Page 5 of Blood Magic

“Kaitlyn,” he said. “I don’t want you on the vampires’ radar. There’s enough to worry about trying to keep you from Adam Thorne. You’re a new wolf and—”

“Look, Daddy,” I snapped, “I didn’t call for a lecture.” I softened my voice and attempted to control my temper. “Jared, this is my job. I’m a big bad wolf, not a vulnerable little girl.”

I wasn’t sure why I was so angry with him, really. He was being an alpha, and I could choose not to obey him. I didn’t know what was pissing me off, exactly.

Apparently, he did.

“I haven’t been ignoring you,” he said gently. “I thought you might need some time to yourself. I’ve had wolves watching you, Kait. You know I wouldn’t allow anything to happen to you.”

Ugh. Was he gently reproving me? Feeling sorry for me? God, my new wolf was driving me crazy with her neediness and her emotional turmoil.

I curled my fist but managed not to hit the top of my desk. “Are you going to tell me how to find the master?”

“No,” he said. “I am not.”

“Damn you, Jared. I need—”

He ended the call. Hung up on me, the bastard. Alpha wolves were assholes. “Fuck,” I snarled, and slammed my cell against my desk, causing Ash to get up to investigate.

“Okay,” Max said from the doorway, “um, you’re obviously in the middle of an emotional crisis? But if I heard correctly, you’re in need of some information.”

I glared at him. “And?”

He smiled. “Not to brag, but I can find out anything.”

“Not this, Max.”

“Try me.”

So said the guy who didn’t even believe vampires were real. “I need the name of the Vampire Master of Clinton County.” I sat back and crossed my arms, waiting for his skepticism.

He gave me a dramatic flourish. “Done.”

“Oh really. So you’re not even shocked that I beli—"

But I was talking to the air, because Max had already hurried away to find the possibly unfindable vampire master.

“Found him,” he said, five minutes later. “I sent the info to your email.”

I narrowed my eyes, suspicious, then grabbed my phone and checked. He’d attached a document with not only a name—Frederick Axton—but his supposed home base, a photo, a compiled list of safe houses, the name of his human servant, and the background he’d fabricated for the benefit of the humans. Axton “lived” in one of the wealthier districts of Jakeston—his city.

My city.

“Don’t believe vampires exist, huh?” I squinted at him. “Who the fuck are you, Max Pepper?”

“Your rather amazing assistant,” he said, and swaggered through the doorway. “You’re welcome.”

I had to wonder about Mayor Hedrick, hiring people like Max. Maybe the mayor was deeper into the supernatural than I realized. He’d have to be, wouldn’t he? He understood that I was different and hadn’t even blinked an eye.

I wondered if Detective Moreno knew more than he was telling me. Or more than he had told me when he was speaking to me. I knew he didn’t blame me for the gossip linking us romantically, but I also knew his coworkers were likely giving him a hard time, and I knew that his wife had just attempted to kill herself. Life was being an asshole to the detective right now, but on the positive side, the demon seemed to have disappeared. If he showed up, Rick would have no choice but to call me.

I could only hope the demon had faded and would give us no more trouble. But I didn’t believe it, really. I caressed the handle of my demon blade, the very blade I’d taken from him and the blade he wanted back. It was his key back into his world. But if he got his hands on it, he’d have control of me, as well. He couldn’t possess me, because I’d had an anti-possession symbol tattooed onto my shoulder—but with the blade, which was now made up of my blood, he could own my ass.

I went to the corner cabinet, lifted out my kill kit, then grabbed my belts and weaponed up. I was eager to get out of the office and do some physical work, but not eager to face the vampire master.

“Come on, sweetie,” I told Ash, and he got up and followed me out of the room. Lucy was regaling Joe with one of her wild stories, and Max sat behind his desk peering into his monitor and tapping on his keyboard.

“Are we leaving?” Max asked, perking up.