Okay, Huron is set up for you, Ella, in a side room. It shouldn’t take long.
“Come over later. I will be home alone and we can chat more—if you like?” Ella called to Isabella over her shoulder as she walked away. Her friend looked puzzled but nodded. Strolling through the room as people clustered in small groups, she smiled at Jake, who winked back as he chatted to the pretty woman at his side. The taste of bile reached back in her throat, and she covered her mouth, fearing she would be sick, but she kept making her way to Marcus.
“Ella—are you all right?” He placed his hand in the small of her back, bringing her closer and giving her comfort.
“I’m fine.” She smiled and inhaled, gaining strength from his close proximity. Right next to him stood Lady Tenille. Ella noticed the woman’s skin sparkled and her aura glowed bright like a torch this close. She wondered whether anyone else could see that. Lady Tenille patted Ella’s arm and a warmth embraced her deep inside, dissolving the nausea.
“Your bracelet, Ella.” Lady Tenille softly touched her hand.
In her palm sat the delicate, gold band that sparkled with diamond-studded swirls that curled around the center gem, a round moonstone. Staring at it, she couldn’t comprehend how her bracelet, the one she had destroyed when Marcus used it as a tracking device months ago, could be back in her possession. She raised her head to stare at the woman.
“It’s the essence of you, Ella. Look after it.” With that, she glided past with no further explanation.
Ella shifted to watch her progress as she greeted and chatted with the others. Dumbfounded, she clipped her bracelet on her wrist and it pulsed against her skin, energizing her. The way the lady smiled and moved stole Ella’s breath. Lady Tenille’s aura shone with a bright purity, humility, and deep love. Her intelligent, bright eyes displayed a fierce strength that bore the tides of time.
“She’s incredible,” she said.
“That’s why she is the leader of the Assembly. She’s the voice of reason, and the one everyone listens to. She knows Steel didn’t murder Marsh. She’s agreed he can remain here, watched by her guard. No harm will come to him, but we need to discover who the murderer is, fast.”
Ella placed her palm on the front of his shirt. “Why does she need to keep him at all?”
“One of the non-humans died here despite the assurances we delivered. Once we get the results back from the autopsy and have interviewed everyone, we should have a suspect. Steel will be back before we know it.”
She nodded. “I better go, although, I doubt anything I say will help. I didn’t pay as much attention in the office as I should have.”
“Just do your best. You would be surprised what you recall. Anyway, try to get some rest, and give Nate a kiss from me.” Marcus studied the crowd and deep worry lines ran over his forehead, which she longed to ease.
“Marcus, I know you’re stressed. I can sense that, but you are not alone in this. I’m here to lean on. You can tell me anything.”
He rarely shared his fears, and it bugged the hell out of her. He promised to be more open. To let her inside. Instead, his actions displayed the opposite, and it drove her crazy. She reached for his large hands and held them, rubbing her thumbs over his palms in a soothing circle to relieve the tension littered over his face. But he snatched them away, as if scolded. At his sudden reaction, she flinched.
Marcus peered down at her and pressed his lips in a tight line. “I’m sorry, but we have a killer on the loose, and the situation could escalate if I don’t discover who it is.”
His sharp words didn’t soothe her and she folded her arms to stop herself from reaching out to him. An arm sloped around her shoulder and a gentle kiss landed on her cheek. The familiar scent of Jake enveloped her, shifting the mood. She slid her head to the side and smiled at him.
“Hello, gorgeous. Is the boss looking after you?”
She thought about calling him out right here, but it wouldn’t do any good to cause a scene after this morning. Perhaps he was right, but it stung that he wouldn’t include her.
“As always. I guess you will be here all night too?” Ella tugged on her sleeve, not daring to look at Marcus.
“Yup, which isn’t exactly where I want to be right now, watching Roman stalk Isabella as if he owns her. Drayton, give me something to do before I march over there and say something I regret.” He clenched his fists.
Ella closed her eyes. The issue between Jake and Isabella would only get worse the longer it continued, and she shook her head.
“For Christ’s sake, there are more things at play here than your damn love life. You knew from the beginning she was engaged. You were warned. Right now, I need you to focus on your job. The princess you were chatting with—I need you to give her your undivided attention. Do you understand?”
Ella watched as her husband barked at Jake in front of her.
His friend arched his brow as if taken aback by his harsh tone. Jake frowned, but nodded in agreement. “What do you need to know?”
“Everything. Something isn’t right. She makes my skin crawl.”
Pushing aside her feelings, Ella added, “I agree, Jake. The princess is masking her scent. I can sense other supernatural entities by their aromas, but whenever I’m near her, I can’t. That’s never happened before.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Isabella crossed her arms over her chest and stared at the silvery sea as
