Chapter 7

Chapter

Seven

GAGE

G age woke with a start, the early morning light filtering through the large windows of his loft casting long shadows across the polished floors. The remnants of the night before clung to him—the heat of Savannah’s body beside his, the intoxicating taste of her lips, and the undeniable chemistry that had sparked between them, threatening to consume them both.

For a moment, he simply lay there, staring at the ceiling and grappling with the chaos in his mind. His feelings for Savannah were... complicated. There was no denying the attraction, the pull he felt toward her, but there was also something more—something dangerous. She wasn’t just another woman he’d been drawn to; she was a demon hunter, one of the infamous Duvall sisters, and that made her both a threat and perhaps the best thing that had ever happened to him.

She could either ruin him or be the salvation he hadn’t even known he needed.

Turning his head slightly, he watched her sleep, her face relaxed and peaceful. Her short, blue-tinted hair was tousled, and one arm was draped lazily over the covers, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. She looked so vulnerable, so different from the fierce warrior he had fought alongside just the night before.

But he couldn’t let himself get too attached. He had learned the hard way that trusting someone with your heart could lead to betrayal, and Savannah wasn’t just anyone—she was dangerous, and their world was filled with deception and dark intentions. There was still too much he didn’t know about her and her true motives.

Gage exhaled slowly and carefully slipped out of bed, grabbing his jeans from the floor and pulling them on as quietly as he could. He couldn’t afford to get too close—not when there were bigger things at play. His mind was buzzing with questions about The Obsidian Lounge, Falwell, and now, Grungle’s involvement. Savannah’s presence in his life only made things more complicated, and he needed answers.

He glanced at her one last time before heading for the door, leaving her to sleep undisturbed. He had to put his personal matters aside for now.

There were more pressing issues to deal with.

G age made his way through the bustling streets of New Orleans, the weight of the last few days pressing down on him. The city was alive with the scent of jasmine, fried beignets, and the constant hum of supernatural energy that seemed to pulse just beneath the surface. He needed to clear his head, to seek counsel from someone who might be able to help him make sense of the brewing storm.

Finn O’Riley, the owner of The Thorny Rose and one of the most well-connected individuals in the supernatural underworld, was just the person he needed. O’Riley’s bar was more than just a place to drink—it was a hub of information, a place where secrets were traded like currency, and if anyone had insight into the conflict stirring at The Obsidian Lounge, it would be him.

Pushing open the heavy wooden door of The Thorny Rose, Gage was greeted by the familiar scent of aged whiskey and cigar smoke. The dimly lit bar was sparsely populated this early in the morning, but the hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses created a comforting ambiance.

“Morning, Tremblay,” O’Riley greeted from behind the bar, his gruff voice tinged with amusement. O’Riley, like so many of the fae, was tall but not necessarily large, with sharp, calculating eyes that missed nothing. “Didn’t expect to see you here this early. Figured you’d be nursing a hangover after the night you had.”

Gage snorted and slid onto one of the barstools. “I’m here for more than a drink, Finn. I need answers.”

O’Riley raised an eyebrow, setting down the glass he’d been cleaning. “About?”

“The Obsidian Lounge. Falwell. Something dark is brewing there, and I need to know what’s going on before it gets worse.”

O’Riley’s expression darkened, his jovial demeanor slipping away as he leaned forward. “You’re not wrong. There’s been talk—whispers about old magic, something powerful waking up beneath the city. But it’s all rumors, nothing concrete.”

“Rumors have a way of being true in our world,” Gage replied, his voice grim. “I need more than just speculation. I need to know what Falwell and Madame Vesper are up to.”

“Falwell and Vesper? That’s not good. Are you sure of that?”

Gage nodded. “I’ve seen them together.”

Before O’Riley could respond, the door to the bar swung open with a creak, and the atmosphere in the room shifted. Gage tensed instinctively, turning to see Edward Falwell himself stepping inside, his sharp eyes scanning the bar with a calculating gleam.

“Well, well,” Falwell drawled, his lips curling into a smirk as he approached. “If it isn’t Gage Tremblay. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Everybody is welcome at The Thorny Rose, Falwell; you know that,” said O’Riley.

Gage’s heart skipped a beat, but he forced himself to remain calm. “Falwell.”

“Mind if I join you?” Falwell didn’t wait for an answer before sitting down beside Gage, his presence oppressive and suffocating. “I’m looking for someone with a particular set of skills. There’s a rare artifact I need retrieved from the sewers—a place where I believe you might have some influence.”

