“Listen, don’t tell Gigi I’m suggesting this because she’d never let me hear the end of it. Just agree to his terms, bro. Once you have the ring, you put it on and order him to give Gemma to you. Simple.”
I took a minute to process his words.
“Oh. Yeah. Okay.”
“Be careful, though. Darius has been around long enough to suspect something like that. It helps that neither he nor his brothers can physically touch the ring, but I’m sure he’ll be watching you closely.”
“He’d be dumb not to,” I snorted.
“Do you know how to destroy this ring?”
“I have an idea, but I’m not sure what will happen if we can.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Might make a pretty big bang, might not. I don’t think anyone should be nearby when we try.”
“I’ll ask Travis to research it. You calm enough to go back?”
I took a deep sniff of the red hair in my fist. My heart rate and breathing settled down, and it took more control than I thought I had left to not roll my eyes in pure bliss.
I nodded at Jax, and we walked back to the others.
“I will agree to your terms with the following condition.” I looked Darius dead in the eyes. “You will not allow Gemma to put herself into any danger, no matter what she says or does to convince you.”
“There is only so much I can control if I’m not with her or my master’s commands otherwise bind me. If you can accept that I have limits to make good on that caveat, I will agree so long as you vow to not summon or command me or my brothers from the time you take possession of the ring until it is destroyed.”
“Kerry, no,” Jax hissed.
I ignored him.
He didn’t get it. Darius may have been a man of honor, butIwasn’t.
I’d make and break any vow to get Gemma back.
“Done.”
I shook Darius’ hand and, no, I didn’t break it like I wanted to. I hoped he ’preciated my forbearance. He wouldn’t experience it ever again.
“Now, how are you gonna get me to Hubler?” I asked him.
“An ally of mine can get you into my master’s lab. I cannot take you there myself as I was given an order concerning that a long time ago. My ally knows the place better than anyone other than the Alchemists themselves. He’ll get you to my master. After that, it’s up to you.”
“Who’s the ally?” I asked right as Jax barked, “When? How soon can this happen?”
“It will take some arranging,” Darius answered Jax first. “I will contact you when it’s time.”
“And who is your ally?” I repeated, narrowing my eyes as a bad feeling twisted my gut.
“Samuel Castle.”
51. Hope
Kerry
“We don’t have to go this route. We have other options,” Gigi reminded me. “Travis will have a location on Christopher Remington any time now.”
The five of us were huddled together in the outfield while Mingo talked with Darius at home plate. As soon as Castle’s name had come out of the djinni’s mouth, I’d lost control and lit up like a blue glow stick. Jax had wrangled me back here and spritzed me with calm until I could pull the power back inside.
“That’s true,” Hank said, “but we can’t guarantee Remington will lead us to Hubler. It could make rescuing Gemma take even longer.”
“Or it could cut out the middleman and take us straight to Hubler,” Jax pointed out.
