Page 23

After I clothed the last two hunters in Light, we headed into the house. Kill and the hunters went in search of clothes, but Team Leader Sullivan called me over to a dining table where he had a laptop set up.

“Ambassador, we got the information on this property, but Thai land laws aren't as strict as those in America. The Witch used her fake identity to purchase the house.”

“She used that alias to buy a house?”

“It appears so.”

“When was the house bought?”

“Only a year ago.”

“A year ago,” I murmured. “So, she's been planning this for a year.”

“It looks likely. But let's not forget that she's part of a corporation. They could have been planning this for longer.”

“Damn. You're right. But it's looking less and less likely that she's just an employee. If anything, I think she runs the company. Someone with that kind of power wouldn't take orders from normal humans.”

“Unless they're all like her.”

“Son of a gun,” I muttered. “Let's hope not.” Then I asked, “Did you look into her alias yet?”

“Yes. Anita Summers also owns the property we first raided and the house she took the vampire hunters to today.” He grimaced. “I can't believe I'm using the words 'vampire hunters' in a serious conversation.”

“It's a crazy world now that humans know about some of us.”

“A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.”

“Yeah, but it's better than a lot of ignorance.”

He snorted. “I'm not so sure about that, Ambassador. Ignorance is bliss, right?”

I grinned and nodded. “Yeah, it is. But only for the ignorant. Those of us with brains have to endure their stupidity.”

Right on cue, Killian walked up to the table, still dressed in Light. “She didn't have any pants that fit me.”

Extinguisher Teagan, who was already snickering at Killian's timing, said, “Those are some shiny pants, Ambassador,”

“Yup.” Killian spun around with his arms out to show them off. “Take them in, people. Just take in my glory. You're welcome.”

I shook my head and was about to say something about Kill's glory when a horrifying sound came from the hallway. Sort of a roar and a shriek combined. All of us ran toward the sound. It led us into a room at the far end of the house. Inside, the hunters were trying to restrain their leader, Lord Pichai. The guy was stronger than he looked. All five hunters were holding onto him, and he was giving them a ride, swinging them around as if they were a bunch of kids.

“Cease!” I shouted.

The guy kept going.

I rushed in front of him and blew lavender dust from my fingertips, into his face. As soon as Pichai inhaled, he dropped the hunters and collapsed. The hunters caught their lord and eased him to the floor.

“Someone start talking,” Killian said.

A hunter gestured at the room, speaking rapid-fire Fey. I couldn't follow it, but Kill must have understood enough to get the gist because he looked behind me and scowled.

“Ugh.” Killian shook his head. “Yeah, I get it. Elephant hunting pisses me off too. But his reaction was a little extreme.”

“He's Hem Hudtee.” One of the female hunters—I believe she was the cow-bird fairy—gestured at the passed-out Lord of the Wild Hunt.

“The elephant guy, right?” Killian asked. “Yeah, I get it. But again, he's a lord. He should have more control—”

I tuned out the rest of what Kill said. That's how horrified I was. Because there wasn't just an elephant tusk on display. The shelves lining the room were full of terrible things. Had I called the Demons nightmarish? Here was true fodder for nightmares. Bits of bodies. Feathers, horns, claws, and skin. Jars of liquid in which bloated things floated. And on the desk was an assortment of occult items.

“Oh, great Gods,” I whispered, as I comprehended what I was seeing.

Killian stopped talking to turn to me. “What is it?”

“Killian.” I looked at him and then waved at the remains. “Look harder. That's not an elephant tusk. That's from a fairy.”

Kill's expression fell, and he looked around the room with fresh eyes.

“What in the great fuck is all this?” Star demanded as he strode in, clothed in a fresh suit.

The hunters all started speaking at once—some in Thai, some in English, and the rest in Fey. I just covered my mouth and wept.

“Silence!” Star slashed his hand down as he hurried to me. “Seren, what are these things? Why do you weep?” He put an arm around me.

“Hey, back the fuck off,” Kill growled. “I will comfort my wife if she needs comforting.”

Star's expression twitched, but he released me and stepped back to hold his hands up. “Fine. Then comfort her, asshole. She's crying and you were just fucking standing there.”

“Seren?” Kill pulled me into an embrace. “We'll catch her. It will be all right. At least we know what she is now. This proves it.”

