Southwest Truths (Semiautomatic Sorceress Book 3)

to the same fact.
“Lubon was your prey?” she asked. “That’s what you’re saying? He was corrupt? He was an Eclipse.”
Tristan nodded. “He was planning to assassinate you, and it was not officially approved by the Tribunal. They make things clear in that regard.”
Bile rose in the back of Lyssa’s throat. The calm recitation of a hidden assassination plot was disturbing, but the implication that Tristan might have allowed it if the Tribunal had agreed didn’t help.
Lyssa scowled angrily. “He was sent by the Tribunal to help me get you.”
“I’m not the enemy you seek. Did they say they were sending him to hunt me or merely an enemy seeking your life?”
“Okay, well, he was sent to help get somebody.” Lyssa sighed. She was more confused than when she’d started. “Are you saying Lubon was behind the attacks, so it’s all over?”
Tristan shook his head. “There is more to find here than one Eclipse who dishonored his title. I’ve been watching your progress for some time, curious about you as part of my investigations. Your name kept coming up in different contexts. When I became aware of your investigation into the ghost town, I realized what was going on and decided to intervene.”
“Why do you care if I die?” Lyssa asked.
“For the same reason you’re outraged about me killing Lubon,” Tristan replied. “Illuminated shouldn’t strike down Illuminated without reason. We should be better than the Shadows. I care more that you are arousing corrupt forces that should die.” He jumped off the roof and landed in a crouch. “I’m willing to speak to you more about this, but the shards I used have limits. We should leave soon lest we draw too much attention.”
Lyssa lowered her guns but didn’t holster them. She inclined her head at a nearby crater. “This place is wrecked. No one got hurt, but it’s obvious there was a sorcery battle here.”
“True.” Tristan gestured at a camera. “But those are all disabled. The dome does exactly what I said. I assume you were smart enough to register under a false name.”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
“The motel owner will soon be receiving an email about a hefty deposit in his account, including enough to offer bribes to the guests,” Tristan explained. “The email also includes encouragement to keep the authorities from being involved with this right away. If that’s not enough, you can explain to your Elder at a future time.”
“This is crazy,” Lyssa objected. “You can’t just show up and fling spirits at me, then act like it’s no big deal.”
“You have a choice,” Tristan replied. “You’re seeking the truth, and your presence here indicates you understand there’s someone very dangerous interested in hurting you.”
“Beyond Lubon?”
Tristan nodded. “Yes. You can flee to another place and hide, crawling into the forest or desert if you feel it’ll be safer, or you can listen to what I have to say. We might be able to help each other. Running won’t.”
“What if you’re a rogue?” Lyssa asked. “I don’t trust you.”
“Not trusting blindly means you’re not a fool.” Tristan shrugged. “I would suggest that whatever you decide, you keep your involvement with this incident private until you hear everything and can decide the truth for yourself.” He rattled off an address. “If you want to know the truth, or if you want to kill me for offending you, be there in thirty minutes.” He waved and vanished. “The dome will only last ten more minutes. I’d hurry and gather your things unless you want to have to answer questions.”
Lyssa frowned. She had no idea what was going on anymore. Tristan could be lying about Lubon, but she had no reason to trust one Eclipse more than another. His presence on the memory card meant something. Dismissing him now might kill any chance she had of learning the truth.
“What do you think, Jofi?” she asked.
“I think that man is extremely dangerous,” Jofi replied.
Lyssa nodded. “Agreed.”
Did Tristan know about Jofi? He’d used emptiness spirits. That could have been his way of testing the seal.
Lyssa holstered her pistols and walked toward her room, wincing at the broken glass and craters near it. Setting an ambush hadn’t worked, and running away hadn’t been any more successful. It was time to take the offered invitation.

Chapter Seventeen
The address took her to a modest house in a working-class neighborhood with a large FOR SALE sign out front. Before getting out of the car, she loaded one pistol with showstoppers and another with explosive rounds. No one was outside, and the nearest streetlight was conveniently dead. She didn’t know if it was luck or Tristan’s work.
“This is probably a terrible idea,” Lyssa said, slipping into wraith form.
“You could destroy the house from outside,” Jofi said. “That would maximize the chance of surprising him and killing him. There is an unusual number of spirits gathered here. He must be inside.”
“I don’t think it’s his house. I think he’s just borrowing it.” Lyssa chuckled. “And now that I have had some time to think about it, I’m convinced that if he wanted to kill me, he would have done it at the motel. Even with the shards running out, he could have taken me out and gotten away long before a local Torch arrived.”
“You don’t believe he’s an enemy, then?”
Lyssa slipped out of the car. “I wouldn’t go that far, but I don’t think he’s the one hunting me. And for once, I’m not going to jump to any major conclusions until I have more information. I thought I had an idea of what was going on, but if he’s right, if Lubon wasn’t the end, this is worse than I thought. There might be more than one Elder involved.” She sighed and headed toward the front door. “Keep quiet during the conversation. It doesn’t seem like he can hear you, but we can’t take the chance he overhears something with a spell I don’t know about.”
She didn’t bother knocking. The door opened with no trouble, and she stepped inside. The