“So, I still need to find Bryony to clear my name. Because werewolves keep trying to attack me, and my sales in the shop lately are abysmal. Who wants to buy some formal wear that might straight up kill you? If that girl doesn’t turn up, I might as well pack my bags and move, because no one will ever buy a thing from me again.”

  Throughout the whole talk, Darla squirmed around like a three-year-old at lessons. She fidgeted, played with anything her hands could reach, and at one point laughed way, way too loudly at something that wasn’t actually funny. I turned my glare her way, which was usually enough to get her to tone it down, but she seemed to be working really, really hard not make eye contact with me.

  Weird. And when it came to Darla, that was saying something.

  I shrugged it off and continued.

  “I thought we had the whole thing sewn up, when Taliyah and I went to talk with Jackson’s supposedly ‘jealous’ ex-girlfriend.” I laughed bitterly. “What a joke that was. She probably hadn’t even noticed when he’d broken up with her. So, now we don’t have any leads, no idea where Bryony is, and no ideas on who would want to take her in the first place. Plus, Taliyah wants me to stay out of it, because I’m not a ‘law enforcement official’ or something.”

  I made my air quotes extra sarcastic.

  Poppy stirred her drink, frowning a little. “We should start inviting Taliyah to these things. Not tonight, obviously, she’d be busy, but maybe…”

  Poppy trailed off when she noticed I was staring at her, incredulous.

  “Can we worry about my disaster before we start modifying the guest list, please?”

  She flushed pink all the way to her hairline. “Right, sorry.”

  Darla squirmed again and tossed back her drink before she spoke. “I mean, you ain’t really looked into the dame herself, ya know? What if she had her own squeeze on the side? Sure, she was workin’ to get leg shackled, but you really never can tell with people.”

  My eyes narrowed into suspicious slits. “What do you know?”

  Darla laughed, high and shrill. “Me? Nothin’! Boy, it’s hot in here.” She slammed back the rest of her drink and then started putting gin away like it was water.

  I didn’t like pushing the issue, normally. But Darla clearly knew more than what she was letting on. And the fact of the matter was that my magic had brought her to life. Back to re-life. Re-alived her—I wasn’t even sure there was a word for it.

  My power welled up, lacing through my voice like smoke. “Darla. Tell me what you know.”

  Darla squeaked, her back going as stiff as a broomstick. “Tell you what?” she responded, flashing her long eyelashes at me and smiling prettily.

  “Unless you want to die a second time, tell me what you know.”

  She dropped the smile and breathed out a long sigh as her attention shifted to the drink in her hands. “Well, I’m pretty sure I saw Lorcan stepping out with some dame,” she then blurted, three octaves higher than her normal voice.

  I froze, feeling like I’d just been kicked in the stomach. Of all the things I thought she’d have come out with, that hadn’t been on the list. “What?”

  She started flapping her hands, her eyes shiny like she was holding back tears. “They wasn’t canoodling or anything, but they were real close, right? I kept bumping into them while I was dealing with some hauntings, cause they were sticking to real out of the way places. I didn’t know what to think of it, Wanda. Part of me thought I should tell you, but another part probably thought you didn’t want me pokin’ my nose where it didn’t belong.”

  My lips felt numb. I was going to be sick. “What did the woman look like?” I asked, my voice low.

  “Now, Wanda, we don’t know—” Poppy started, but I silenced her with a raised hand as I returned my attention to Darla, who somehow, got even more frantic. Her words came out like a fire hose, tripping over themselves as she tried to get them out as fast as she could.

  “She was dressed up real nice, right. But she ain’t no Sheba, not like you, Wanda. I’m sure it’s nothing, it’s just you didn’t say anything, and then I didn’t know how to tell you.”

  “Stop.” The word came out without any strength. I felt like someone had stabbed me, and I was slowly bleeding onto the floor.

  Darla’s mouth snapped shut, and she looked down at her hands folded in her lap. “Sorry.”

  Lorcan out with another woman? I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t even know what to think. It had never even occurred to me beyond a random and fleeting thought that I’d engaged with for maybe a few seconds before I released it. I suddenly felt very stupid for that.

