Page 25 of Property of Crypt Keeper

Then she looked up at me, pale eyes locking onto mine.

“I am,” she replied.

Lie. But she slowed anyway.

Good.

Deciding to take a different route than I had earlier with my questioning, I reached for my coffee, letting the silence sit. No pressure. No questions. Just space.

Predators don’t like being cornered.

And Zara?

She didn’t know what she was yet. But I was pretty sure I did. And her body was starting to figure it out too.

“You like it here?” I asked.

Her shoulders lifted in a small shrug. “It’s quiet.”

Something in my chest shifted at that.

“Too quiet?” I asked.

As she chewed her food, I could see her thinking about it. Then she shook her head.

“No.”

Yeah. That tracked too. I pushed my plate aside.

“You won’t be here long today,” I told her. “You’re going to stay with my friend Lily for a bit.”

Her expression softened just a fraction.

“Okay.”

No questions. No fear. Just trust.

I didn’t like how that sat in my chest. Didn’t like that I didn’t want to break it. My phone buzzed against the table. Saved me from thinking too hard about that.

I glanced down. Hack. I stood, grabbing it.

“Eat,” I told Zara. “I’ll be right back. I’ll just be right out there,” I explained, motioning to the back door.

She nodded, already focused on finishing what was left.

I stepped out onto the back porch, shutting the door behind me before answering, “Talk, brother.”

Hack didn’t waste time.

“I got something,” he said, keys clacking in the background. “Actually, I got a lot—and none of it makes sense.”

“That tracks,” I muttered. “A lot doesn’t make sense.”

“Katalina Kingston first,” he started.

My grip tightened.

“She’s real. Documented movement, multiple countries, aliases—but a consistent pattern. She shows up, something dies, she disappears.”