How’s security?I asked him.
There are a few guards, but they haven’t looked your way yet. You blend right in. Oh, shit.
I felt Oberi’s gut sink, and mine did in response.What’s wrong?
There are wanted posters… of you.
Are you fucking kidding me right now? I demanded.
Dozens of them, all over the place. They say that you, Ava, Kallie, and Marcus are dangerous criminals. Wanted dead or alive. Oh, there’s a cash reward!
Well, what do you want me to do? Turn myself in for the money? I said sarcastically.
It’s not that bad, Oberi insisted.The photo they used is your old Institute mugshot, and you’ve grown a beard since then. You barely look like the same person.
I sighed heavily.That’s not going to keep me out of prison.This illusion better hold.
“Uh, boss? An update, please?”Ivy’s voice came through my ear.
I kept my tone low as I whispered into the earpiece. “Oberi says that our faces are plastered all over the bank.”
“Just do the job and get out, before anyone suspects anything,” Ivy said. “A little wanted poster ain’t gonna mean shit.”
Before I could answer, Oberi cut in.There’s a guard coming your way. Eyes forward, keep walking.
I pulled my hat further down over my eyes and focused ahead, like I belonged there. The guard passed by me without a word. I didn’t think he noticed me, but I felt his magic rolling off him in waves. He was a dragon shifter for sure. Although we were in France, this property belonged to supernaturals. The guards here didn’t answer to the French government— they answered to the United Supernatural Union.
In fact, every person in this building appeared to have supernatural powers of some sort. My Elf power picked up on other magic— mostly vampires and shifters, but I sensed a few Elementai and witches, too. The people here spoke all kinds oflanguages. I heard French, English, and a couple speaking in Hawkei.
“Ava, are you still good to go?” I asked.
“I’m in disguise, and my chair makes people uncomfortable,” she replied. “People don’t look me in the eye, anyway. I think we’re good.”
I positioned myself as close to the teller window on the end as I could, but I was on high alert.
“Bonjour, Elise,” I heard someone say as they passed the teller. She greeted them back, and they exchanged a few words in French.
“Is everyone in place?” I asked through my earpiece.
“I’m good to go,” Kallie replied.
“Same,” Ivy and Chancey responded.
“I’m inside,” Ava added. “I see you, Charlie.”
“I’m right behind Ava,” Marcus said, though his voice sounded deeper and unfamiliar. The potion had obviously worked.
I held my breath, half expecting some sort of magical alarm to start blaring and lock the place down. But nothing happened.
“Ancestors, the wanted posters are everywhere,” Ava mumbled. “That’s not even my good side.”
I communicated to Ava through our bond. The less I said out loud, the better.Focus, pidge. Approach the teller window next to me.
Approaching now.
“Bonjour,” the woman at the window greeted Ava. She asked something else in French, but Ava replied in English.
“I’d like to access my vault,” Ava said.
