Hunting a Thief: Hunter Elite, #5

Chapter One

SOFT KISSES TRAILING along my jawline woke me. For a few seconds, I luxuriated in Connor’s embrace as we snuggled together. Then a fist pounded on the door, shattering our rare moment of tranquility. It’s time to get up! Quin said loudly.

Jonah stuck his head through the door and his face fell a little when he saw us. They’re awake, he reported to our boss before either of us could reply. They aren’t even naked. He was slightly disappointed that he hadn’t busted us in the act of passion.

Connor slanted me a long-suffering look when I sniggered. The ghost was the reason why we were clothed. There was no telling when Jonah would pop in for a visit. This was the first time we’d spent an entire night together and we’d ended up sleeping rather than engaging in any extracurricular activities.

We need to find a way to pin a bell on Jonah, Connor said grumpily as he threw the covers back.

Walking through the wall, Jonah perched on the end of our bed as I turned my back to him and began dressing. This place is huge, he informed us. It’s way bigger than Spencer’s mansion in Rosethorn. It even has a dungeon.

Are there any rooms that you can’t get into? I asked as I reached behind me to do my bra up. I caught Connor staring at me with a wicked glint in his pale blue eyes. He wanted to strip my clothes off and dive back into bed, but Quin would probably drag us out of the room by the scruffs of our necks if we kept her waiting.

Just the kitchen, Jonah replied. A barrier is keeping me out. Now that Spencer had given me permission to talk about some topics, I wasn’t quite as restricted about what I could say.

Do the rooms move around here as well? Connor asked. Before I’d become Von Hades’ thrall, I’d told Connor and Quin about the moving rooms. They hadn’t believed me, of course. I’d been fed some strange blood and they’d figured it had given me hallucinations.

Yep, Jonah said with a shudder. I’ve already gotten lost a few times while roaming the halls. I saw a couple of hellhounds during the night and a gargoyle keeps popping up randomly.

Does it have a mark on its left wing? I asked.

Yeah. I think it’s the same one from Rosethorn. We shared a bleak look that I was being haunted by a stone statue that seemed to hate me.

Don’t go wandering off on your own, Connor suggested to me. Knowing you, you’ll end up locked in the dungeon and I’ll have to come and rescue you.

Jonah chuckled when I made a face. I didn’t bother to argue with him. Becoming trapped in a dungeon was exactly the sort of trouble I was bound to get into.

Seeing a pair of guns and holsters on the dresser, I chose the smaller Beretta, leaving the Glock for Connor. Spencer had given us the same type of weapons we’d used when we’d visited the Scottish Archives. The spare ammo went into our pockets after we clipped the holsters to our belts.

I’m starving, I said and urged the shifter and ghost towards the door. I hope we can have real food instead of healthy cereal.

Quin overheard me and gave me a flat stare when we stepped into the hallway. Mirra emerged from her room just as Harrow appeared to come and get us. My master is waiting for you in the dining room, the butler informed us pompously. Unlike most humans, he didn’t stare at the siren’s boobs. A rose quartz pendant nestled in the cleavage of Mirra’s tight dress. Her pink dress was only a couple of shades darker than her pendant. She wore matching ballet-flat shoes.

In stark contrast, Quin wore almost military style clothing of tan cargo pants, a white t-shirt and a dark green jacket that strained against her muscles. Three of us wore our new guns in holsters that were hidden beneath our jackets. Mirra was the only one who hadn’t bothered to arm herself. She hadn’t donned a jacket yet anyway, since she didn’t feel the cold like the rest of us did. We all knew Spencer was a demon and that he was dangerous. Even if he attacked us, which wasn’t likely since we were his employees, our bullets probably wouldn’t be effective against a creature like him.

Instead of taking us down the servants’ staircase at the back of the mansion, this time Harrow escorted us to the grand staircase that swept down to the foyer. He could be spry for a man who looked like he was in his seventies and moved in a quick shuffle. Dressed in a black suit with a crisp white shirt and matching gloves, he was as deceptive as the house. His hair was white and his face was wrinkled, yet I sensed danger lurking within him. Now that I’d become a magic-user, I was beginning to pick up on things I’d never noticed before. I was pretty sure I could feel his talent and that it was strong.

Harrow led the way down the main hallway to a formal dining room. The ceiling was high and a crystal chandelier hung above the polished table. The table was oval shaped and the chairs were comfortably padded. Gold and cream was the predominant theme in this house.

Spencer stood when we entered the room. He was wearing a black velvet lounge suit rather than his work attire. Tall, lean and handsome, his dark hair was going silver at the temples. I trust you all slept well? he asked with a warm smile. On the surface, he seemed like a nice, normal man. Every now and then I would catch a glimpse of his true self. When that happened, I saw a red-skinned, red-eyed, black-winged demon with flames dancing around his head and neck and reality would come crashing back again.

We slept fine, thank you, Quin said on behalf of us all.

"I didn’t," Jonah muttered, but only we could hear him. He sent a suspicious glower at our evil boss, then drifted towards the door to the kitchen. Again, he was barred from entering even as several servants emerged.

