Chapter Twenty-Three

Creek parked his V-Rod in Chrysabelle’s drive, surprised by the number of cars already there. With an hour left before the sun set, he knew Mal wouldn’t be around, which was good. That was one vampire Creek didn’t want to run into. Mal would probably have some words about the curfew for him.

Odd that Chrysabelle had yet to revoke Creek’s gate privileges. From what he vaguely remembered about the meeting in the mayor’s office, he was sure they’d be gone and she’d have put his name on a list of people never to be allowed on her property, but the guy at the guard shack had checked his ID and waved him through.

The door opened as he walked up. Doc, the leopard-shifter, greeted him.

“If you’ve come to offer your condolences, that’s fine, but don’t plan on staying long. She’s not up for a lot of visitors right now.”

He stopped on the front porch. “Condolences? For what?”

Doc cocked one brow and stared him down. “You live under a rock?”

Not a rock, but he had been pretty tied up with Yahla lately. “Something like that. What happened?”

“Mal’s dead.”

For a brief, hard moment, the air left Creek’s lungs. His mouth hung open and his heart wrenched with sympathy for Chrysabelle. “What… how?”

“Mayor decided to let him meet the sunrise instead of letting him go at six a.m. as promised.”

“That wasn’t the deal.” Or was it? Damn his missing memories. No, he’d never have supported that. He shook his head. “Mayor wasn’t supposed to do that.”

“No kidding.”

“How’s Chrysabelle?”

“How do you think she is?” Doc didn’t budge from the doorway. “So why are you here if you didn’t know about Mal?”

“I have information for her from the Kubai Mata.”

He crossed his arms. “You can tell me.”

“No, I can’t.” Creek held his position. It took a lot more than three hundred pounds of shifter to scare him.

“You must have a real big pair coming here, seeing as how you’re basically responsible for Mal’s death.”

Creek jerked back. “How the hell do you figure that?”

“You work for the mayor now, right? Part of her advisory team? You were at the press conference when she announced the curfew, right there on the platform with her.” He leaned forward a few inches. “And you didn’t do anything to help when I was captured or Mal took my place.”

“Rules are rules,” Creek said.

“Then I have a new one for you. No KM in this house while I’m here.” He started to slam the door.

Creek stuck his foot in it. “I have information about Chrysabelle’s brother.”

Doc pulled the door back open. “What is it?”

“My instructions are to relay the information to her and no one else.” They weren’t, but Doc didn’t know that.

“Let him in.”

At the new male voice, Doc looked over his shoulder, turning slightly. “You sure?”

Behind him stood Mortalis, the shadeux fae. He was transparent, a visual that gave Creek the creeps. “Yes, I’m sure. Chrysabelle could use a little good news right now.” He glanced at Creek. “I’m assuming this is good news?”

“It’s about where her brother is, so yes. I’d think she’d want to know that.”

Mortalis nodded. “Okay.”

Doc stepped aside, eyeing Creek hard as he entered. “Where is she?”

“Out by the pool. Been sitting out there since she woke up an hour ago. Don’t expect a big reaction. She’s not in good shape.”

Creek nodded. “Got it.” He started forward.

Mortalis stopped him, his six fingers planted firmly on Creek’s chest. He peered intently at Creek. His nostrils flared like he was sniffing for something. “You smell like black magic.”

Creek shoved his hand away. “And you reek like the vampire you work for. Get out of my way.”

Mortalis’s left eyelid twitched. “Don’t be long.”

Creek stormed past and out to the pool deck. He pulled the slider shut behind him, not that a little glass would keep most of those inside from eavesdropping if they wanted to. Chrysabelle sat on the chaise at the farthest edge, staring out at the water.

He sat beside her on the tumbled marble tile, facing the same direction. If she noticed his arrival, she made no indication. He dipped his head to see her better. “Hi.”

She blinked but didn’t respond.

“I heard what happened. I’m very sorry.”

She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. “You did this,” she whispered, her voice raw with emotion.

“No, Chrysabelle. It was never my intention—”

“You told me if I didn’t agree to get the vampire baby back, the KM would destroy Mal.”

He swallowed. “The KM had nothing to do with this.”

She whipped her head around, eyes red-rimmed and bruised with pain. “You were in the office with the mayor. You sided with her.” A sob stopped her words for a moment. “And against me.”

He barely remembered being there, but he wasn’t going to admit to his memory lapses to her. “I did what I thought was right.”

“What you thought was right?” She lunged toward him. “I could kill you for what you did. You and the mayor. If you think I’m not going to make her pay—”