“We have tons of surveillance from various jobs,” he reveals. “I simply spliced a few seconds from one video and pasted it into this one.” He plays it one more time, examining each frame, then with a nod, he snaps the lid shut. “This will work.”
I hope so, or this is going to get ugly pretty fast. “So, what’s next?”
Mathias stands. “I’ll take this to the council and show them that you didn’t use magic. Right now, they suspect you’re a shifter or hybrid.” He stares at me. “That was what we put in our first reports. Anyway, they only see those who can wield magic as a threat. If they think you don’t have any, they’ll dismiss you.”
“Thank you,” I tell him, placing my hand on his arm. “It means a lot that you would protect me.”
He looks down at my hand with an unreadable expression. “Jamison vouched for you. If the council thinks you’re a threat, they might start to wonder why he covered for you and whether his loyalty to them has changed.”
His matter-of-fact explanation sends chills down my spine and drives the point home. Whether we like it or not, we’re all tied together now.
22
PHAEDRA
Just when I think I’m getting comfortable with my choice to stay, the doubts start to pile up again. I shove my hand in my pocket and finger the gold key inside. It would be so easy to slip away and do this on my own. Safer for everyone else too.
Gatlin steps up beside me. “Still want a tour?” His gruff voice is softer than usual, and when I look up at him, there’s a warmth to his golden eyes that wasn’t there previously.
I hesitantly nod. “Sure.”
He stares at me for a second, then grasps my hand in his. “There’s not much more.” His muttered sentence makes me wonder if he’s talking to me or reassuring himself.
I stifle the laugh rising inside me.
At the top of the stairs, he waves a hand. “Three guest bedrooms with en suites.”
I pull my hand from his and wander from one to the other. Each one is beautifully appointed and almost identical to the others. Four bedrooms. A lot of space for one person. When Ireturn to the hallway, I notice the double doors at the end of the hall and glance at Gatlin with a raised eyebrow. He gives me a curt nod, but there’s tension in his shoulders that makes me pause.
“I’m good,” I inform him, ignoring the doors and walking over to him.
He stares into my eyes for a second, then walks over and flings the doors open. “It’s a room. That’s it.” Standing at the threshold, he waits for me to join him.
I slowly walk past him and into the room. Unlike the rest of the home, this room is full of dark earthy colors and masculine tones. The deep brown paint drenching the walls and ceiling lends a dramatic appearance to the room that is only lightened by the sky outside the large floor to ceiling windows.
Heavy velvet drapes hang on each side as if waiting to shut out the world. Dark tufted leather chairs surround a massive fireplace, and overstuffed bookcases line the wall beside it. Unlike the neat shelves in the living room, these ones have books shoved into every nook and cranny.
I drift over to study their spines.Flight in the Modern Age.Myths and Legends. Auto Repair. War Strategies.There are a lot of books on war tactics and weapons, but that’s the only consistent theme. Most of the topics vary across the large collection. Worn spines tell me they’ve all been read, some several times.
My gaze finds his, trying to see past the gruff exterior to the layers underneath, but his expression remains blank as if he’s unwilling to let me in. Instead of deterring me, though, it makes me more curious.
Knowing it isn’t what he wants, I move past him to the rest of the room. The massive four-poster bed on the far wall catches my eye. Pillows and blankets are piled high in its center, and large velvet drapes are tied haphazardly to each post. Itresembles a luxurious nest. I silently groan as the image of him lounging in that bed pops into my head. The man obviously likes his creature comforts.
Slamming doors intrude on my naughty thoughts.
He rushes past me to the window and looks out, then swears loudly. “We’ve got company.” Hurrying to the bookcase, he trips a hidden lever, and it silently swings open, revealing a small room full of weapons.
Curious, I walk over to the window. Familiar men in camoflauge are pouring from several SUVs. “How the hell did they find us?”
Instead of answering, he slams a cartridge into a 9mm pistol. “Do you have a preference?” He waves a hand toward the wall of guns in front of him.
I quickly scan the choices. “I’ll take the Glocks. Think they’re around back too?” While he prepares our weapons, I run to one of the guest bedrooms to check and find men pouring into the small yard. I return to him.
Taking the guns and extra cartridges from him, I slide the ammunition in my back pockets and grip a Glock in each hand. “We’re surrounded. Tell me there’s another way out of here.”
He grunts. “Several. Do you have the key?” When I nod, he motions with his hand. “Follow me.” The sound of glass shattering below us makes his jaw clench in fury. “They’re going to fucking pay for that.” Stalking off, he strides to the staircase and peers down the stairs.
Smoke rises from the flash bombs. Holding my breath, I move to take a position on the other side, but he stops me and jerks his head toward the second set of stairs behind us. I shake my head. His jaw tightens, but before he can say anything, he raises his arm and shoots the man coming up the stairs. A barrage of fire is returned, and we both duck down behind the wall.
