The next morning, Sage texts in the group that they haven’t learned anything yet, but they’re going to keep trying.
I text back, “I’m going to talk to a guard too.”
"Are you sure?" Damon asks. "If too many of us ask the same questions…"
“I’m not going ask the same questions,” I type back. “Don’t make assumptions.”
“Hmm. I don’t mind looking at your ass,” Damon texts.
“I’ve grabbed it,” Sage adds.
At that point, I just shake my head and put my phone away. What’s that one saying? Boys will be boys? Something like that.
More times than not, Bracken or Cosmo are the ones to escort me to class. This morning, it’s Cosmo.
“Hey,” I say softly. “How are you holding up?”
He glances at me. "You're sounding an awful lot like a girl who wants to offer her shoulder for me to cry on. Go ahead. I won't mind if your hands start to wander."
“Cool your jets,” I tell him, suppressing a laugh. “I’m serious. This can’t be easy on you.”
“What? Investigating a murder after a maniac came at me and tried to kill me? A maniac I used to think of as a friend?”
“Yeah, all of that.”
Cosmo stops flying, hovering in place, and I stop in front of him.
“I can’t stop to think about the past,” he says firmly, being serious for once. “I would rather not talk about it.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to open closed wounds.”
“Considering the wounds aren’t closed…” He shrugs one shoulder.
“Your wounds are all healed, aren’t they?”
"The physical ones? Yes. I'm scarred, but I mean… I'm not mental or anything, but…"
“No, I know what you mean. I sometimes wake up in a cold sweat. I know I’ve had a nightmare, but I can’t remember it, but I’m pretty sure… I think they’re nightmares about when Thistle came at me. It’s so hard.”
“You like to investigate all of the crimes committed on campus.” He juts his chin toward me. “Do you have any thoughts on this?”
I laugh. “Not yet. Don’t tell your boss, okay? But I wouldn’t mind looking into things. Professor Luna was one of the good ones. I hate that she’s been killed. Her murderer… has to be found.”
I almost slipped up and said murderer or murderers, but I caught myself in time. It wouldn’t be the end of the world for the guards to know that detail. In fact, maybe I should offer it, but I just know that’ll make everyone think Bay and her demon boyfriend.
“Is there anything I can do to help the investigation?” I ask eagerly.
“To be honest, there’s not a whole lot we have to go on,” Cosmo says. “We’re stuck. We can’t figure out a motive. She didn’t have any enemies. There’s nothing to point at any one person.”
“What about any two persons?” I whisper.
He eyes me suspiciously. “Do you have reason to think the killer didn’t work alone?”
“I don’t know. I’m just spitballing here.”
Cosmo laughs. “Swallow or spit? Do you spit? You do know that guys prefer—”
“Cosmo.”
“Yes?”
“I have Bay for a sister. If I want to learn about what guys prefer, I’m pretty sure she can fill in any blanks that I have.”
“Oh, there’s no doubting that,” Cosmo says smoothly, “but, as they say, practice makes perfect, and if you want someone to practice on…”
I burst out laughing. "Thanks, but no thanks. I don't really think I'm a one-night kind of gal."
"There's the beauty of practice. It's not just once and done. And I'm not a one-and-done kind of guy. You should ask your sister about it."
I furrow my brow. “You two…”
“Once or twice. Normally after she had a bit to drink. I should say after we both had a lot to drink. A lot a lot. But she never regretted it in the morning. I didn’t either.” Pain flickers over his features for a moment before he gives me his lazy grin again.
“Cosmo?”
“Yeah, Rosemary?”
“Would you tell me if you loved Bay?”
"Of course I love her. She's a great fairy. Beautiful. So damn hot. I didn't think she could get any hotter, but those dark wings, her black hair with the purple… Fuck me, she's amazing."
"So, you don't love her."
“Only lust, baby. Hate to break it to you, but Cosmo here…” He points his thumbs at himself. “I don’t do love.”
“Hmm,” I say. “You can go ahead and lie to yourself, but—”
“Rosemary, please.” A look of desperation crosses his face. “Don’t play like this.”
“I won’t tell Bay—”
"No. I mean, don't let Zoth know, okay?"
I bite my lower lip. “He scares you? I wouldn’t have thought—”
“I don’t scare easily, but that guy… There’s something about Zoth that I just don’t like.”
“Do you think it’s because he’s a demon?” I ask.
“No.” Cosmo laughs, his body relaxing some from being all uptight. “Some of my friends are demons. I have nothing against the race in and of itself, but there are light fairies and dark fairies, you know? Not all demons are killer dark. You know what I’m saying?”
“That makes sense.”
“You know, demons don’t need a motive for some of the shit they pull,” Cosmo says slowly. “Has Zoth ever been on campus?”
“Not that I know of.”
Cosmo goes to turn. “You’re going to be late.”
I grab his arm. “Cosmo, don’t go after Zoth.”
“If he’s the—”
“He’s not,” I say in a rush.
“How do you know that?” he asks suspiciously.
“For Bay’s sake, don’t go after him.”
“If we find proof—”
“If you find proof, fine. Nail his ass, but only if you have proof. Don’t even question him until you have it.”
“You’re worried he’ll hurt Bay, aren’t you? You aren’t convinced he didn’t kill the professor.”
I hesitate. “I don’t think he did, but I don’t know Zoth. I don’t know what he’s capable of. Bay knows him, and I trust her judgment.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t trust my own judgment or hers for that matter. You saw through Spring and Thistle.”
“I didn’t see through Thistle. He gave himself away,” I protest.
“Yeah, well, Bay didn’t
