Chapter Eighteen #4
He takes the hoodie back. I think he’s just going to put it back on, but instead he holds it out for me to step into, like maybe he thinks I didn’t understand him.
“Why don’t you talk?” I ask, looking between him and the offered hoodie.
No answer.
I sigh again, standing up. “Fine.” I slip my arms into the sleeves and allow him to zip me into his hoodie.
It smells divine, and thankfully my brain doesn’t find a need to comment out loud about that.
I also can’t place his scent, which isn’t crazy.
I’m not a vampire or a wolf shifter, so my sense of smell isn’t always the best when it comes to fae species.
I think he’s about to leave me and go inside, but instead he sits on the fountain’s edge. I sit back down next to him.
And your magic is out, my inner voice reminds me. He’s literally right here and I can’t even use my magic to help me get the tears for the wraith.
I try to think of something to say, fingering the zipper pull of his hoodie while I take a moment to wonder what he looks like underneath that mask, and who he could possibly be.
There are rumors, of course.
Voracious Maw fans have some wild theories about the band members’ identities, but the theories all center on other well-known musicians. That never made sense to me, why someone already well known would start a band and grow it from nothing anonymously.
Sure, it could be a gimmick, as Jordan would always say, but I never bought that theory either.
I’m convinced they’re just really talented unknown musicians who, for one reason or another, don’t want the attention on them.
I can definitely see the appeal of that.
We continue to sit in silence—surprise, surprise—and I realize I’m no longer shivering. I hold up one of my arms, indicating the hoodie. “Thanks. This was really nice of you.”
He bobs his masked head in acknowledgement.
The lower part of his face, the part uncovered by his mask, is in too much shadow for me to see if he’s making any expression with his mouth.
I realize I also can’t tell what color his hair is.
There’s a strap that secures his mask, but underneath it is some sort of thin material covering the backside of his head.
It probably keeps his hair in place underneath the mask.
I stop myself from sighing this close to him. No tears tonight. I’ll have to come up with a much better plan.
The doors on the balcony open, letting a cascade of song, chatter, and bustle out into the empty outside air. I look up and see Amelia, Reese, and the others—including, to my surprise, Grim—descending the steps to the garden. I turn around, as Wrath slinks off into the shadows back the way he came.
“Bliss!” Amelia comes to my side, clutching my hands in hers. “Are you okay? We were looking everywhere for you!”
“I figured you left and went home,” Reese adds.
Tubbs and Taser each take turns giving me a hug, but for some reason I can’t keep my eyes off the spot Wrath disappeared into. He’s met my sister’s band before, but I guess maybe he isn’t too social?
“I just needed to deescalate that whole situation in there,” I say, waving my hand around. I look over to Grim, who’s standing to the side, studying me. “Sorry you had to witness that.”
He tilts his head. “You have nothing to apologize for. You’re okay?”
I nod, giving him a soft smile.
“Good, I’m glad.” He smiles back at me, and I’m starting to think maybe I can head back into the party, enjoy myself. Maybe even exist in the same space as Jordan without feeling his overwhelming presence.
Tubbs stiffens, looking around. The way his eyes narrow makes the hair on my neck stand to attention.
“What’s wrong?” Taser asks.
I look around in the shadows, wondering if Wrath is still inside them. Maybe Tubbs can sense him? Surrounded by all these trees, plants, and flowers, Tubbs is probably even more connected with his earth magic.
“Something is off,” Tubbs says quietly. His eyes lock with Taser’s. “Something in the garden is dead.”
“Probably a dead plant or something, right?” Reese points out, but she shifts closer to me anyways. I hook an arm through hers. Amelia comes to stand on Reese’s other side.
Tubbs shakes his head. “Dead body.” His eyes seem to unfocus as he uses his magic. Hearing him describe it before, it almost sounds like sometimes nature can talk to him. A dead body? My mind goes to Wrath, but he just left. It’s not him.
“What?” Grim asks, looking around.
“I can smell it,” Taser confirms. And Blake nods. “Recently deceased.”
Grim takes a few steps out from the fountain, scanning the foliage that creates a border around the patio.
Blake and Taser fan out with their vampire speed.
Two seconds later, Blake calls from the far corner of the garden, the one furthest away from the building and opposite the corner Wrath entered and left through. “Over here!”
We descend on his position quickly, Grim taking the lead and throwing his hands out to stop me from getting closer. “You might not want to see.”
I look anyways, peeking over his outstretched arm. It’s the woman from the bathroom line. Beautiful green, velvet dress, stunning ropes of long red hair.
Except there’s blood everywhere.
Her limbs are twisted at odd angles.
Blood drips from nearby foliage.
She was killed here.
Right outside the party.
My stomach threatens to unleash itself on the ground. I put a hand over my mouth, taking several steps back and allowing Amelia to wrap me up in her arms. “Oh my stars…”
Tubbs holds Reese close and Blake puts an arm around my sister. Taser comes to a stop in front of me.
“Grim’s calling it in,” he says gently, meeting my eyes. I look past him and see Grim with his ear to his phone.
“At the festival, yeah. Get here quickly.” The way he’s speaking it almost seems like he called someone specific rather than the emergency line for the fae constabulary or the human police. Who would not be much help here.
“Was it warlocks?” I ask no one in particular. Not that I’ve ever seen a dead body before, but the way she’s been fed on—it isn’t something I’m familiar with.
“Possibly,” Grim says. He slips his phone back into his pocket and turns to address someone over my head. “Probably should get them home. I can stay and wait for the police.”
Mumbles of agreement sound around me and I let Taser lead me back home along with the rest of my friends.
Shock has numbed me, but as we walk back to the townhome, exhaustion joins in. I stumble through the front door of the townhouse and up to my room.
It’s not until I close the door behind me and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror that I realize I’m still wearing Wrath’s hoodie.