Page 43 of Silver Claw

“Could it be claws instead of a knife?” he asked.

“No,” I told him. “Claws would have torn. The edges would be ragged, deeper in some places, shallow in others. He used a blade.” Then I thought of my own blade, and Anika Draper’s blade. “Maybe he used it because it’s a special blade. So hecouldbe supernatural. I’m just not sure. Not yet. Whatever he’s getting from these kills, maybe the blade demands it.”

“You say that like a knife is alive.”

“Sometimes,” I said, “our weapons are closer to living than the vampires are.”

He muttered something I didn’t catch.

I frowned. “What’s bothering you, Rick? You’ve been extra…angry today.”

He blew out a hard breath and rubbed his temples. “Beth has been in contact. After all this time, she’s reaching out, and I don’t know what to say to her.”

I didn’t want to pry, but I was curious. “Is she…I mean, does she want…?”

“She’s not asking for a divorce,” he said. “She’s not asking for anything, really. I think she might want to come home.” His stare met mine. “To try again.”

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the fact that his words made me feel something close to panic. Dread. And yeah, there was some jealousy in the mix. I didn’t look away from him, as much as I wanted to. “What doyouwant?” I asked him.

He opened his mouth to tell me at the exact same moment a car door slammed outside, and Paul Dexter appeared in thebedroom doorway. “House is clear,” he said, “and homicide is here.”

So whatever Rick wanted would remain a mystery.

For now.

“I’ll go talk with the detectives,” Rick said.

I nodded. “I’ll come back once the body is gone and have another look.”

“I’ll let you know when it’s clear.” He took my arm, not in a guiding way, but in a way that said he simply wanted the contact.

“You should go to Silverwood and get some rest,” he said as we walked across the floor. “You’re not fully recovered from your fight with Voss.” And when he said Voss’s name, there was a gleam in his eyes, because he was enjoying the fact that Jared had gone after him and likely Voss was dead by now.

Rick had changed.

“I’d rather work,” I told him. “The last thing I want is quiet time to dwell on the loss of my magic.”

“You are magic,” he said, giving me a rare smile. “And you will always find your way.”

I returned his smile, and for a few seconds, we simply stood there like that, relaxed and happy with tender regard and a bond that would never break. Rick and I had been through a lot together.

And the memory of that kiss lingered.

Finally, though, the detectives entered the house, stopping to speak with the two patrol officers. The reality of a dark life crept back in, and our smiles faded. Rick stepped away first, sliding his hands into his pockets. With a reluctant sigh, I turned and left him standing there, hoping he was right—that even without my magic, I’d still find my way.

Chapter Eighteen

I was backing out onto the street when my phone lit up, blaring the spooky ringtone I’d selected for Saul. My stomach tightened automatically. I knew why he was calling. Honestly, I was surprised it had taken him so long.

“The council wants to see you,” he said.

“I figured,” I murmured. “What are they going to do, Saul?”

“Midnight,” he told me, not answering my question. “Don’t be late, Kaitlyn. I’ll contact you afterward.”

He ended the call, and I was left both nervous and hopeful. Part of me believed the council could give me back my power. I knew that was wishful, desperate thinking, but still.

What if they could?