Page 77 of Stalk the Dark
The mysteries were piling up. Padma’s nightly excursion, the missing supernaturals, all the cold cases, and now someone was out to get Ezekiel. The latter I’d totally strike off my give a fuck list if I could.
“We should go to the parade and get some cake,” Merry said. “Show Orina our hangout.” She looked across at me sharply. “Unless we’ve already done that?”
I shook my head. “We planned to, but never got around to it.”
“Fine,” Padma said. “But not today. Today Orina needs to recharge.” She gave me a pointed look. Then to the others, “Butweneed to go into New Town to work our missing ghoul case.”
“Okay,” Merry said. “Now I am intrigued.”
The look Padma gave me told me it was going to be a long day.
I couldn’t recallthe last time I’d curled up in bed with a book. Just as well I’d thought to bring a couple with me. The afternoon sun made patches in the rug, filling the room with dancing motes of light and creating a safe haven.
I’d miss this room when I left for the castle. The thought of sleeping in the Gothic monstrosity didn’t appeal. It would be dark and cold, and Ezekiel would be there. At least I’d have Ordell and Hemlock with me. As my Order assigned protectors, they needed to stay close to me.
When the Order gave me the mission, I’d been too stunned to think straight. Then once I’d accepted, because saying no wasn’t an option and they knew it, my first question had been to ask why Ezekiel slept so much. I’d been told that was classified. Then I’d asked why we couldn’t just kill him if he was so dangerous, only to be told he couldn’t be killed. So naturally my next question had been, why does he need protecting, then?
Micah had shrugged, looking as flummoxed as I felt. But now it made sense. Ezekiel might be king, but this territory was run by the houses, and there were vampires who would do anything to ensure he didn’t interfere with that. He was probably only tolerated because of tradition, something vampires were big on, and the fact he could physically make them bow with his power also helped to keep them subservient. But like Laudon had said, the world was changing, andsomeone didn’t want Ezekiel to interfere with those changes…but what were the changes? And should I put Laudon on my suspect list? Damn straight. Him and a string of others…
Yes…the vampires wanting Ezekiel back in his coffin was understandable, but the question remained as to why the Order cared what the vampires did to Ezekiel.
A soft knock at my door interrupted my thoughts.
“Come in.”
I sat up straighter at the sight of Hemlock.
He closed the door softly behind him and stood staring at me. He looked good today. Casual, in a T-shirt and low-rise jeans, but his hair was mussed as if he’d been running his fingers through it, and his eyes were bloodshot as if he hadn’t slept. The fog in the back of my mind stirred. Wait…he’d been there last night. He’d begged me to hold on and…his voice…Humming. Soothing…
He’d sung to me. “Hey…”
“How are you feeling?”
He’d called me kitten… “Better.”
He tucked his hands into his pockets, shoulders rising and bunching in that awkward way that told me he wasn’t sure what to say or why he was even here. “Ordell told me about Ezekiel’s note.”
“Yeah?”
He blew out a breath. “Well. Okay. I’ll see you later.” He reached for the door handle.
“Hemlock?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for last night.”
His jaw tensed. “I didn’t do anything.”
“Yeah, you did.” I remembered it clearly now. His leather and cedar scent, the way he’d held me, the sound of his voice and the melody he’d hummed.
His throat bobbed. “You remember?”
I nodded, and our gazes locked with a zing that I felt in my solar plexus.
“Merry said you’d forget…the tincture…”
“Youwantedme to forget?” His expression was answer enough. “Why?”
