Chapter 13
Chapter
Thirteen
Erasmus
“The legal hoops have finally been cleared,” Sheriff Andrews sounded both exhausted and relieved.
“I’m glad to hear that.” I really was. Not only for Opal Veronal’s sake, but selfishly, for my own as well.
I was going stir-crazy. It was beyond frustrating being cooped up in the house all day and not even able to work on finding other necromancers.
Not that I couldn’t, but I was afraid to even delve into the list of mothers the Warlock Council had given me for fear that Tenzen Huxley might get his shadowy hands on them and track them down before I could.
I wouldn’t put my fellow necromancers in any more danger than they currently were in. Being born a necromancer already placed a target on our backs. While I still didn’t know what Tenzen wanted with me, none of us thought his motivations were pure.
“When would you like to reschedule?” She tried hiding it, but I could hear Sheriff Andrew’s impatience.
My momentary good mood took a nosedive. Franklin didn’t want me going alone again, but he was buried neck deep in skeletal remains.
I wanted to tell the sheriff that I could be there later today, tomorrow at the latest. Instead, I answered, “I’m sorry, but I need to check a couple of things in my schedule. Can I get back to you?”
“Of course.” It was a perfectly agreeable answer laced with disappointment. “You have my number.”
“I do. And I promise I’ll get back to you within twenty-four hours to get something scheduled.”
“That’s more than reasonable.” Sheriff Andrews sounded relieved. “I appreciate your time and willingness to work with us, Necromancer Boone.”
I could feel my muscles relax. I liked this sheriff and knew Franklin would too, if only because she treated me with respect and not as a necessary evil. “No appreciation required, but it is nice all the same. I’ll contact you soon.”
“Have a good evening.” Sheriff Andrews ended the call before I could get out a similar parting farewell.
Before lowering my phone, I checked to see if I had anymore messages from Franklin.
Unfortunately, the text screen didn’t have anything new.
I frowned at the thing, as if it were my phone’s fault.
Truth was, I missed Franklin. He’d been spending so much time at the precinct recently, and getting called out before the crack of dawn had stolen what little time I did have with him.
Of course, it wasn’t his fault. Franklin was a homicide detective, and he was doing his job. I typically didn’t resent it as much as I currently did.
“Erasmus? You in here, honey?” Momma called from the front door. I hadn’t even heard it open.
“In the living room, Momma.”
I started to stand, but Momma waved me back down as she approached.
“I’m sorry. I knocked, but you didn’t answer.
I saw your car in the driveway as well as a rental, and I thought you should be home.
But when you didn’t answer the door…I guess I just got a little worried and decided to let myself in. ”
I patted the couch cushion beside me, and with a sweep of her hands under her rear, Momma settled her dark gray skirt and sat beside me, leaning in and giving a side hug. “You doin’ okay, sweetheart?” Momma’s manicured fingernails swept through my hair, gently scraping against my scalp.
With a heavy sigh, I leaned into the soothing touch.
“Just feeling sorry for myself.” Momma gave me an expectant look, forcing me to elaborate.
“Franklin got called into work early this morning. He’s been so busy, and I guess…
I guess I just miss him.” I absently twirled my engagement ring around my finger.
“Perfectly understandable,” Momma answered with a kiss on my temple. “I see no reason for you to beat yourself up simply because you miss your fiancé.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m beating myself up. I just…I don’t want to sound unsupportive.”
“Nonsense. I don’t believe for a second that Franklin would view it that way.”
I didn’t either. “I don’t want him to feel guilty though.”
“Hmm, now that I can see.” Momma squeezed my shoulder again before pulling away and leaning into the couch. “I wish I had some sage motherly advice, but I’m afraid the well is currently dry.”
Momma’s grin made me chuckle. “I’m sure it’ll be full again soon.” I patted Momma on her knee, and she gave me a saucy wink.
“I’ve no doubt. Now”—she purposefully sat up straighter, head twisting this way and that—“that rental car in your driveway makes me think your guests have arrived.”
I didn’t like the gleam in Momma’s eyes. “It was a long flight. Phlox and Leon are resting. Besides, it’s still daylight.”
“But I thought Leon could be out in the daytime.”
I started to answer, but evidently Phlox was awake and decided to make an appearance. “He can, but it’s draining.” Phlox fluttered his wings, scattering dust. Momma sneezed and placed a Kleenex in front of her nose. “Sorry about that.” Phlox handed Momma a charm. “That should help.”
