“Now,” a muscle jumped in Sebastian’s jaw, “we return to the gate and tell the Sabres that their children be well and truly gone.”
My gut twisted. Those Dragons could have carried the kids anywhere.
Despite her worries about Talakai, Anna proved her brain was functioning much better than my own. “Mari would have told Amadeus what happened,” Anna said. “Will he send others through?”
“I told Bess to hold them there,” Sebastian reminded her. “Even Amadeus would have a hard time convincing her otherwise.”
Anna turned to stare back up the alley toward the street. “If the Dragons took the twins, have these guys been paid off already?”
Sebastian shot her a look. “Partial payment would be likely, full only once the goods be delivered. My guess be the bulk of the group stayed behind while the leaders completed the deal.”
I winced at referring to the twins as “goods” and a “deal.”
But the Bellati wasn’t done. “If they be stupid, they might stick around here. Once I’ve collected reinforcements, I’ll canvas the city. Try to track them.”
Anna tapped a finger against her full lips. Which distracted me far more than it should have. I noticed Sebastian’s gaze also froze on it for a moment before he turned away.
“You’ve just made a huge score,” she mused. “What would you do?”
Sebastian had already started heading back up the alley, but now he paused, looking back to her.
I was already with her on this. “The smart thing would be to split up your cash and go your separate ways.”
“But if what I saw were Dires...” Her eyes lit up.
“Packs don’t split up,” I said.
“And if they are still together, and flush with cash...”
“They would celebrate,” Sebastian finished for us. For once, he sounded impressed rather than pissed off.
Hope had breathed new life into Anna. “Before we head back to the gate, why don’t we track down the closest drinking establishment and scope it out?”
The Bellati appeared tempted, but also torn. His lips compressed, before he pointed out, “Neither of you be trained for this.”
“If they’re there, we can reassess the situation.” Anna’s tone indicated it would be the simplest thing in the world. “Are you saying that one trained Bellati can’t handle a pack of drunken Dires?”
Sebastian snorted, but I saw the challenge hit home. No bloke worth his salt can resist a dick-measuring contest.
“By the time you rustle up the crew at the academy, the Dires might be long gone,” I reasoned. And to Anna, I said, “It takes a helluva lot of booze to get a Dire drunk, Angel. They’ll still be scrappy as a pack of bloody dingoes.”
“Scrapping be not in the plans,” Sebastian stated. “A recon of the local drinking establishment be, however, a worthwhile endeavor. On one condition—if I tell you two to get the hell out of there, you will listen to me. Without question.” His voice brooked no argument as he leveled his pale stare first at me, and then Anna.
Although its effect was muted by the shadows thrown by his hood, I still unconsciously lowered my gaze. Not everyone needed Dire alpha power to prove they were a leader.
“Yes, sir,” I said.
Anna nodded, but her bicolored eyes flashed fire.
“Be I clear?” Sebastian’s gaze fixed on her.
I looked from one to the other. I was far from a limp dishrag, but I wouldn’t care to take odds on which would win in a staredown.
But Anna blinked, and replied, “Yes, sir.”
He looked at me. “Do another sniff around. Catalog as much as you can. If we find one of these scents near the bar, it might mean we’ve found them.”
My brows rose. “That’s a long shot.”