“I forgot about them. Oh, Gods, Kill. How could I forget?” I stared at my husband in horror as everything became clear.

“Will someone please tell me what she is?” Star grumbled.

“A sorceress,” I whispered.

“What?” Star scowled at me.

“The bitch is a sorceress,” Killian said. “A human who can manipulate the magic left in Fey remains, amulets, or artifacts. They're basically magic scavengers, not better than vultures. No, I take that back. Vultures serve a purpose and behave as God intended. Sorcerers are just fucking evil.”

“Ah,” Star murmured. Then, in a louder voice, “Yes, sorcerers. I thought they had died out. It's been so long since I've heard of any.”

I eased out of Kill's embrace. “I'm all right, babe. It just threw me.” I glanced at Pichai. “Must have been far worse for him.”

“There are remains of all the Himmapan,” the female hunter said. She glanced at the shelves and then away. “All our clans.”

“I'm so sorry.” I went to her and crouched beside Pichai. “Do you think I should revive him now?””

“Maybe take the guy outside first,” Kill suggested.

The hunters carried their leader out of the room and down the hall to the living room. As far from those terrible remains as possible. Once they had him on the couch, I revived him with an uncrossing touch.

Pichai blinked and sat up. He looked at his hunters, then at me. A second passed, and then his eyes filled with tears.

“I know.” I took his hand. “And I promise you that you will have vengeance for your people. We will not just track that sorceress. We will also find the people who supplied her with those remains and anyone who has been helping her. They will all pay for this.”

Pichai bent his head—not in thanks but to compose himself. When he met my stare again, he asked, “Can we have them? I'd like to give those fairies a proper burial.”

“Of course. But we're going to need them to track the sellers first.”

Behind me, someone cursed.

I looked back to see Killian prowling back and forth, his shoulders so tense that his swords—specially made for him by an Oni—rose higher behind him to look like the remains of wings.

“I thought we handled this shit.” Kill waved back toward the room. “Remember that fucked up shop in the Underground?”

“Of course, I remember it, Kill. Just because Daxon took over the Fairy Undergrounds, it doesn't mean he can prevent the black market from popping up somewhere else.”

“Well, he needs to fucking try harder then!”

“I'm sorry, Lord Pichai.” I patted the man's hand. “My husband and I have some history with sorcerers. Why don't you contact the local Fairies and see if any are missing or have been attacked?”

“Yes. We will contact them and discover who those remains belong to. Thank you, Ambassador.” Pichai squared his shoulders and got up. He said something to his team in Fey, and they left the house.

I looked back at Kill.

“He's responsible, Twilight,” Killian said. “This is his fault.”

“Who?” Star asked as he pulled out a chair beside the wide-eyed extinguishers at the dining table and sat down.

“Daxon,” I said. “He's King of the Fairy Undergrounds. That's where sorcerer supplies used to be sold. Or at least, that's where they came from.”

“He was also the fucking fairy mob boss of the fucking black market!” Killian swept out an arm. “This is his type of bullshit!”

“Killian, stop,” I said gently. “You and I both know that Daxon does his best to keep things legit now. He has to rely on his Princesses and Princes to run the Undergrounds. He can't be everywhere at once.”

Killian shook his head. “I have to touch those things, babe.”

Oh. So, that was it. He feared what he'd see. And his fear needed an outlet.

“Do you want me to call in some help?”

“No.” Kill made a frustrated sound. “No. There's no sense in more than one person taking that shit on.”

“All right. Let's just take a breath,” Star said. He looked over at Sal, who stood with the rest of his guards off to the side. “Set a hakhil around the room at the end of the hallway. You'll know which one.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Sal strode off.

“Your investigation of the remains can wait,” Star said to Kill. “Our priority is that sorceress. We need to make a plan now that we know what she is. This is actually good. We'll be able to prepare for what she might use against us.”

“A sorceress,” Sullivan muttered. “It explains that shitshow in the garden.”

“Yes.” Star glanced at him. “And the illusion.”

“What was that spell?” Apitron asked. “The one that hit us as soon as we arrived.”

“My guess is it was a revealing spell,” I said. “Probably something she set in a statue or maybe even the property walls to be triggered by any visitor, so she'd know exactly who was approaching her house.”

“A revealing spell?” Star leaned back in his seat. “Huh.”

Kill, who always bounced back quickly from negativity, said, “It's nice to know what you really look like under that pretty face.”

