“How would I know? I just work in accounting, remember.”
The conversation died uncomfortably between them. I continued fiddling under the counters, trying to make noise so I sounded busy. I used my palm to try and reflect the glow of my emblem onto my skin, wishing I knew if I looked as upset as I felt. I poked my teeth with my tongue and realized they’d become sharp but were fading back with each deep breath. My claws were manually repressed by my clenched fist, which wasitchingto ignite. I couldn’t let my temper ruin my rescue efforts again. I was going to hold it together this time.
I took deep breaths, trying to remember the calming patterns Mykie had taught me.What were they?For somebody who made bad choices as a hobby, she had impressively strong control over herself when necessary. I envied that trait. I needed to be just calm enough to get these guys’ information so I could sign their death warrants—at least the Mercurian’s—and then I’d get to work finding Faeryn.
I rose to my feet once my emblem no longer reflected a yellow glow against my hand, hoping that meant I looked docile enough.Breathe in through the nose. Hold. Out through the mouth.I forced blankness into my expression and turned toward them.
“Boss is making us start tabs for everybody as part of a new system. Names?” My voice was deeper than normal, but they shouldn’t be able to notice.
“Yeah, sure. Warwick,” the Mercurian said.
“Last name?”
“Melbor.”
“And you?” I asked the Pyran.
“I’ll cover his tab,” Warwick interjected.Shit.
“No, you won’t,” the Pyran argued, and I was grateful. “Kylo Bastin.”
I wrote both down in my notebook. “Perfect.”
With that, I stormed into Theo’s office and made my exit through the back door of the building. They would leave without paying once they realized I was gone and not returning, and that would be fine. I’d pay Theo back. Maybe asignificantsum of money if too many people learned the building was unlocked and unmanned for the rest of afternoon. Every coin in mysavings may be required to restock the shelves. It was worth the risk.
Running on adrenaline and hope, I let myself into Mykie’s house without bothering to knock. Unannounced in the home of a hitman, it was no surprise when I turned a corner to a knife pressing into my throat. For Mykie, this was as good as a handshake. A normal greeting.
“Fuck, Graysen,” she breathed out, lowering her weapon. “Knock next time. I could have killed you.”
“There was a security breach at one of the factories,” I spat out, my chest rising and falling rapidly. I wasn’t sure if it was from running or the panic attack threatening to choke me. For the first time in six years, I might have a genuine lead on finding my love. Until now, I’d been sitting around, feeling useless, wondering where she was, if she was even alive. Finally, I had something to work with. Something real. Something with a name.
“Was there?” Mykie blinked in surprise. “Tell me more.”
I thrust forward the open notebook. “That’s the name of the forest. The names below it are our informants. A Pyran married to an employee, and a Mercurian who works in their accounting department. They should still be at the pub if you hurry.” I pointed at the words as I spoke.
“Tesilvis,” she frowned.
“You know it.” It was an accusation, not a question. “Don’t hold out on me now, Mykie.” She could lose her job for oversharing, and I didn’t care.
My loyal friend nodded. “It’s North. The woods aren’t tamed; most don’t survive them. I’m surprised to hear there might be a facility there. Building and staffing aside, I don’tthink sponsors wouldlovemaking the journey to fund the operation. Are you sure that’s where they said the factory was?”
“Positive. And if there’s any chance she’s there, I’m going.”
“The woods aren’t safe, Graysen. Seriously. There’s a reason people aren’t supposed to know about them. It’s a living horror.”
“I don’t give a fuck.” I snarled at the suggestion that anything would cause me to hesitate. “Get me a map and tell me anything I need to know. I’m finding her and bringing her home.”
I just hoped if—when—I found her, those verdant green eyes would spark with recognition.
Faeryn
My eyes snapped open to the blinding white light of fluorescent bulbs. I lay on my back, staring at a blank ceiling. It reminded me of the nothingness of my nightmares. Was I sleeping? No, I could see the outline of light fixtures themselves, which was more detail than my dreams ever allowed. I rubbed my fingertips together to confirm with sensation that I was alive, awake, and aware.
I was light-headed from… whatwasI light-headed from? I remembered running from the house, then getting into the car with Cassius. After that? I was too groggy to care. My body felt heavy, and it required serious effort to roll on my knees and push up into a seated position. Clear walls caged me in, and a simple sink and toilet sat in the corner. The faint outline of a door was barely visible, betrayed only by the golden locking mechanism on its rim. The room outside of my transparent prison was mostly empty, barring some cameras situated in the ceiling corners. I didn’t even realize camera technologyexistedin Trebianna.
“Good morning,” a deep, feminine voice greeted coldly.
I whipped my head around, seeing my enclosure wasn’t the only one. There were three identical cubes filling the space,one of which was inhabited by another woman.Another woman with blonde hair. She sat cross-legged with her hands cupping each knee, a thin medical gown doing little to conceal her muscular shape. Her face had pale scars slashing across her deep umber skin, the worst of which seemed to have sliced through her plump lower lip. The coils of her pale-yellow hair ended shortly below her jawbone and formed a broad halo around her head.
