Corrigan Fire Bloodfire - Helen Harper Page 0,29

the case, then she was definitely signing up for all the wrong reasons. I couldn’t care less whether she was trying to swipe the werewolf from under Mack’s nose or not – in fact, the thought was oddly pleasing – but she shouldn’t be changing her life based on a romantic possibility. Frankly, she shouldn’t change her life on a romantic certainty either. I wanted committed shifters, not lovelorn idiots. I was curious about Mack, sure, and I very much enjoyed the idea of seeing more of her. I’d certainly not move here to do it though.

‘So why do you want to join the Brethren, Betsy?’ I challenged. ‘I get the feeling it’s not because you want to help feed me from any buffets you come across.’

She laughed, although it came across as awkward. ‘No. I mean, I do admire you, my Lord,’ she added hastily, ‘but it’s always been a dream of mine to live in London and be with the Brethren. I know I’m not the strongest fighter but there’s a lot I can offer.’

I cocked my head towards her, going for the direct approach. ‘Tom and Mack are together.’

She swallowed. ‘Yes.’

‘Do you think their relationship will last if he also comes to London and she stays here?’

Her eyes met mine. ‘It’s only a few hours away. They’re very much in love.’

I had the distinct feeling she was lying. I didn’t know, however, whether it was to me or to herself. ‘They must be in love,’ I commented. ‘He even has a pet name for her.’

‘Red,’ she nodded, ‘I know. It’s because she has a really fiery temper. She’s not the sort of person you want to cross. Because when she sees red…’ her voice trailed off and she glanced away anxiously.

I stared at her. Interesting. It did make sense that Tom wouldn’t reveal the real reason why he’d given Mack the nickname – especially to someone who had an obvious crush on him. It was even possible that Betsy knew the real reason and was too embarrassed to say it aloud to me. But I was sure they were both lying. Much like the motives behind John’s murder, the more I found out about Mack, the more it didn’t seem to fit. I moved aside to let Betsy past, but I made a mental note to tell Mel to investigate her reasons for wishing to join us more closely. As frustrating as all this was, I was starting to enjoy the side show that Mack and her buddies were providing. It was a damned sight more light-hearted and entertaining than gruesome death, anyway.

***

I walked through the pretty streets of Trevathorn, hands in my pockets, as I mulled everything over. Something big and nasty had killed John and we were still no closer to finding the culprit and dealing out justice than we had been when we’d arrived. One of the more technically gifted shifters had helpfully broken the password on John’s computer, without requiring the tardy mage’s assistance, and was already going through the files. There were some interesting reports about a quinotaur but nothing yet that would actually have been strong enough to bring him down. In any case, a quinotaur wouldn’t have stopped to carve fetching runes into a bunch of trees. It would just have ripped them from the roots and scattered them across the dunes. There was apparently an odd notation on one document pertaining to ‘black diamond stones’, which I could only think had something to do with the ring of coals close to the trees themselves. Unfortunately, it only added to the mystery, rather than doing anything to solve it.

Leaving the tiny police station and its tight-lipped occupants behind, I sighed heavily and crossed the street, wandering disinterestedly down the row of small shops. The phone in my pocket buzzed and I pulled it out. It was a text message from Staines. The wizard was finally here. About bloody time. I picked up my pace to head straight back to the keep and was almost past the quaint-looking pub when, through the misty panes of glass, I spotted a familiar-looking figure. I pursed my lips. Well, I’d wanted to catch her unaware and now I had my chance.

I backtracked a few steps to the door and pushed it open. It was definitely Mack. I didn’t, however, recognise the man she was with. He was leaning towards her with a stance that screamed intimacy. He was just a human though; I couldn’t