Chapter 28

MAEVE

Ethan usesthe stolen key card on the elevator, and we travel back to the ground floor. I"m cautious whether the security guy I mind-controlled from the room broke free of the thoughts I planted, but thankfully he isn"t waiting for us or immediately visible nearby.

I"m shaking after using the intense magic on Callum, as the fear of failure I held back in the room surfaces. But excitement surges through too—I managed to control and wipe his mind. I"ll face more of a challenge with stronger supes, but succeeding on a shifter is a huge step forward.

Failure would"ve led to bloodshed. We"d still get what we wanted, just through violent methods. My way avoided that, but will Callum eventually remember?

We walk swiftly back to the casino, around the edge of the rows of sleek gaming tables, veering around richly upholstered chairs holding the gambling clients in luxury as they try their luck.

Pausing and rubbing a hand over his mouth, Ethan surveys the casino floor for a few moments. "I"m not leaving yet." My eyes widen. "Callum won"t touch us. I need to watch who visits him."

"Callum won"t be stupid enough to call someone who"s connected straightaway," says Ash.

"In there." Ethan gestures at an area to the edge of the casino, tables and chairs tucked away behind a glazed partition with subtle mood lighting above. A small bar runs alongside the wall, with a single bartender serving from a selection of bottles behind, not unlike the collection in Callum"s room.

"You always stop for a drink," says Ash and Ethan flashes him a look. "Just saying."

"If I stood in the middle of the casino watching everybody, that isn"t as subtle," he says. "Besides, I have questions for Maeve."

I nod—as if I could ever disagree. I"ve never spoken to Ethan. Not really. Dorian"s massive presence often places him and Zeke in the background, but they"re no less commanding. Of the three, he scares me the most—I know little about his history or abilities, and I wouldn"t dare ask. Dorian"s transparent and vocal about his skills and equally so with threats to use them. This dragon mid hides.

Ash worried that I"d witness Ethan pulling people apart again, warning me how disturbing that is. I"ve seen plenty of disturbing things lately, but Ash assures me even he doesn"t want to see Ethan in that state again.

Velvet upholstered chairs and sofas are arranged around round dark wood tables, and we settle onto seats, Ethan bringing across a whiskey for himself and cokes for me and Ash. Ash looked longingly at the beers, and I told him to get one, but he"s determined to stay on full alert, with his human brain fully in charge.

"What happened up there?" asks Ethan the moment he sits.

"I wasn"t expecting you to use mind-control, Maeve," Ash says. "Mind reading, yes, but…that was brave."

"As soon as I saw how weak he was against mental magic, I took him. His mind"s blank," I explain, and Ash tenses. "No. Callum isn"t a construct, but a witch put a block in his mind, which made my spell easier."

"That"s dumb since the witch"s block confirms he"s involved," remarks Ethan. He takes a long drink, almost emptying his glass. "I guess that means you found nothing of use in his head?"

"Only one thing. Fear—and not of you, Ethan. I caught his thoughts as we walked to the door. Callum is terrified someone knows you"ve approached him, and that they might think he gave us information."

"He did," says Ash. "It"s in my pocket and on my phone."

"Callum is worried about Gabriella?" asks Ethan.

I shake my head. "Her name wasn"t in his head, but Callum must be connected."

"Get that witch guy of yours to check everything we"ve taken. We need to be sure that Gabriella"s planning to leave via the docks with dragon help, and that she isn"t sending us in circles while carrying out what she"s really planning," says Ethan.

"I don"t believe she"ll sneak off with her tail between her legs," I say. "I"m betting on one last attempt to take us down before she goes anywhere."

"That"s what we"re thinking," says Ethan. "Gabriella won"t wait for a fight amongst shipping containers. She likes grand gestures. Attention. Infamy."

"Yes. Gabriella knows the First could kill her—if she thinks she"s going down anyway, we"ll be her swan song," Ash replies.

"Then we need to listen out for any events planned," I say. "Find out where this place is in my vision."

"Oh, we"ll find out," Ash replies. "Gabriella wouldn"t want us to miss her big goodbye. She probably wants us as the star attraction."

Ethan taps his fingers against his glass. "I won"t be joining you. The First might make an appearance. In fact, I guarantee the thing will want to watch."

Isn"t Ethan interested in helping? Surely the threat from Gabriella means something to him?

"But you came with us to gather information," I reply.

"Yeah. More about dragon networks. If there"s anything about Confederacy links on the USB or paperwork, let me know."

Ash straightens. "What happened to helping with Gabriella?"

"That"s Dorian"s thing," he says.

""Dorian"s thing"?" I echo.

With a sigh, Ethan rests his huge forearms on the table and leans across to us. "Yes, I want her dealt with, but your group have ample power, especially now. I"m focusing on the bastard Oskar who sanctioned horrors against kids. Against me." He pauses. "And I"m protecting my daughter."

I try not to, but can"t help looking at the black scales, and how he needs to hide his dragon eyes behind contacts. Ash shifts uncomfortably. I understand his crusade against dragons isn"t only on Ash"s behalf, but worry how far these people are willing to go.

Ethan"s disrupting a key shifter society—for the better—but what about others? The secretive Tigris society that Zeke originated from? And then what next—Ethan taking down wolves as revenge for the attack on his sister?

"But Dorian will help?" asks Ash.

Ethan chuckles. "Why? He isn"t easy to work with, and you have someone more powerful in your ranks now."

"And Dorian"s single-minded and bloodthirsty," I reply. "He wants Gabriella, and to show the Confederacy he can take down one organisation before coming for another."

"I never said he won"t help. Dorian follows his own plans, especially if something threatens his family." He rubs his chin. "As long as Eloise and Mia are safe, the guy can do what he wants without my interference. Zeke feels the same."

"But not without Eloise"s," I say, remembering the woman who lost her temper with Dorian for sneaking away and came to retrieve him.

Ethan shakes his head and drinks. "Eloise does influence Dorian"s actions, but she can only go so far. The guy lives by his own laws and morals."

"Mmm," I reply. "Like killing Andrei that time?"

Irritation flares when Ethan chuckles again. "Dorian logic. Everything worked out. Well, mostly. I"d argue Andrei did more damage to himself recently than Dorian inflicted."

My jaw sets tight as I almost retort to this guy I shouldn"t argue with.

"How long are we staying here?" interrupts Ash and looks around.

"We can leave now." Ethan pushes back his stool and takes a slow look around the bar.

I stand too. "Did you see anybody or anything you waited for?"

"Nah. I just wanted a drink. We both have what we came for. Let"s go."