The detective made Nadya uncomfortable. Throughout the entire meeting, his eyes had been focused on her. Nadya felt as though he were sizing her up, trying to see whether or not she could be a suspect in the case.

It didn’t help that he was also devilishly handsome. Nadya guessed that he was in his mid-twenties, not much older than she. He was too young for this line of work. Nadya tried not to concentrate on the naked space of flesh where a wedding ring might have rested. For a woman like her, there was no place for thoughts of marriage.

The detective bit his lip, his brow furrowed. “You’re sure this…’Pali’ is the man we’re looking for?”

Mother Isabelle nodded gravely.

“The Mother taught him herself. He has a great talent for magics. ‘Tis a shame that he should choose a path of such evil.”

“You knew, Pali?” the detective questioned, his fierce gaze falling back upon her.

Nadya refused to blush, pushing the heat to her core. She smiled bitterly, eyes flashing.

“He was my brother.”