I took the liberty of asking my chef to prepare your favorite breakfasts, Von Hades said as we all took a seat.

My stomach growled in anticipation as the heavenly smell of bacon, sausages, eggs and hash browns wafted from beneath the silver cloches that covered our meals. As always, Viper had cooked my bacon and sausages the exact way I liked them; almost charred to an unrecognizable lump. The eggs were runny and also exactly to my liking.

The others had their ideal meals presented to them as well. I wasn’t at all surprised to see Quin’s was her usual healthy cereal. Connor’s was a traditional English breakfast that wasn’t so different from mine. Mirra’s was a surprise. She was presented with waffles that were smothered in honey. She shot me a look, waiting for me to make a disparaging remark. The siren had a habit of ribbing me about the amount of syrup I poured on my pancakes whenever I ate them. I chose to smirk rather than calling her out and she tipped her head at me in acknowledgement of my restraint.

When a mug was placed in front of me, I picked it up and took a gulp without checking the contents first. It turned out to be human blood. Harrow slanted me a sly look on his way to the kitchen, daring me to make a futile protest. I didn’t even want to think about who had donated the blood. It was highly possible the poor human had died to feed my unholy hungers. Hunching my shoulders slightly, I drank it down quickly, then concentrated on eating my food.

Connor sensed my unease and instinctively shifted closer to me. As my mate, he would die to protect me, or so Jake had said. My foster father knew a lot more about supernatural creatures than I did. He’d been researching them for over fifty years now. Half fae himself, he wanted to know as much as possible about the strange underworld most humans weren’t even aware of.

I will be busy with business all day, Spencer said to Quin. Feel free to explore London. I am sure you will find the city to be full of interesting things to see. One of my guards will act as your chauffeur, if you like.

Quin waved his offer away. There’s no need. We’ll be fine using our feet and cabs. I was pretty sure she just didn’t want one of his spies following us around everywhere we went and reporting back to him about our activities.

As you wish, Von Hades said without a hint of annoyance. He probably had spies we didn’t even know about. He’d hinted he knew everything about us and had proven his knowledge of our private activities a couple of times now. Just ensure you’re back here in time for dinner. I might have information about our pesky witch by then.

After being hunted down by Morgwen and her horde of vampires and zombies, we were reluctant to say her name out loud. She was a powerful sorceress and she could hear her own name being spoken from any distance away if it was used frequently enough.

I’m sure Roderick will find a spell that will help us, Quin replied. We needed to find a way to neutralize Morgwen and to put her back in a cell before she became too powerful to be stopped. Roderick was desperate not to fail the task he’d been given. If he did, his punishment was bound to be far worse than mere banishment this time.

Chapter Two

FINISHING OUR BREAKFAST, we didn’t waste any time and headed for the exit. Harrow scurried ahead of us to open one of the double black doors. He’d retrieved a jacket from Mirra’s room and handed it to her. I was amused to see it was pink to match her dress and shoes. He’d probably learned how to accessorize from being Spencer’s servant for several millennia. It’s cold outside and you might want to wear this if you wish to blend in, miss, he said as she took it. Try to stay out of trouble, he said to the rest of us. The streets of London can be dangerous.

Quin gave him a grin that showed most of her teeth. So can we, she pointed out, resting her hand on the bulge of her gun beneath her jacket.

Not the least bit intimidated, the butler eyed her muscly frame almost derisively. Some dangers aren’t quite so obvious, he said mysteriously. This city is old and power still lies deep in its foundations. He would know, since he was a druid.

We’ll be careful, I said when Quin rolled her eyes at his ominous tone. She respected magic more now that I’d started casting spells, but guns and brawn would always be her preferred way of solving her problems.

It was a long walk down the driveway. The ornate iron gates swung open for us automatically when we approached them. We marched down the sidewalk, passing stately mansions made mostly from stone and brick. Quin waited until we were a few streets away before fishing a piece of paper out of her pocket.

Why do I get the feeling we aren’t going sightseeing? Jonah asked in a dry tone.

We have more important things to do than to gawk at old buildings, she replied crisply. Personally, I was pretty sure I could fit some gawking into whatever her plans were. We’re going to pay a visit to the man who owns the spell book Stephanie told us about, she added.

She flagged down an approaching black cab and we piled inside. The driver’s gaze went straight to Mirra’s chest in the rearview mirror. Quin had to snap her fingers in front of his face a few times to get his attention. Try to focus on your job, she said in a gruff tone that made the man blink.

Where to, luv? he said almost rudely. His accent was English, but it was so thick it almost sounded like another language. Quin told him where we wanted to go and he took off with a lurch.

I sat between Connor and Mirra. Jonah chose to lie across our laps with his head sticking out through the door. He felt cold to me, but the others weren’t as affected by his presence.

Every now and then, I glanced out the windows and caught a glimpse of my reflection. Almost invisible, the Grim Reaper that I’d bound to me was a ghostly shadow at my back. His hand rested just above my shoulder, but every now and then, he would make contact as if to remind me that he was there.

Like most large cities, traffic was a nightmare to navigate. Our driver knew the streets well and found the quickest way to our destination. Quin paid the fare and he took off almost before we could shut our doors.

