8. Suspects
Travis
I looked at the picture again, but I didn’t really need to. I knew I was right. That damaged area had not been there when we’d first found the summoning circle.
That means one of our team had deliberately pulverized part of the rock to hide something. But who? And why?
Kerry had found the circle, and Gemma followed at his heels like always. He’d called Clem over, then me, then Maddy. Jax, Gigi, John, and Tara had given it a look, but hadn’t gotten close.
So four suspects unless one of the others went back that night.
That awful night Jax lay dying and we’d sat like helpless lumps around a campfire talking about princes and miracle workers …
My memory was exceptionally accurate, but I still couldn’t visualize what had been written in the destroyed part. Maybe if I could find out what it had said, it would narrow the suspect pool… and the motivation for the damage.
I took the time to consider if I should pursue this. It could be my chance to give Kerry his comeuppance if I let it go, but that could be true if I found out something, too.
In the end, I decided that more knowledge was never a bad thing.
And if it helps me get my revenge, all the better.
9. She Belongs Here
Rome
I tapped my fingers impatiently against the door, watching dawn lighten the horizon.
My eyes were gritty from lack of sleep, I wanted coffee in the worst way, and I’d been in a bone-jarring car wreck. And to top off such a stellar night, the girl I cared for was imprisoned in a Diabolical market and in danger of being sold to who knew what.
As my rage grew, my fingers tapped faster and hard enough to leave tiny dings in the metal framework. I clenched my hand into a fist to stop, then shrugged. The entire side of the car was a mass of dents. A few more weren’t going to matter at this point.
As much as I wished I were in Kerry’s role, I knew the kid had it under control and could infiltrate the traffickers’ lair to get Mira and Gigi out as quickly as possible.
But it irked my honor and stung my pride tohidein acarwhile akidrescued my woman.
I made a frustrated noise and glanced at Jax, who was close to chewing his thumb right off. Yeah, he wasn’t in any better shape.
“What isthat?”
I looked to where Chance was pointing and saw a skeleton hopping from one mud puddle to the next. He was about four and a half feet tall, I guessed, and pearly light threaded through his bones and padded his joints like gel. His skull was huge compared to the rest of him and his dark eye sockets each had a purple dot in the center.
“Is there a Diabolical creature that looks like a child’s skeleton?” Jax craned his neck for a better look.
“Not that I know of,” I said.
“It looks like it has writing carved in its radial bone.” Chance reached for his door handle. “Let’s take a closer look.”
“No. Kerry said to stay in the car.” I reached over the seat and grabbed his shoulder. “Curiosity could get someone killed right now.”
“But how many times in your life are you going to see something likethat?”
“We can ask Kerry about it when he gets back.” Jax obviously didn’t want to do anything that might put his girl at risk, either. “Maybe they’re common around here or pets or something.”
“Pets.” Chance’s tone was flat. “I hope not.”
Finally, I saw them coming out of the front door. My eyes went straight to Mira, and I growled when I saw she had a black eye and was limping.
“Thank God. Gigi looks okay.” Jax seemed to relax all at once.
