Page 38 of Property of Crypt Keeper

“Not just any supernatural,” he added, fingers drumming in an irritated rhythm on the old wood. “A breeding-age supernatural.”

That shut the room up fast.

My stomach went cold.

Boomslang’s gaze swept over us.

“He tried to get closer,” he went on. “Wanted to see faces. But one of them vanished in the crowd. The other—” He paused. “—disappeared.”

The word landed heavy.

“Disappeared. Like what?” Zeus asked.

Boomslang’s jaw tightened.

“Like a puff of smoke.”

Silence. Heavy. Uncomfortable.

“Demon,” someone muttered, speaking aloud what the rest of us were thinking.

“Yeah,” Boomslang agreed. “That’s what I’m thinking.”

My mind was already moving. Breeding-age. Not specific. Not targeted to species. Just—supernatural. Why? Why not pick a type? Why not go after vampires? Or wolves? Or demons? Why just… anything?

My thoughts slid to Zara. Five years old. Not fully grown. Not yet. My jaw tightened. No. Too early. Too far a leap.

But the thought didn’t go away.

Boomslang continued, “My contact told me to be careful. Said if they’re looking for something like that, we’re all sitting here with targets on our backs?—”

“We’re already targets,” Zeus cut in.

Others grumbled in agreement.

“Yeah,” Boomslang agreed. “But this is different.”

No one argued. Because it was.

“Eyes open,” Boomslang finished. “No one moves alone. We find out who’s making that deal before they find us.”

“Got it,” Mako said.

The rest of us nodded.

Church was dismissed, and we all filtered out of the room. Some brothers were talking quietly among themselves.

I didn’t wait long.

“Mako,” I called out, catching him before he could move too far.

He turned, reading something in my expression immediately.

“What’s up?”

I glanced around. Lyra wasn’t there. Good. Didn’t need her hearing this. Zara and Lily were upstairs, out of the way. Also good.

“I need to go handle something,” I explained. “Need you to ride with me so Boomslang doesn’t lose his shit.”