in this place to keep the business alive.
August was my only remaining ally that wouldn’t try to destroy me. Outside of my father and one other, he was the only one who knew what I went through all those years ago.
As they were escorted to their own holding block, I saw Caine watching my interaction with August. Something dark crossed over his features, but before he could question my choices, someone spoke directly across from us.
"Well, well, well," a gravelly voice beckoned me to recognize it.
Gasping in my turn, I found the one person who could ruin everything for me. The man I saw when I closed my eyes, falling asleep to the one nightmare I could never be rid of.
"Look what the cops dragged in. Pretty boy wasn't there to save you this time?" The man who oozed disgust, spoke to me. I turned to meet the eyes of my old predator.
Dolion Garrek.
The man who killed my mother.
Other secrets of our past, threatened me now here, but I knew Talon swore Dolion to silence when he came to my rescue that day. That spell of silence would be my only sanctuary.
As long as he choked on his tongue when he tried to talk, I could get through this.
Nothing about my mission had changed from the sight of my greatest threat. I could still make a name for myself inside of this supernatural detainment center.
Outside of this prison, I was their princess.
Inside, I'll be their queen.
2
Talon
The crime scene was clean. Whoever poisoned Armoni, never wanted us to figure it out. I sighed, taking in all the mess that ensued after the task force invaded the family dinner.
Armoni had been found dead at the head chair of the table. I automatically knew Lyra would've been sitting beside him on the left.
They arrested the troubled girl without probable cause. In the supernatural community, things didn’t work like they did on the human side. We arrested, then proved who did it. It helped us keep the streets cleaner.
Though, Lyra wasn’t one who needed to be cuffed, and I hadn't been working last night to protect her.
When I went into the station this morning, I got told I'd be the lead detective of the murder case regarding Armoni Stamos. To say I was shocked would be underwhelming. The greatest crime lord this world has ever seen, had been poisoned at his family dinner.
My thoughts went directly to Caine Andretti, Lyra's evil stepbrother. If anyone wanted Armoni's throne, it would be that prick. Their cousin Axel was a close second. To be honest, they probably pulled it off together.
Being a Warlock myself, I could do a few spells to show me what went down. Though, I had a feeling whoever did it, knew I'd be on the case. There was only a slim hope that they messed up enough somewhere to give me a lead.
Rolling the sleeve of my shirt up, it hid the patterns on my flesh. As a Warlock, my element of power was my blood. Runes and tribal markings lined areas of my body for certain levels of power. Blood magic was very rare and meant great power for Warlocks, but it also came with the curse to want to use other's blood.
My magic literally flowed inside all veins. They all sang to me more when I dabbled into darker things. My thirst for blood couldn't be halted when I attempted deadlier spells.
By using my own blood through my markings of power supply—over my heart was the strongest source, but it was also deadly—I called on the vein in my forearm.
Running my finger over the thrumming pulse, I linked the magic within me to my spell. Using my Druid tongue, I worded it to show me what had recently happened. Had the task force been smarter, they would've called me in last night to see more than I would now.
It told me someone was helping to aid the villain of this crime. Whoever it was, worked within my precinct.
I hated knowing that, more.
Later today, I'd review who was on call last night. There had to be a link within our ranks to what had happened to my old friend.
Using my black tribal ink now, I asked my powers to show me what it could. Red clouded my vision first, telling me the source of my power agreed to my request. Within my eyes, I no longer saw the room I stood in.
Now, I was at their dinner party.
I saw Lyra sitting like