Bloodfire (Blood Destiny 1) - Helen Harper Page 0,45

suppose, you could, yes. That’s much what I’d expect from the leader of the Brethren, use brute force to get what you want. Are you going to?”

“You don’t seem to have much regard for us.” He stared ahead. “It doesn’t matter though, I have no doubt that you’ll tell me the whole truth eventually, one way or another.” There was a faint mocking edge to his voice.

“You are only here for another twenty four hours,” I commented, tightly praying that he’d not changed his mind.

He laughed slightly. “Yes, but I somehow think our paths will cross again.”

I bloody well hoped not.

Chapter Ten

By the time we got back to the keep, it was shrouded in darkness. I could hear the buzz of voices from inside, however. Corrigan beside me had thankfully lapsed into silence so I was free to work through my own thoughts. I wondered exactly what the mage was doing. I didn’t know much about how magic worked, to be honest. I knew from my readings on the Othernet that it took years of training to be a mage, and that they often specialised in different areas, such as divining, alchemy, telekinesis and fore-telling. There was a mage academy located somewhere in Kent and powers were generally passed down generational lines. I had a vision in my head of a bald man with a long black cloak holding a glass ball, but perhaps I’d been watching too much Japanese anime lately. It briefly occurred to me that it might help the wizard if I mentioned the shadowy figure in Perkins but there was so little to really elaborate on that I decided to keep that little nugget to myself. He’d probably just end up getting in my way if I revealed what I’d already found out from good old fashioned detective work. Of course that didn’t mean that I didn’t want to know what he himself discovered whilst he was here.

When we reached the oak entrance door, Corrigan opened it and gestured at me. I was somewhat surprised that the ostensible leader of the shapeshifters was portraying himself as a gentleman – and somewhat nervous to have him at my back – but I entered anyway, with him close behind me. As soon as the door closed, Staines stepped up and whispered something in his ear and the two of them went off in the direction of the office. Everyone else was gathered in the hall.

Mackenzie, what on earth is going on? Why were you with Lord Corrigan?

Julia was looking at me with a rather alarmed expression at my suddenly departed companion.

He was just being annoying, I sent back silently. Nothing to worry about.

He might know that I was lying to him about some things but he definitely didn’t suspect that I was human at least, I thought, remembering his utter dismissal of Nick. He had me pegged as a grumpy loner who was living in abject terror of him and the rest of the Brethren. I could live with that. As long as I chose to ignore his portentous comment about our paths crossing again that was.

I took my place in the crowd with the other pack members. Everyone seemed slightly excited and anxious again at the presence of the mage. I could sense a few glances my way and wished I could silently reassure the others the way that I’d reassured Julia. There were times that the limitations of shifters were gallingly unhelpful.

Tom moved up from the sidelines to be beside me. I shot him an evil look before whispering furiously, “You thought you’d tell Corrigan that I’m called Red because of the way I blush when we shag?”

At least he had the grace to look slightly embarrassed. “He put me on the spot. He wasn’t even supposed to be doing my interview – it was the blonde chick. But he barged in during it and fired questions at me. I couldn’t think straight. Something about the way his eyes look through you.” He shivered slightly.

“What else did you tell him?” I put my hands on my hips, still annoyed.

“He wanted to know why we’d had so few injuries and deaths. I told him that we were just lucky. I wasn’t entirely sure if he believed me.”

“Well, I told him the truth so it’s probably best if you stop lying to him.”

Betsy’s voice came up from behind me. “You told him you were human?” She said aghast.

“No, that I dyed my hair, stupid,” I said. “I didn’t