I turned away from Lachlan, pressing my hands to my hot cheeks to drive back the chilly fear.

What had just happened?

I’d wanted to kiss him, sure, but that had been an otherworldly kind of desire. Not normal. I looked back at him, catching sight of the heat in his eyes and the confusion on his face.

I swallowed hard and looked forward. Something had definitely changed between us, as if touching that much had unlocked something inside our subconsciousness.

No. It couldn’t be possible.

14

Lachlan

 

What the bloody hell had just happened?

I’d lost my goddamned mind in there. I hadn’t been that close to a woman in years, and something about Eve had driven every ounce of sense from my head. I hadn’t felt desire like that…ever. It was almost like touching her had ignited something. And her scent…

When I’d pressed my face to her neck, she’d smelled like heaven. And yet, she hadn’t smelled like my mate. My wolf would have recognized her, and it hadn’t. But how could she smell so good and not be my mate? Everything in me was starting to shout that she was.

But she couldn’t be. She definitely wasn’t the same girl I’d met years ago. She wasn’t even a shifter—she was a fae, for fates’ sake.

It didn’t matter that I wanted her more than I wanted my next breath, it was too dangerous.

I dragged a hand through my hair, trying to shove the thoughts from my mind. I was a mess from finding my father’s crypt destroyed. His bones…

The sight still haunted me.

I was losing it, and my obsession with Eve was a manifestation of that. I’d think on it more when this was over. Until then, my focus needed to be entirely on finding the killer.

Finally, we reached Mariketta’s box.

I knocked briefly, then slipped inside, Eve following behind me. The box was empty except for Mariketta, who wore a severe black gown and sparkling jewels. Everything about Mariketta screamed power, and I respected it.

Behind her, the circus flashed in a series of magnificent colors as acrobats leapt through the air.

She looked at me, a sly smile on her face. “You made it. Didn’t run into Torin, did you?”

“You knew we might.”

She shrugged, smiling. “Perhaps.”

Meddling sorceress, always looking to cause trouble. No wonder she’d insisted we come here. She looked around my back, spotting Eve. “Well, now, who are you?”

“Eve. Shadow Guild.”

Mariketta’s eyebrows shot up. “The potion maker.”

“The same.” Eve took a seat next to Mariketta. I took the one behind, and the two women turned to face me, forming a small circle. “We’re hoping you can help us turn back time in a cemetery.”

Surprise flashed on Mariketta’s face. “That’s a difficult spell. A rare one. You’re sure you need it?”

“We do,” I said. “Can you do it?”

“Of course I can. The question is…will I?”

“What is your price?”

She pursed her lips, then smiled. “Money. A lot of it.”

Thank fates. Something was going our way today. “How much?”

“Twenty thousand pounds.” She watched me, and I probably should have flinched, because she added, “Thirty, actually.”

Eve had turned pale, but I just nodded. “Thirty. And we do it as soon as possible.”

“At dawn tomorrow, then. We’ll need the energy of the rising sun.”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

“Your cemetery, I presume?”

“Aye. In the back, near the mausoleums.”

She nodded, then looked more carefully at Eve and me. “There’s something between you two.”

Panic flashed in Eve’s eyes. That was strange. I’d expect denial or annoyance, but panic?

“Thank you.” I stood, deciding to ignore Mariketta’s prodding.

Eve nodded gratefully to Mariketta, then raced from the box. I nodded goodbye and followed her out. We left the theater in silence, fortunate to avoid everyone as we exited.

“I’d like to sleep at my place tonight,” Eve said.

“You’ll sleep at the tower.”

“I’m wearing this damned dog collar, Lachlan.” Anger vibrated in her voice. “You can find me, no matter what, so the least you can do is let me sleep in my own bed.”

“You’ll sleep in the tower, and that’s the last of it.” I didn’t want her far from me. It was ridiculous and dangerous, but I wanted her close by.

She huffed, then picked up the pace. We walked the entire way in silence, reaching the courtyard in front of my Guild tower without incident.

We were about to cross the street toward the courtyard when a noise sounded from a rooftop. I stiffened and looked up. A shadowy figured moved, just barely visible in the shadows.

A half second later, I heard the faintest pull of a metal trigger. The short bolt caught the moonlight as it hurtled toward us. Crossbow.

I recognized it immediately. It had once been a favored weapon of mine.

I grabbed Eve and dove right, wrapping myself around her. The bolt thudded into the wall behind us.

“What happened?” Eve tried to scramble up.

“Take cover behind that bench.”

It was close enough she could get behind it, and she did, moving fast. She crouched behind it and drew her bag from the ether. Quickly, she passed me a potion bomb and took one for herself.

From the roof, I could barely hear the sound of the attacker loading another bolt into his crossbow.

I pressed my comms charm. “Backup! Across the square!”

I stood and hurled the potion bomb at the roof. The attacker fired off the crossbow at the same time. I dove left but moved too slowly, and the bolt sliced through the outside edge of my arm just as the potion bomb slammed into the tiled roof. It exploded with a bang, sending a wave of force out.

Eve threw an identical second bomb, and another boom reverberated through the night.

“They might have knocked him out,” she said, passing me a bomb.

I squinted up into the dark, catching sight of a brilliant cloud of silver powder poofing upward. “Damn it. Transport charm.”

Panting, Eve slumped against the bench.

I knelt, inspecting her face. “Are you alright?”

“Me?” Her gaze went to my arm. “What about you.”

“It’s nothing. I got lucky.”

“Why the hell is he after me?”

“I don’t know. But we’ll find out.”

She nodded. “Let me go check the roof.”

“It’s too dangerous.”

She scowled and shoved me, then stood and called upon her wings. She was airborne before I could stop her. Six of my security force arrived while she was on the roof, and we waited for her to finish. A few minutes later, she returned, shaking her head. “There’s nothing up there.”

“We’ll know more in the morning. Come on.”

We headed back to the tower, my guards leaving us when we stepped inside. I escorted her all the way up to her temporary bedroom. At the door, she turned back. “I’ll meet you before dawn.” I nodded, and she shut the door.