Page 58 of Wake the Dream

He pressed the icon of a phone handset and waited while it rang. Over and over.

The witch eventually picked up on the eighth ring.

“This better be good. You don’t call without a reason, fairy girl.”

The gravelly voice grated in his ears and Kieran felt a rush of physical pain in reaction. “Actually,” he began, “this is Detective Kieran Shanahan of the Hedgehill Marsh PD.”

Silence reigned. Then the croaking tone sounded again, this time colored with amusement. “What does Detective Kieran Shanahan of the Hedgehill Marsh PD want with me?”

“Illaria...said you might be able to help.” She hadn’t exactly said that, but it wouldn’t hurt to throw it in. Kieran paced the room, wearing a hole in the carpet, his eyes locked on the trembling body on his couch. Blood seeped into the cushions and her normally pale skin had taken on the slight green tone of a fish’s underbelly.

Caryss laughed. “I highly doubt she lauded me for my abilities. What did she really say?”

No way he could get around this now. Truth time. “She said you peddled on the streets for children,” he said through gritted teeth.

“Ah, yes. More like her. What can I do for you?”

“I wouldn’t be calling if it weren’t urgent. I need you. Illaria is hurt and in trouble.”

“Her bad attitude doesn’t constitute trouble, honey, I’m sorry to tell you.”

Kieran bent beside her, taking her hand in his. Illaria was unresponsive. He didn’t have time to waste on this old fool and her opinions. He didn’t have time to waste alienating her, either. “We went into a vampire nest. She got bitten up pretty badly. I can’t stop the bleeding.”

“What is in it for me?” the witch asked.

“Whatever you want,” he answered immediately. “I’ll pay any price.”

Caryss remained quiet although he heard her breathing. “You know, it never bodes well to jump right toany price. There should at least be negotiation involved, don’t you think? Too late now, I suppose. Any price, you say...” She trailed off. Then: “Fine.”

She ended the call with a finite click.

Kieran threw the cell down on the table and turned his full attention back to the woman on his couch. He’d likely just made the biggest mistake of his life by agreeing to this deal, but...it was strange, the steadying feeling knowing he’d made the choicefor her.

He felt for a pulse and found it weak and thready. Blood still seeped out of the bandages and down the side of his couch. “Help is on the way,” he told her. Hoping she could hear him. “It’s going to be all right.”

The clock tower ticked out the time and in the distant part of his mind, he registered the boom of the hour striking six. How long had it been since they’d stepped into the vampire coven’s house?

He kept a firm hand on Illaria until the knocking on his door resembled the final throes of the clock.

One, two, three.

Breaking contact, he strode toward the door and flung it open hard enough to rip the hinges from the wall. How Caryss found him without him giving an address he would never know.

The old crone stared at him through rheumy eyes, the left one twitching spasmodically. Her hair swooped behind her like bird wings, secured behind her head with two golden clips. The waves were thick and shiny, braided here and there with beads and other ornamentation that might have looked ostentatious on anyone else.

Kieran sagged against the door. “You came. She’s in here.”

Caryss flashed him a smile and metal teeth caught the shine of the outside light. “Did you think I wouldn’t come? You lost a few years off your life, did you, boy?”

“She could have died waiting for you.”

Caryss pushed past him, his nostrils catching the scent of musk, decay, and lavender. An odd combination. “But she didn’t. She’s still here with us.” The crone raised her chin to the sky and drew in a breath. “Yes, still here. And you are going to owe me a huge favor for this, Detective.”

“It doesn’t matter. I told you I’m willing to pay whatever you want.”

“And if the favor I want isn’t money?”

He swallowed over the lump in his throat. “I’ll do anything to save her.”

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