Chapter 31

Chapter

Thirty-One

A ngelo

Every muscle in my body coiled tight enough to snap. The paper crumpled in my fist as I fought back the urge to let my power explode, to show this human cop exactly what happened to those who threatened what was mine. But that’s exactly what Balthazar wanted. I forced my voice steady, though my fangs ached to descend.

Three officers entered my home behind Detective Flanagan, their boots tracking human stink across my floors. They wouldn’t find the ring since Petar had obviously stolen it. Not that Flanagan or New Orleans’ finest would believe me.

Detective Flanagan looked between Trystan and Keir, his instincts clearly unsettled by the predatory energy rolling off the wolf king and the otherworldly chill emanating from the Unseelie. “I take it I’m interrupting something important. Why are you three meeting?”

Keir gave him a tight smile as he folded up the map, frost crystallizing on its edges. “Family business.”

Flanagan’s hand drifted toward his gun. “What kind of business?”

Trystan’s lip curled, a low growl threading through his words. “The kind that doesn’t concern human law enforcement.” His eyes flicked to me, heavy with meaning. “Detective Flanagan was just leaving.”

Flanagan puffed up his chest. “You will tell me what this is about. I’m conducting a murder investigation and I’m beginning to suspect that all three of you are involved somehow.”

I bit back a smirk. If he knew the full truth—what really prowled the streets of New Orleans and what kind of creatures he was threatening right now—he would crawl back to the precinct on his belly and hide under his desk.

I looked at Trystan. “Go check out DuPont.”

Flanagan reached for his gun as Trystan headed for the door, but I was already there, my fingers locked around his wrist like steel bands. The bones beneath my grip felt delicate as bird wings. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Detective.”

“Pol—“ His cry cut off as I caught his gaze. My power surged forward, crystallizing in his mind like frost creeping across a window. I watched his pupils dilate, his mouth go slack as the cold darkness of my will seeped into every corner of his consciousness.

“You found the ring.” Each word dropped like an icicle, sharp and inevitable. “You will leave the premises. Now.”

The three other police officers reached for their guns, but supernatural speed made their movements look like slow motion. Enzo caught the first officer’s wrist in an iron grip, his compulsion already threading through the man’s mind. Dimitri had his target pinned against the wall, moving with the fluid violence of a born predator. Keir’s power manifested in waves of arctic cold, freezing the third officer in place as tendrils of dark fae magic wrapped around him like living shadows.

“I wouldn’t,” Dimitri purred, his casual tone belied by the deadly grip he maintained. “Guns make such a mess, and Elena just had the carpets cleaned.”

I headed over to Enzo’s captive. The officer’s pupils dilated as my power poured into his mind, wiping it clean like a blank slate before I painted new memories across it—the ring, gleaming under evidence lights, case closed. When I released him, he swayed slightly, caught in the web of false memories..

I glanced at Dimitri. “You can let go of him. The compulsion’s complete.”

“Aw, but we were just becoming friends,” Dimitri drawled, releasing his grip on the officer with exaggerated care. “I was about to teach him the finer points of supernatural etiquette. Rule number one: never pull a gun on creatures who can snap you like a twig. It’s just...” He straightened the officer’s collar with mock solicitude, “...bad manners.”

Keir stepped back from his man, frost still crackling in the air around him. “He won’t remember anything or why he was here. Unseelie glamour is...exceptionally thorough.” A cold smile played at his lips as he regarded the officer, who swayed on his feet, eyes glazed with fae magic.

Power exploded through me, making the lights flicker. That demon bastard had orchestrated every detail. The warrant. The kill team. All of it designed to either end with my death or force Serenity to leave the safety of the wards to save me. My fangs descended as centuries of carefully maintained control threatened to snap. Balthazar wasn’t just playing with law enforcement; he was playing with my mate’s heart. Using my death to draw her out.

Tell me,” I snarled, power lacing every word with enough darkness to make even Enzo take a wary step back, “who gave the order?”

Enzo’s gaze flickered between the glazed-eyed officers. “The orders came through headquarters, but...” He shook his head. “The trail goes cold there. Someone made sure to cover their tracks.”

Snarls and growls suddenly erupted outside, followed by human screams that cut off too quickly. I raced to the front door, power crackling around me. The scene that greeted me made even my centuries-old blood run cold.

Snarls and growls erupted outside, followed by human screams that cut off too quickly. I raced to the front door, power crackling around me. The scene that greeted me made even my centuries-old blood run cold.

Trystan had shifted into his wolf form—massive and white as arctic snow, terrible in his fury. His victim lay beneath massive paws, a middle-aged man in an expensive suit now soaked with blood. I recognized him with disgust. Detective Whitehead, one of my most reliable contacts in the police force, a man I’d kept well-paid for decades to look the other way.

The demon’s possession had twisted his familiar features into something inhuman: blackened veins spider-webbing across gray skin, eyes like burnt coals until the last moment. Now his throat was torn out, blood staining Trystan’s pristine fur crimson. Black smoke rose from the corpse, the demon’s essence wailing as it disappeared into the ground, leaving behind the shell of a once-useful ally. The wolf king’s golden eyes blazed with predatory satisfaction, red droplets stark against his white muzzle. But DuPont—the one who mattered, the one who could lead us to Balthazar—was nowhere in sight.

