Page 185 of Nightshade

Cicatrix’s claws dug into my arm, as I held him out of the window and watched him take flight. Other birds joined him in the sky, setting off on their quest for Farryn’s father, as promised.

At a knock on the door, I didn’t bother to look back. “Come in.”

In the window’s reflection, I caught the sultry strut of the brunette housekeeper, Evie, entering my office and closing the door behind her.

Inwardly groaning at the sight of her, I rubbed a hand down my face and fell into the chair beside me.

“Master Van Croix, I wanted to let you know, Danielle seems to have gone missing. She’s neither in her chambers, nor anywhere on the cathedral grounds.”

Danielle was one of the kitchen staff, spritely and exuberant, particularly during our late-night trysts. I didn’t care to remember those anymore.

“She wouldn’t have escaped the dogs,” I said.

Lips pressed together, she diverted her gaze. “She was last seen with Remy, as I understand.”

“Remy ...” Although he’d sworn off his dark nature, for the most part, Remy was still Fallen. He still fought the cravings and desires of his kind, one of which happened to be corrupting the souls of young females. I knew, from my own experience as a half-demon, the intense craving for sex to be as necessary as oxygen to humans, so I didn’t entirely fault him.

“Yes, Master. She expressed a fondness toward him.”

He certainly could’ve gotten her past the dogs.

“Why are you bringing this to my attention, when Anya is your superior?”

The girl had an agenda. One I wanted no part of.

“Anya isn’t always privy to the ins and outs of the staff. Not as you might expect, anyway.” Of course, she’d throw Anya under the bus. The one person who, besides me, didn’t tolerate bullshit. “I just know that Anya isn’t fond of her. Or me, for that matter.”

“I’ll assume she left of her own free will.” I’d already grown bored with the conversation, and increasingly annoyed by her persistence to prattle on.

“I would’ve assumed the same. Except, Remy claims he doesn’t know where she is, either.” In a brief moment of bliss, she quieted.

“If there’s nothing else ...”

Evie frowned and tipped her head, as if I’d spoken in a foreign language. “Um. Any chance you could talk to him. Maybe just … make sure Danielle is alive?”

“Sure. Now, if you’d be so kind as to leave.”

“One more thing, if I may take another moment of your time.”

Patience wearing thin, I pinched the bridge of my nose. “What is it?”

“This … Farryn. She seems to occupy your attention lately.”

“Careful.”

I had little patience for those who meddled in my personal affairs, particularly my staff. It was no secret that Evie was the jealous type, and my tolerance for such behavior was razor thin where Farryn was concerned.

“Of course. I just wondered if you and I would ever--”

“No.”

Brows winged up, she cleared her throat, clearly uncomfortable with my response. “No?”

‘You have the option of enjoying your employment in a more professional capacity, or leaving. I’m in support of either one.”

A flicker of hurt danced across her face, and she lowered her head, as if to hide the shine of tears I noticed. “Wow. She must be very special to you, then.”

“She is. And you will not harass her, either, or again, you’ll be asked to leave.”