  The mood, which had been lighthearted and full, deflated like a sad balloon. Everyone was looking at me with varying levels of concern, and it felt like acid on my skin.

  I pushed my chair back from the table and stood. “I’m going to head out.”

  Poppy jumped up, just a little tipsy and stumbling. “Wanda, stay. Please, stay.”

  But I couldn’t. That treacherous burning was back in my eyes, and I refused to spill even a single tear. So, I just waved Poppy off. “I can see myself out.”

  I could feel their eyes on me all the way to the door, but I didn’t look back once.

  Chapter Thirteen

  I didn’t have a car, and I wasn’t really in a state to drive even if I did, so I ended up calling Marty, of all people, for a lift.

  Marty was the closest a human could come to being a golden retriever, a relentless cheerful, optimistic person who was nearly constantly smiling and seemed to only want to help people. Unfortunately, he was my best chance of getting home, although as I slumped in the passenger seat of the hearse, part of me wished I’d just walked.

  Marty was a graphic designer by trade, and a ghosthunter in his spare time. Lorcan paid him to drive the hearse around during the day because Lorcan was paranoid that someone was going to try to off him and, apparently, it’s harder to off a moving target. Lately, though Lorcan didn’t rely on Marty’s services much, ever since we’d started cohabitating.

  Marty’s voice droned on as he told me some story about the last investigation he and his merry band of ghosthunters had done, and I let the tone wash over me without actually paying attention. It was fine, I just needed to make the occasional sound to make him think I was listening, even as I allowed my thoughts to drift.

  Lorcan with another woman.

  Just the thought turned my stomach, filling me with something between rage and terror. He wouldn’t, would he? Darla had tried to make it clear that they hadn’t been going at it or anything when she’d spotted them together, but then why would Lorcan hide it from me? Why not mention whatever he was doing, even in passing? Like he had when that dental hygienist had started getting flirty, and he’d had to lay down the line.

  The only answer was, that he didn’t want me to know about this one. And if that was the case, then the important question was, why? What was different this time?

  I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer.

  Okay, what the spell? This wasn’t me. Of course, I wanted an answer! And if Lorcan really was having an affair with another woman, he was going to tell me who, why, and, most importantly, why he’d lied to me. Extra busy, emergency at the clinic, my shapely behind. That man had some explaining to do, and pronto.

  All the while though, there was this voice inside me that kept saying ‘told you so’. A voice that insisted I should have known better than to allow myself to be put into this position—that if I hadn’t trusted a man, hadn’t allowed him access to my heart, I wouldn’t be feeling the way I was now. If I’d been true to my heritage and not allowed a man in, I wouldn’t be hurting.

  By the time we pulled into the driveway, I had a full head of steam worked up, and I hopped out and almost forgot to say an absent-minded goodbye to Marty. Lorcan’s car was in the driveway, the engine still ticking, so he must have just arrived home.

  My magic was roiling inside me like a thundercloud ready to spit lightning by the time I got to the door. My heart was pounding and my breathing was coming in short rasps. It took every bit of control saved up from a hundred and forty-two years of life to turn the doorknob with my hands instead of blowing it right off its hinges. Even so, it still slammed against the wall so hard that it rebounded and I had to catch it before it smacked into me.

  It just made me angrier. And the horrible knot of tears I refused to shed were now clogging my throat, and they didn’t help, either.

  Lorcan was still in the front hall, hanging up his coat when I walked in. He wasn’t in his scrubs again, and if he tried to tell me that the circles under his eyes and his neatly pressed slacks and shirt were owing to a ‘rough day at the office’, I was going to turn him into an armadillo.

  What was worse? I could smell that vanilla scent again, thick and creamy and obnoxiously sweet. Maybe it was time to clue into the fact that what I was smelling was another woman’s perfume.

