“Why does having a partner bother you so much?” Laina took a huge bite of her Valentine’s burger. He’d asked her to lunch to catch up but was enjoying the opportunity to vent about Meredith. A glob of sauce dripped from the corner of her mouth and landed on the table with a splat.

“Hungry, sister?” Silas asked, snorting at the way she practically inhaled the half pound of meat. He handed her a napkin. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you eat like this.”

“It’s weird, isn’t it? I’ve been craving meat constantly, these days. Must be the stress of knowing Alex is on the loose again.”

“Hopefully not for long. I’m working on it. Last night was the closest I’ve ever been to bringing him down. If it wasn’t for the new partner getting in the way, I might have had a chance.”

“What’s her name again?”

“Meredith Turner.”

“Why does that name sound familiar?”

Silas shrugged. “I had to tell her about Alex after I shot at him last night. You should have seen her face. She went home early. Maybe I’ve scared her off, and this partner thing won’t be an issue.”

“But why do you feel it’s an issue in the first place? What’s wrong with having a partner?”

Someone had put pepper in the saltshaker. Silas unscrewed the top and started carefully scooping out the black grains. “I like to work alone. You can’t trust anyone these days. Everyone has hidden agendas. She shows up out of nowhere, and I’m supposed to trust her with the biggest case of my life, a case that affects my family and my pack? The only person I trust is me. I’m meticulous. I have a stellar memory. My hunches are ninety-eight percent accurate. A partner throws all of that off. It’s like last night. If I hadn’t wasted time trying to protect her, I might’ve sunk a silver bullet between Alex’s eyes.”

Laina leaned back against her seat. “Well, I think it’s a good idea.”

“What? Why?”

“Because you’ve been alone in this too long. You work all the time. We never see you anymore. And frankly, Silas, everyone needs someone. You’re not an island, even when it comes to detective work. You’ll burn out if you don’t accept help.”

“I’ve been doing this for years.” He scooped more tainted salt onto his plate.

“Look at you! You took it upon yourself to clean pepper out of the saltshaker.”

He spread his hands in disbelief. “It’s rude.”

“You didn’t do it.”

“Yeah, but I noticed.”

“It wasn’t your responsibility.”

“Of course it was. I saw it. Honestly, Laina. What is this all about?”

“It’s about you. You think it’s your sole responsibility to save everyone. Ever since Dad died and you became alpha, I’ve watched you slowly lose your smile.”

“I have not lost my smile.”

“You walk around like the entire world rests on your shoulders. When was the last time you had fun? Or laughed? Actually laughed?”

Silas shrugged. “I’m a busy person. And do I need to remind you that there’s a killer on the loose?”

“You don’t need to remind me.” She picked at her fries. “Any one of us could be Alex’s next victim.”

“Exactly.”

“Even you.”

“This is why I work as much as I do.”

“But wouldn’t you hate to die knowing you never fully lived?”

Silas rolled his eyes. “Did you get that from a greeting card?”

“No, really, brother. What kind of life is this?” Laina leaned forward and placed her hand on top of his. “Use this new partner. Allow her to help you. Find your center. And for the love of the goddess, find your joy again. I miss it.”

* * *

One thing Silas had learned from his encounter with Alex at the crime scene was that the rogue wolf was up to something. If Alex had only wanted to take over Fireborn pack as before, he would have attacked when he saw Silas. How could Alex resist a crack at the alpha? He’d had the advantage. Hell, that amulet around his neck could have blown Silas apart in a heartbeat. But he’d chosen to run. There was something else going on, a reason Alex couldn’t engage.

Silas’s theory was that Alex was still healing. He’d been after human bones, an odd quarry that could be an ingredient in a healing spell. Attacking would take energy. Perhaps Alex was concerned he wouldn’t win a confrontation with Silas at this point. It made sense. He’d avoided using the amulet before to conserve energy.

If it were true Alex was still vulnerable, now was not the time to turn down the heat. Now was the time to press even harder to find where Alex was hiding and who was helping him.

