Peyton nodded. “Exactly the questions we started asking after we got off the phone.”
“Come look at this.” Tess gestured them both forward and led the way over to one of the windows. “This is where we think he got in.”
They picked their way through the rubble and looked at what she pointed to. It was a piece of brass nailed to the window frame. Jack frowned at it. It looked something like a mezuzah that Jewish people affixed to their door frames. These went on every exterior door and window in the house, creating a magical network that blocked entry from anyone with evil or harmful intentions. “It looks like the bespelled objects I had Mathison install at my house. For security.”
Peyton’s gesture was impatient. “Yeah, look closer.”
Squatting down, Jack brought himself to eye level with the thing. There were dark smudges on it, as if the metal had been tarnished. Some of the brass appeared to be melted. He’d never seen anything like it, not for a bespelled object. “What could do this?”
There was a long silence, and Jack glanced up to see Tess and Peyton exchanging a significant glance. From the way she gestured, Jack figured the two wolves were speaking telepathically.
“Anyone want to clue me in?”
It was in one of Tess’s textbooks, or I wouldn’t even have thought of it. Peyton’s voice filled Jack’s head. I helped her study when she was in training to go from Normal medical examination to Magickal. We think the guy has a cursed object.
Jack snorted. “Those are just myths. The Elven Assembly banned them something like a hundred years ago, collected all of them up and destroyed them. My understanding is they even destroyed the texts on how to make them.”
Do you have a better idea? Tess arched her eyebrows. Because this looks a lot like what my book said that cursed objects could do. Suck magic out of people and things. It explains how he can overpower werewolves. It explains how a human could leave the mark of dark magic on his victims.
The truth was, Jack couldn’t think of a better explanation for what they were dealing with. No matter what angle he looked at, the answer was preposterous. Even if this human had a fanged accomplice, vampires couldn’t cast well enough to break through a solid spell shield. And would another kind of Magickal be steeped in vampire lore and rituals for their killings? He had his doubts. What Tess and Peyton had come up with made the most sense to him, too.
Tess folded her arms over her chest. “I’m a werewolf, so I can’t cast well, and I had something like this installed at my place, too. These have to be magically recharged by my security company every seven years. Or so the warranty says. I assume cursed objects have similar properties as bespelled ones, so how is he powering the thing?”
If it was a cursed object this Normal had, then the answer seemed obvious to Jack. “The killings. How dark they are. That’s what charges it, gives power to the curse. It’s sucking the magic out of the Magickal victims.” He searched his memory. “The longest he’d gone between killings is seven years. The first gap from New Orleans to the next city. Every other gap has grown shorter.”
Grunting, Peyton glanced at the destruction around them. “He loses the object, he loses his power over magic-wielders.”
“Let’s see if we can talk to Darren. He might have seen something.” Rising to his feet, Jack brushed his hands off on his pants. “I’d like him to confirm this for us, so we’re not just taking shots in the dark like we have been for weeks.”
They were getting closer. The pieces were beginning to click into place. It was the most hopeful news Jack had had in a long time. Then he blinked at Tess. “There’s no dead body. What are you doing here?”
She lifted her chin. “I was with Peyton, and when we got the call that there’d been another one, we assumed I’d be needed.” Her shoulder dipped in a shrug. “I’ve just been helping collect evidence. One of the guys will give me a lift in to the lab. You go talk to your stepdad. Tell him he needs to get better and take over the pack before I kick the Alpha’s ass myself.”
Coughing into his fist, Peyton tried to cover a laugh.
“Nice.” Jack grinned. “Darren will love that.”
The ride back to the hospital was creepy, fog lacing its way through the streets, making the night appear ghostly. Peyton drove, since Jack didn’t have his car with him. Not having his car dragged his thoughts back to Selina. Jesus, what was he going to do about her? Uncovering a new clue had distracted him for a while, but this was like a slow-leaking wound he wasn’t sure would ever heal. She was planning to die. A shaft of agony pierced him. She’d given up on life, and he’d bet it was right around when her cousin was killed. It was obvious she’d blamed herself, had systematically isolated herself from being emotionally involved with anyone ever since, severing the ties that gave people reasons to live. Jack could see it so clearly because in the same situation, he might have done the same. If he hadn’t had his family when Heather had died, if he’d been as alone as Selina, he might have taken the steps she had to avoid that kind of pain ever again. Hell, he had to some extent. With women. Selina had done it with everyone.
Neither of them had planned it, but they were emotionally involved. It wouldn’t hurt this bad to think of her dying if she meant nothing to him. Instead it felt like the fires of hell were roasting him alive—he couldn’t even think, couldn’t breathe when it came to contemplating losing her. Not when he’d just found her. He couldn’t give this up. He would never again find a woman who fit him this perfectly. He would do whatever it took to save her.
“We’re here.” Peyton nudged his shoulder, and Jack jolted back to awareness.
They climbed out of the vehicle and walked into Harborview, heading for the Magickal ward. The trip seemed less endless than it had earlier, when all he could think about was getting to his stepfather. The guards were still at the door when they reached Darren’s room, but Luca had disappeared.
“Jack?” His mother half-rose from her seat beside Darren’s bed.
He pulled her in and hugged her tight. “Hey, Mom.”
“Angela.” Peyton nodded to her when Jack stepped back. “How are you holding up?”
Her lips trembled and she shook her head. “Not good.”
Tears welled in her eyes and slipped down her cheeks. Jack put an arm around her, squeezing her shoulder. “He’s going to be okay, Mom. You know he’s a tough SOB. He’ll pull through this just fine.”
She nodded fiercely, swiping at the tears. “I know it. I know he’ll be fine. I already told him when he woke up that under no circumstances is he allowed to die on me. He always makes sure I get what I want.”
That made Jack chuckle, though a band of emotion tightened around his chest. His mother had already lost a husband, just as he’d already lost a father. It was too much to ask them to do it again. “Yeah, he does. You’re spoiled rotten.”
She sniffed. “Every woman should be.”
“We need to ask Darren a few questions.” Peyton stepped forward to look the big wolf over. “Do you think he’s up to it?”
“Why don’t you ask him yourself?” Darren rasped, his eyes opening. They were bloodshot, but he appeared far more lucid than he had earlier. Some of the bruises had already begun to fade and his skin had more color. That more than anything made Jack sigh with relief.
Jack slid into the seat his mother had abandoned and took Darren’s hand. “We’re going to try to keep this to yes or no questions, so you can nod or shake your head instead of talk.”