  Lorcan had just turned to greet me, a tired smile on his face, and the fact that he could face me like nothing was wrong, that he could look me in the eyes, well, it just made me furious, because he was a liar, and a phony, and an… an… undead penishead! He was exactly what I’d thought he was when I’d first met him, before he’d tricked me with all his stupid good looks and charms.

  Lorcan’s smile died a quick death when I opened my mouth and demanded, “Who is she?”

  He had the absolute gall to appear confused, like he had no idea what I was talking about—a little wrinkle forming between his eyebrows. And I absolutely did not want to smooth it away with my finger.

  “She? Who, sweetling?”

  “Seriously? We’re going to do it this way?” When he just looked more confused, I cocked my hip to the side and flipped up my index finger. “You’re out at all hours.” Next finger. “You miss dates and forget to call me.” Ring finger. “You’re lying to me about where you’re spending your time.” Pinky finger. “And now I get to hear from other people about how you’ve been seen around town with another woman.”

  I had to cross my arms so I wouldn’t reach out and shake him. Furious tears burned in my eyes, and I knew if I blinked, they’d spill down my cheeks, so I forced myself to glare at him with everything I had instead. “So, how about you don’t insult my intelligence, and tell me who she is and why you weren’t man enough to tell me the truth—that you’ve been cheating on me!”

  Lorcan stared at me, horrified. Well, he was a damned good actor—I’d give him that much. But that was all I’d give him. It just made the tears burn that much hotter, and if he was really stepping out on me, then I absolutely refused to shed any of them on his man’s behalf.

  “No, no, sweetling, it’s nothing like that.” He shook his head. “My God, it’s nothing even close to that.” He took a step forward, like he was going to reach for me, but thought better of it when I made a little warning sound in the back of my throat. He ran his hand through his hair instead.

  “Wanda, please. Yes, I’ve been lying to you, and I’m sorry, but I promise you, I swear to you, it’s not anything like what you’re thinking it is.”

  He looked so haggard, like he’d aged ten years in a way I knew his body would never be capable of. I wanted to trust him, which meant I had to be careful. In my experience in the coven, the most sincere people were the best liars.

  I stalked past him into the kitchen. No way was I having this conversation on the couch where we’d spent many an enjoyable evening. “You have ten minutes.”

  I sat at the mostly unused kitchen table, my back just as stiff as the chair, and my arms tightly wound around myself. It felt like if I didn’t have a tight enough grip, my ribs might just crack apart around the jagged pain in my chest.

  Lorcan sat, looking miserable. “Her name is Dorothy.”

  And my entire body just wilted. Dorothy.

  “And there is nothing of any romantic or sexual nature going on between us,” he insisted, shaking his head and laughing at the very idea. “Dorothy works for the vampire that has started taking over Portland,” Lorcan continued. “A vampire who has been consolidating power since Rupert died.”

  Of all the things he could have said, I sure hadn’t expected that. I blinked, taken aback. “Rupert? Then what the spell is Dorothy doing here, in Haven Hollow?”

  I’d have something to say about a vampire trying to take over in Haven Hollow, and my vampire brothers would, too. Assuming this wasn’t just Lorcan spinning yet another story to try to get out of the truth.

  Lorcan slumped against the table, his elbows on the wood. “Apparently, there have been some rumors coming from the Hollow, regarding you not being a fully blooded vampire and those rumors have made it to Portland. Dorothy has come here to investigate and to make certain you really are a vampire.”

  My gut went cold. It had taken a lot of planning, and even more dumb luck to convince Rupert and his people that I’d been turned into a vampire while letting everyone involved walk away still breathing. Well, other than Rupert and a few of his lackeys. I’d thought his unfortunate end, and the show we’d put on about me being ‘turned’ had been convincing enough to make everyone leave us alone. But if what Lorcan was saying was the actual truth, then I’d made a mistake.

