Corrigan Fire Bloodfire - Helen Harper Page 0,26

responsible. I curled up my fingers under the desk. ‘Hmmm. So what is it between you and Anton? Perhaps he’s a jilted lover?’

‘We just rub each other up the wrong way.’

She was still holding back. ‘I see,’ I said again. ‘So why does your boyfriend, call you Red?’

Her eyes darted around the room as if searching for an answer. ‘It’s my favourite colour,’ she eventually burst out. ‘I always wear it.’ I couldn’t help glancing at the black clothes she was currently displaying. ‘But, of course, I’m wearing dark colours now in mourning for John,’ she hastily added.

I was beginning to wonder whether I was seeing lies where there were none. ‘Of course. You do seem to take this mourning aspect very seriously.’

‘I take his death very seriously.’

The depressed tone in her voice was painful to hear. I changed the subject again quickly. Maybe I could at least discover what kind of shifter she really was. ‘You smell like a rat, or maybe a gerbil. I can’t quite pinpoint it.’

‘I’m a hamster.’

I watched her face. Hamster? I couldn’t believe it. Cautiously, I tried to delve further. ‘Interesting. Werehamsters rarely have much fighting prowess. You, Miss Mackenzie, must be an anomaly.’

She shrugged. I waited for her to elaborate but her soft lips were pressed shut. I wasn’t going to get anything else out of her. This was a waste of time. I was suddenly tired of her repressed emotions. ‘Very well then. You are free to go.’

She stood up to leave, turning towards the door just as I caught a waft of her scent. It wasn’t that of a bloody hamster – it was too damn predatory. ‘Oh wait. One more thing, Miss Mackenzie. I’m curious as to what you bathe with.’

She stiffened and her voice was tense. ‘I’m not quite sure what you mean, my Lord.’

‘I mean, sweetheart, that you smell very odd. If you are a werehamster as you claim, then you’re like none I’ve come across before. I can’t quite put my finger on it but it’s definitely an unusual scent that you carry around with you.’

She spun round, nostrils flaring and eyes flashing at me. ‘I fail to see what I wash with or how I bathe has anything to do with you. I’ve answered your sodding questions and played along. If you have nothing of any note to ask about, then let me go.’

Something deep in my chest tightened. That was the first reaction I’d had out of her that I could swear was honest. So the kitten roars after all.

Her mouth opened then snapped shut again. Venom spat at me from her eyes. I didn’t care. I’d finally seen a glimpse of the real Mack and I wasn’t about to forget it. ‘Never mind. I didn’t realise it was such a touchy subject. Clearly there are depths to you that I need to plumb further. Some other time, I think, Miss Mackenzie.’

She stalked out as I settled back in the chair. Next time, I’d try harder to catch her unaware. I wanted to see more.

Chapter Nine

‘Why isn’t he here yet?’

The Arch-Mage’s reply was smooth and well practised. ‘If you want the best mage for the job, then you have to wait. It won’t be much longer. He’ll arrive by nightfall.’

I gritted my teeth. The wizard was merely flexing his magical muscle. The Ministry had the required fee in its bank account and, should he so desire, our assigned mage could open up a portal and be standing in front of me virtually immediately. I seemed to be on a roll as far as recalcitrant people unwilling to do my bidding were concerned.

‘This isn’t some kind of jolly,’ I growled. ‘We’re investigating a brutal murder scene. It’s entirely possible that whoever or whatever did this is planning more of the same. Time is a concern.’

‘Of course, of course. That’s why we’ve moved hell and high water to ensure Alexander Floride, one of our most accomplished mages, will be with you before the day is out.’

I tightened my grip on the phone. What I really wanted to do was demand he arrive right now. It’s what Xander Brady would have done. But along with bringing the Brethren screaming into the twenty-first century, I had also made it my personal remit to get on better with the other main Otherworld groups: specifically, the mages, the vampires and the Fae. I was barely a month into this; despite the severity of the situation, if I was serious about making