His face pinched and grew red. “So you knew about the ledger, then. I did want to keep her secret buried. She deserved that much consideration, at least. When she started coming home with the vampire bites, I worried she was going to get herself killed. I think—” he shook his head. “I think she was actually in love with the creature, and she never would have met him had I not involved us in Montrant’s scheme.”
I nodded along. “You tried to pull out to get her away from the vampire, and you think Montrant killed her to send you a message. But why was she meeting with Jeramy DeRose?”
He hung his head. “That was my fault too. I knew Montrant was watching me, so I sent Charlotte there instead. Jeramy was the first person Bellamy approached about his scheme. When he refused, the Montrants ruined him. I thought if we went to Jeramy, we might have enough evidence to approach the Archduke.”
“And you think Montrant killed them both,” I finished for him. “When Charlotte never returned, you went looking for her body, and knowing she had vampire bites, you devised your plan. But why wait so long to bring her body home? The rot would suggest she was in Jeramy’s home for quite some time.”
He grimaced. “I had to figure out a way to bring her body back without anyone seeing it, but I didn’t know who to trust. I knew she was supposed to meet with the vampire the following week. She always met him on the same night, so I went in her stead. I think the creature loved her too, as much as he was able. He helped me move her body.”
I stared at him. “If the vampire really loved her, why didn’t he avenge her?”
The duke looked like he was trying to swallow something sharp. “He said there was an ancient vampire involved, and he could not stand against him. After he helped me move Charlotte’s body, he fled the city. He agreed that I should contact the Helius Order, but wanted to be nowhere near once you arrived.”
“Smart vampire,” Steifan muttered.
I considered all the duke had told us. It made sense. If he would repeat the story to the Archduke, and we could provide validity by backing up his claims, we might just get permission to launch a full investigation. No more sneaking through canals or having our way barred by guards.
“We will go to the Archduke immediately,” I decided. “You will repeat everything you have told us.”
His eyes went wide. He stood, staggering backwards with palms outstretched. “No, you don’t understand. I’ll be killed before I can utter a word. Too many guards are involved.” He backed away until he was near the open window. “You’ll have to go to the Archduke yourselves.”
I heard the bolt release outside, and opened my mouth to shout a warning, but I was too late. The duke’s body lurched forward as an arc of blood erupted from his neck.
Steifan hopped over the desk to land beside the fallen duke while I rushed to the window. I peered out just in time to see a figure in the duke’s garden, hiding a crossbow in the folds of his loose cloak. A hood shadowed his face.
I rushed passed Steifan and out into the hall, then took the stairs down two by two. I exited the estate, then practically flew back to the garden, vaulting over the tall fence. I whipped around, scanning the manicured shrubs and the garrish fountain.
I cursed under my breath. I hadn’t been fast enough. The garden was empty, and I had seen the duke’s wound. He would not survive to tell his tale again.
“Lyss!” A voice I recognized called out.
It was almost too much to hope for, but when I turned I spotted Tholdri’s golden hair out on the street beyond the fence. He wore his full armor, with a sword at his shoulder.
I cast a final glance around the garden, then ran toward him. “What in the Light are you doing here?”
He gave me a smug smile and leaned his hands against the fence. “I convinced the Potentate to let me come. I told him I was worried you would get into trouble amongst the nobles. I was just coming to Duke Auclair’s to look for you.”
I shook my head, overwhelmingly grateful to see him, but too busy to express it. “We need to get back inside. Someone just hit the duke with a crossbow through the window. I ran out here looking for them, but they’re gone.”
His eyes widened. “Why wasn’t that the first thing out of your mouth when you saw me?”
He turned away from the fence, leaving me to vault over it and catch up to his back as he walked toward the door. We both hurried inside and up the stairs, finding Steifan just about to come down them.
His grim expression and bloody hands told me what I already knew. “He’s dead.” He looked to me. “Did you find who shot the bolt?”
I stepped next to him and shook my head. “I wasn’t fast enough, Tholdri found me as I was searching the garden.”
Steifan looked to Tholdri. “I must say, I’m glad to see you. We have found ourselves in quite the mess. Has Lyss told you about the Nattmara?”
Tholdri blinked at me. “Now that’s what you should have started with. The one from Charmant?”
I sighed. “We have much to catch you up on, but first we need to fetch the guards and let them know the duke is dead. If we are lucky, they’ll believe we didn’t do it.”
“Perhaps it was unwise of me to come after all,” Tholdri said.
I started down the stairs. “You have no idea.”
“Asher is here,” I heard Steifan whisper to Tholdri at my back.
Tholdri chuckled. “A fresh murder, an ancient vampire, and a Nattmara. Traveling with Lyss is never dull, is
