Page 72 of Cold Sacrifice

“Do you feel like you made a mistake?” Zach asked.

I thought about it, then grinned. “No, not really.”

“Um,” Max said, holding up a hand like he was asking a teacher permission to speak, “are we working today? Or do I need to cancel appointments?”

“I need to call Remy and Sam,” I told him, glancing at my phone to get the time. “And check in with Jared to see what’s happening in Long Shadow. Then I’ll see some clients before tonight when Jolene wakes up.”

Gracie Dawn wrinkled her nose. “Who’s Jolene?”

We never spoke of supernaturals other than ghosts to Gracie Dawn, but she was sure to pick things up. It was hard to remember she was a human Max had hired who quite possibly had no idea vampires were a real thing.

It was tiring trying to remember not to say the wrong thing. Maybe it was the demon in me, but I was sick of that shit. I pointed at Max. “You made this difficult.” Then I looked at Gracie. “Jolene is a terrifying necromancer the vampires turned decades ago. She’s—”

“Oh,” she interrupted. “You named the necromancer Jolene? That’s adorable.”

Max giggled at my look of surprise. “Come on, Gracie. Let’s get ready for the people about to descend upon Silvershade.”

“I’ll just gather my things and Clementina and I will be on our way,” Trinity said.

We all went back inside, but first I took one last look around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Richard wandering the streets. He wasn’t there.

Still, I felt the connection, and there was nothing warning me that anything had gone awry. Surely everything would be fine. I’d taken the chance, so I needed to accept it and let the worry go.

Maybe because part of me had always felt a little connection to Richard, and I didn’t feel like he was the bad guy. I went inside, secure in that belief.

Back in my office, I called Remy while Trinity gathered her items, half of which she hadn’t even used. Clementina jumped up on my desk and sat on my keyboard.

“Nothing’s happening here, Kait,” Remy said. “The only thing that came into this alley resembling the necromancer was a drunk guy who wanted to piss on the dumpster.”

“All right,” I told him. “You’ve been there long enough. It’s doubtful she’ll come out until dark, and then probably not the same place she went in. You and Sam go do whatever you need to do. I’ll see you both tonight.”

Then I called Jared, leaving a text when he didn’t answer. He’d likely shifted and was tracking the injured wolves.

“You don’t have to hang out, Zach,” I told him. “There’s still a lot of daylight left.”

“I’ll grab something to eat,” he said. “What do you want me to bring you back?”

I’d expended a lot of energy not only going into the ground but carrying out the ghost. “I could use some food,” I said. “Thanks, Zach.”

Trinity was reaching for her cat when Lucy called, hysterical.

“Lucy,” I said. “Calm down, honey. Tell me what happened.”

Trinity forgot about her cat. “Put it on speaker,” she ordered.

I did, because I couldn’t understand Lucy through her sobs and Trinity seemed to believe Lucy needed her help.

“Lucy,” she said quietly. “I want you to take a deep breath and give yourself five seconds to say nothing. Realize we’re here, and we’ll help you.”

Shockingly, Lucy did exactly what Trinity asked her to do. She took a deep, shuddery breath, then went silent for a few seconds. When she spoke again, she had more control of her emotions.

“Tell us what happened, Luce,” I said gently.

She sniffed. “I woke up in the woods,” she murmured. “I fell asleep because that’s what I do, I fall asleep so I can dream. And lately, I’ve been falling asleep without even realizing it. You know, Kait.”

I explained to Trinity. “She will be sitting there awake and talking or eating one minute, then all of a sudden she’s just…gone. She doesn’t look asleep, but she is.” Then I shrugged. “Sort of. It’s dangerous for her.”

“Oh, yes,” she agreed. “It certainly is. Lucy, tell us what happened after you came awake in the woods.”