Page 123 of Bedeviled

A wave of nausea rolls through me.

“The Politia. They want to speak with you.”

I frown. “Why are they looking for me?”

“I don’t know. But if I had to guess, I’d say it might have something to do with the fact that our coven sisters are calling you and your mate heroes.”

CHAPTER 27

I’m miserable as I stand outside Ravensmeade, answering the Politia’s questions about last night’s battle, reliving the horror again and again with each pointed question. I’ve been doing this for at least thirty minutes, ever since Olga told me that officers were looking for me and I reluctantly headed over to my residence hall.

As if the situation weren’t uncomfortable enough, it’s Officer Howahkan who questions me. The same Officer Howahkan who also questioned me a month ago about my coven sisters’ murders when I was the prime suspect. After my last experience with him, I will never not feel guilty in his presence.

“Walk me through the entire evening’s events again,” he says now.

Weariness tugs at me as I repeat what happened last night all over again, starting with my encounter with Sybil, followed by my walk back with Kane and the demon who ambushed us, not bothering to omit my more questionable decisions throughout the evening. I go over how Memnon came to help us, noting the way the officer glances sharply at me at the mention of my husband’s name. Clearly he’s aware of who my soul mate is.

Finally, I discuss the attack in Slain Maiden’s Meadow. And though I’ve already told him all about the massacre, I still choke up repeating it.

Officer Howahkan finally closes his notebook. “You did well, Ms. Bowers. That was nothing short of brilliant, what you did with the mushroom circles, and it must’ve cost you a great deal of power.” He gives me a piercing look, and I shift under the weight of his words.

“Not many witches can brag about taking down well over two dozen demons,” he adds.

“I had help.” Anything to deflect from this sudden praise.

The officer nods, glancing back down at his notepad. “I’d like to get in contact with your husband, Mr. Uvagukis, and have him corroborate these events.”

I nod and rattle off Memnon’s phone number, unsure what sort of relationship my soul mate has with the Politia at this point.

“One last thing,” Officer Howahkan says. “Did you notice or have any theories on why these demons might’ve ambushed your coven sisters?”

I roll my wedding ring around my finger nervously. And for the first time during this questioning, I lie.

I shake my head. “None.”

Because I do have a theory, one I have no interest in explaining to the Politia.

Last night, the demons weren’t there to feed on my coven sisters to complete a bond.

No, last night, I’m pretty damn sure they were there for me.

Just when I’m sure Officer Howahkan is done with me, he flips his notebook shut and says, “Can you show me your best estimate of where the first demon attacked you last night?”

My eyebrows rise. “Oh…o-of course.”

I’m so used to most of my issues falling outside the purview of the Politia that their thoroughness comes as a shock—a slightly unpleasant one, given that all I really want to do right now is fall onto my bed and dissociate.

Instead, I trek into the Everwoods, Officer Howahkan and a few other officers he’s waved over following along.

“I’m not sure exactly where the attack was,” I say apologetically as we move between the trees. “It was really dark…”

My words fall away as a chill washes over me. The woods around me seem to grow colder, and the air has the faintest sulfuric tinge to it.

I glance at the ground, and there is the circle of salt where, only hours ago, a demon was once contained.

“This is it,” I say, my eyes trained to that circle.

Officer Howahkan directs the other officers and calls for their forensics unit.