Star lifted a brow. “Is that giant snake your true form, Killian?”

Kill blinked. “Well. Uh.”

“No, it's not. Just as our Demon forms are not our true selves, simply what humans expect us to look like. Their our work clothes, if you will. A costume we wear when we torture humans on Hell.”

“I'm not so sure about that,” I said.

Everyone looked at me—the Demons gaped.

“Explain that, if you please,” Star's tone went crisp.

I looked at Killian. “Did you see it? Between his horns?”

“Oh, yeah. I saw it.” Kill smirked.

Star didn't shoot out of his seat, but he stood with aggression. “Saw what?”

“It's like yours.” Kill waved at my head. “I mean, not exactly like yours, but it's an aura like yours.”

“Yup.” I peered at Star with my other sight. “It's still there. Maybe it goes with him, no matter what form he takes.”

“It's not as strong in this one.”

“Huh.” I peered closer. “You're right. It's just a tad fainter.”

“If you two don't stop that right now and tell me what the fuck you're talking about, I will leave.” Star crossed his arms.

Killian burst out laughing.

Star narrowed his eyes at him.

“That was a little childish,” I said to Star. “Tell me or I'm going home? Really, Cartman?”

“Cartman!” Killian hooted. “Oldie but a goodie.”

“Just tell me!” Star shouted.

“All right, calm down, Mr. Impatient.” Killian held up his hands and waved Star back.

“Your Demon costume, as you call it, has a crown,” I said.

Star blinked. Then he rolled his eyes. “Of course it does. That's what started you on this imbecilic soliloquy?”

That stopped Killian's laughter. “Huh?”

“So you know about it?” I asked. “Did you know it's stronger in that form?”

“Seren, we talked about my crown when I first took the throne. You even told me about being crowned by the Twilight creatures.”

“Yes, I remember that, but I didn't expect to see your crown hovering between a pair of pretty horns.”

Star's expression slowly shifted into a smirk. “You like my horns?”

“Have you met Raza? I'm into that look.”

“Really?”

“Really. Horns, wings, tails, claws—I dig it all. Some girls like bad boys. I like monsters.”

“Good to know.”

“Hey!” Killian snapped his fingers between us. “Knock it off!”

I cleared my throat, unsettled that I had sunk so easily and quickly into flirtation. “Shit. I'm sorry, Kill.”

Killian looked back and forth between us. “Fuck. Go hold his hand for a few minutes.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. You two need to take the edge off, you junkies.” Killian shook his head and went to sit at the table.

Star and I looked at each other.

He held his hand out to me.

I stared at it.

Junkies. That was certainly apt. I had to end this. But was this the best time for that trauma? The sorceress was on the move. We had to catch her. No, like the Fey remains, this could wait. I'd speak to Anu when the mission was over and get him to stop the compulsion.

With that decision fortifying me, I took Star's hand.

And immediately went calm.

Shit. I thought it was hitting him harder than me, but maybe having five other men to focus on was what made it easier. Not the magic. That was as strong for me as it was for him.

Star took a breath and when he let it out, his shoulders relaxed. We shared a look of understanding.

“You good?” I asked.

“Yes. Thank you.” Star let go of my hand and resumed his seat just as Sal came back into the room.

“Done,” Sallales said.

“Good.” Star motioned at me. “Why don't you sit down, Seren?”

“I need a drink.” I went to the kitchen and rooted around until I found a bottle of peach schnapps. I took it to the table, sat down, and opened it.

“Peach schnapps?” Killian snorted. “How old is this woman—sixteen?”

Star looked around the table as the extinguishers laughed with me. “I don't understand.”

“This is a super sweet alcohol that teenagers gravitate toward. It's for people who haven't developed a taste for things with more bite.”

“Ah. Yes.” Star smirked. “Who doesn't like some bite?”

“You wanna try some?” I held out the bottle.

Star leaned in, sniffed, and squished up his face. “That smells like candy.”

“Yup.” I lifted the bottle in salute and took a swig. “Tastes like it too. It's not even good schnapps.”

“Good schnapps?”

“Yeah, the stuff that's actually made in Germany is stronger and not as sweet.”

Sullivan cleared his throat.

“Right.” Kill smacked the table. “Enough of this shit. How do we catch this bitch?”

“I didn't see any books in that room.” I motioned down the hallway with the bottle.

