Back in my office, the damp chill bit into my skin, heavier than usual. Rain slammed against the windows, echoing the storm raging inside me. Forbidden Fae blood magic. A shadowy figure melting into the downpour. Silas's grim warning about ancient, vengeful beings. And Kaelen Thorne, the vampire Alpha of this city, reaching out like some dark, mysterious client.
My hand hovered over the burner phone he'd used. Running wasn't an option. Ignoring Kaelen was a bad idea. Letting some unknown Fae magic user cause havoc was terrible for business, and likely my life.
There was only one play left. Go right to the source. Face the devil himself.
I took a deep breath and typed a message on the encrypted channel. Short. Direct. No room for mistakes.
*Need to talk. Face to face. About Julian.*
I hit send before doubt could creep in.
His reply came fast. Cold. Demanding.
*My tower. Now. Penthouse level. Alone.*
Just like that. No questions, no small talk. A command. My stomach twisted. Walking into a predator's lair wasn't just a phrase with Kaelen Thorne.
His tower loomed over downtown, a sharp spike of glass and steel cutting into Seattle's gray sky. Even the lobby screamed power, sleek and cold, with guards in fancy suits hiding their deadly edge. They checked my name on a list, their faces blank but watchful. No weapons check. Curious. Either they knew I was armed and didn't care, or Kaelen wanted me just as I am.
The elevator ride was quiet, shooting up floors way too fast. It opened straight into the penthouse. This wasn't a room; it was a throne of dominance. Huge windows showed the rain-soaked city below. The furniture was minimal, modern, dripping with wealth. Art worth more than my whole building hung on the walls. The air buzzed with a heavy, ancient power.
And there he was.
Kaelen Thorne stood by the massive windows, gazing at his kingdom. He turned as the elevator doors shut, and his presence slammed into me like a fist. Dressed in dark clothes, he looked carved from night itself. Stunningly gorgeous, but it was more than looks. It was the centuries in his eyes, the eerie stillness, the raw control barely held back.
His gaze raked over me, sharp and piercing. A hunter sizing up... what? Prey? A threat? A puzzle? With Kaelen, I could never tell.
"Elara Vance," he said, his voice deep and smooth, carrying across the huge space. "You asked to see me."
I stood tall, meeting his stare. No use dancing around it. "You sent me a message."
"I did." He stayed by the window, city lights glinting in his dark eyes.
"You said you didn't kill Julian."
"I did not." His words were firm, absolute. Was he lying? Or speaking truth?
"Why tell me? Why contact me?"
A hint of annoyance flashed across his face. "Julian Thorne, despite his flaws, was under my protection. His death is an insult. It hints at weakness. It breeds chaos. Chaos harms my city, my rule." He paused, his eyes pinning mine. "I need this handled. Fast. Quiet."
"The symbols used," I pushed, watching him closely. "They weren't vampire."
He tilted his head a little. "Exactly. Old Fae ritual marks. A sloppy trick to mislead. Someone wants it to seem like a vampire conflict. Or they needed magic strong enough to kill a vampire like Julian, and Fae blood rites worked."
"Or," I shot back, "someone wants to pin this on you with Fae magic."
A slow, deadly smile curved his lips, not touching his eyes. "That's possible. I've made many enemies over the years. Some Fae among them."
The air sparked. Not with magic, but with something else. Tension. Heat. Under the distrust and danger, a pull tugged at me, making my heart race with an unwanted thrill.
"You want me to find the killer," I said. It wasn't a question.
"I want the truth," he corrected, his voice like velvet. "And you'll have access. My territory, my people... barriers will vanish. Information will be yours."
My brows lifted. Full access to the vampire world? That's a risky kind of power. "Why me?"
"You're skilled," he said. "Independent. You work outside normal rules. And you're known for spotting what others miss." He stepped closer, just a bit, his gaze burning into me. "But my help has rules."
"Always does."
"You report to me. Only me. Before the police or any other ties you might have." His eyes flicked, probing. "Does the Coven know you're dealing with me?"
I kept my face blank, ignoring the dig about the Coven. My issues with them weren't his concern. "And if I say no to your offer?"
"Then finding the killer will be much harder," he said, his tone hard under the smooth surface. "Doors will shut. Lips will seal. My people guard their own."
He stopped close, so close I felt the strange chill rolling off him, saw the ancient patterns swirling in his dark eyes. His sheer force pushed against my will.
Trusting Kaelen Thorne was like kissing a blade. But refusing him could mean hitting a wall, while a killer with forbidden magic roamed free. He offered the keys to his world, wrapped in chains of his control.
He watched me, waiting for my answer, the silence heavy with unspoken deals and dangers. The city lights sparkled below, blind to the deadly game hanging between us.
What choice did I really have?
