Page 31 of The Madness Within

Cassian’s grin faltered. “Who is she?”

“Don’t know,” I said. “But Kreed Elias was following her two nights ago. Shot the man she was talking to. Clean. Right through the temple.”

Cassian’s eyes narrowed. “Really?”

“Yes, and I’m determined to find out why.” I said.

Cassian studied the image. “She looks... familiar. Not by face. By aura. Like someone you almost remember from a dream that ended too soon.”

“She’s tied to something,” I muttered. “Something old. And he wants her. That’s enough for me.”

Cassian tapped the image once, the projection rippling. “So you’re curious.”

“I’m working,” I corrected.

“Bullshit. That’s the same look you had when we chased the bone-witch across the Danube. Right before you fell in love and lost a lung.”

“I grew another one,” I said.

“Yeah. And you still haven’t grown out of your obsession with lost girls and dangerous magic.”

I closed the box. “She’s not lost,” I said quietly. “Not yet.”

Cassian leaned back, eyes gleaming. “You want me to find her?”

“I want you to tell me who she is,” I said. “Before Kreed tries anything again.”

He smirked, lazy and lethal. “And if I find her first?”

I didn’t blink. “Then I’ll take your other hand this time.”

Cassian chuckled. “It’s good to see you haven’t changed.”

“Neither have you.”

He stood and tapped twice on the wood, signaling for something expensive and illegal. “Alright, Vale. I’ll dig. No promises.”

“There never are with you.”

As he turned to leave, he paused and looked over his shoulder. “If she’s beautiful... I’ll take her for myself.”

I nursed my drink, watching the shadowy outline of her face flicker once more in the box. “Not this time.”

Chapter Eleven

??The Devil Knows Her Name

Cassian

I’ve hunted gods in the gutters of old worlds, bled angels for truth, slit open demons to read their memories like scripture.

But this girl?

She was a ghost in the system. A whisper buried in ash.

Ember Carr.

That was her name. Kreed killed her mother. Tried to kill her, but left her with a constant reminder that he’ll always be there.

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