Page 9 of Burn Dragon Burn
“Good or bad? Please say good. I could really use it right now?” Gil sounded tired, frustrated, and badly in need of letting his wings hang out.
“Yeah, it’s good. I met the Detective in charge of the case, she wasn’t thrilled but after a bit she warmed up and we got some work done.” He paused and took a drink of his beer. “There is no doubt it’s a case for us. The guy is using alchemy and black magic.”
“Is he a wizard?”
“No clue yet. We’re going to the morgue first thing in the morning and then interviewing a few suspects Det. Hale found who intersect with all the victims.”
“Det. Hale?” Gil question, the snicker evident in his tone. “You usually have a snarky nickname for the local LEOs you’re working with. Why all the formality with this one?”
Not realizing his faux pas until his brother called him out on it, Rafe just told him the truth. “She’s my mate. Knew it the minute I walked into the room.”
“What? How? She’s human?” Suddenly serious, Gil fired off questions.
Answering in the order his brother asked, Rafe spoke very slowly just to rile Gil up. “She’s my mate. The Universe made it so. No, from what I can tell she’s an honest-to-God Seer. Picked me out as a Dragon straight up.”
“Congrats, Brother. I’m truly happy for you. Just don’t let it get in the way of the investigation.”
“Pfft, damn Gil, don’t gush. I’d hate to have to tell anyone you had a heart.”
“Shit. Sorry, Rafe. I really am happy for you and we’ll celebrate and all that happy horseshit as soon as this case is over, promise. Hell, I’ll even foot the bill for the liquor.”
“Isaacs on your ass again?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just…yeah, it’s just.” Out of sorts, that’s the only way Rafe could think of the way his brother was acting, and Gilbride O’Rhordan didnotdo out of sorts.
As if a switch had been flipped, Gil was alert and all business, as he asked, more than a little surprise in his voice, “Your mate is a one-hundred-percent Italian from the old country Seer? As far as the Council knows there is only one and she is very old.”
“Yeah, I have a sneaky suspicious the one you’re talking about is Nat’s Nona.”
“No shit? Well, tread lightly. If sheisyour mateanda Seer, she’ll cut right through your bullshit before it’s even outta your mouth.”
It was good to hear his older brother laugh, even if it was a bit forced.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’ve got no doubt about that.” After taking another drink of his beer, he went on, “But something tells me she’s been raised almost completely as a human. She missed the mercury tattoo inside the victims’ wrists and had no idea the symbol was a Leviathan Cross.”
“The mark of Satan?” Gil’s voice was a deep rumble, more Dragon than man. “And there were organs stolen from the bodies?”
“The same organs from each body – heart and liver.”
“Son of a bitch!” Gil spat, “He’s…”
“Sacrificing them and sending their souls to Hell,” Rafe interrupted, rolling his eyes even though his brother couldn’t see the gesture through the phone. “Yeah, I got that, Bro. Not my first trip down this rocky road.”
“I know,” Gil sighed, his voice back to normal and twice as tired as before. “I just hate that you’re there without backup.”
“Won’t Max be here in the morning?”
“He will, but I mean one of us.”
“You really gotta get over it. Max might as well be one of us. He seems to be helping us more and more lately.”
“Well, I’m gonna get with the Clan Leaders and see if they have any Guardsmen who’d be a good fit for us. I know Rian, you’ve met him, right? The Leader of the Blue Dragons?”
“Yep, met him a bunch of times over the years.”
“Oh crap, that’s right. Damn, I need to sleep for about a week.” Pausing during which time Rafe could hear his brother shuffling papers, Gil finally went on, “Anyway, I know he’s got a few guys who’ve not found their mates with military background and great skills that we could use.”
“Let me guess,” Rafe acknowledged. “Declan is top of your list?”