said Shamus told Mom that he was going for a morning run.”
“In the hills?” She’d lived in Silver Lake only two weeks, yet even she knew who lived in them. Then again, she was a Changeling and could sense them.
“My mother said she assumed he’d stay around the lake and didn’t think to warn him.”
Nothing was making any sense. “Listen. I’m really tired. I’ve told you everything. Is it all right if I go?” Ainsley had calmed down a bit and didn’t think they suspected her of foul play.
“Kalan will want to speak with you first.”
She bet he would, but she wouldn’t be able to provide him with any more information. “I didn’t see anything. I called Elana the moment I found Shamus.” Her lips trembled.
Jackson reached out and clasped her wrist. “Kalan isn’t accusing you.”
Her mate’s heat nearly singed her skin, and Ainsley pulled away. Now that the shock of Shamus’s death had sunk in, her anger festered. “I want to find out who did this.”
“So do I, but this is a job for Kalan and the other Clan members. I doubt he’s going to report it to his department since shifters were involved.”
She jerked toward Jackson. “He’d cover up a murder?”
Jackson scrubbed a hand down his jaw. “No. He will find out who murdered our cousin and punish the offenders.”
The acid in her stomach receded a bit. “How can he? The man won’t be tried without a body—a body that was clearly murdered by wolves.” Jackson stared at her as if she’d lost her mind. “What are you looking at?”
“Are you going to tell me that the Changelings in Scotland don’t cover up crimes they’ve committed?”
No, I’m not. My brother did it all the time. It was one more reason to leave there, but Kalan isn’t a Changeling.”
“True, but don’t worry. The Clan will mete out their own brand of justice.”
His logic finally sunk in. “You mean the killer or killers will be in a fight to the death?”
The corner of one side of his mouth lifted for a second. “I’m glad you understand.”
She was about to say the wolves wouldn’t stand a chance against bears, but then she remembered Shamus. For once, she was speechless. “I want to help.”
Jackson shook his head. “No way.”
That pissed her off. “I’ve known Shamus a lot longer than you have, and secondly, I can fight. After all, I am a Changeling. John Ernst knows I’m Owen’s sister. I might be able to find out things—things a regular wolf couldn’t.”
“Back up. How did you know John Ernst was a Changeling?”
“I can tell.”
Jackson leaned back. Her senses had stopped reeling, which gave her a chance to actually see the man who the crazy gods had paired her with. His eyes were slightly bloodshot, though she doubted he’d been crying. More than likely stress or fatigue had caused it. His blue chambray shirt and camouflage jacket brought out his tan skin and beautiful green eyes.
“How? No one else can.”
For the first time since she’d met him, Ainsley had the upper hand. She debated how much to tell him, but if he could introduce her to James, she’d sell her soul. Sweetening the pot would go along way to getting what she wanted.
“From what my brother told me, only those from families who come from a long line of Changelings can detect others. I can tell one from a regular wolf because of my unique Wendayan mix.” She had other talents too, but she decided not to mention them since they weren’t pertinent to the case.
“So not all Changelings can tell if someone is or isn’t a Changeling?”
“Right.”
“Impressive.”
For the first time, he seemed to take what she had to say seriously.
The door opened, and Kalan poked his head in. “You okay, Ainsley?”
Okay was a relative word. She had to admit being with Jackson had distracted her from her consuming grief. “As well as I can be for losing my dear friend. Thank you for asking. How are you holding up?”
“Working hard to keep it
“In the hills?” She’d lived in Silver Lake only two weeks, yet even she knew who lived in them. Then again, she was a Changeling and could sense them.
“My mother said she assumed he’d stay around the lake and didn’t think to warn him.”
Nothing was making any sense. “Listen. I’m really tired. I’ve told you everything. Is it all right if I go?” Ainsley had calmed down a bit and didn’t think they suspected her of foul play.
“Kalan will want to speak with you first.”
She bet he would, but she wouldn’t be able to provide him with any more information. “I didn’t see anything. I called Elana the moment I found Shamus.” Her lips trembled.
Jackson reached out and clasped her wrist. “Kalan isn’t accusing you.”
Her mate’s heat nearly singed her skin, and Ainsley pulled away. Now that the shock of Shamus’s death had sunk in, her anger festered. “I want to find out who did this.”
“So do I, but this is a job for Kalan and the other Clan members. I doubt he’s going to report it to his department since shifters were involved.”
She jerked toward Jackson. “He’d cover up a murder?”
Jackson scrubbed a hand down his jaw. “No. He will find out who murdered our cousin and punish the offenders.”
The acid in her stomach receded a bit. “How can he? The man won’t be tried without a body—a body that was clearly murdered by wolves.” Jackson stared at her as if she’d lost her mind. “What are you looking at?”
“Are you going to tell me that the Changelings in Scotland don’t cover up crimes they’ve committed?”
No, I’m not. My brother did it all the time. It was one more reason to leave there, but Kalan isn’t a Changeling.”
“True, but don’t worry. The Clan will mete out their own brand of justice.”
His logic finally sunk in. “You mean the killer or killers will be in a fight to the death?”
The corner of one side of his mouth lifted for a second. “I’m glad you understand.”
She was about to say the wolves wouldn’t stand a chance against bears, but then she remembered Shamus. For once, she was speechless. “I want to help.”
Jackson shook his head. “No way.”
That pissed her off. “I’ve known Shamus a lot longer than you have, and secondly, I can fight. After all, I am a Changeling. John Ernst knows I’m Owen’s sister. I might be able to find out things—things a regular wolf couldn’t.”
“Back up. How did you know John Ernst was a Changeling?”
“I can tell.”
Jackson leaned back. Her senses had stopped reeling, which gave her a chance to actually see the man who the crazy gods had paired her with. His eyes were slightly bloodshot, though she doubted he’d been crying. More than likely stress or fatigue had caused it. His blue chambray shirt and camouflage jacket brought out his tan skin and beautiful green eyes.
“How? No one else can.”
For the first time since she’d met him, Ainsley had the upper hand. She debated how much to tell him, but if he could introduce her to James, she’d sell her soul. Sweetening the pot would go along way to getting what she wanted.
“From what my brother told me, only those from families who come from a long line of Changelings can detect others. I can tell one from a regular wolf because of my unique Wendayan mix.” She had other talents too, but she decided not to mention them since they weren’t pertinent to the case.
“So not all Changelings can tell if someone is or isn’t a Changeling?”
“Right.”
“Impressive.”
For the first time, he seemed to take what she had to say seriously.
The door opened, and Kalan poked his head in. “You okay, Ainsley?”
Okay was a relative word. She had to admit being with Jackson had distracted her from her consuming grief. “As well as I can be for losing my dear friend. Thank you for asking. How are you holding up?”
“Working hard to keep it
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