my pack. A friend.” I met Briggs’s cold stare with one of my own.
“Any idea why someone would do this to him?” Briggs raised a dark brow, daring me to deny it.
I glanced back at the cryptic symbol. “Looks like a demon ritual to me. Possibly to raise one. Maybe bind one.” Or, break a binding on one, I added silently.
“Uh huh. But, why choose this werewolf specifically?” Briggs was like a dog with a bone.
I crossed my arms and tilted my head, studying him intently. “Is there something you’d like to say, Agent? Just spit it out.”
Juliet stiffened but said nothing. Her silence spoke volumes. She was uncomfortable but forced a relaxed front.
Briggs swung his gaze over Arys and then me. “I’d say it looks like someone’s trying to send you a message. Like you’ve pissed somebody off.”
“Yeah? That’s what you think? Is that why you’re sniffing around here? Because you sure as hell don’t want to meet the demon responsible for this. If I were you, I’d wash my hands of the whole thing before you endanger your people.” I tried not to look at Juliet but was unsuccessful. The further she stayed from this situation the better.
“We’ve dealt with demons before. Don’t patronize me, Ms. O’Brien. I can assure you, I’ve been doing this since you were in diapers.”
If that was true, Briggs looked pretty good for his age. I wondered what he was up to that gave him access to the fountain of youth. With a shake of my head, I dismissed his comment as ignorance.
“I don’t give a rat’s ass what kind of demon you think you’ve dealt with, none of them even compare to this one. Do yourself a favor. Get acquainted with their hierarchy and stay the hell away from the ones at the top. Now, are you going to release my wolf to me, or do you have other, more unsavory plans for him?”
The agent and I glared daggers at one another. Briggs was used to calling the shots. Well, so was I. At least I was when Arys was willing to let me.
“I’m not authorized to give it to you. It’s evidence of some obviously serious activity going on in the city. We’ll be keeping it.” Briggs was unapologetic. “We haven’t found the head yet. Hopefully we will before a civilian does.”
Without asking for permission, I whipped out my phone and snapped a photo of the body before Briggs could tell me not to. I wanted some kind of evidence of that symbol. I had the sinking feeling I’d need to see Shya about this. I’d been avoiding the demon for weeks despite his insistent demands that I speak with him.
Juliet cleared her throat, drawing every eye. “Alexa, is there anything you can tell us about the demon that did this? Maybe we can help you if you’re in some kind of trouble.”
A chuckle spilled forth, earning me a dirty look from Briggs. An offer of help from the FPA was beyond ridiculous. They’d tortured someone dear to me, and now, he was missing. Without a doubt, they would have done the same to me if Kale hadn’t taken the fall. I would never trust the FPA. If that meant never trusting my sister again, so be it.
“I’m always in trouble, Juliet. All I can tell you is to stay away from this. Messing with this demon would be suicide.” I turned my gaze on Briggs who regarded me like a bug he wanted to squish. “If you value the lives of your people, you’ll stick to entrapping and torturing vampires. You all seem so good at it.”
I turned to leave; I couldn’t do anything more here. What had happened to Zak sparked a fire in my core. It would burn until I sent Lilah back to where she belonged, to the cage the angels made for her.
“I’m sorry for what happened with Kale Sinclair.” Briggs’s forced apology stopped me in my tracks. I faced him with a new rage burning within.
“Too little too late, Agent.”
“We have a proposition for you. If you would hear me out.”
Arys’s wicked laughter sent a lovely tingle down my spine. It didn’t have quite the same effect on Juliet or Briggs, who both stared at him suspiciously.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “What you did to Sinclair, you would have done to Alexa. You’d be wise to stay away from her.” Arys’s mood changed, going from grim amusement to deadly calm. “I’m not asking.”
“No,” Juliet