this one is trapped and even more dangerous because of it.”
“I fear it will stop at nothing to keep its powers intact. We have to stop it.”
“We will.” Logan pulled one of the fake-agency cards the oracle had made up for them. “Let us know what we can do to help.”
Logan and Gideon continued out the back door of the bar, leaving the detective to his work.
Aleron met them outside. “All well?”
“The detective is fae.”
Aleron slow panned to face them. “What? How does that even work?”
Gideon caught him up while Logan moved closer to the crime scene down the block. From the work the investigators were doing, they’d been a couple hundred yards or so away from where the attack occurred.
It shouldn’t have been possible. How had they missed it?
Logan moved as close as he dared and scanned the scene. As an alpha wolf, he was considered one of the apex predators of their world. If he’d wanted to attack someone, how would he have done it?
The alley was dark, for starters. It made it easy for someone to hide in the shadows. The dumpsters gave more protection from sight. But how had they not heard her? How had a griffin and a martial eagle, two of the best-sighted shifters, not seen into the shadows? How had Logan and Scout not been able to scent it when it was so close?
Aleron and Gideon appeared at his side, looking to him for leadership. Nothing added up, and Logan growled his frustration. “What are we missing?”
Humans could hide in the shadows from other humans. Not from them. Humans didn’t have advanced hearing or smell either. This creature could have remained hidden from humans—but not from them.
Unless…
“Check for magic.”
“Fuck,” Aleron said, summing up Logan’s thoughts precisely.
They moved quickly around the area, avoiding the cops, but Aleron’s eyes glowed golden, the eagle in him searching in ways Logan wasn’t capable. His gaze locked on to a spot, then he pivoted and looked to the side. And then once again.
“It created a ward. A small one, but powerful,” Aleron said. “Only big enough to create a little bubble for its crime, and certainly not big enough to draw our attention from the air. If it concealed scent as well—”
“It was invisible to us.”
Logan’s phone dinged, and he pulled it out, expecting to see a message from the oracle intended for his eyes only.
Instead, a message from Bailey appeared on the screen. “Are you busy?”
8
Bailey
Bailey sat in his car with the doors locked, nervously chewing his lip as he waited for Logan’s response. His phone rang, startling him so badly he almost dropped it. Logan.
“Hell-hello?” Bailey fought to get his breathing under control. It was ridiculous to have such a strong reaction to a guy he’d met only once.
“I’m not busy.”
“Oh.” Bailey had forgotten how deep Logan’s voice was. How commanding and strong. And what an idiot he was for even thinking Logan wanted to hear from him. Why had he messaged again?
“Bailey? You okay?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine. I shouldn’t have called. It’s—yeah. I’m fine. You’re good?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m just spooked, that’s all. Imagining things. It was a crazy night. Did you… did you hear what happened?”
“I did.”
“We know her. Well, Ashley knows her.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t stop it.”
Bailey breathed and checked the rearview mirror. His spine tingled.
“Logan? Remember when you said… God, never mind.”
“Where are you?”
“Outside Ashley’s sorority house. I took her home after we went to brunch, and then we talked for a while. It’s just… I feel like someone’s watching me, you know? But it’s probably the sorority sisters. Strange dude sitting outside their house after what happened last night. Yeah, that’s probably it. I’m probably scaring the crap out of them, sitting here staring into space.”
“Stay where you are. I’m on my way.”
“Logan, you don’t have to—”
“I know. The detective in charge of the case is coming to question Ashley. It’ll help if you’re there for her.”
“They’re having a sorority meeting now. Putting everyone on a strict buddy system.”
“That’s good. There’s power in pa—numbers.”
“I should text her and tell her the cop is coming.”
“Go ahead, and let the others know as well. I’m sure Detective Alfred will want to talk to all of you.”
“Okay.” Bailey shivered again. “I can’t believe I’m so spooked. I’m not really like that, you know? I work nights. I’m normally the last one out of the theater.”
“First one in, last to leave,” Logan said quietly.
“Yeah. How’d you know?”
“I know people.”
“Well, that didn’t sound ominous or anything. I