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

at all costs, right? Even if that cost involves the complete destruction of everything any of us ever knew? I understand that tensions are high, believe me. But this is the time to work together, not to argue and spit.’

I jabbed a finger at Theo. ‘The actions of one vampire don’t define your entire race.’ I turned to Julian. ‘In the same way that the actions of one werewolf don’t define yours, whether Maggie deliberately killed Philip or it was self-defence. And you,’ I hissed at Monroe, before he started looking too smug, ‘you can’t let the past continually define who you are and how you behave. Learn from it, but don’t let it rule you. This is a new world, but it will be a good one if we work to make it that way. All of you, stop worrying about your egos and your self-interest and start behaving like we’re all in this together. Because we are!’

I’d probably vented a tad too much. Monroe, Julian and Theo stared at me in open astonishment.

Julian flicked a glance towards Monroe. ‘I thought you called her sunshine because she was a happy, optimistic woman who always had a smile and a kind word and she brightened up your days. She doesn’t seem very happy.’

‘She’s not smiling,’ Theo added.

Oh for goodness’ sake. Patronising, much? ‘Nobody is one thing all of the time,’ I half-yelled. ‘We’re all complex. We all have issues. And, as you all keep pointing out, we all should be looking out for ourselves.’ I put my hands on my hips. ‘I’m going to get my girl and we are going home together on our own. You lot can keep to your enclaves and hidden communities and barely concealed spite. Cath and I will protect ourselves and survive without any of your grudging aid. And don’t any of you dare try to follow us or you’ll get zapped by full-strength enchantress magic.’

‘Charlotte—’ Monroe began.

‘No. Don’t you Charlotte me. It’s not one rule for one and something different for everyone else. You can’t try to protect me and ignore everyone else.’

‘I care about you. I don’t care about everyone else.’

I rolled my eyes. ‘If you really felt that way, you wouldn’t be spending all this time investigating Valerie and Philip and Maggie.’ I spun on my heel. I was getting out of this godforsaken place. Then I thought of something else and turned back. ‘One other thing,’ I spat. ‘If this really is survival at all costs and looking out for number one, then stay the hell away from the south. The supplies there are for my community. Not yours.’ I gave the three of them one final irritated sweep of my eyes and whirled off. Enough already.

Chapter Eighteen

By the time I reached the makeshift hospital and morgue, I was already regretting my outburst. My intention was to get everyone to work together and look out for each other, not to drive a wedge further between us. I almost went back to say as much to the hapless trio but I couldn’t count on not losing my temper again. Tomorrow was another day, I told myself decisively. I’d sleep on today’s events and start afresh in the morning.

I breathed in through my nose and out through my mouth and tried to think of happy, shiny things. Maybe once this murder crap was over, I’d take up yoga. Apocalyptic yoga. That had a nice ring to it.

I found Cath in one of the wards, hovering over a bed at the far end. When she caught sight of me, her expression filled with delight. That made a pleasant change. ‘Charley!’

I smiled weakly at her. ‘Are you ready to go?’ I asked. ‘We need to head home before it gets too late. It’s already very dark.’

‘Sure, sure.’ She grinned down at a bearded man, who was regarding her with what could only be described as a form of bizarre worship. ‘You get better soon, Fred. It was lovely to meet you.’

‘Come back any time,’ he called after her.

‘Is he very sick?’ I asked as we headed out of the room.

‘He’s got the clap,’ she said cheerfully. ‘From what I gather, werewolves are good at exaggerating and making things seem far worse than they really are.’ Cath was often more perceptive than she let on.

‘Mmm. Did you learn anything about Philip? Did you see his body?’

She beamed. ‘Yes! In fact,’ she tugged at my arm, ‘you should come and see for yourself.’

I really just wanted to go home but this could be important. And given how I’d left matters with Monroe and the others, I might not get another chance to visit. ‘Okay,’ I said reluctantly.

Cath led me down to a darkened room. She lit a couple of candles, busying herself as if she’d been there for years rather than mere hours. ‘The wolf docs are around here somewhere. They’ve been really helpful. I feel like I’ve already learned tonnes,’ she chirped happily, as if we weren’t standing over the rigid corpse of a tortured, murdering vampire. ‘Look,’ she said. ‘They told me about these.’ She held one of the candles closer to Philip’s face. ‘It’s difficult to tell because of his other wounds,’ she said. ‘The werewolf used her claws and her teeth to tear out his…’

I held up my palms. I could see the details; I didn’t need her to describe them to me as well.

Cath grinned, understanding. ‘Anyway,’ she continued, ‘if you look closely enough, you can see this.’ She pointed at a spot on dead Philip’s cheek. ‘It’s a scratch mark. It’s nearly healed but the docs were certain it was caused by a fingernail. And,’ she added, ‘even better, they found this.’ She reached behind her and grabbed a small transparent jar. ‘Part of a fingernail was embedded in there.’

I swallowed and looked closer. The nail was painted – and the colour matched the varnish which Valerie had been wearing. I wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or not