Turning to face the old building, I could see why he’d been in such a rush to leave. Made of old gray stones, it was three stories tall and had seen better days. The houses that adjoined it on either side were normal, but a pall seemed to hover over the one that hunkered between them.

I sense magic, Mirra said and shivered. It was dread rather than cold that she was feeling. Trepidation settled on her beautiful face, which was a warning to us all.

Can you feel it, Ari? Connor asked. He stood so close to me that our arms were touching.

Sending out my senses, I recoiled when I felt something dark and almost oily coating the house. I feel something. It seems different to any magic I’ve felt before.

Is it dark magic? Quin asked. She made no move to approach the rusty old gate.

I think so, but it isn’t like the other dark magic I’ve seen so far.

I don’t know what it is, but I don’t like it, the siren said.

Do you want me to take a look, boss? Jonah asked. He was still relatively new to being an official member of the Hunter Elite. He was eager to prove himself to us.

Quin nodded, but motioned for the rest of us to stay put. Take a look around, she instructed him. But be careful. We don’t know what sort of spells we’re dealing with yet.

He saluted her, then strode through the gate and up the stairs. He didn’t hesitate at the door and sauntered straight through it. Even after several decades of being a ghost, he usually walked rather than floated, unless he was exhausted from using his power.

A few minutes passed before he returned. His expression was spooked and he kept glancing back over his shoulder as he hurried over to us. I’m not sure you should go in there, he said.

Why not? Mirra asked.

The library is full of dead people.

Zombies? Connor asked, hand going to his gun instinctively.

Spirits, Jonah corrected him. They didn’t say anything. They just turned to look at me when I entered the library. I think some of them are related. They looked similar enough to be mothers and daughters.

What were they doing in the library? I asked.

They were staring at an old man who is sitting in a chair.

Is he a ghost, too? Quin asked.

Jonah shook his head. He was alive, but I think he was asleep.

Is there anyone else in the house?

Just one human.

Isn’t the old man human? I asked.

Nope. I’m pretty sure he’s a werewolf. His aura is the same as Quin’s.

Quin frowned and crossed her arms, going deep in thought. Stephanie didn’t uncover any information suggesting that this house belongs to werewolves, she murmured. The Archivist was a useful source of information back home.

I guess they’re secretive, Mirra said. Maybe they don’t want anyone to know what they are.

How many ghosts are in there? I queried.

Twelve, and they’re all female, Jonah replied. I can’t tell if they were werewolves, or humans. All ghosts have the same sort of energy, except poltergeists. He’d turned into his evil other half often enough to have reached some insights by now. He’d also seen me turn a bunch of spirits into something like poltergeists when I’d forced them to attack the reaper.

Did you see the spell book? Connor asked.

Nope, Jonah said, shaking his head again. There are hundreds of books in there. It could be hidden in plain sight for all I know.

We need to find it asap.

We have to convince Mr. Irwin to see us first, Quin pointed out. He’s become a recluse and refuses all visitors.

We won’t give him a choice, Connor said. He wanted that spell book so I could find a way to break Spencer’s hold over me. I couldn’t reverse being his thrall, but there was a chance I could at least cast a spell that would mean he couldn’t order me around.

I could search for the book and steal it, Jonah suggested.

Quin thought about it, then shook her head. Let’s see if we can reason with the man. Stealing the book will be our last option.

We followed her through the gate, which squealed when she pushed it open. She strode up to the entrance and used the ancient brass knocker to pound on the door. From somewhere deep inside the house, footsteps hurried towards us. The door opened a few inches and a woman peeked out through the gap. What do you want? she asked suspiciously. She wore sensible shoes and a black dress that wasn’t quite a maid’s uniform. She appeared to be in her fifties and had a pale, drawn face.

We would like to speak to Kyle Irwin, Quin said as pleasantly as she could.

Mr. Irwin doesn’t take visitors, the housekeeper said and tried to slam the door shut.

Quin’s hand shot out to stop it and it slapped against her palm. I think he’ll see us, she said and sent out a blast of alpha power. It rocked us all back a couple of steps.

The housekeeper lost her hold on the door and stumbled backwards. She turned when a voice called out. Let them in, Dianne. It was old, quavered and sounded defeated. If Mr. Irwin was a werewolf, he’d lost whatever spark had once given him power. Something bad must have happened to him and it had to be linked to the oily magic that clung to his house. I didn’t want to step through the door, but I had no choice. With Connor’s hand on my lower back for moral support, I followed Quin through the doorway.

Chapter Three

WE FOLLOWED THE HOUSEKEEPER down the hall and past a set of stairs leading to the upper floors. She showed us to the library, then made her escape with frightened looks over her shoulder at us. She clearly had no idea her boss was a werewolf, or that Quin shared his species.

The old man was seated on a worn leather recliner. So, you’re an alpha, he said. It wasn’t a question. What do you want with me?

You have a spell book that we need to borrow, she replied, then noticed I was still standing in the doorway. Are you coming in? she said pointedly.

With great reluctance, I took two steps inside the room, then put my back to a bookcase. I hadn’t taken my eyes away from the twelve female ghosts who were staring