Circle of Death: A Damask Circle Book: 2 [Paperback]

USKeri Arthur, author of theNew York Timesbestselling Riley Jenson Guardian series, has now written more than twenty-five books. She’s received several nominations in the Best Contemporary Paranormal category of theRomantic TimesReviewers’ Choice Awards and recently wonRT’s Career Achievement Award for urban fantasy. She lives with her daughter in Melbourne, Australia.One

Australia, Present Day

Death had come calling on a windblown, wintry evening. It smashed past the dead bolts lining the front door and grabbed the living with unparalleled glee, sucking the life from them until there was nothing left but husks. Then it tore the remains apart, as if determined to erase any evidence of humanity.

Kirby hadn’t been home at the time—­but her best friend had been.

Kirby stood on the edge of the porch, in the wind and the rain, and felt nothing. No pain. No anger. Not even the chill from the wild storm that had shattered the warm Australian summer.

It was as if part of her sat in a vacuum, waiting . . . but for what, she wasn’t sure.

“Miss Brown? Did you hear my question?”

The voice held an edge of impatience. She turned, vaguely recognizing the red-­haired police officer who stood before her. “Sorry. My mind was elsewhere.”

On walking into the kitchen and seeing the blood spattered like paint across the walls. Or the dismembered parts of Helen and Ross, strewn like forgotten toys throughout the house.

She swallowed heavily, then crossed her arms and licked the rain from her lips. It tasted salty, like tears.

“I asked why you were late coming home tonight.” His blue eyes studied her closely. Not with suspicion, not exactly. He was just a cop being a cop, asking questions.

“There was an accident on the West Gate Bridge. It held up traffic for hours. I was supposed to have been home by lă•