Chapter 10

H olly had finished the first batch of her tracking spell, a liquid tincture that she’d consume to be able to see some kind of mystical imprint of the missing wendigo. The plan was to start at his house and go from there.

I was grabbing my coat when Merry popped her head into the office, a wicked grin on her face. “You have a visitor.” She sing-songed the words.

“Who?”

“I’ll send him in.”

“Wait!”

She ducked out, and a moment later Kaster walked into the office, momentarily filling the doorframe with his powerful presence before entering the room.

His eyes spoke volumes, asking me how I was doing and what happened, and it hit me that I’d neglected to message him like I’d said I would.

“I’m fine.” I rounded my desk and approached him, hand out so he could touch it and establish a connection. “How are you here in the day?”

A small smile tinged his lips as he took my hand and carefully sandwiched it between his. An itch formed in the back of my mind, then his voice bloomed in my head.

UV blocking glass on my car, and this… He held up an umbrella. UV blocking material.

But it’s still too dangerous.

It’s overcast today, so I took the risk.

To see me…He’d risked the sun to come see me.

I’m glad that you’re all right, he said. I was worried even though you told me there was no need and my father affirmed it.

I should have messaged. I’m so sorry.

Don’t be. I would have come to see you today regardless.

Oh?

I wanted to ask you out on another date.

Did you not see Ezekiel haul me off? I teased.

A flare of defiance lit up his eyes. I did, but he doesn’t own you. Even though he might wish to do so. I will happily speak to him on the issue.

No need. I’ve already spoken to him. He understands.

You told him about our deal?

Deal? Oh yeah, I’d agreed to date Kaster so that we could trade information without it looking suspicious. No. I just told him I wanted to date you, and he couldn’t and shouldn’t try and stop me.

He arched a brow. I would have liked to be a fly on the wall for that conversation.

The memory of being crushed to leather seats by Ezekiel, his breath hot on my lips, his body crowding me, close and taut and vibrating with emotion hit me hard. I dropped my gaze and exhaled. It wasn’t pleasant, but it’s done.

Good. In that case, I would love for you to accompany me to a function. The opening of a new wing at the School of Creation. It’s a couple of weeks away, but I wanted to give you plenty of notice.

I’d love to.

Fabulous. I’ll text you all the information.

He smiled.

I smiled.

We just smiled goofily at one another for several seconds before he said, But I’d like to take you to dinner again before then if you’re free.

I’m free tomorrow night.

Tomorrow night it is, then.

I mean, even if he didn’t have any information on the fire, we still had to build up a narrative and be seen together, right?

Yes, yes of course we did.

Won’t there be lots of pathways?” Edwin asked as we followed Holly away from the Diago residence and down the street. “I mean, he must have gone to loads of places and imprinted?”

“Yes, but we’ll be looking for the brightest, most prominent as that will be the most recent.”

“Smart,” Padma said.

“Thanks.”

“Do you see anything?” Merry asked.

“Yes, I do.” She stopped, hands on hips. “I’m going to hop on my bike. You guys follow in the van.”

A few minutes later, we were off again, staying on Holly’s tail as she drove toward the factory where Diago had worked.

She idled outside the gates for a moment before veering away. We followed her onto a main road and then down a narrower one.

“She’s headed toward Blissmore,” Edwin said.

We passed a market area, then went back onto a dual carriageway.

“Where is she going?” Padma pondered.

Holly slowed at an intersection, boot on the ground for balance, head swiveling this way and that before she took a right onto a bridge that spanned the Blissmore River.

“We’re headed into the pavilion.” Edwin sounded confused.

I recognized this area too. I’d been here last night for dinner with Kaster.

“This is the swanky part of New Town,” he continued. “All the high-end properties and banks and restaurants. What would a wendigo be doing here?”

We continued down the main road for a minute. Passed fancy shops and eateries until she took a left down a side street. After a few minutes, the terrain changed from high-end to rough. The buildings looked older and in need of some serious care.

“We’re entering Brimswood now,” Padma said. “This makes more sense.”

“But the route through pavilion doesn’t,” Edwin added.

Holly came to a standstill alongside a set of tall metal gates and climbed off her ride before tugging off her helmet and shaking out her hair.

Beside me, Merry leaned forward to get a better look, her gaze misty.

“Merry?” I nudged her. “You okay?”

“Um…yeah.” She smiled quickly. “Holly is calling us.”

The mageri was indeed ushering us to join her on the side of the road.

“What is it?” Padma jogged toward her. “Why have you stopped?”

“Because the trail ends here.”

“Outside the park?” Edwin looked across at the gates. “You think he went inside?”

“There’s only one way to find out,” Holly said.

I crossed to the gates where an impressive-looking knocker in the shape of a grotesque holding a ring in its mouth waited. It reminded me of the lion-head knocker on the doors to Ezekiel’s quarters.

I lifted the ring and slammed it against the metal three times.

The grotesque groaned and mumbled, “Forget yer keys, did ya?” It opened its eyes then balked at the sight of me. “Yer not one of em.”

“No. I’m not. My name is Orina Lighthart; I’m with the Order. I need to speak to someone in charge.”

“Oh, yer do, do ya?”

“Yes.”

He stared at me, and I stared right back in which several awkward seconds passed.

“We rely on your grace to inform your master of our arrival,” Merry said softly from behind me. “We would wish for an audience.”

The grotesque’s eyes rolled her way. “ Hrumph . Better.” His eyes closed, and he went still.

“Where did you learn that?” Edwin asked Merry, impressed.

She shrugged. “I used to be fascinated by all things fae.”

It was a strange thing for her to say considering she was half-blood fae herself, but the grotesque head came back to life before I could question her.

“You have been granted an audience. How many require admittance?” He glanced toward Merry once more, and she ducked her head and stepped back.

“All of us,” Holly said. “So five.”

“No,” Merry said. “I…I can’t go in there.”

Everyone else nodded and looked like they understood, but I didn’t have a clue what was happening here. “Why not?”

“She’s unclaimed, that’s why,” Holly said. “I swear the fae are so up themselves.”

The grotesque head coughed. “I can hear you, you know.”

Holly rolled her eyes. “Good to know.”

But I still didn’t understand. “I don’t get it. You’re half-blood fae, and this is a park filled with half-blood fae.”

“Who all belong to a clan,” Merry said. “I don’t.”

“So? We’re not half-bloods and we don’t belong to any clan and we’re all going in.”

“I know, but I’m a half-blood fae who has no affiliation and was raised by humans so?—”

“You were raised by humans?”

She blinked sharply. “Have I not told you that?”

“Merry was raised by the Order,” Padma said.

“From a baby,” Holly added.

Holly knew too? “Shit, I’m sorry.”

“What for?”

“For not taking the time to get to know you.”

She smiled shyly. “You have had your hands full so?—”

“Look,” the knocker said. “Do ya want in or not?”

“We do, all five of us.”

“But—”

I held up my hand to stall Merry. “We’re with the Order. Even the half-blood fae.”

“One moment.” The grotesque went still once more.

Merry chewed on her bottom lip as we waited for the grotesque to get back to us. He animated a second later. “You may enter.” His gaze flicked to Merry. “All of you. Head to the pavilion for an audience with the high clan leader.”

Her cheeks pinkened, and her eyes grew bright.

The gates swung open, and we headed inside.