  “I’ve been handling it,” Lorcan assured me. His hand stretched across the table, like he wanted to touch me, but he pulled back, his fingers curling into a fist. “I’ve been distracting Dorothy as much as I’m able—giving her a bit of a run around, telling her that you are still new to the life and adjusting. I didn’t want you to worry, especially not with everything else you had going on. I wanted to protect you, Wanda.” He sagged, looking miserable as I narrowed my eyes on him, wondering if this was the truth, wondering if I could put myself on the line again by believing him. “I’m sorry, sweetling. I should have told you. I... well, I realize that now. But I wanted to spare you, and I’ve done the opposite.” He sighed. “I promise you, Wanda, I would never, ever hurt you like that—I know it must look that way, but the thought that you could believe I would do that.”

  “It did look that way.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said again and there was tenderness and truth in his eyes. “I don’t know how else I can prove to you that you are the only woman for me, my love. And you always will be the only one for me.”

  I sniffed and managed to turn it into a derisive sound instead of a snotty one. He could be telling the truth. I wanted to believe he was, which was what made this situation all the more dangerous. I didn’t think Lorcan would betray me. I wouldn’t be with him if I thought he could or would. But I also hadn’t thought he’d lie to me, especially not about something as big as the vampires sniffing around, trying to find us out.

  I might not have been as opposed to becoming a vampire as I was two years ago, but I wasn’t in any hurry, either. I loved my power. I’d worked hard for it. It was part of me, as much as my hair or my eyes, and turning fully meant giving that up. And now... well, I wasn’t willing to give that up.

  So, while one day I might make that decision, it was a decision that needed to exist between Lorcan and myself. Not anyone else. And I wasn’t about to be bullied into it, not by anyone.

  I searched Lorcan’s face, and he met my gaze. His eyes were bloodshot, which I hadn’t even thought was possible. He looked like he’d been running himself ragged, not out canoodling with some vampire femme fatal.

  “You’re an idiot,” I told him.

  He cracked a half-smile. “I’m well aware. I’m so very sorry.”

  The sick feeling that had been curdling in my guts turned into anger. “And in all of this, with you running yourself ragged, letting me think the worst—” I bit off the end of the sentence, grinding the words to dust between my teeth. A deep breath, and I tried again. “You didn’t think to have a conversation about it with me? When using your words could have cleared this entire mess up?”

  Lorcan looked gutted, the guilt plain as day on his stupidly handsome face. “I was trying to protect you. I’m sorry. You were busy with your work, and then you were investigating a murder, and I didn’t want to dump more trouble onto your plate—I would have helped you with this whole Bryony incident, as well, but I have been so busy trying to keep Dorothy and the other vampires off your scent.”

  I crossed my legs, letting one foot bounce under the table. He’d made a good point, I hadn’t exactly been sitting around eating bon bons the past few days. But I wasn’t quite ready to be mollified, yet. “You’re still an idiot.”

  “Agreed.” He hesitated, wincing. “There’s more.”

  Because of course there was. My eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. “Spill it, Lorcan.”

  He visibly braced himself, like a man about to face the firing squad. It didn’t bode well for the rest of the conversation.

  “So, the vampire who’s taken over in Portland, whom Dorothy has been shockingly tight lipped about, is having a gathering in a few weeks to introduce him or herself. As Rupert’s adopted child, I am expected to attend. And I will be expected to bring you with me. I’ve been trying to get out of it in a way that won’t be instantly suspicious, but Dorothy is proving to be a bit difficult about it. So far, no luck.”

  Ugh. Vampire politics were the worst. But I’d blow up that bridge when I came to it.

  First things first.

  I met Lorcan’s eyes, holding his gaze so that he’d get a hint of how serious I was. “You will never lie to me again, Lorcan Rowe. I don’t care if you think you’re protecting me or what. You will never lie to me again or I will walk away and I’ll never look back.”

  “I won’t. I promise I won’t. I’m sorry, sweetling. I never meant for any of this to happen.”

  He looked so miserable, and it tugged at my withered black heartstrings. Staying put in my chair was getting harder and harder, because relief was making me almost lightheaded. He hadn’t found someone new. He was still the man I knew he was, fangs and all. My lungs could finally inflate. Though, even as I stood and walked around the table, letting Lorcan pull me into his arms, there was a tiny kernel of doubt wedged up behind my sternum like a bit of black ice.