Page 95 of Crave Me

I nodded mutely, still torn between the two images in my head—this female with the happy expression and the other one lurking in the darkness. “Yes,” I finally whispered, swallowing. “But she… she doesn’t look like this anymore.”

She appeared to be destroyed. Annihilated.Dead.

“Did she…? She lost her mate?” I asked, seeing the details now below her photo. “Klas?”

“One of the mercenaries sent to track you,” Vesperus murmured. “He died in the explosion.”

“Which I’m guessing this woman thinks Nyx is responsible for,” Kieran said, pushing away from the table to stand. “That still leaves the mystery of who attacked the bar, though. But I have faith you all will figure it out.”

“Is that your way of saying you’re out?” Kaspian asked him, a slight smile in his voice.

“Nah, I just don’t want to get in your way,” he returned. “Unless you think you need me to stay?”

Vesperus shook his head. “You’ve done enough. And we’re officially in your debt. Again.”

Kieran grinned. “Look at that. A friendship working in my favor. Elias will be proud.”

“I’ll trust you to keep him informed.” Vesperus worded it as a statement but paired it with an arched brow.

The other leader simply shrugged. “Probably.”

“Hmm.” Vesperus looked him over. “You’re not half bad, Aspen.”

“Likewise, Veritas.” He gestured to the screen with his chin. “Good luck with this.” Then he looked at the phantoms. “If you decide you don’t want them, send them back. Death and Diamond would be happy to keep them.”

A layered comment, one meant to inform Bane and Nox that they had options should they need them. The fact that he provided them with that choice showed what kind of leader Kieran would become. He was saying rather bluntly that he still had their backs, if needed.

“Thank you,” Nox replied, gratitude clear in his features. “But we’re going to try to make this work.”

Bane nodded. “They didn’t imprison us and ask questions later. They were up front about their concerns, just as I imagined you would be.”

“Eh, my father-in-law might have a few things to say about that,” Kieran remarked, glancing at Vesperus. “Veritas.”

“Aspen.”

“I’ll see myself out,” the vampire-fae hybrid said. “Call me if you need more advice.”

Vesperus grunted, the remark clearly one that held a touch of history between them. But I caught the small smile in Vesperus’s gaze. At least until he looked at the screen again. “I want her found.”

“I’ve already texted Slater,” Kaspian replied. “He’s our best tracker.”

“He is,” Vesperus agreed. “Maybe he’ll recognize her magic as similar to the trace at the bar.” He sat down again and pulled out Kieran’s chair for me. “Let’s review her file. And maybe bring Niamh down. She might have useful information since Fallon was a member of her territory.”

“Will do,” Kaspian agreed before glancing at the phantoms. “Do you want them excused?”

Vesperus considered the pair for a moment and shook his head. “No, I think it’s safe to say they’re involved now. I suppose this could be their first trial.”

Bane and Nox leaned forward with interest as I finally took the chair beside Vesperus.

“Nothing like throwing them in headfirst,” Kaspian mused, his lips curling. “Now let’s learn more about Fallon Doyle.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO

NYX

Fallon Doyle was a witch.

But not a very powerful one, according to her records.