City of Magic: The Complete Series by Helen Harper (book club recommendations TXT) 📕

matter if it works or not. What matters is that she believed it worked. She was clearly afraid of vampires and what they might do to her.’ His eyes hardened. ‘Or afraid of one particular vampire.’

Anna didn’t look convinced. ‘I’d have said the same,’ she said. ‘But most of this stuff was shoved away in drawers. She didn’t have it within easy reach. It was as if she’d got hold of such things as an afterthought in case she needed them one day, but it wasn’t a pressing issue. I don’t believe there’s anything more sinister here than the fact that she didn’t like vampires very much.’

I wrinkled my nose. ‘And if she didn’t like vampires, she wouldn’t be shagging one.’

She nodded. ‘Indeed.’

‘I don’t like that word,’ Monroe said.

I blinked at him. Eh?

‘Shagging,’ he explained.

Yeah, yeah. ‘You’re more of a fucking guy, aren’t you?’ I’d heard him use that term before. That wasn’t my favourite euphemism either. If you could call it a euphemism.

His eyes held mine. ‘Making love is better.’

My mouth suddenly felt uncomfortably dry. Anna’s gaze flicked from Monroe to me and back again. ‘Okay,’ she said slowly. ‘Getting back to the matter in hand…’

I coughed. ‘Yes.’ I turned to her. ‘What about the men Valerie did recently sha— erm, have affairs with? Do you have a list of them? They might have engaged Philip’s services.’ I raised my shoulders in a vague shrug. ‘Outsourcing murder. It could happen.’

‘As far as I can tell,’ Anna said, with an approving smile at my suggestion, ‘there are three potential candidates. There aren’t names for any of these three but Valerie did write down quite a few other details about them. If you two are focusing on the werewolf and anything else you can dig up about Philip, then I’d like to see whether I can identify Valerie’s men. Whatever else is going on here, it started with her.’

The last thing I was going to do was disagree with Anna’s proposal. She was the only one here who had any real experience in investigating crime, even if she was used to doing it with the aid of an entire police force, not to mention a database of criminals, DNA and fingerprints. ‘It sounds like a good plan,’ I said.

Monroe stood up. ‘Definitely. And you’re right about Philip. Once Charlotte and I have finished with Maggie, we should go and talk to the other vampires about him. They should have more reason to answer our questions honestly than before.’ He glanced at me. ‘Much as I hate to admit it, you’re right about the way things are in the north. The vampires can’t afford to be tainted with the suggestion of a murderer hiding in their midst. And, regardless of the motive, neither can the werewolves.’

‘There’s no place for murder in either the south or the north,’ Anna said.

‘Or anywhere in Manchester,’ I added. They both nodded at me in grim agreement. ‘Group hug?’ I asked hopefully.

Anna actually looked slightly afraid. ‘Let’s settle for a firm handshake.’

I grinned and shook her hand, then Monroe did the same. It was oddly formal but it also felt right. Weird. Next thing, I’d probably be carrying around a clipboard and wearing a suit. What a thought.

Once Anna had departed, Monroe walked over to me. His expression was strange, intent but also doubtful. His hands reached up and he cupped my face. ‘I don’t want a hug,’ he said softly. ‘And it would be inappropriate right now, given everything that’s going on. But what I do want more than anything is to kiss you. Properly. When you came downstairs, with your daft blue hair tousled and the look in your eyes so vulnerable…’ He growled softly. ‘I’m normally better at this sort of stuff. I simply wanted to let you know what I was really thinking and state my intent before a better offer comes along.’

I swallowed. Of everything I’d been expecting him to say, this wasn’t it. My surprise must have registered because he stepped back and dropped his hands. ‘Sorry,’ he muttered. ‘I shouldn’t have said that.’

Whoa. ‘No!’ I interjected hastily. ‘I mean, yes!’ I wasn’t making any sense. I cursed to myself then closed the distance between us and reached up for his face in the same manner that he’d reached up to mine. ‘We’ve been doing this dance for a while, Monroe.’ I licked my lips nervously.

His gaze darted downwards and it occurred to me that this might appear to be a calculated move on my part. Whatever you might think of me, I’m not the seductress type, much as a secret part of myself might want to be.

I yanked my tongue back and tried to explain before the moment was lost. My words tripped over themselves. ‘Even when I didn’t see you for weeks, you were what I thought about. A better offer isn’t going to come along. You’re the best there is. I want the kiss too. And more afterwards.’

His eyes darkened. ‘I’m still fucked up, Charlotte. I’m a mess. You’d do better to stay away from me.’

I laughed lightly. ‘Probably. But I’m not sure I can. And whatever mess you are, whatever front you put on for everyone else, you still show the real you to me. I see the real you and I know you see the real me.’ I pushed myself onto my tiptoes and dropped my voice to a whisper. ‘And, in case you’ve not noticed, I’m pretty fucked up too.’

‘You just need more help from your friends.’ He tapped the side of his head. ‘I need help up here.’

‘Your entire pack was killed, Monroe.’

He snarled quietly. ‘And it was my fault.’

‘No.’ I glared at him. ‘It wasn’t. It was a tragedy and awful, and you still need to allow yourself to grieve properly, but it wasn’t your fault.’

‘You weren’t there, Charlotte.’

‘I didn’t have to be,’ I answered simply. ‘I know you. I see you. We’re as vulnerable as each other. You hide it better.’

‘I’m not