Free The Devil You Know by Marie Castle Page A

since the expected residents were his grandsons and their guardian. There was no time for tears. When his wife had died, Helena and her sister had promised Arno if the time ever came they would look after his daughter. When Loren was lost three years ago, they had renewed that pledge, vowing to watch over her children. Helena was glad their guardian, Cassie, was bringing the children home where they belonged. The Delacy home was only a short walk away. Though Cassie’s family had much power and protection, Helena sensed the children would be safer under the Delacys’ watchful eye. She didn’t have her sister’s power of foresight, but she knew serendipity when she felt it.
    The goddess’s hands were at work in this.
    At least, as she whirled through bringing new life to the old Wellsy homestead, she hoped the hands she felt manipulating their fates belonged to the goddess. She looked down at a photo and couldn’t help transposing over her friend’s once handsome visage with the face of the snarling power-hungry monster that had taken him, body and soul. Helena shuddered and laid the photo flat.
    Yes, she hoped it was the goddess’s hands twisting their lives. She looked at another photo of two stairstep boys, their impish grins and dark twinkling eyes captured for all eternity on film. Other forces would not be so benevolent to the innocent.

Chapter Five
“Time is not linear but more like a game of hopscotch. You can go forward, around, and back again. But careful you don’t jump too wide and split your britches, ’cause then it just sucks to be you.”
—Yreva, fondly known as The Revolution, Delacy
    “You’re playing a dangerous game, Catherine Delacy.”
    Startled by the low growl, I stood up from where I’d been kneeling in the sunny grass and spun, looking for the speaker. The sudden movement was too much for my head. Dizzy, I stumbled. Jacq’s quick grip on my forearms steadied me. The familiar hot tingle of her magic seeped into my skin where we touched.
    Awakened early from our nap, I’d quietly gazed at her sleeping form, taking in the beauty of her ivory skin and peaceful expression, wondering not for the first time why this courageous immortal woman would want to be with someone like me—a klutz who was as clumsy with her hands, heart, and words as she was with her feet. Shaking off those thoughts, I’d left her sleeping to come outside, not bothering with my boots, which was why I now stood barefoot near a lowered ward door.
    “And what game would that be, Detective Slone?” I leaned back, looking up into stormy eyes. Now that we’d rested, the blue smudges under Jacq’s eyes were lighter in the midday sun. The nap hadn’t been long enough for either of us, but it would have to do. There were still things to accomplish before my guests arrived.
    Because we had left Seth’s mansion so late, I’d suggested sleeping at Jacq’s much closer cottage. She had staunchly refused, arguing there was safety in numbers. Our bond said something else. My auburn-haired beauty still hid part of herself, shielding even from my presence in her mind. That unknown part had reasons for not taking me to her home. But I didn’t push. I had my own secrets. Or so I’d thought. After Monday night, I wasn’t so sure.
    “It’s a hell creature, Cate. It doesn’t belong here.” Jacq gestured to the meat-filled doggie dish I’d just placed down, somehow knowing I’d left it there for a hellhound. The same hound present when the other two had attacked—the one who claimed to be a gift for me. I sensed she was nearby watching us.
    I wondered what Jacq would say if she knew this was my second time alone near the hound. Probably something similar to the lecture now pouring from her mouth.
    “Feeding it will only encourage it to stay. These things are dangerous and unpredictable.”
    A sensible answer, yet I frowned. “So is Seth, the bloodsuckers’ big bad King. But you didn’t react when I teased him last