“You can wait out here,” Silas said. After his conversation with Laina over lunch, he’d given in and allowed Meredith to ride along on his investigation of the next healer on his list. But hell if Silas intended to allow her to come in with him. He might have to rough someone up, and he didn’t need miss goody-two-shoes messing up his interrogation tactics. Besides, after last night, he didn’t want to risk her getting hurt again.

“Okay,” Meredith said.

At least she was agreeable. Silas climbed out of the unmarked and crossed the street. Surprisingly, this healer wasn’t in the vampire district. The address was an apartment above a busy Starbucks in the heart of the city.

“Where did you get this list anyway?” Meredith said, appearing beside him.

Silas stopped abruptly, tipping his head back to stare at the bright blue sky. “I thought I told you to wait in the car?”

“You said I could wait in the car. I acknowledged that, yes, okay, waiting was an option. Then, I chose to come with you. See how that works? When we’re done here, can you insist I don’t drink your coffee? I’m feeling a little thirsty.” The toothy grin she flashed was worthy of a car salesman. “Now, how did you come about this list of suspects?” She ran her fingers through her hair and pulled it into a ponytail, tying the thick red mass back with an elastic from around her wrist.

He stared at her for a moment, ushering her onto the curb to avoid traffic. “After what happened last night, don’t you think you should stay where it’s safe?”

“Hey, the only person who hurt me last night was you. Don’t push me down and I should be okay.” She glanced at him first, then peered at the slip of paper with the address he was holding.

“Seriously. Your head isn’t even healed yet. Maybe you should take the day off.” And free me from the pressure I feel in my chest whenever you’re around, he thought.

“I’m not going anywhere,” she said. “If you want to do this, you best let me in on the plan.”

With a sigh, Silas contemplated how much to share with her, then figured it would be less hassle to tell her the truth. He gestured with his head in the direction of the Starbucks about a block away and started walking again. “All of these so-called healers were mentioned by clients of a fae bordello, Maison des Étoilles, as places where one could receive healing services that require dark magic. We know Alex is recovering somewhere in the area. One of these names is likely helping him. No reputable healer would become involved with Alex voluntarily.”

“I see.” Meredith glanced in his direction. “Why do you think you can trust a list of names originating in a bordello? Don’t prostitutes have a conflict of interest reporting on their johns?”

It was a legitimate question, one Silas would ask if the roles were reversed. “There are extenuating circumstances. The fae at Maison des Étoilles can read minds. Plus, the madam is my ex-girlfriend.”

Meredith sucked air through her teeth. “Didn’t see that one coming. So you two aren’t an item anymore, but you still go bump in the night every now and again?”

“No. No bumping in the night. We’re just friends. Good friends. I trust her.”

“Ended things on a positive note. Mmhmm. So, how many dark practitioners are left to investigate?”

“Three.”

“Down to the wire. Do you have a search warrant?”

Silas glanced her way. “No.”

“Hmm. Then you better let me go in first.”

“Are you high?” Silas stopped abruptly, a muscle in his jaw tensing to the point of pain. “Did you learn nothing from last night? Why would you think that was a good idea?”

She shrugged. “If Alex is up there, he’ll be expecting you. Me, he won’t see coming.” She grabbed the address out of Silas’s hand and took off toward the café.

Silas protested all the way past the crowded Starbucks to the foreboding stairwell that led above the bustling coffee shop. An illustration of a finger pointed toward the second floor.

“This looks cozy.” Meredith climbed the dim and dirty stairwell two steps at a time.

“Wait,” Silas protested. She glanced back and pressed a finger to her lips.

“Shhh.” Why was she always hushing him? On the second floor, a frosted glass window inscribed with the eye of Horus read Copper Herald Health & Wellness in a script font.

Silas bit his tongue as Meredith tried the door and found it locked. He pointed at a handwritten note taped to the glass: Knock for service. She rapped three times.

They waited. She knocked again.

Footsteps. Silas flattened himself against the wall just as the door opened.

“How can I help you today, young lady?” an old man’s voice asked.

