Prince of Shadows by Susan Krinard

“Are they by chance heading northwest?”

Julie dropped her hands and narrowly avoided letting her mouth hang open. “Now what makes you say that, Mr. Gévaudan?”

He held her gaze, unblinking. “An educated guess.” He shifted his weight casually and hooked his thumbs in his beltloops. “I do have a suggestion as to their destination, and I’d ask you to pass it along to them next time you’re in communication.”

Julie stared at him with narrowed eyes. “Who are you?”

“Luke,” he said. “Since we both want what’s best for Kieran and Alexandra, we might as well be on a first-name basis.”

Julie shaped her mouth into a humorless smile. “If we’re going to get so cozy—Luke—we’d better go to my-office.”

She strode ahead once again, leaving him to catch up as she walked the rest of the way to the garage. He followed her into the cluttered office; she noticed the way he stood close to the doorway, his nostrils flaring with the heavy mingled scents of oil and metal.

“Okay,” she said. “I want to know what you’re talking about.”

Luke leaned against the doorframe, eyes distant. “Then I was right. He’s felt the call.”

“What?”

Luke seemed to shake himself, and focused on her again. “I told you what you need to know. When Kieran gets in touch with you, tell him to go to Lovell. It’s a small town in B.C., a hundred or so miles in from the Alberta border, northeast of Kamloops. He’ll be able to find what he’s looking for there.”

Julie sat down in her chair, staring at Luke. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I think you do. And I won’t insult your intelligence by pretending otherwise.” Luke straightened, and for a moment there was a silent battle between them, gaze locked on gaze.

Julie felt a vast compulsion to look away—look away or be drowned in eyes that held a subtle power. Eyes like Kieran’s. Like…

“Why are you doing this?” she asked hoarsely. “How do I know this isn’t some kind of trap?”

“You think I’m with the police?” He laughed softly. “No. My interest is personal. But I assure you”—he moved closer, so close that she had to bend her neck to meet his eyes—”it’s vital that you get this information to Kieran. It’s the best chance he’s got.”

“For what?” Julie demanded. She got up, standing toe-to-toe with Luke.

Luke was silent a long moment. At last he sighed and gave his head a brief shake, as if he’d come to some decision. “For solving whatever problems he has because of what he is.”

What he is. Julie stared, caught in a maelstrom of senses and feelings that clamored for attention. Without warning she caught his big hand between hers and clutched it with all her strength.

And she knew. She knew as she’d known with Kieran almost from the beginning, though she hadn’t trusted her instincts at first. Now she did. She had no choice. She dropped his hand and tried to step back, trapped by the bulk of her chair.

“You’re…”

Luke’s eyes were inhumanly bright. “What, Julie?”

She refused to play his game, refused to put into words what she knew. What they both knew. Luke smiled, but his eyes were grim.

You knew there would be others. Grandma knew Kieran couldn’t be the only one. And still the proof was startling. And dangerous.

“What is this place you… want Kieran to go?” she asked slowly.

He did her the favor of stepping away, leaving her room to breathe. And think. “I already told you,” he said. “A place where he won’t be alone. Where his problems can be dealt with.”

“He isn’t a killer.”

“Your faith is admirable, Julie.”

Julie folded her arms. “Do you think he did it?”

“I don’t know,” Luke said. His deep voice was stark. “I know about the state of the body. I know about the murder five years ago. I know the various theories, and how inadequate they are.”

Five years ago, and an innocent girl savaged with wounds too terrible to be made by a human being, too calculated to have been the work of an animal. Still unsolved.

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