Page 21 (1/2)

Sebastian and I didn’t speak, not wanting to disturb the dead as we searched Josephine’s destroyed office, then her private roo lay strewn and ripped Furniture busted The pillows, bedspread, and s in them all over the room like mounds of snow

Josephine’s safe had been broken into Sebastian walked inside it, stepping over trays of jewels, old rand her three hundred years They’d all been left behind Sebastian picked up a stack of three thin leather-bound journals

"Might be so in here," he said quietly My heart went out to him I could tell he was saddened and conflicted about Josephine’s death "I don’t think she hid the Hands here There’s a reason she’s lying dead in Jackson Square"

Because she wouldn’t share the location of the Hands, and if she had, she hadn’t given that info lightly

"Who do you think did this?" I asked

He sed, and I could tell he was just as shaken as I was "Looks like a vae Butthere’s no scent of them unless they had a witch with theether I don’t know"

We searched the rest of the house I kept hoping we’d find someone left alive, but everyone was dead They never even had a fighting chance Many had been struck down in obvious surprise--in thethe paper

There was no one to ask about Josephine, if she’d left the house, or if anyone had cootten to the square? Frouess was she’d been beheaded there I wished I had a way to coether the last moments of all these lost lives

An hour had passed since we’d arrived at the house And we prettywhen a thundering knock echoed through the front of the house I froze, exchanging a startled glance with Sebastian

Sloe eased down the steps and into the foyer The doorknob rattled

Sebastian peered through the peephole, and then said over his shoulder, "Simon Baptiste"

"Open the door," Simon coht then and kept our focus on the Hands, but Sebastian’s jaent tight and his eyes went angry, the gray turning to silver He wanted a confrontation, revenge for all this carnage, and I knew this would not end well

Sebastian handed me the journals, then opened the door His shoulders filled the doorway, his posture confident and pissed off

Standing with Simon were two other Novee gathering of their fa po to hi behind a classically handsoance in his eyes reminded me of Gabriel, and I knew one day Gabriel would be just like his father, bloated on his power and sure in his right to lord it over others

"Your being here issuspect," Simon said

"Why should it be?" Sebastian fired back "We found the house destroyed and everyone in it dead But then"--his gaze went to each of the Nove at least one of you, or all three, already knows that"

Sihter "You dare accuse us?"

Sebastian crossed his ar as the three of you are here, probably wanting to find the Hands yourselves, yeah, I aate her murder," Katherine Sinclair chimed in

"Sure you are Who nominated you head of security? Bran should be here"

"Bran is here," a deep voice said in the hallway behind us

Relief rushed over me as I turned to see my father, Bran, Michel, and Rowen, followed by several h the back like Sebastian and I had

Bran and Michel moved past me to stand behind Sebastian