Biting Cold (Chicagoland Vampires #6)(61)
Author: Chloe Neill

It wasn’t an act of forgiveness, but it was a step forward. And right now, I needed one of those.

Chapter Eighteen

DEEP DISHING

I left Ukrainian Vilage with the radio on and the windows up. I baked in the sauna of a ful-blast heater but only marginaly enjoyed the warmth on the way back to the House.

I nearly popped a fist on the dashboard when the radio was interrupted with a staticky beep, but it wasn’t a problem with my radio.

It was a warning.

"Folks, we’re sorry for the interruption," said the announcer, "but we’re going live to the home of Dan O’Brian, who you may remember was one of the South Side Four – the four Chicago Police Department officers recently released in connection with the aleged attack on vampires and humans."

Sirens wailed in the background. Knowing this message wasn’t going to be good, I puled the car over onto the side of the road, turned down the heat, and turned up the radio.

"Officer O’Brian, along with Officer Owen Moore and Officer Thomas Hil, were found dead outside O’Brian’s home just moments ago, and parents, this wil be graphic if you have any young ones listening, it appears al three died of severe wounds to their throats. Officer Coy Daniels had been kiled in the attack at the officers’ release. We have learned the remaining officers refused protection details offered by the city – "

I switched off the radio, closed my eyes, and put my head back on the headrest.

Al that work to save the rest of them, and it had been for naught. Dominic had found them and kiled them anyway. What was the moral of that story supposed to be? That evil would always win? That fighting the battle was pointless?

This night needed a happy ending, and soon.

There were few places in Chicago where I was al but guaranteed an unhappy ending. One of them was the home of the city’s skymasters, the tower in Potter Park where Claudia, the queen of the fairies, lived.

As I’d told Ethan and Paige, my last visit to the fairies hadn’t exactly been promising. But Claudia said we left with a clean slate, so I was hoping against hope that she’d remember that promise today and not kil me on sight.

I was desperate for information, and if she and Dominic had a connection, I was going to ferret it out.

The park was empty and quiet, and I parked along the street and walked through dying grass to the tower. It was made of stone and barely managing to stand, but Claudia had made it her home. I carefuly took the spiral stone staircase to the door at the top, stopping at the ornate tower door.

Steeling myself, I knocked twice.

It opened, and a mercenary fairy stared out. "Yes?"

The last time I’d done this, Jonah had spoken in Gaelic to request admission to see Claudia. I didn’t have any such skils, so English would have to do.

"I would like to speak with Claudia, if she’d alow it."

The door thumped closed, pushing a puff of dust and wood rot into my face. I brushed off my cheeks just as it opened again.

"Briefly," the fairy said with a snarl, stepping back to alow me in.

The room in which Claudia lived was round and magicaly enhanced, filing a space significantly larger than the tower’s appearance outside would have let on. It was simply furnished and smeled of a garden’s worth of flowers.

Claudia, her long, strawberry blond hair in a loose braid down her back, sat at a round table on one side of the room. She wore a dress of pale pink and a leafy crown, and she glanced over her shoulder as I walked inside.

"Bloodletter," she said, as much a hiss as a greeting.

"Madam," I said.

She rose from her table and walked toward me, her blue eyes tilted in curiosity. "You visit our abode again. Why?"

"I understand you know Dominic, the messenger, and I wondered if you’d tel me about him."

She laughed, the sound simultaneously whimsical and ancient.

"Who are you to inquire about such things? You are a child, and a bloodletter at that."

"He is hurting people," I said. "I’m trying to find a way to stop him."

That was precisely the wrong thing to say. Her smile faded, and the Queen of the Fae strode toward me with grim determination on her face. Before I could move out of the way, she slapped me.

"Who are you, that you believe you have the right to control the destiny of a messenger?"

My cheek burning, I forced myself to look back at her – and not to push her away. She was too testy, and she’d lured me toward violence before.

"I am Sentinel of my House and a protector of this city," I said. "He threatens those within it. That gives me the right to question and, if necessary, to act."

"You know nothing," she spat out, turning on her heel and pacing a few feet away. She turned back again, shoulders back and br**sts arched forward, as if proving her femininity to me.

"Dominic is under my protection, and so he wil stay. If you seek to harm him, you seek to harm me and mine. No such thing wil be alowed." She gave me a disdainful look. "You are no protector. You are a poppet with a pointy stick and the arrogance to match. Leave this place. If you deserve justice, he wil find you, and you wil find no more voice for your threats."

The sword’s point suddenly at my lower back punctuated her dismissal. I was escorted back to the door and into the stairwel, and the door was slammed shut behind me again.

Not exactly the most productive meeting I’d ever attended, but one thing was for sure – Claudia knew Dominic. Had they been lovers? That seemed likely. Partners? Also possible.

Details were thin on the ground, but I had a sinking feeling this wasn’t the last time I’d spend quality time with the fairy queen.

My mood not even slightly improved, I parked the car and nodded at the fairies before heading into Cadogan House. I found Lindsey on her way upstairs from the basement.

"Hey, you. You al right?" She frowned. "You look weird."

"I’m okay. Tough night."

She nodded. "Have you heard about the cops?"

I nodded. "On the radio."

"Rough thing to hear."

"I wasn’t thriled," I agreed. "It makes me feel pretty useless."

"What could you have done? If they weren’t smart enough to get protection, there’s nothing that could keep Dominic from them."

I shrugged. I understood the argument; it just didn’t make me feel any better. I stil felt like I’d let the city down, and that was a tough burden to bear.

"Did you learn anything helpful at Malory’s?"

"Not realy. Catcher and Jeff are going to look into Tate’s history." I told her what I’d learned from Claudia, which wasn’t much. "What are you up to?"