“I’ll see you again,” I said with a sly grin.
At that, Lionheart smirked then sat back in his seat.
Stuffing the paper into my vest, I rose. Quinn and I headed to the door. As I exited, I looked back at that old werewolf who was studying me over his glass of Scotch. Meeting my gaze, he raised his cup in a toast.
I winked at him then closed the door behind me.
“Well, that was awkward,” Quinn said.
“For who?”
Quinn laughed. “For me. But we got what we were after. Well done, partner. Well done,” he said then clapped me on the back. “Lionheart never talks to me. Now I know why.”
“And that is?”
“I’m not pretty enough. That hurts my feelings.”
We both laughed then headed on our way.
“More wine?” Grand-mère asked, shaking me from my thoughts.
I nodded.
All this time, Lionheart had been right in front of me, the connection between us instant. And I had totally missed it. Until now.
The dinner passed quickly, and feeling drunk on food—and maybe a little too much wine—I headed upstairs. I packed a travel bag then slipped on a nightdress. I slid into bed. A moment later, Minuit hopped onto the bed. Purring, she snuggled close beside me. I gave her a pat then turned and looked at my bedside table. Lying there, I spotted the star metal dagger. Reaching out, I touched the metal. A soft blue glow filled the room. But in the dim of night, I noticed something new. The metal didn’t just glow blue. There were shapes in the light, twirling designs and sparkles.
“Okay, that’s weird,” I whispered into the darkness.
Minuit let out a tired meow as if she were answering me in her sleep.
I chuckled then closed my eyes.
Soon, I would get answers.
Soon.
Chapter 10: Of Pain au Chocolat, Peanuts, and Bones
I slid into the auto, smiling at Jericho who was sitting in the back seat.
“My grand-mère sent these,” I said, passing back a basket of pain au chocolat to the boy whose mood instantly brightened. He took the basket greedily, dipping into it at once.
“Jericho,” Lionheart called lightly in reminder.
“Oh! Right. Thank you, Clemeny,” the boy said. From the sound of his muffled voice, he was already a bite too late.
“You’re welcome,” I said with a chuckle then smiled at Lionheart who was grinning in spite of himself.
“I hope you saved one for us,” Lionheart said then pulled the auto onto the London street.
I patted my satchel.
“For you, pain au chocolat. For me, these,” I said, pulling out my pack of ginger.
“You know, if the packs ever learn you actually have a weakness…” he said teasingly.
“Weakness? Did you know I flew in an airship—with Lily Stargazer—and managed to hold down my breakfast? A little nausea won’t stop me.”
At that, Lionheart laughed. “No doubt.”
I grinned.
“You flew with Lily Stargazer?”
I nodded.
Lionheart harrumphed, impressed.
“I know, right?”
He reached across the seat and took my hand, giving it a soft squeeze.
“So, today we are looking to find druids who don’t want to be found. Where to begin?” Lionheart asked.
“Salisbury.”
“Stonehenge?”
I nodded. “It’s a start.”
“You aren’t going to find any druids there,” Jericho said absently between munches.
I looked back. “What do you mean?”
He shrugged. “If you’re looking for someone who doesn’t want to be found, why would they be where you expect to find them?”
I chuckled. “You have a point. Have a better suggestion?”
Jericho shrugged. “No.”
I looked at Lionheart. “How about you, professor?”
He shook his head. “I’ll leave this to you.”
“Then to Salisbury.”
It sounded like a joke. A lycan, a werewolf, and a werewolf hunter set out on a road trip to track down druids and smoke out evil faeries. What could possibly go wrong?
* * *
It took the entire day to reach the windy flats of Salisbury where Stonehenge was located. Given we had to stop twice to get Jericho something to eat, and three more times for the child to make a toilette out of the high weeds growing at the side of the road, I was almost relieved when the ancient stone monolith came into sight.
Almost.
Somehow, I had conjured an image in my mind that Stonehenge was a place of worship for the druids, a solemn, empty spot where the mist wove around the stones, and the druids chanted their ancient Celtic wizardry.
What I hadn’t expected were the picnickers.
And croquet matches.
And drink and food carts to replenish the same.
No druids.
A small parking area was situated not far from the ancient monoliths. Lionheart pulled up alongside another steamauto, three carriages, a steamcycle, and a very large wagon painted with the colors of Trinity College on the side.
When we got out of the auto, I stared across the green.
There, the ancient stone circle sat in all her glory. The ring of ancient stones buzzed with energy. The ground below my feet pulsed with life. Every hair on my head tingled.
And all around the stones, gaily dressed revelers, ladies with parasols, and gentlemen in beautiful suits, picnicked and frolicked. Someone had spread out a full afternoon tea service on one of the fallen capstones. Ladies giggled and fanned themselves under the warm spring sun as they leaned against the ancient stones. Not far away, a group of children were playing croquet. A boy and his father toyed with a kite. On the other side of the stones, I spotted what looked like an excavation. There, gentlemen in Trinity College colors were digging into one of the burial mounds not far from the stones.
No druids.
No answers.
“Nothing,” I whispered.
“Look,” Jericho said, pointing as he tugged on my sleeve.
Hoping for some good news, I followed his lead. He was pointing to a vendor cart from which I caught the scent of roasting peanuts.
“Clemeny, Sir Richard, I’m starving. May I have a parcel?” he asked as sweetly as possible.
Swallowing my disappointment, I smiled at the boy. He really was a sweet thing. His golden hair shimmered in the warm sunlight, his dark eyes wide and innocent.
“Of course,” I told Jericho then took the child’s hand. We headed to the vendor.
As we made our way, I debated what to do. It was a bad idea to bring Lionheart here. I hated it when a case didn’t go well. I didn’t want him to see me struggle, not with this. I needed Richard to see me as his equal. Failing to find any clues was just…embarrassing.
“How many, miss?” the vendor asked.
I looked over my shoulder at Lionheart who was studying the excavation.
“One, please,” I said then smiled down at Jericho. “A large one. And a lemonade.”
Despite the fact that my mouth wanted to eat, my stomach had ridden far too long in the auto to justify the risk. It was bad enough that I had botched my case. Throwing up would add to the embarrassment.
The man handed the parcel and drink to Jericho while I dug in my pocket for some coin.
“Thank you, Clemeny,” Jericho whispered.
I ruffled his hair, then the two of us joined Lionheart.
“Let’s speak to them,” Lionheart said, motioning to the men working at the dig. “Will you pardon me in asking to take—as you say in the agency—the lead on this one?”