“Thank yo—achoo!” Momma activated the charm, but not before her nose was runny and her eyes were leaking.
When she had herself together, Momma’s eyes flew wide, and she shuffled off the couch as quickly as possible.
“Oh my! Aren’t you just a vision?” I’d never seen Momma so excited.
Her joy took at least ten years off her age.
“Just look at those wings!” Momma reached out but quickly pulled her hand back, a light dusting of embarrassed pink flushing her cheeks. “I’m sorry. That was very rude.”
No more immune to Momma’s charms than any other individual, Phlox melted in the face of Momma’s childlike joy. “It’s okay. You can touch them if you’d like. Pixie wings are tougher than they look.”
Momma clapped her hands together and giggled like a teenager. Rounding the preening pixie, Momma oohed and ahhed. “Absolutely marvelous.”
I was a little perplexed by Momma’s reaction. “You’ve seen pixies before.” As a general rule, pixies craved the warmth, not the cold. More lived in the southern climes than northern, so we had our fair share.
“But never in your home, Erasmus.”
“Huh?” Completely lost as to why that would make a difference, my expression remained perplexed while Phlox just shrugged and graciously put up with Momma’s blatantly appreciative perusal.
Phlox was a nature pixie. They weren’t the attention whores that social pixies were, but I’d yet to meet a pixie that didn’t appreciate being… well, appreciated.
“Besides, I don’t get to see them nearly as often as you think.” For lack of a better word, Momma pouted. “Do you remember Charlette O’Dell?”
The name rang a faint bell that grew louder as a memory came to mind. “The real estate agent?”
Momma huffed. “We worked together years ago until she went off on her own. Charlette put together a real estate team that caters to other species’ needs.
She’s cornered the market on non-human real estate.
” Momma’s annoyed tone made it clear just how she felt about that.
Never one to remain somber for long, Momma perked back up, her grin infectiously joyous.
“And now I get the pleasure of being in my son’s home with an absolutely gorgeous pixie.
Charlette would be green with envy if she knew. ”
I swear my jaw nearly hit the floor.
“What? Don’t look at me like that. And close your mouth before something you don’t want flies in. Honestly, I’m allowed to be catty every once in a while.”
Phlox cackled. “I happen to like catty.”
I got a good look at Momma’s flushed cheeks when she turned her attention back to me. Like a flipped switch, Momma became all business again. “Do you have appropriate provisions?”
I barely contained my eyeroll. “Yes, Momma. I went shopping yesterday.”
“Did you buy enough vegetables and fruit? Pixies are vegetarians, so—”
“Actually, I’m not,” Phlox interrupted. When Momma gave him a confused stare, Phlox elaborated, “My father was a Pallas’s cat shifter. I eat meat too.”
“Oh.” Momma’s surprise lasted all of five seconds before she gave a firm nod and said, “That makes perfect sense. Would you like me to get you anything right now? Maybe a cold glass of sweet tea? Erasmus, you have offered your guest tea, haven’t you?”
Phlox grinned while this time, I did roll my eyes. “Yes, Momma.”
“It is excellent tea, Ms. Boone.”
Momma waved Phlox off. “Now, none of that. You call me Lydia.”
“Thank you, Lydia. And, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, I could go for another glass.”
“As if tea is ever an ounce of trouble. You two sit and I’ll get provisions.”
Momma took off for the kitchen. Phlox watched her go, and when she was out of sight, he leaned over and whispered, “She’s adorable. Can I take her home with me?”
I burst out laughing. “Sorry, but she’s taken. And no offense, but you’d have to pry Momma from my cold, dead hands before I’d give her up.”
Phlox’s grin softened. “Noted.”
“Erasmus, where’s your drink tray?” Momma hollered from the kitchen.
With a heavy sigh, I pushed myself out of the comfy depression I’d made in my couch. “I’ll be back in a minute,” I told Phlox.
His raspy chuckles followed me into the kitchen.
“Your mother is very…curious,” Leon said after Momma left for the evening. “She is also very kind,” he quickly added as if his first comment might have been seen as noncomplimentary.
“She is both of those things.” I checked the clock on the wall. Franklin texted about two hours ago letting me know he’d be home late and not to wait on him for dinner. Phlox, Momma, and I’d eaten. Halfway through the meal, Leon had risen and joined our little group. Momma had been over the moon.
“Any idea when he’ll be home?” Phlox asked, obviously noting where my attention wandered.