Meredith rubbed the bump on her head from the night before as she notably lowered her gaze by two feet. “I’ve been having a lot of pain in my shoulder and neck area since I fell yesterday. I was wondering if you had any therapies for that.”

“Is this pain with you all the time, or only after you shift?”

Meredith raised both eyebrows. “Only when I’m walking on two legs, actually.”

“You’ve come to the right place. Come in, and bring your werewolf friend with you.”

She glanced behind the door at Silas, raising both eyebrows and gesturing with her head. He came out of hiding and stared down at the wrinkled man inside. Based on his height alone, he would guess he was a leprechaun, but the shape of his ears and nose suggested part elf. The medicinal herbs hanging in the office masked his scent, but Silas thought he caught a whiff of elf under it all. Whatever he was, he must be sensitive to the light: he wore sunglasses in the dim room.

“Over here, then. Lie down on the table. Please remove your blouse.”

A deep growl came from Silas’s chest. It was an involuntary thing, like a hiccup or a sneeze. Mortified, he coughed into his hand and turned away to try to cover it up.

“There’s a gown on the table,” the doctor said, ignoring the interruption. “Although I can’t see anything but your aura anyway. I’m blind as a bat.”

With a pointed glance toward Silas, Meredith walked deeper into the room. Silas turned his back until the rustle of her undressing stopped, and he heard the crinkle of her lying down on the paper-draped medical table.

“I’m Dr. Copper by the way. If you come by another time, you might see Dr. Herald.” The little man selected a bowl of stones from a shelf along the wall.

“There are two of you?” Silas asked.

Dr. Copper made a face and began placing stones carved with ancient runes along Meredith’s solar plexus. “You obviously don’t keep him around for his brains,” he murmured to her.

Silas scowled. After a few moments, he decided to make use of the silence. “Do you treat many werewolves here?”

“I don’t, no. My specialization is vampires. But Dr. Herald does. He’s fascinated by shifter anatomy. I dare say, if you’d phoned first, he’d be the one treating you today.”

“What days does he work?”

“He’ll be in later tonight. He tends to come and go. Make an appointment if you’re interested.”

So, Dr. Herald treated werewolves. Silas inspected the room for any clues that Alex might have been there. The walls of the examination room were lined with skins, skulls, teeth, and clay bowls of assorted magical items. There was a hook laden with amulets on one wall. He scanned the papers on the desk. Nothing stood out. There was only one other door in the place, and it was behind the desk.

“Can I help you find something?” Dr. Copper said. “Or is there an alternative reason for your fidgeting?”

Silas cleared his throat. “Bathroom?”

“Out the door and to the left.”

He wasted no time. He strode to the door behind the desk and threw it open, only to have a small body rush in front of him and catch the knob. Dr. Copper sneered at him from below. “Not that door, you fool! The one you came in.”

The doctor pulled the door closed again, but not before Silas saw a pair of mud-caked boots near the door. He remembered Alex wearing a similar pair, and the dirt could have come from the crime scene. He took a deep breath through his nose but couldn’t detect even a hint of Alex. Maybe it was a coincidence, but he intended to find out for sure.

“You know, I think I’ll just wait for you in the car,” Silas said to Meredith. Her eyes darted between him and the door, her red brow arching in question.

Silas winked at her and gestured toward the door with his head. Hopefully, she’d get the hint and excuse herself after he was gone.

“Sounds good,” she said. “This won’t take long, will it Dr. Copper?”

“Hold still,” he said gruffly, positioning the next stone.

Silas exited and descended the stairs two at a time, drawing his phone to his ear. Laina’s number went to voicemail. As he spilled onto the bustling sidewalk, he left her a quick message. His gut told him this was the lead he’d been waiting for. He’d case the place tonight and find out if it was Alex staying in that room.

He was about to return the phone to his pocket when it rang. Unknown number. He answered.

“Is this Silas Flynn?”

“Yes.”

“This is St. John’s Hospital calling. Your sister Laina is here.”

“Laina? What happened?”

“I’m sorry, we can’t give out that information over the phone. But we need you to come to the hospital right away.”