«Battered?» That was news to Steel, though he hadn't liked the woman's husband at all. Still, he hadn't had any contact with either husband or wife in a week or two. He'd been busy tracking down other leads in the area and would've gotten back to the Kinsey file eventually. Now he regretted he hadn't looked more closely at the man before this.
Sebastian spoke with quiet authority. «Jeff Kinsey beat her to death. Luckily for him, she lived.»
A chill went down Steel's spine at the menace in the man's tone. «I had some contact with Kinsey. I was investigating his wife because of her connection to Kelly LaTour.» Steel noted Marc LaTour's frown but he refused to be intimidated. «The AC knew about you, Mister LaTour, or should I say Master? When you married, they wanted to know more about your wife as well. I was sent to look into it and laid groundwork by checking out her circle of friends. Frankly, I didn't expect anything to come of it.»
«I won't see her put in danger.» Marc's voice was cold but his agitation was clear as he stood and started to pace like a tiger on the prowl. «Don't even think of making reports on her or her friends.»
Steel eased back in his chair, taking the man's measure. This vamp loved his wife. That much was obvious. And Steel hadn't been able to turn up anything negative in his recent history. He was a good businessman, respected by the community and seemed to be on the up and up. He also seemed to keep the other bloodletters in line, which was a key position and not something he wanted to mess with. There was no reason to threaten the man, or his wife, and every reason not to piss him off at the moment, while Steel was essentially at their mercy.
«I haven't finished my investigation, so the report hasn't been sent. If all of this is on the level, it never will be.»
«I assure you,» Hastings spoke from his chair at the side of the room, «we're on the level. You won't have any reason to make further reports.»
«That remains to be seen.» Steel leaned forward. «What I don't understand is how Mario Gonzalez could be a magic user. I should tell you, I'm what they call a Sensitive. Always have been. And the AC honed that natural ability with training. I don't see how I could've missed it. Every time I've seen him, I've never felt a thing.»
«A truly powerful magic user can hide his light even from one as sensitive as you, laddie.» Cameron spoke for the first time as he stood. «Watch carefully now.»
He snapped his fingers and his magical energies winked out as if they'd never been. Where before, Steel's senses had been bombarded by the most potent magical energy he'd ever felt in one being, suddenly it was all gone. As if it had never been.
«How'd you do that?»
Cameron leaned in and winked, a devilish light in his twinkling blue eyes. «Magic.» There were a few chuckles as the man straightened and reversed whatever spell he'd wrought. As before, in the blink of an eye, the magic was back.
«What are you?» Steel couldn't help but ask.
Cameron smiled in a cunning way. «Fey.»
«No way.»
«Don't you know it's never wise to contradict the fey?» Atticus teased drolly as Cameron sat back down.
The presence of this most magical of all the supernatural races changed things a bit. Fey didn't enter into the affairs of mortals, vampires and were lightly. If this man was part of the operation, it was serious indeed.
«So you're telling me Mario Gonzalez is able to hide his magical energies from me?» Nods all around were his answer. «You think he actually has enough power and skill to do that? I mean, he's definitely a mortal, and certainly not fey.»
«Mortal he may be, but he's been tapping into the magic of other realms otherwise he wouldna live so long.» Cameron chimed in.
Ian spoke for the first time. «I met him briefly about a hundred years ago. He was a thief then and it looks like his crimes have only escalated. Judging by the caliber of his current offenses, he's learned quite a bit in the intervening years. If he can take down that many supernatural single handedly, it'd be nothing to hide his magical energies from you, Mr. Steel.»
Steel digested that, sitting back in his chair. It felt right, but he was chilled to think he'd been duped for so long. He marveled at his own blindness.
«You can drop the 'mister'. Just call me Steel if we're going to be working together.»
And just like that, a new alliance was born.
Lissa and Christy sat out on the stone patio enjoying the night air. It was crisp, but not too cold. A great night for stargazing. And sharing secrets.
Lissa had brought out a bottle of one of the vineyard's award-winning vintages. Christy was glad she could still enjoy wine in her new life. She hadn't felt the need for food and frankly didn't miss it unless she thought about it, but she'd always enjoyed the flavor, bouquet and sheer romance of a good bottle of wine.
Now however, the experience was something more. There was something almost magical about the fruit of the vine and the healing liquid it produced. Christy could feel the wine effervesce in the most delicious way as it hit her bloodstream, making her tingle with warmth. It also tasted a thousand percent better than it ever had. The crisp vintage settled on her tongue like air, tart and dry in a way she had never fully experienced before. It was as if her taste buds had only just been awakened.
The women talked about their men and the way their lives had changed as they sat under the stars, drinking their wine. It was an idyllic moment for Christy, who hadn't known such camaraderie since her college days, or such peace since her childhood spent in the mountains of Oregon.
«Are you happy, Lis?» Christy gazed at the stars until she realized how rude her question might've been. She looked at her friend, seated at her side. «I mean, you seem happier than I've ever known you to be, but do you have any regrets?»
Lissa smiled. «My only regret is that I didn't meet Atticus sooner. That man makes my life complete in a way I never expected and even though I'll never have a tan again,» she chuckled, «all the magic makes up for it. I mean, Atticus can do things…» Her eyes went misty as she trailed off.
«Yeah,» Christy agreed softly. «Sebastian is pretty amazing too. I never knew a man could care so much about my feelings, or my safety. He's…»
«Hard to put into words, isn't it?» Lissa smiled.
«I never expected to feel this way after the hell I went through with Jeff.»
«Oh, honey.» Lissa reached out to Christy. «I suspected something wasn't right with your marriage, but you hid it so well. If I'd known what was really going on I'd have tried to do something.»
«I know.» Christy patted Lissa's hand. «I didn't want any of you to know what a fool I'd been.»
«You were never a fool, sweetie. Jeff was the fool, to squander the happiness you could have had. He's an ass, Chris, and if Atticus hadn't already made me promise not to track him down and give him a piece of my mind, I'd have had a posse over at your old house while you were still recovering. As it is, I'm still tempted, but this connection with Atticus can be problematic when I want to do something behind his back. I mean, he knows every thought in my head.» She made an exaggerated face. «I can't get away with anything anymore.»
Christy laughed, nodding. «It certainly takes some getting used to.» They compared notes on how to cope with their new mates for the next few minutes, enjoying the night and the companionship.
The men had been gone for two hours when out of the night a fiery ball of energy shattered the stillness, streaking through the air to land between the two women seated on the patio. Christy saw it coming and shoved Lissa out of the chair and onto the flagstones as she dove the other way. A split second later, a smoking crater was all that was left where the patio furniture had been.