Grim launched himself out of the bushes beside the porch, barking madly. He spun in a circle, snapping at shadows and drifts of fog. She stumbled back, her arms pinwheeling before she fell on her ass. Hard. All the air whooshed from her lungs, and her back bowed as her tailbone made impact with the ground. She wrapped an arm around her ribs and wheezed while Grim continued to spaz out, snarling at nothing.
She narrowed her eyes, widening her senses to see if she could pick up on any Magickal beings around. Some people could cast invisibility spells. Her pistol was in the car, so she revved up her magic, felt it sluice through her in a warm rush, ready to be directed. She cupped her palm and shined a beam of light over the house and yard as if it were a flashlight. Nothing.
A creeping sense of dread filled her as Grim ran in circles around her, barked and howled, whimpered and cowered. She shook her head. There was nothing there. She couldn’t sense anything. Not with her physical senses, not with her magic. She cut off the light spell and reached for her familiar’s collar to tug him toward her vehicle. “Come on, Grim. I need to go talk to someone. I was going to have you hunt with me, but I think you can just guard the car.”
She urged Grim into the passenger’s seat and closed the door behind him. She did one last scan of the area and checked the shield spells on her property. Nothing out of place. Still, a shiver ran over her skin and a headache bloomed between her eyes as Grim barked. She strode around the car and climbed in the driver’s side. She had a date with Gregor. It was unlikely he stayed in one place very long once a job was done. She’d been hoping Grim could help her and Delta, but she doubted it now. Ah, well, they’d figure it out.
The Vampire Conclave wasn’t far from Millie Standish’s place, in one of the posh old mansions in Upper Queen Anne, so Selina wove through the deserted streets to get there, hoping Gregor was still doing surveillance when she arrived.
The drive seemed to settle Grim, and he relaxed in his seat, calming down. She reached over and scratched him under the chin. “How you doing over there?”
He gave a small woof and turned in the seat, pressing his nose to the passenger window and smearing the glass. Wonderful. She sighed and took the hint to roll it down for him. He hung his head out, tongue lolling in the breeze.
Parking a few blocks from the Conclave’s headquarters, she reached into the back for her bag. She’d stuffed her badge and gun in there before she’d run out of Jack’s house with him earlier. She checked the clip to make sure it was full—she doubted she’d need to shoot Gregor, but she would if she had to. One bullet wouldn’t kill a vampire, but it might slow him down enough to capture him. She’d do what was necessary.
“All right, Grim. I’ll leave the window down for you. Stay in the car.”
He gave a little growl and pawed at the door handle.
“What, you want to come with me now?” She strapped her spare pistol to her ankle. “A few minutes ago, you were freaking out over shadows.”
A small whine was his reply, and he scratched the door again.
She sighed, leaning forward to tuck her cuffs in the holder at the small of her back. “You’re not going to stay in the car if I leave you here, are you? Even if I roll up the window and lock the door.”
He barked, and she took that for an affirmation.
“All right, but if you spaz out on me again, you’re in trouble.”
Covering his nose with his paw, he made a shamed rumble.
Punching the button to slide up his window, she opened her door and Grim hopped over the seats to follow her out.
“We’re hunting a vampire named Gregor. He’s very dangerous. Even more dangerous than most vamps. He’s spying on the Conclave for the witches. I need him in one piece to answer questions. No ripping out anyone’s throat.” She gave Grim a very pointed look. “No craziness. Got it?”
The dog issued an offended snort as if his antics twenty minutes before hadn’t happened and he’d never had a nutty moment in his life. She rolled her eyes. Familiars.
“Nice night for a stroll, isn’t it?” Delta appeared out of the mist. She held a heavy Beretta in one hand.
“Yep. All this fog is refreshing.” Selina throttled down on her magic, stuffing it deep down inside her. The less she emanated, the less likely she was to be noticed. With any luck, the Conclave vampires would take her for a Normal.
She glanced around, but Grim had disappeared. “Grim?”
A growl sounded at her knee, and she felt him lean into her, but she couldn’t see him. Invisibility wasn’t her strong suit, so she didn’t even try. She stroked her familiar’s invisible body and nodded to Delta.
“Let’s go hunting.”
She heard his nails click against the cement as he took off at a run, leaving her behind. Hopefully, he’d give them an advantage. Delta motioned that she was going to break right on the next block, and Selina nodded. She continued trotting down the street at a swift clip, holding her pistol against her thigh.
It was still a couple of blocks from the Conclave when she spotted a bright shock of red hair sticking out from the bottom of a black beanie cap. The distinct ginger shade gleamed under a streetlight. He had his car door halfway open, and he froze when he saw her. She brought her weapon up and leveled it on him. Battle fever sharpened her senses, and she stopped bothering to hide her magic. Her awareness expanded, heat humming through her muscles. “Going somewhere so early, Gregor? I didn’t know you lived around here.”
“A constitutional stroll before dawn, Detective. That’s all.” His voice was cheerful, but his body tensed as if he were contemplating going vampire super-speed on her.
“I wouldn’t, if I were you.” She shifted her gun to one hand, pointing her other hand to him. Magic crackled in her palm, sending off a small spark. More than she should do in public, but not many Normals would be out at this time of night. “I can shoot you or fry you, but I’m bringing you in.”
“And I’m helping her.” Delta stepped out from behind a tree on Selina’s right, gun aimed at Gregor’s head. “You don’t want to hit girls, do you, sugar?”
He flinched when he saw the blonde. “May I ask what this is about?”
“I have some more questions for you. They aren’t even about a crime you committed.” Selina motioned him away from the car. Adrenaline flooded her veins, making her heart pound. He was going to run, she could see it in his eyes. “What do you have to be scared of?”
He blanched and launched himself over the top of his car. Delta took two strides and sailed after him, moving almost too fast for Selina’s gaze to track. Selina planted her free hand on the hood of his car and slid across, hit her feet, and pelted down the street after them. Delta had caught Gregor around the waist and dragged him to the ground.
They hissed at each other, fangs bared, rolling across the asphalt as each tried to get the upper hand. Fog swirled around them, blocking the view of any humans who might be nearby. Selina squinted to see through it, considering and discarding a dozen spells. Most would hurt Delta as much as Gregor. Fuck, fuck, fuck. She dodged around the combatants until she got a clear shot and fired a bolt of lightning that struck the big male vampire. He shrieked in pain, and Delta winced away from the sound.
Shoving her off of him, she flew backward and slammed into a parked SUV. Selina hit him with another bolt before he could regain his feet. “Give up, Gregor. You’re coming in.”
He hissed, his eyes flashing red, and he kicked out to sweep her feet out from under her. She hit her side hard, her pistol skittering across the pavement. Ignoring it, she scrambled after the vampire. If he escaped, they’d never see him again. Her pulse raced, but she managed to catch his calf and held on for dear life. He lashed backward, his heel catching her in the chest.