“Not sure what you’re looking for here. Gage has been known to locate things people want found,” offered O’Riley.

Gage exchanged a quick glance with O’Riley, who gave him a subtle nod. This was exactly the kind of lead Gage had been hoping for. Playing along with Falwell might be his best shot at getting closer to the truth.

“An artifact?” Gage asked, his tone casual as he leaned back in his chair. “What kind of artifact are we talking about?”

Falwell’s smile widened with a malevolent charm. “Let’s just say it’s an ancient relic with a certain... value to my current endeavors. It’s buried deep in Grungle’s domain, beneath the city.”

“You’re rich, Falwell,” said Finn. “Why not just buy it?”

“I tried. Grungle wasn’t interested. I need someone with talent to retrieve it.”

Gage’s mind raced. Whatever this artifact was, it had to be tied to the dark magic swirling around The Obsidian Lounge. And if Falwell had been willing to buy it and was now willing to send someone into the labyrinthine tunnels beneath the city, it had to be important.

“I can get it for you,” Gage said, keeping his voice steady. “But I’ll need access to the tunnels.”

Falwell’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “O’Riley?”

Finn nodded. “Consider it done. I’ll give him access for the right price.”

With that, Falwell nodded and stood, giving O’Riley a brief nod and a wad of cash before leaving the bar, his long coat swirling behind him like a shadow.

O’Riley let out a low whistle as soon as the door closed behind Falwell. “Well, that’s one way to get involved.”

Gage clenched his jaw, his thoughts already spinning. “I need access to the tunnels.”

O’Riley studied him for a moment before nodding. “I can get you down there. But be careful, Gage. If Falwell is involved with Madame Vesper, this is bigger than you think.”

Gage exhaled sharply. “I know. That’s why I need to stop it.”

G age headed down the stairs into the tunnels beneath New Orleans, which were a world unto themselves—a labyrinth of forgotten pathways, underground rivers, and ancient magic that pulsed through the very stones. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, and the walls seemed to hum with an eerie energy, as though they were alive with the echoes of the past. Pathways and rooms appeared, disappeared and transformed at will and often without warning.

Gage moved through the tunnels with purpose, his senses on high alert. He had been in places like this before, where the lines between the supernatural and the mundane blurred, but there was something different about these tunnels. The magic here was old, far older than anything he had encountered before.

As he ventured deeper into the underground, the sound of footsteps echoed ahead of him. Gage tensed, his hand hovering near the dagger hidden beneath his jacket. He turned a corner and froze.

Savannah.

She stood in the middle of the tunnel, her eyes narrowing as she spotted him. The tension between them crackled like a live wire, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.

“What are you doing down here?” Gage asked, his voice low, careful.

Savannah crossed her arms, her gaze hard. “I could ask you the same thing.”

“I’m looking for an artifact. Something Falwell wants,” Gage said, his eyes never leaving hers.

Savannah’s expression darkened. “So, you’re working for him now?”

“Not exactly. I’m trying to figure out what he’s planning, and this artifact seems to be a key part of it.”

Savannah took a step closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “That artifact is dangerous, Gage. If Falwell gets his hands on it...”

“I know,” he interrupted, his jaw tightening. “That’s why I’m down here.”

For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife. Gage could feel the pull between them, the undeniable attraction that had simmered beneath the surface since they’d first met. But there was also something more—something darker.

“We’re on the same side, Savannah,” Gage said softly, his voice laced with frustration. “You have to trust me.”

Savannah’s eyes softened, but only for a moment. “Trust isn’t something I give easily.”

“I get that,” Gage replied, taking a step closer. “But if we’re going to stop whatever’s happening, we have to work together.”

The air between them crackled with unspoken words, with desire and distrust all tangled together in a confusing mess. Gage could see the conflict in Savannah’s eyes—the war between her instinct to push him away and the undeniable connection that drew them together.

Before he could say anything else, Savannah sighed and turned, her voice tight. “Fine. We’ll work together—for now. But the second I think you’re playing me, I’m out.”

Gage nodded, his heart pounding in his chest as he watched her disappear deeper into the tunnel. He wasn’t sure if he could trust her any more than she could trust him, but for now, they needed each other. He fell in behind her.

He had a feeling that their partnership was about to get a whole lot more complicated.