Chapter Twenty-Five

I had the scent. There was no way that I was going to lose the trickster now. We caught them before they could bleach their trail. Arach had been right to insist that I wait in Faerie. We were going to get them.

“There!” I pointed at the scent trail that my mind translated into a visual mist of pale blue.

Torrent maneuvered the tunnel of Internet, twisting it through the Aether, past bobbing witch spells in their gestational phase, symbols of desires, and memories of those who had come through recently. Among them was doubtless a memory belonging to the trickster. It was the Aethers toll for passage and its source of fuel. But weeding through those memories wouldnt get me anywhere if I didnt know what I was looking for. Nowhere but insane.

So I focused on the trail and directed Torrent to the end of it. “They exited there,” I said.

Torr took us out of the Aether and into a bare room. Motion-activated lights came on, revealing a door. I took the door into a corridor. The click of more motion-activated lights came, and fluorescents buzzed overhead, illuminating the bare cement walls and floor. Doors stood to either side and a set of stairs was directly ahead. The place looked very familiar.

“No,” I whispered. Then I ran up the steps.

Torrent chased after me, so he barreled into me when I abruptly stopped in the open doorway. “Umph,” he groaned. Then patted my wings. “Sorry, V.”

I didnt say anything, just stepped out onto the fake grass of Moonshines V.I.P. level. Thank goodness I was up there and hadnt come out on the bottom floor. Even with faeries being out of the magic closet these days, the sight of a weredragon would not go over well with humans. And there were humans in Moonshine, mixing with gods and faeries alike. But there was no one on the terrace.

I followed the trail numbly. It took me to one of the hills/couches. There, upon the fluffy fake grass, was a star. I picked it up. Gold. Five points. The trail ended with it. I lifted my head and sniffed. Many smells tingled my dragon senses, but the scent that had led me there was attached to the star. Thats it. I had followed the star, not the trickster. But that was impossible.

“How?” I growled. “How did they bring this here without leaving another trail?”

I turned to look at the Family Door that led down to the tracing room and guest rooms. It shouldnt have surprised me that the trickster could get past our ward. They had gotten into Heaven, Hell, and Faerie. Still, I was shocked. They had come through our private entrance, bypassing security, and left that star for us to find.

“Theyll still playing,” Torrent said as he searched the area. “Nothing else here, V. I think they must have come and left.”

“But I dont smell any bleach,” I said. “How did they cover their tracks?”

Torrents eyes focused ahead of him, then started to move as if he was reading. Because he was. “Im assuming your dragon tracking skills are similar to a canines but stronger.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“The only way to keep a smell from a tracking dog would be to put it in an airtight container. Like a zip baggie but thicker. Or theyd have to confuse your nose. Either hurt your sniffer with a chemical or be afraid.”

“Be afraid?” I asked. “Yes, they should be very afraid.”

Torrent blinked and refocused on me. “No, I mean the scent of fear can confuse tracking dogs.”

“Oh.” I looked down at the star. “I dont think it interferes with my tracking. Dragons like fear.”

“Then chemicals or complete enclosure are their only options.”

“Complete enclosure?” I whispered, an image of the trickster coming to me. “They were wrapped up, head to toe. Even their eyes were covered by a visor.”

“Well, if it was fabric they were wearing, that wouldnt matter. But if, say, they were in a sealed suit, one that didnt allow any air through, then that might work. But they would have needed an air supply. Did you see a tank?”

I grimaced at him.

“Oh. Yeah. Gods. Or faeries. Magic.”

“If theyre an Air-Sidhe, they could generate their own supply,” I said. “So were back to the Fey. But it cant be the Air Royals. Theyre indebted to me.”

“Maybe another Air Faerie?” Torrent suggested. “Youve had run-ins with them before, right?”

“The only one I can think of is Arachs ex-girlfriend, and I dont think shes that bitter or ambitious enough to do this.”

“Then maybe its a god. Someone with Air Magic.”

I sighed. “Wed better get back. Ive got Arach and Viper waiting in Faerie, and the whole Squad in the God Realm. Theyll all be anxious.”

“Do you think thats a clue?” Torrent waved at the star.

“It has to be. Im assuming its a reference to my star.”

“Not much of a clue.” He turned and headed for the door.

“No, it isnt.” I looked around, not daring to go to the edge and peer into the club, not in my current body. And shifting would mean getting naked. Definitely not doing that.

I could have sent Torrent down to ask whoever was guarding the bottom of the stairs if anyone had come past them, but I didnt think they had. The trickster had to change their plans because I nearly caught them. Perhaps they had meant to leave more with the star. But they had to drop it and run. No, they werent downstairs dancing with humans. They were long gone. And they hadnt left a trail for me to follow.

I prowled after Torrent. Now I was angry.