“No, we’ve got it made,” Nox realized, then cleared his throat. “You could too. I’m not a kid anymore and I would understand if you wanted to spend more time with Jeff.”
“More time with Jeff?” Merlin recoiled. “I come here to getawayfrom Jeff. He may be beautiful to look at and hung like a horse but his head is completely hollow. I swear, I’ve never heard anyone talk so much without saying a single sensible thing. He never shuts up and follows me around like a puppy dog.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sure there’s someone perfect for you out there,” Nox said but Merlin scoffed.
“What are you talking about? Jeffisperfect for me. He keeps my home immaculate, he drives me wherever I want, and he lets me ride him like a jockey four times a day. I don’t need him for companionship, I have you and Clancy for that.”
Nox refused to cry again. “I guess that makes sense. You are very small and he’s as big as a horse.”
They both laughed as Nox poured his tea, but his smile faded and he shuddered as the hairs on his arms and neck stood. Panic and rage exploded in his core, making him dizzy and causing him to sway as tea splashed onto his hand.
“Nox? Are you alri—?” Merlin started but Nox dropped the pot. It cracked and spilled as everything tilted around him.
“No!” Nox slid off the stool but grabbed the work table when his legs gave out, shaking with terror. He looked around for anything that might explain the hot rush of fear and anger and immediatelyknew.“It’s Nelson! He’s in trouble andhe’shurt!”
The color drained from Merlin. “Dear gods,” he whispered, then turned. “Darrach! Darrach, come at once!” he called and reached for Nox. “Sit back down,” he said as he helped Nox onto his stool.
Clancy burst through the kitchen door. “What’s wrong?” he demanded but rushed to Nox. “What’s happened? You look like you’re going to be sick.”
“Something’s happened to Nelson,” Merlin informed him, his voice trembling.
“How can you tell?” Clancy asked Nox.
He shook his head, desperately searching through the waves of dread and fury for anything that might tell them what was going on, where Nelson was, or who he was fighting with. But all Nox could sense was that Nelson was hurting and whoever it was wastakinghim. He was fighting like hell to get away and was afraid for Nox but that was all Nelson was transmitting.
“We have to go! He needs us!” Nox said and was immediately shushed by Merlin.
“This is most likely a trap and the very last thing Nelson would want is for you to fall into it,” he said slowly and calmly before giving Clancy a pointed look.
“Good thinking,” Clancy said and was already backing towards the door. “I’ll follow Nelson’s route to the bookstore and report back.”
“Take one of the twins with you,” Nox ordered and received a tight nod from Clancy before he dashed out of the kitchen.
“The bookstore!” Merlin gasped. “I’ll call Howard! He may be in trouble too, or he may be able to get to Nelson if he’s close by.”
Nox felt another rush of dread at the thought of Howard being hurt as well. Someone should have been with him. “Do that!” Nox said, taking out his phone and sending an alert to the group chat. “We have to geteveryoneback here as soon as possible. I can’t risk losing anyone else.”
“We don’t know that Nelson is—” Merlin started, holding his bejeweled phone to his ear, but Nox cut him off.
“He’s gone, Merlin. I know what I felt and I can’t feel him anymore.” He was already steadier so he eased off the stool and calmly left the kitchen, turning and stepping out onto the terrace. The sun did its best to comfort him but Nox was cold as he lowered onto the steps.
Merlin appeared a few minutes later and there were tears in his eyes as he sat next to Nox. “Heidi found the Continental and his keys were near it but there’s no sign of Nelson. He would never leave his car like that.” His voice crumbled as he put his arm around Nox. “You were right.”
“We have to get everyone else here and make sure Tony and Ronan are okay.”
“Everyone else is accounted for and on their way. Tony’s already checked in and they’re on high alert on Pooles.”
Nox nodded. “Good. I’m glad. It’s bad enough losing Nelson.”
“We’ll get him back,” Merlin vowed. “Soon, Smoak will know where Dùbhghlas is hiding, if he hasn’t figured it out already.”
“Let’s hope he does,” Nox said as he stood and headed back inside to brief the others when they arrived. “It won’t be good for anyone if anything happens to Nelson.”
Chapter Seven
His father was probably laughing, wherever he was.
Alone and shrouded in complete darkness with nothing but his own regrets and fears for company, Nelson wondered if his father was looking on in pity or disgust. Humiliation was keeping the panic at bay as Nelson searched his senses for any clue to where he was and what had happened. His entire body throbbed and stung but Nelson couldn’t move, his wrists were tied to the arms of a chair and his feet bound to its legs.
