Page 53 of Spellbound After Midnight

“I did say that.” Twisting in his hold, I pressed my hand over his heart to feel a rapid rhythm that matched my own. “Here, though, you’re a bit lawless. Maybe even ruthless.”

The line moved, and he nudged me forward, his head dipping as he whispered, “I can be ruthless when someone threatens something important to me.”

“Like one of your cases?”

“Among other things.”

“What other things? What’s important to you besides justice? Someone you’re close to? A girlfriend, perhaps?” He didn’t answer and instead turned me to face the front of the line.

Frustration clenched my fists. I’d answered his personal questions that day in the carriage, yet he refused to do the same.

“I’ll find out, you know? I’m pretty good at playing detective.”

He emitted a wry sound. “I believe you. You knock down every wall someone puts in your path.”

“I can be ruthless too, Detective.”

“Maybe, but you’re not as fearless as you want people to believe.” He brushed the hair off my shoulder, and I shivered as his fingers skimmed across my bare skin.

“You don’t know that.”

“I do. And to answer your question, no. There’s no one else.”

We reached the front of the line. Olivia Lockwood bent her head and offered us a weak smile.

“Detective Chambers, Miss Daniels, thank you for coming.” Her eyes narrowed, and her tone soured. “I saw the papers. I’m happy for both of you.”

Derrick took her hand in a comforting gesture. “Whatever you’ve read, Ella’s case has our full attention.”

“But not the Gazette’s. We’re old news.” Her lips flattened into a grim line. “Even this gathering isn’t really about Ella, is it? It buys our silence, gives closure where there is none, so everyone can return to their lives confident they’ve paid their respects, while the case grows cold.”

“Hush, Mother,” Helen hissed, placing a hand on her shoulder. “This isn’t the place.”

“No, it’s not the place, is it? A scene won’t help our cause, only finding the killer or maybe another murder.”

“Mother!” Helen’s face burned red, and she looked around to make sure no one else paid them any attention.

“Is it true, Detective? Were there others? Is my step-daughter dead because you couldn’t do your job?”

Regret flashed across Derrick’s features. “We’re investigating every angle, Mrs. Lockwood.”

“It’s not enough, Detective.” Olivia turned on her heel and plunged through the crowd. Onlookers gaped and whispered in her wake.

Helen winced. “I apologize for my mother, she’s overwrought. One of the servants heard a rumor while in the market yesterday. There are so many rumors. If one believes them all, Ella’s killer was part-beast. I, for one, trust in your investigation, Detective.”

“Thank you, Miss Lockwood. If you’ll excuse us, there are others who wish to pay their respects.” Derrick moved woodenly out of the line.

I tugged at his sleeve, stumbling back a step when he turned. Anguish lined his features, twisting my heart.

“Olivia doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”

It was hard to breathe around the guilt I saw in his eyes. The same kind of guilt had wrapped around me for years, a failure so deep it effected the way I viewed the world. It had become a part of me, but at that moment, I wanted to take his too. Add it to my own, no matter the weight, because I couldn’t stand to see his pain.

Throat tight, I leaned in and whispered, “Ella’s murder wasn’t your fault. You can’t believe that.”

“Stay here, Tessa. I should go speak with the king.”

“No—wait. I’ll go with you.”