Sin's Dark Caress by Tracey O'Hara

closed the door on the hubbub outside. “I’m François, the manager. Now what is the meaning of this?”
    â€œThere’s been a double homicide just outside. It looks like one of your staff and a party guest have been murdered.”
    The pompous man deflated. “Oh.”
    â€œI need you to find out which of your staff is missing, apart from young Mickey, who found the bodies. It’s very important we keep this contained. Several police officers will be arriving soon to start the questioning and I’d like your full cooperation.”
    â€œOf course, Detective.” The man twisted his hands together nervously. “Though I’m not sure what I’m going to do about the party guests.”
    â€œYou just leave that to me,” McManus said, and slapped him gently on the shoulder. “When you’ve worked out who’s missing, come find me or my partner, Dr. Bianca Sin.”
    François glanced down at his hands. “Is Mickey a suspect? He’s a troubled kid, but not a murderer.”
    â€œRight now he’s a witness, but we can’t discount any possibility.”
    The manager nodded and squared his shoulders as McManus opened the door. People stood around in the kitchen, some in stunned surprise, others whispering as the rumors started to circulate the room. François clicked his fingers to the nearest girl in a service uniform. “Show the detective to the ballroom.”
    McManus followed the server through the kitchen, down the corridor, and out into an unusual gathering. People milled around, drinks in hand and casting suspicious glances in their direction. Most of them had their animal familiars with them, which made things even more interesting in the noise department. He scanned the crowded room, looking for the person in charge and suppressed a shudder. Of all the parahuman races, it had to be witches.
    Bianca appeared at his side. “I called Oberon. He’s going to send Cody over to help keep the emotions of a room full of witches under control.”
    â€œGood,” he said. “Now let’s find this Domina of yours.”
    She touched his arm and nodded in the direction of a formidable dark-haired witch with a large eagle perched on her shoulder. “That’s her.”
    â€œRight,” he said.
    â€œMcManus.” Bianca kept hold of his arm. “Tread carefully with this one, okay?”
    â€œWhat are you saying, Sin?”
    â€œDarling, I thought you weren’t coming.” A red-haired stunner in a tight black velvet dress and an albino python wrapped around her shoulders leaned in to kiss Bianca’s cheek.
    â€œI’m here for professional reasons, Artemisia,” Bianca said, and turned to him. “Detective McManus, I would like you to meet Alto Artemisia Sin. My mother.”
    The woman extended a delicate hand toward him. “Nice to meet you at last, Detective. My daughter has spoken of you often.”
    â€œAnd you, ma’am.” Her palm was warm against his. Very warm. “But she left out how beautiful you were.”
    â€œArtemisia, please. Definitely don’t call me ma’am.” She smiled at him. “Bianca tends to keep her family at a distance these days, since she took up with that team at the Academy. We hardly get to see her.” The python wrapped around her shoulders hissed at McManus. “Play nice, Matilda,” the witch said, stroking the snake’s head.
    The reptile’s cold pink eyes kept him in a dead stare as its head rose to rest on the woman’s shoulder. She placed her hands on her slim hips, emphasizing her tiny waist. His hands would fit easily around that waist. He could picture it clearly . . .
    Oh God.
    His face warmed and he pulled his coat closed over the front of his suit. He hadn’t had such lack of control since he was a teenager, when even the accidental glimpse of a bra strap would send him hard. But this was