He furrowed his brows. “What?”
I pulled Caleb to the edges of the party. “The serial killer is a demon.”
Caleb nodded. “The Politia informed me.” Caleb’s expression brightened. “Which means that the vampire truce won’t dissolve and you can start working again.”
“Caleb, that’s not the point. I’m supposed to be the next victim,” Caleb gave me a strange look when I said that. I guess even supernaturals normally weren’t aware of exactly when and how they were supposed to die.
Caleb rubbed his temples. “Okay, what can I do to help stop that from happening?”
I almost sagged against him in relief. “The murder is supposed to take place at the Braaid—it’s a stone circle, located between here and Douglas,” I explained. Considering how much he and I goofed off in our history class, I figured he might need the extra information.
He nodded. “I’ve heard of it.”
“Can you call the Politia and see if they can send over as many people as possible?”
“Sure, I can do that. Err . . . you wouldn’t happen to know when this murder is supposed to happen, would you?”
“No clue, but I think we should assume it will happen sooner rather than later.”
Behind him a figure emerged from the darkness. The light of the distant fire illuminated the dangerous planes of his face and the wicked glint of his eyes. Sometimes I forgot just how terrifying Andre was. And then times like this reminded me that he was a being that hunted humans.
“I got to go,” I said.
Caleb glanced over his shoulder to see what I was staring at. He groaned. “Not him.” He turned back to me. “Promise me you’ll be safe.”
I gave him a sad smile. “You know I can’t make that promise.”
His eyes wandered to my lips. “If I kissed you . . .”
I laughed. “Then I’d have to worry about your safety.”
My gaze flicked back to Andre. He’d stopped walking, and he watched Caleb and me with narrowed eyes. “I really do have to go.”
“I’ll see you at the stone circle,” Caleb said.
“Thanks again, Caleb.”
He nodded and watched me as I left.
Those standing on the outer edges of the party whispered to each other as they caught sight of Andre.
I walked up to him, his face all hardened edges. I couldn’t tell whether Samhain brought out Andre’s darker side, or whether Caleb did. “I notice the shapeshifter still likes you as much as ever.” Okay, so Caleb brought out the worst in Andre.
“First, his name is Caleb. Second, I was asking for his help, and third, jealousy is not an attractive feature in a guy.”
His eyes flicked to mine. “I am not jealous of a boy. Merely protective of what is mine.”
My hand itched with the need to smack the chauvinism out of Andre. Instead I tried a couple breathing techniques until I could control what I said and did.
“Leanne’s been taken, and she’s being held at the Braaid.” The words came out a lot more raw than I meant them to. “I have to go save her, and I need you there with me. You know all about human nature, the supernatural world, and the devil. If anyone could help me rescue my friend, it’d be you.”
“Gabrielle, no.” Andre’s eyes looked sad, but he didn’t sound moved by my speech. At all.
“Please Andre. You know more about this world than I do. Oliver and I can go there alone, but I don’t know how we’ll save her.”
Andre took my hand, threading his fingers through mine. I thought this was a good sign until he spoke. “I’m not just refusing to come along,” he said, “I’m refusing to let you go.”
Suddenly his grip felt like a vise.
“Leanne is only there because of me,” I said.
“All the more reason why you should not go. It’s a trap, and you know it.” The grim set of his face didn’t reassure me. It looked as though he was steeling himself for any reaction of mine that might try to convince him.
“Andre, whoever’s taken her will probably kill her if I don’t show up.”
“How about you and I go to Bishopcourt for the evening, and I send out some of my men to save her.”
“No,” I said stubbornly. I needed to show up at the Braaid if only to give off the appearance that I was coming to barter myself for my friend. No kidnapper with any sense would give up their hostage without believing their demands had been met. They’d lose their leverage if they did so.
Andre’s face darkened. “That wasn’t actually a question. That’s the best offer you’re going to get from me.”
I tugged against the hand that held mine. Rather than loosening his grip, it tightened. The muscle in Andre’s cheek jumped. Uh oh.
I could already see exactly where this entire exchange was going. And this felt a whole lot like that night at Bishopcourt, when Andre refused to let me risk my life to save Caleb’s. It was happening all over again.