down was the right thing to do. The vampire king’s increasing control was worse than the sacrifice of the humans finding out. The humans had known hundreds of years ago, and the world had survived. It would survive again, and the vampires with it. Anthony had to be stopped, or Hadrian’s race would end up slaves to their king.
“Father Hadrian?”
He looked up, not betraying his thoughts. “Yes?”
An impatient expression painted the king’s face. “What did you get from the old woman Luc brought in? Anything?”
Hadrian shook his head. “She remembered seeing a delivery man. It may have been The Cycler, but the details were too fuzzy. You know how fickle the memories of the elderly are. I erased her memory and sent her home.”
It was a lie. She’d seen Jack clearly. The rest, about erasing her memory and sending her home was true.
He would have had the old woman for dinner except she hadn’t done anything wrong. As a rule, he only fed from the guilty and then only killed the unrepentant. Everyone was repentant when their life was at stake, but Hadrian could see inside to their true feelings. He knew which ones to save and which to damn.
The vampire king nodded and went back to his presentation.
Hadrian had chatted with Cole while waiting for the meeting to start. The werewolf pack alpha was the key, the only person with a way into the demon dimension who wasn’t an actual demon.
The rooftop door banged against the brick wall as Cain made his fashionably late entrance again. He carried a plastic storage bag with something that looked like old paper in it.
“So glad you could join us,” Anthony said, “I was just about to ask for Luc’s report from your investigation.”
“Where’s the witness?” Cain asked.
“Father Hadrian couldn’t get a clear image of The Cycler’s face, so he erased her memory and sent her home.”
Hadrian held Cain’s gaze steadily even though he felt the demon’s suspicion. The guy was far too old to be tricked for long.
Cain broke eye contact first and put the scroll on the table, piercing the sorcerer with an intense look. “Dayne, can you do a spell on the memory of the blood?”
“Couldn’t Tam do it? She’s much stronger than me.”
“No doubt that’s true, but…” He faltered.
There was something in the demon’s body language that sent Hadrian’s flags up. Did Cain have some particular attachment to the witch? If so, it would make the plan more complicated.
“But…” Dayne prodded.
“She refused for personal reasons. Can you do the spell?”
“Scrying isn’t my strength. Seeing the past is far more difficult. The blood has dried and several hours have passed by now. It’s a long shot, but I can try.”
“Please do.” The demon passed the scroll across the table, right past Hadrian.
Dayne and Greta got up. Jack was slipping, taking too many risks. They were too close for that. If they were going to unseat Anthony from power, The Cycler had to be more careful.
“Maybe I should go with them,” Hadrian said, wanting to monitor the situation.
“For what purpose?” Anthony asked.
Cain’s eyes narrowed, and Hadrian could practically see the wheels in his head turning.
“For muscle. They’re carrying a sensitive document.”
“I don’t think so,” Anthony said. “I need you here.”
“Of course,” Hadrian said, inclining his head.
He would happily die for the cause if necessary, but not until the time was right. If Dayne’s spell succeeded, it would implicate Hadrian before he’d reached his goal. He’d been at Jack’s hideout for the slaying. He’d kept to the shadows, out of The Cycler’s way, but if blood could have memories, he would be seen.
The whirring of the overhead projector snapped Hadrian out of his thoughts. Anthony had a transparency up and was laying out a detailed plan—for everyone’s protection, supposedly. He’d seen Anthony’s interpretation of protection, and he didn’t like it.
“As I’m sure many of you know, this has spread beyond just local media. A Jack the Ripper copycat is of interest to those not only in the UK, but around the world. He’s become a cult icon of the unsolved mystery. He captures peoples’ imaginations, so the whole world is watching. We don’t know what kind of letter he’ll send next, or when the next body will turn up, but this one has already caused an outright panic. Before the meeting, Dayne suggested Jack may have charmed the letter. If that’s true, the lab techs analyzing it will know it’s the Ripper and probably so will anyone else who touches it.”
The pretty succubus sitting next to Cole spoke up. “Do we have any idea when he might strike next?”
“My theory is that he’ll wait until the media is in a storm debating the meaning of the handwriting analysis. Any revelation he gives will serve him best at that time.” Anthony cleared his throat and went back to the transparency.
If anything, Jack’s plan seemed to be backfiring. Anthony had a full strategy to extend his control in Cary Town to the whole country and beyond. The only hope would be a war between the preternaturals and the humans. That carried risk. Anthony could end up completely destabilized or only stronger.
The vampire king continued. “I’ve been on the phone with vampire leaders all over the world, and in some cases their guardians due to time zone issues. Word has been sent out to therian leaders in this country—those that are organized enough. I’ll be meeting separately with the Preternatural Council since there is no way to keep them out of the loop any longer. For the safety of all and our way of life, we must raise security measures.”
Hadrian took a measured breath. This reaction had been expected. It’s only temporary. How long could Anthony’s power stand in the face of worldwide chaos? If the priest knew vampires, he knew they’d stop lockstepping when the first major panic set in. Once the word was out anyway, they’d feed openly. They’d resist the vampire king’s control as well as if Hadrian had created an uprising from scratch. Only the results would be more predictable, the reaction stronger in the face of complete unrest.
Cain chuckled, interrupting the vampire king’s monologue. “You’re so predictable. Just like a human. Yes, let the sheep fall in line behind your bright, shiny police state. You must have such a hard-on over this. An opportunity falls right in your lap to justify what you’ve wanted since you’ve taken power.”
Hadrian arched a brow. If not for the demon’s interest in Tam, he’d have an ally.
Anthony stopped and glared at the demon. “And what business or interest is it of yours? What do you care what I do here?”
The demon shrugged. “Oh, I don’t care what you do. I just find it all perversely interesting. Tell me, are they goose-stepping to your orders yet? Why don’t we take a vote around the table? Who wants Anthony to rule the world? Raise your hands.”
The assembled looked down at the table or their hands, whatever they could to avoid either Cain or Anthony’s eyes. Hadrian was the only one who watched everyone. When Cain’s gaze shifted to him, he looked at the table as well. Blend, Hadrian. For God’s sake, blend. Now wasn’t the time for discovery. But it was too late.
“Your priest lapdog isn’t on board,” Cain said. “I knew something felt off about him.”
“That’s a lie,” Anthony said. “Hadrian has been nothing but helpful since I took control of the coven. We don’t have time for you to sow discord for your own amusement.”
The demon shrugged. “I just call them like I see them.”
“Regardless of what you may think, this is for everyone’s safety. The factions must band together. Our numbers aren’t as great as the humans. If The Cycler succeeds, he could build a worldwide army. Let’s not forget magic users are human. They may stick with their own if they’re outed to the world. In a war, that kind of unified front against preternaturals poses a risk to you, too.”