Page 65 of Eternal Surrender

“How about you?” Blake asked me.

“I know of him,” I said. “As I previously explained to Detective Jansen. Shall I go into detail about what we discussed at the club?”

She waved it off. “Not necessary.”

Of course, Ingrid carried a secret of her own. That in the lower chambers of this very castle, we had crossed the line neither of us wished to uncross. We had taken each other without hesitation, with a hunger that was also tenderness, learning and soothing in the same breath. Even now, I could feel the pull of it—the urge to take her hand, to lead her back, to begin again, as if the world had never learned how to interrupt us.

This magnetic pull, fierce and undeniable. The wanting her, rushing through my body, urgent and consuming, a memory of going down on her, her silkie softness against my tongue, her delicate taste, recalling the way she surrendered with her thighs open, willing me on, craving my tongue to make her come again.

Recalling her yielding in my arms, her body arching toward mine, the two of us lost in each other.

“I see what you did there, William,” she broke the quiet.

“You give me too much credit. Silence is rarely a trick—it’s usually a decision.”

She went to answer; her brow furrowed with careful annoyance. A squawk came from the doorway, and we all turned to see the black raven hopping around on the top step, threatening to fly in.

“Well look at that,” Sebastian said. “A guardian of the dead.”

“Celtic belief,” I explained to Ingrid.

“One for sorrow,” Blake said, half distracted. “The crow. You know, two for joy.”

Sebastian’s top lip curled into a smile. “That’s the Magpie.”

Blake frowned. “What’s the difference?”

Sebastian glanced at me, amused. “The crow has black feathers and the magpie has black and white feathers.”

Ingrid shook her head. “We appreciate anything you can tell us.”

“Those two men you mentioned,” Sebastian asked, “you’re looking for them?”

“We need to speak with them,” Ingrid explained. “Urgently.”

“What have they done?” asked Sebastian.

I almost cringed with the thought of Alex dragging that coffin through the foyer.

Blake removed a folded piece of paper from his pocket and unraveled it. “We have a warrant.”

“May I?” Sebastian held out his hand.

“Just part of our investigation,” Ingrid said.

My thoughts raced with the idea of what they’d find if let loose. “May I speak with you alone?” I asked Ingrid and headed toward the other side of the foyer.

Ingrid caught up and glanced back to make sure Blake could still see her from where he was standing.

“You never told Blake what really happened at Belshazzar’s?” I asked.

“Of course not,” she said.

I leaned back against the wall. “What are you looking for exactly?”

“Alex, my prime suspect,” she said. “What’s Jadeon doing in Italy?”

“Touring Florence, I believe.”