after having me literally dumped onto their couch. Besides, Denise had cuddled Silver in bed the way he liked when I couldn’t, so I’d burn down an enemy’s house for her after that.
That’s why I let Denise wipe away the dried blood on my face and hands with the hot towels Spade’s servant brought. I also sipped from the wrist of one of their human blood donors because I didn’t want Denise to worry that I’d be tempted to eat her again. When I was finished, I was so tired, I felt like passing out was a real possibility.
Maybe I wouldn’t kill Ian. He might have been right that now wasn’t the best time for me to fight Ruaumoko.
“We’ve struck out over here, too,” Cat said, sounding frustrated. “Marie still won’t agree to a meeting. My texts to her are also being ignored. But I did have some luck with the ghosts. My friend Fabian is talking to all his specter friends, and I have a medium on the way to pump out the bat signal even more.”
“Bat signal?” I asked, confused.
“Comic-book reference,” Bones said.
“Of course,” I murmured. “Sorry, I’m very tired. If I subconsciously revert back to my original language of Sumerian, just ignore me.”
“You’re welcome to rest. We have several guest rooms available,” Spade said.
“Thank you, but I can’t sleep until I know Ian’s safe.”
No one argued. From their expressions, they all understood.
“Denise, may I use your mobile phone?” I wasn’t good for much right now, but I could make a call.
She gave it to me. I closed my eyes, needing to concentrate to remember the number to Marie’s private line. Gods, even my brain was fried from burning myself out on the time-freezing spell. Finally, I remembered it and dialed.
“Who is calling me?” asked a smooth, feminine voice in lieu of a hello.
The sweet notes of her Southern accent made the question sound less threatening than it was. Few people had Marie’s personal line, so she probably wasn’t used to getting calls from unfamiliar numbers. I couldn’t imagine what she did to cold-call telemarketers. They must have their own unmarked graves.
“Marie, it’s Veritas, Law Guardian for the council,” I said, ignoring how Cat shot to her feet. “I have an urgent matter to discuss, so I need an audience.”
“Don’t you mean former Law Guardian and current council assassin?” Marie’s tone was still sweet, but so was hard candy, and that could also break your teeth.
My eyes briefly closed. Of course Marie knew. She had the best spies in the world because they weren’t of this world.
“Your ghosts are incorrect,” I said. “I didn’t murder anyone on the council. I was framed.”
“Interesting, but not my problem,” Marie said. “And I’m not receiving audiences, as I’m sure Cat must have told you.”
Were her spies here now? I glanced around. No ghosts that I could see, but that was what made ghosts the best spies. They were masters at hiding. Then again, Claudia and Pyotor had been murdered days ago. Marie could have heard about that despite the council keeping it quiet. Perhaps she thought Cat had called on my behalf before? If so, I needed to fix that assumption.
“I’m not calling about myself. There are dangerous gods on the loose,” I said before she hung up.
Silence for a moment. Then, “What kind of gods?”
I almost sighed in relief. She’d hear me out, and once she did, she’d agree to see me because this was too important.
“Ancient, elemental ones. Ruaumoko controls volcanoes and earthquakes, and Morana’s power is ice and—”
“Bless your heart,” Marie interrupted with a laugh. “I already know that those gods are here.”
The line went dead. I stared at the phone for a second, trying to absorb the implications of what just happened.
“What did Marie say when you told her about the gods?” Cat asked in an urgent tone.
I looked at her, still feeling dazed. “The Southern equivalent of ‘I know, and go fuck yourself.’”
Cat paled until her complexion resembled curdled cream. “Shit. You think she might be planning to align with them?”
That’s exactly what I thought. If I was right, we’d be fighting against gods and ghouls, which meant we’d be doomed.
Chapter 32
Ian didn’t return for over an hour. If I’d had the strength, I would have been pacing from anxiety by then. As it was, I had the energy only to drum my fingers against the couch.
A burst of smoke-scented air preceded Ian’s sudden appearance. He still wore the same clothes, but the bloodstains looked dry,