First And Last by Stacey Kennedy Page A

head, curiously. “Maybe it is from the bond with Magnus.”
     
    I nodded. “That’s what Kyden thought, too. Quinney is searching the devil’s book thingy they have, which holds their history, to see if there are any other situations like this in the past. Said she’d come if she found anything.”
     
    Zia gave an approved nod.
     
    “Kyden also told us how you handled the witches and warlocks tonight.” Talon’s voice was full of pride. “Sounds as if they didn’t stand a fighting chance, well done.”
     
    I sighed and rubbed my face. “Well, I was angry.”
     
    Zia knelt down in front of me and took my hand in hers. “I know you’re going through a lot now, Sweetie. You have gone through too much for any one person to handle. But just keep believing it will all become right again. Keep positive. Don’t let this wear on you.”
     
    “It’s just so tiresome, Zia.” I dropped my hand from my face to look at her . “I’m so sick of the death, the danger—just all of it.”
     
    “I can understand that. But there’s great responsibility here. You need to set right what has begun. In the end, peace will find you. Try and focus on that.”
     
    I sighed, the deepest, most exhausted sound that had ever come from my mouth. “I’m taking a moment and throwing a pity party. I’m entitled.”
     
    She leaned in, kissed my cheek and said aloud, “Yes, you are entitled. Just keep what I said with you.”
     
    Kyden arched a brow. He hadn’t heard the conversation between Zia and I, which didn’t surprise me. We’d learned that he could intrude on our conversations. It had something to do with the Spirit Element, or so we thought.
     
    Just then, a loud growl came from atop the hill. My gaze snapped toward it to see Brax running down the hill in his wolf form. Not something you see every day, which was exactly why Zia, Kyden and I jumped to our feet and ran toward him, the others following behind.
     
    His shift came halfway down the hill, and when he returned to human form, he shouted, “There’s been another attack.”
     
    “What’s happened?” Talon demanded as we met up with him.
     
    Brax was breathless. “I was just contacted moments ago by Detective Garver. They’ve come across another scene where the body has vanished.”
     
    Kyden and I exchanged alarmed glances. One case was bad, two was catastrophic. Our peace that I longed for wasn’t about to start now.
     
    A thought rose to my mind that needed to be voiced. “How do they know someone has been killed?”
     
    “They got an anonymous tip and Garver is a wolf. He said the scent of the human’s blood still lingers there.”
     
    Another anonymous tip—something fishy is going on here. Who would know of this? Dark ones for sure, but if there were more on our side, then why hadn’t they come forward?
     
    “Garver is waiting for you at the scene.” Brax was still short of breath. “Go now and quickly.”
     

 

     
     

Chapter Eight
     
     
    Rotten apples layered the ground, which was almost in contradiction since the apple trees at the small farm in New Jersey flourished. “What in the hell is with all the apples?” I asked Kyden.
     
    He shrugged in return.
     
    Tonight, Detective Garver resembled a ‘made man’. Dark gray trench coat, designer suit, and even the classic homburg hat, he looked impressive and handsome.
     
    Just because I was bonded, didn’t mean I was dead. When a man looked like Garver did, a woman took notice.
     
    Kyden cleared his throat loudly. I glanced toward him to see his brow arched—not in a pleasant way either. He’d noticed my ogling the suavé detective. Either felt or saw it. Either way, he didn’t like it.
     
    Oops!
     
    “What was that you said?” Kyden asked, apparently moving on.
     
    I laughed a little at his briskness and kicked an apple. “The apples. They were at the last scene too.” I looked back up to the group, which included Detective Garver, Kyden and I, plus Haven