My men had formed a perimeter, keeping curious eyes from witnessing the carnage. But even with all the guards around the house, this was still too public.

Keir stepped in front of me, his Unseelie glamour already permeating the air, hiding both the dead body and Trystan’s massive wolf form from mortal eyes.

“Get inside that hedge and shift back,” I ordered the wolf king. Branches rustled as the massive white form disappeared behind the foliage. A moment later, Trystan’s voice came from behind the thick leaves, tight with fury. “DuPont reeked of demon magic before he fled. But that’s not all.” His hand thrust through the greenery, something silver catching the light. “He left this.”

My throat went tight. Valentin’s pendant, its delicate chains dripping fresh blood.

“Said to tell Dimitri this is just the beginning.” Trystan’s voice hardened. “Balthazar’s only just started with Valentin.”

Keir took the medallion, frost spreading across the silver as he examined it. “There’s old magic in this. Power tied to blood and family bonds.” His eyes gleamed with otherworldly light. “The kind demons love to corrupt.”

Dimitri snatched it out of Keir’s hand. He pulled an identical medallion from within his shirt, murder in his eyes. “Mom gave us these last Christmas. She said it was to celebrate her boys being together again.” His fingers closed around both pendants. “Touching family moment, really. But if Balthazar thinks he can use my baby brother as leverage...” Dark veins crawled beneath his eyes as his power surged. “Well, let’s just say I’ve got some ideas about where to stick this pendant.”

He blurred toward the steps, but I caught Enzo’s eye with a slight nod. He instantly materialized in front of Dimitri, catching him by the throat and lifting him off his feet.

Behind us, Trystan dragged the bloody corpse inside, still naked but focused on the task. My men moved with practiced efficiency—they didn’t need orders for this kind of cleanup anymore. The body would disappear into the bayou’s depths, another secret the swamp would keep for me.

“Get a hold of yourself,” I growled at Dimitri. “You can’t run off half-cocked. That’s exactly what Balthazar wants.”

“Right, because your plans are working out so well.” Dimitri’s voice dripped sarcasm even with Enzo’s hand wrapped around his throat. “Let me guess—you think we should sit around drinking bourbon and strategizing, meanwhile my brother could be bleeding out somewhere. Thanks for the advice, but I think I’ll stick with my plan of immediate, excessive violence.”

My power filled the room like a desert wind, making even Dimitri’s smirk falter. “Your brother’s only alive because Balthazar needs him to be. The moment you rush in without thinking, that changes.” I stepped closer, letting centuries of ruthless authority color my voice. “I’ve spent four hundred years dealing with creatures like him. You want violence? Fine. But it’ll be calculated, precise, and exactly when I say. Or I’ll have Enzo chain you in my interrogation room until this is over.”

Gianna burst into the entryway, her power crackling around her. “What’s going on? Enzo, release him. Now.”

Enzo cocked his eyebrow at her demand as Dimitri smacked at his hand, feet still dangling. He looked to me for orders.

I grabbed Gianna’s arm. “He’s out of control. I won’t have it. Enzo, lock him in the interrogation room until he calms down.”

“No!” Gianna whirled on me, eyes blazing. “That’s my husband, brother. You can’t just?—”

“I can, and I will.” Ice filled my voice. “This isn’t a request, sister. Challenge my authority again, and you’ll join him.”

Enzo dragged a snarling Dimitri down the hallway, Gianna’s fists pounding on his back. I caught Enzo’s eye. “Chain him up. If my sister can’t control herself, have a second set waiting.”

Trystan yanked on the clothes Elena brought him. “And the cops?”

“Compel them to forget everything and send them on their way.” I turned to Pascal. “Follow them. Make sure they go straight to the station. Anyone who deviates—handle it.” The implied threat hung in the air. We didn’t leave loose ends.

Keir circled the entranced officers. “The ones orchestrating this may have infiltrated the police department. We need to see who has corrupted the force.”

“Balthazar first.” My tone ended all discussion. There was a reason I’d ruled New Orleans for decades. “These humans are disposable pieces. I want the demon who thinks he can play games in my territory. We move as planned. We’ll meet at midnight tonight.”

Keir vanished in a shimmer of dark fae magic – he would be gathering his Unseelie warriors, preparing them for the hunt through the shadows. Trystan straightened his suit jacket, already back to his elegant human form. He would be rallying his pack, positioning them throughout the Quarter. The wolf king’s hunters were unmatched at tracking prey.

I had more pressing matters to attend to. I headed up stairs to the guest room where Luigi stood guard. “Status?”

“All quiet, Capo .” Luigi straightened. “Everything good downstairs?”

“Flanagan and his men won’t be a problem. Compulsion’s holding for now.” I nodded to the bedroom door. “She awake?”

He shook his head. “No movement since the sedative took effect.”

I opened the door. Serenity lay still and vulnerable, the sight stirring both predator and protector in me. “Hold your post,” I ordered. “No one enters. No exceptions.”

“Yes, Capo .” Luigi closed the door with silent efficiency, leaving me alone with her.

I gathered Serenity in my arms, pressing my lips to her forehead. The drug would keep her under until this was finished. She’d be angry at me when she woke, but her fury was a price I’d gladly pay to keep her safe. And alive.