Page 49

“He’s grieving, Cyrus. We all process it differently.”

Kade paused, knowing her words were true. He’d witnessed grief with his only family and pack after his mother had died. His father had become lost. Eldrick had become rigid. Lorkan had turned inward. He’d dealt with it his own way, too, putting all his efforts into defeating the vampyr and fulfilling the prophecy.

Evelyn’s gaze followed Fiona’s father, a knowing look there—sympathy, even.

“You’ve seen this before,” he said, his tone questioning.

Evelyn released his wrist and didn’t spare him a backward glance as she continued after Fiona’s father. “We’re here to investigate the murder. Let’s go.”

Evelyn was right. They were here to solve these murders, and the stakes were now higher with a second killing. But he struggled to focus, wanting to know more about Evelyn. Kade followed, his boots slopping through mud.

Maybe it would be easier if he were honest with her.

I’m Kade Drengr. Come back with me.

The request would be as easy as gaining his footing on the slippery path—difficult and near impossible. The young woman walking ahead of him wasn’t Evelyn, his betrothed, but Saige Ferriwether, full of secrets and walls he’d yet to shatter. Impatience gripped him. He shut his eyes and entered the red barn’s stable room.

Fiona’s body lay on an unhinged door supported by two whiskey barrels. Her wet, tangled hair spilled over the door, strewn with water weeds. Sand stuck to her blue-hued skin. Her lips appeared shriveled, her skin slightly bloated like she’d sat in water for too long.

“Her mother wants to clean her, so be quick about it.” Fiona’s father sauntered out of the barn without looking once at his daughter’s dead body.

As Kade reached Evelyn, his wolf hearing caught the hammering in her chest. He followed her gaze. Fiona’s damp dress clung to her body except for a few shredded strands blowing in the breeze, the fabric stained by black smudges and mud.

A hole gaped in her chest, an empty cavity where her heart should be.

“She . . .” Evelyn swallowed. “Her heart was ripped out. Goddess—”

She turned and retched into the pile of hay beside her.

Her hammering heart, the sweat dripping down her brow, her rapid breathing. Kade should’ve recognized her fear. He rushed to her side, crouching over her as she retched again.

She was frightened to the point of illness. Moons, why? Had she not seen death like this? Surely she had during her time on the Guard. Kade placed a hand on her back, an instinct to help her awakening inside him as strong as the desires he’d felt earlier. She relaxed at his touch, her heartbeat slowing.

“I’m sorry,” she said, turning to face him. Crimson colored her cheeks.

“Don’t be.” Kade pulled up his cloak, tearing at the edges.

“What are you doing?” she said.

Kade yanked and tore a decent piece off. “Here. I don’t have anything else, I’m afraid.”

Her brows furrowed, and her breath slowing. She took the scrap of fabric and wiped her face.

“Thank you,” she said.

He helped her rise. “The sight of death can be jarring.”

Evelyn stilled, stayed silent, and searched his face.

Moons, had he been wrong? “I’m so—”

“My parents. They were the ones killed by vampyrs. I was there when it happened, and . . . this reminded me of their deaths.”

Kade went cold, realization dawning on him like a splash of ice water. Of course. He’d known yesterday Evelyn had been referring to her parents, but he’d forgotten she’d been there when they had died. She’d been riding out to meet his pack to discuss the terms of their wedding.

Guilt tore at Kade. He couldn’t offer her the true depth of his condolences. He couldn’t tell her that he’d wanted to be at their funeral, that he’d ridden to Sorin despite the Elders’ orders but had hesitated. He couldn’t admit that, to this day, he still regretted stopping outside the Wall and not finding her.

Evelyn moved toward Fiona as Kade struggled to respond to her omission. He let the silence hang over them and assessed Fiona further. Her lifeless eyes looked up as if she stared at and welcomed her fate. Her skin was ashen, opaque, and blue.