“Franklin didn’t specify.” I chewed on my bottom lip, hating how tired he was bound to be.
“He’s already been running on fumes. I hate the thought of another big case.
” I stared at my clasped hands as they rested on the kitchen table.
“Five more bodies.” I shook my head. “That’s what Franklin texted me earlier.
That makes a total of eleven in the past week. ”
“Is that a large number for this area?” Leon asked.
“Yes. But it’s not just the number but the way the bodies were found.”
Leon’s obsidian gaze traveled from me to Phlox. “I am uncertain of the details, beloved.”
“I’ll fill you in.” Phlox took the following few minutes to do just that, finishing with “it’s very peculiar.”
“Indeed.”
Phlox’s fingers skimmed across the top of Leon’s hand, prompting him to turn his hand palm up and entwine their fingers. A sharp pang of jealousy stabbed me. I wanted Franklin here. I wanted his fingers wrapped with mine.
“You look better,” Phlox told Leon. While I didn’t know the vampire well, I had to agree.
Vampires’ skin always looked pale, but there were different shades and levels of pallid.
Earlier, Leon had stumbled through my door looking barely alive.
His white skin now had an iridescent quality that wasn’t there earlier.
His shoulders were no longer slumped, and his eyes were clear and sharp.
“I feel much better.” Leon’s attention turned to me. “Thank you for the accommodations and the consideration regarding the windows.”
“It was dark enough then?” I was worried it wouldn’t be.
“Very adequate.”
I was glad to hear it. My phone pinged with an incoming message, and I frantically unlocked it. My frown deepened when I read Franklin’s words. Going to be a couple hours longer. I’m sorry. Love you. Those few words were followed by a string of heart emojis.
“Bad news?” Phlox asked.
I shrugged. “Not in the tragic sense of things. Franklin says he’ll be a bit longer.
” Setting my phone back down on the table, I rested my head in my hand.
“He’s working so hard.” I blew out a breath while thinking of my earlier conversation with Sheriff Andrews.
“And when he gets home, I’m going to have to ask him to try and squeeze out time in his schedule to escort me to a job.
” Gaia, I was beginning to really hate Tenzen Huxley.
I hated what he’d turned my life into, hated that I now needed an escort just to do my damn job.
“What’s the job?” Phlox asked, and I quickly gave him the rundown. I was shocked when he said, “I can go with you.”
Leon sat up a little straighter. “Beloved, that—”
“Think carefully before you speak, Leon.” Phlox’s eyes narrowed to slits.
Leon’s neutral expression never wavered. “I do not doubt your capabilities. You know this.”
Phlox sniffed, his nose pointed into the air. “You do now.”
Leon’s lips gave the barest of twitches.
“Yes, and we have discussed how foolish I was when we first met. I did not understand just how dangerous of a predator you can be, beloved.” Leon brought their still-clasped hands to his lips, pressing them against the back of Phlox’s hand.
“Even so, it would be preferable if this venture could be done at night, when I can accompany you. Two protectors are always better than one.”
I hated the fact I even needed the one.
“Pfft. I suppose you have a point. As long as this Sheriff Andrews doesn’t mind doing this in the dark.” Phlox glanced my direction, eyebrows slightly lifted in question.
“I’m not sure, but I can ask.”
“Do so,” Leon answered. “If it is not possible, I would still be able to accompany you during the daytime, though I fear I would be more hindrance than aid should something worrying occur.”
“If this meetup can only happen during the day, then you’re definitely staying put,” Phlox stated, no room for debate. Leon remained silent.
“I’ll send Sheriff Andrews a text now and ask. She should still be up and if not, worst-case scenario is that we hear from her tomorrow.” I typed out the message and had a response almost immediately. “She says nighttime shouldn’t be an issue.”
Phlox clapped his hands together, his grin wide and his wings fluttering. “Excellent. I’ve been wanting another chance to see your mojo in action.” Phlox wiggled his fingers when he said mojo.
“You do not think your human will mind, do you?” Leon asked.
“I don’t think so. Franklin just wants me to be safe.
” I swallowed hard and noticed Phlox’s expression reflected my own uneasiness.
The truth was, none of us had a clue whether or not we could effectively fight off Huxley’s shadows.
All these precautions and constant worry could very well be entirely useless.
I had the unsettling feeling that when Tenzen Huxley was ready to make his move, there wasn’t a damn thing any of us would be able to do to stop him.