The way her shoulders slumped a little was a tell-tale sign that he’d removed a major stress point for her.
“You lead the show, what’s your plan?”
Violet blinked a few times. “Sometimes, I don’t understand you. Normally, you play solo, doing things on your own terms, and now you just want to follow. What’s in it for you? Why are you doing this?”
“Does there have to be a reason apart from helping you? This will be the last thing I do before I leave Easthallows, and I’d prefer to leave having done something good.”
“You’re leaving?”
Finn finished his last sip of coffee and signaled for the bill. “Yeah. I’d made my decision and was about to leave when I felt your call for help through our blood connection. Let’s say it’s my last good deed for an unexpected friend.”
Violet nodded, her beautiful face now almost expressionless. Finn frowned, about to ask what was wrong when the witch pushed away from the booth and swept her long fiery hair back.
Hands on her hips, she gave him her typical haughty glare that annoyed him to no end, but something was off.
“Well, as it’s your last time on the dancefloor, let’s go out with a bang, shall we?”
Chapter 11
The pancakes felt as if concrete had settled in her stomach. Violet knew very well she shouldn’t have eaten that much, not after several days without a decent meal, but she hadn’t thought about it when she’d started to eat. Maybe because she’d finally relaxed, if only for an hour.
With Finn on her heels, Violet walked down the streets to Layla’s shop, Impossibilities Inc.
The last images she remembered from before—vague bits of the argument with Layla and that certainty that she was getting close to something—swirled in her mind. She was so deep in her thoughts she yelped when Finn grabbed her arm and jerked her back. Ready to snap at him, she realized he’d prevented a car from hitting her. So lost in her thoughts, she’d stepped onto the road without checking.
“One of the goals here is for you not to die.”
She rolled her eyes, but knew he was right. Finn took the lead and crossed the street, heading to the store’s discreet entrance. When he opened the door, her body braced, prepared for any possibility.
As usual, loyal Abrams was behind the counter, his bald head gleaming and drawn face turning to the newcomers. When he saw her, he smiled at first, but it dissipated instantly. He opened his mouth as though to say something then simply turned and left through the door to the back storeroom.
“Abrams! What’s going on?” The strange man that had been Layla’s faithful employee for longer than Violet could remember didn’t look back.
Finn examined the store before turning to her. “What was that about? He looked as if he’d seen a ghost.”
“I doubt he’s afraid of ghosts, especially when I know what he is.”
“I never sensed what Abrams is, which is strange because I think I’ve encountered most members of the magical community.”
“He’s a ghoul. Although was is probably a more appropriate term.”
The surprise on Finn’s face would have been comical at any other time. “A ghoul? Do you mean that flesh-eating monster that hides in caves? I thought they’d been decimated a millennium ago and were only a legend.”
Violet shrugged. “I’ve never asked for details. Abrams isn’t the talkative type, but he’s been in Layla’s service a long time, way before I met her. I remember Sera asked when we were young girls, and Layla was evasive. She only told us that since she’d removed his hunger, he was no longer a threat.”
It didn’t seem to reassure Finn, but he didn’t ask more. After all, who or what Abrams was wasn’t the purpose of their visit. “I guess we’ll have to check if Layla is around by ourselves.”
The store was silent and empty. Violet checked Layla’s apartment upstairs, also finding it empty. Returning to the store, she headed to the back where the library was located.
Hands in his pocket, Finn followed her in. “You want to do some research while we’re here?”
Research was definitely not one of her talents. She lacked the patience to pour over old, dusty books as Sera did.
“Sera’s on the case. Knowing her she’s probably already checked them all out.”
“Doubt it. Since she moved in with Ian at Sanctuary, Sera has put together an impressive library of her own. She’s probably putting her bookworm talents to work as we speak.”
“Is that your way of telling me we’d better get to it?”
The smile that stretched the tempting vampire’s lips made her heart flutter. “If by getting to it, you mean start reading, yes. If you meant something else, we can come back to that when we’re alone, darling witch.”
Violet snickered at him, but they’d agreed sex was still on the table. It was tough to admit to herself that she wanted him again.
“Books, let’s focus on books.”
She went to the wall covered with endless rows of grimoires, trying to decide where to start. Signs, rituals, blood… there were as many possibilities as there were books on the shelves. Even worse, her mind was still firing in so many directions and she felt restless and impatient, even a tad aggressive. With a sigh that sounded more like a growl, she skimmed her fingers over the books’ spines but couldn’t find her focus.
Scholarly tasks weren’t in her blood; she was more action orientated. That was one of the reasons she liked her work. It involved some research, generally via her computer, but the majority of her work happened in the field—following suspects, researching backgrounds, asking questions, confronting culprits.
In her current state, with her emotions riding high, she flung a pile of old papers to the floor in frustration and put both hands on the gleaming wood in front of her. She was less angry about her lack of focus than the fact she wanted to remember
