Banshee Charmer (Files from the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency, #1) by Tiffany Allee Read Free Book Online Page A

near the forest preserve and mostly out of sight behind vegetation cleverly planted to hide a tall fence running the full length of the property. The gloomy morning fit the place, or maybe it only seemed to because of the occupants. I’d been to the Magister’s home only once before, although I hadn’t met the Magister himself. Amanda and I had accompanied Claude and his partner—the unit’s sensitive, Astrid—to arrest a young vampire for murder. The Magister himself informed the police, and his people held the murderer until we arrived.
    But that murderer hadn’t been a member of Lucas Chevalier’s family.
    The heavy smell of unshed rain and the sound of cicadas filled the air as we walked up to the large double doors in the front of what could only be called a mansion. Large block stonework formed imposing walls to create a building that looked hundreds of years older than it could have been. Columns—some architectural features, others standing firm to hold large eaves—lined the structure. The columns and building were a light grayish color, with just a hint of cream to the tone. Tall windows were sectioned off by pieces of metal that formed geometric designs with the glass. Standing proudly on balconies and at the dark gray rooftop were small statues of indiscernible people in flowing robes. It was so grand and unfamiliar, it had to be a style Chevalier had brought with him from France.
    Claude walked up to me and opened his mouth to speak, but he stopped when a Jeep rolled down the driveway behind us.
    My stomach dropped. I recognized that Jeep.
    Aidan parked next to my Rav4 and stepped out of his car. His dark hair and jacket matched the gloomy setting. And for that matter, my mood.
    “Did you follow us here?” I asked, pushing down my sudden urge to smile at him like an idiot. I was not happy to see him, dammit.
    “I’m helping, remember? And I was coming to the station to talk to you and saw you head out. I decided to follow.” He held his hand to Claude and the vampire shook it.
    “This is Aidan from the OWEA,” I explained. “He’s investigating the murders too, but it’s kind of off the radar.”
    “Agent.” Claude nodded to Aidan. “Give us a sec, will you?”
    Claude tugged on my arm and I followed him across the parking lot. Aidan scowled at us, but didn’t follow. “Listen to me, Mac. If anything happens in there…” He shot the building a quick glance. “I need you to stick close to me. Vampires can be…testy when challenged. And territorial.”
    I frowned. He wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t know, even if it wasn’t first hand knowledge.
    Claude returned my frown with a serious look, not an expression I was used to seeing on the vampire’s face. “If anything happens, if anyone crosses a line, you need to stick by me. I’ll get you out safely.”
    “Why are you telling me this? Making promises that could get your ass in trouble?”
    “You’ve defended me and mine more than once to Vasquez and those like him,” he replied airily, his usual slightly arrogant grin back on his face. “Besides, I’ve grown rather fond of you the last couple of years.”
    I didn’t know what to say to that so I just turned on my heel and walked up to the door, leaving Claude and Aidan to follow.
    The doors opened before we got close enough to knock, and an honest-to-goodness butler—an aged man complete with suit—admitted us with a nod to Claude. We followed the butler to a small office not far from the front entrance. I tried not to gape at the tall built-in bookcases, impressive mahogany furniture, and antique lamps while we waited for our host.
    “Do your best to be polite,” Claude said to me, back stiff in the formal chair.
    I opened my mouth to tell him I was always polite, thank you very much, but the door behind us unlatched before the words could pass my lips.
    The man who strolled in didn’t look like a vampire, let alone one strong enough to hold an entire city the