I nodded. “It’s one of the large estates up the hill. You should be able to follow the smell of rotting corpse. I imagine her body will not be burned until tomorrow.”
He smiled tightlipped, hiding his fangs. “Very well, I will fetch it shortly. Where will you meet me once the task is done?”
“Steifan and I will be out searching the city for vampires. I imagine you’ll be able to find me.”
His palm still braced beside me, he leaned forward again. “There are many vampires within the city, Lyssandra. Be careful what you dig up.”
“Would a vampire ever pay a mortal woman for blood?” I asked abruptly.
My question seemed to catch him off guard. He took a moment to think about it. “Perhaps, if one was in jeopardy of being discovered, and did not want to flee their territory.”
“Have you ever paid for blood?” I regretted the question as soon as I asked it.
The edges of his mouth ticked up. “Dear Lyssandra, I never pay for something I can easily get for free.”
With that, he was gone, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I patted my horse’s cheek, then left to find Steifan. I didn’t know how long it would be until Asher returned with the journal, so I’d just have to drum up trouble as quickly as I could.
Chapter Five
A few hours later, Steifan and I walked down the quiet nighttime street. I had relented and told him about my meeting with Asher. Better to explain it while we were alone, rather than explaining it once Asher showed up with the journal. If he showed up with the journal. It might already be gone, leaving us no other clues.
“I can’t believe he followed you all the way here,” Steifan said, breaking the silence as we meandered down an alleyway. I had sensed vampires a few times, but we were yet to come close enough to seek them out.
“He didn’t follow me,” I snapped. “He only sought me out after the ancient was killed.”
“Yes, because a young huntress will surely be able to figure out a vampire murder. He probably just wanted an excuse to see why you were in the city.”
I held out my hand, sensing a familiar vampire coming near, and I wished Steifan had not chosen now to start this conversation. Asher had probably heard every word.
Steifan reached for his sword, not understanding my silent warning.
I turned and looked back the way we’d come. Asher now stood roughly twenty paces away, having approached us as silent as only the dead can manage.
Steifan visibly relaxed, which was unnerving. One should never relax around a vampire.
“Did you find it?” I asked as Asher moved near us at human speed.
He produced a small, leather-bound journal from within his coat pocket.
My heart skipped a beat. Could it possibly be this easy? Would we find the answers to Charlotte’s murder tonight?
Asher reached us, but did not offer the journal.
“Was it difficult to find?” I asked.
“No, the husband had already found it. He was preparing to burn it when I arrived.”
“Did you kill him?” Steifan blurted.
Asher glared, and Steifan stepped back. I found myself glad to not be on the other end of that silver glare.
The vampire turned back to me. “I was forced to bespell the man. I tried to question him, but his mind proved surprisingly strong. I hope this will hold the answers you seek.” He lifted the journal in his hand.
I reached for it, but he pulled it away.
“Give it to me,” I demanded.
“Promise me that after this murder is solved, you will help me discover who killed the ancient.”
I lowered my hand. There was no use trying to snatch anything from a vampire. “I can make no such promises. I follow the Potentate’s orders, and he may have another mission for me.”
He dangled the journal just out of reach above my head. “I don’t think you follow anyone’s orders, Lyssandra.”
I put my hands on my hips, refusing to jump for the journal like a fool. “You know, people keep saying that to me.”
“Promise me,” he repeated, “and the journal is yours.”
I frowned. I didn’t like promising him anything, but I was already planning on looking into the murder. How could I not? “Fine,” I hissed. “I promise.”
He extended the journal to me and I snatched it away, clutching it against my chest. “I would thank you, but I don’t want to, so for tonight, we are done. Where will I find you when I am ready to look into your murder?”
He looked up at the stars visible between the roofs on either side of the alley. “I believe I will spend some time within the city. I see no reason to waste such a long journey.” He turned and strolled back down the alley.
Steifan moved to my side as I watched Asher fade into the darkness. “Yeah, he definitely came here just to see you.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Shut up, Steifan.”
His laughter followed me as I retreated down the alley, making my way back toward the inn. As annoyed as I was, I was also excited to read the journal. When you needed to solve a murder, the mind of the victim was usually the best place to start.
I sat on the wooden floor of our inn room, a flickering lantern near my curled up knee. On my other side sat Steifan, leaning over to peer at the journal in my lap. No, not a journal, a ledger. In rows were scrawled names, locations, and numerical amounts. Unfortunately most of the names and locations were abbreviated, but at least the dates at the start of each new page were clear. We had taken off our armor to sit more comfortably, and had flipped through every page.
The ledger went back months, the final day taking place two weeks ago.
“Do you think this is a record of her,” Steifan hesitated, “trade contacts?”
I smirked. “That’s a pleasant way
