“If we could see the crime scene, then I’ll come back and we’ll coordinate what to say at the press conference. Stacia and company will be here in…” He turned to Declan.

“Fourteen minutes. She can meet you at the dental office, then come back here with you. I’ll head back to Arcane, check on the little squibs, grab some dinner, and head up to class,” Declan said.

“‘Sos?” Chris asked the kid, who shook his head.

“No, leave him with Toni and the twins. Stacia will be more use for processing the scene, and he’s a better bodyguard. Plus I’ve asked Jetta and some of the witches to help Toni. I spent some time this afternoon reinforcing the school’s wards and added a whole bunch of new ones, specific to demons. Incarnate have more physical leeway here, but the Book indicates magic affects them to a much greater degree than their disembodied brethren. Not that it affects them a lot, but I’ve planned for that. The school is off-limits. Probably.”

Chris studied the kid for a moment, then nodded. “Let’s do it.”

Schulz was still trying to figure out how Declan could offer such a precise ETA for the missing team members, as he hadn’t looked at a phone, watch, or anything.

“Detective? Care to show us the crime scene?” Chris asked him, bringing him back to the conversation at hand.

“Sure, let me get a ride set up.”

“You can ride with us. We gotta drop Declan off at Arcane first, anyway.”

“Great,” Schulz said, not at all sure about riding with a vampire, a witch, and what some people said was a fallen angel.

Chapter 10

Mack looked up when Declan came into the Arcane dining room and immediately waved him over. “Hey buddy, pull up a chair.”

His friend waved back and immediately began to fill a plate with food from the buffet line. A short time later, he was sitting down across from Mack, who grinned at him around a mouthful of turkey and gravy.

“Why the Cheshire grin? What’s up with you?” Declan asked, taking a bite of mac and cheese.

“It was a good day is all. Can’t a guy have a good day?”

Declan started to nod but stopped. Then his head shook side to side. “Not you. You don’t get this happy unless there’s a girl involved. Spill.”

“Wow. Super powers of deduction to go with super witch powers,” Mack said. “You’ll need them for your murder case.”

Declan had stopped chewing and was eyeing him carefully. “And those powers tell me she must be someone special because you’re being all extra. You’ve already dated half the city and at least half of Arcane and you’ve never been this… giddy.”