“No. She must have taken it with her.”

“It was more important than her ingredients.” Star narrowed his stare out the window. “Of course it is.”

“What about the tools?” I sat up straighter. “Maybe you can get something about her from the tools, Kill.”

Killian sighed and stood up. “Give me a few minutes.”

As he walked away, I pulled out my scry phone. A swipe of the crystal, and I said, “King Daxon Tromlaighe.”

After a few minutes, the mist in the slice of crystal cleared and Daxon appeared. “Seren? What's happened now?”

“We discovered our target is a sorceress.”

Daxon's face twitched, his eyes narrowing and his lips tightening. “How did you discover this?”

“We found her stash, Daxon. It's significant.”

Lord Pichai came inside and up to the table. “Ambassador, I'm sorry to interrupt.”

“Hold on a sec, Dax.” I looked over at Pichai. “Yes?”

“There are indeed many fairies who have been attacked. Thankfully, no fairies died. But someone harvested their body parts.

“Like organ thieves,” I muttered.

“Seren, where are you again?” Daxon asked.

“Thailand.”

“Are the recovered remains all from the local fairies?”

I looked at Pichai for an answer.

“I'm not sure, Ambassador. I, uh, well, you saw how I reacted. None of us have gone back into that room yet.”

“Okay. It's all right.”

“I believe most, if not all, are from the locals.” The same female hunter who had spoken to me earlier stepped up behind Pichai.

“I'm sorry. What's your name?”

“I'm Ravee, Ambassador.”

“Thank you, Hunter Ravee.” I looked back at Dax. “You get that?”

“Yeah. And I'll handle it as well.”

“It may not be stemming from the Underground. I just wanted to let you know so you can notify the local Prince.”

“Even if it's not someone in the Underground, it would have to be someone who is Fey or has Fey connections.”

“Are you saying that one of us has been attacking fellow fairies and selling their body parts?” Pichai asked.

I answered for Dax. “It's likely. Humans wouldn't know to target fairies.”

“Unless they were sorcerers too,” Pichai said.

“Yes, they could be sorcerers. We're not going to rule anything out.”

“Who is that?” Daxon demanded.

“The Lord of this hunt,” I said. “Lord Pichai.”

“Can you turn me to face him?”

I angled the phone so Pichai could see Daxon better.

“Lord Pichai, I'm Daxon Tromlaighe King of the Fairy Undergrounds. Do you know who I am?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Pichai inclined his head.

“Do you know Prince Sakda?”

“I know of him.”

“And have you visited the Underground?”

“Once, a long time ago. I've heard it has improved since then, but I prefer to stay above ground.”

Daxon narrowed his eyes. “And does Prince Sakda's rule extend above ground?”

“No, Sire. That is the very reason most of us stay up here. We don't want to become involved with whatever goes on below.”

“I see. Seren?”

I angled him back toward me. “Here.”

“I'll speak to Sakda and have him investigate the attacks.”

“God those remains are disturbing,” Killian said as he returned.

“Kill?” Daxon called.

“Yeah.” He stepped up behind me. “Hey, Dax. You've got a problem here.”

“Yes, I realize.” Daxon rolled his mesmerizing eyes. “I'll handle what I can on my end. You do what you need to do.”

“Yup,” Kill said.

Daxon scowled. “Are you upset with me?”

I widened my eyes at Killian.

“No. Just upset. It's not fun to touch remains.”

“At least you know the fairies survived,” Daxon said.

“Do I?”

“Lord Pichai contacted the locals and there have been a lot of attacks, but they've all left the fairies alive,” I explained.

“Then yeah, that makes it better,” Kill huffed. “But watching someone get a body part cut off is never a good time. At least, not for me.” He glanced at the Demons.

“What the fuck, Killian?” Sal crossed her arms.

Kill shrugged. “You can't help it. You were drawn that way.”

Sal's arms uncrossed as her expression went blank.

“It's a movie reference.” I glanced at Sal, then back at Dax. “Let us know what you find.”

“Of course. Uh, how are . . . is Astaroth there?”

“Yes. And we're doing all right.”

“Good.” Dax bit his lip. “I love you.”

“I love you too. Talk to you soon.”

Dax nodded and swiped the crystal.

I closed the scry phone and tucked it away as I looked up at Killian. “Did you get anything?”

Killian grinned.