Dax looked toward Sule’s empty chair.
“He believes there may be a way to return Leena.”
“He believes what he needs to believe,” Rhen replied.
Cole’s mouth tightened.
“A few days ago, this house was stable.”
“A few days ago, Leena was alive,” Dax said.
Silence gathered around her name.
Malakai indicated the heretic position marked upon the map.
If Sule approached them voluntarily, they may be waiting for us to weaken ourselves searching for him.
Cole’s gaze remained on the marked district.
“We need to stop speaking about them as though every threat is separate.”
Dax looked toward him.
“Marcella. Diablo Levélle. The controlled rogues. X.”
Cole nodded once.
“Marcella is Diablo Levélle’s public blade in this city. She does not rule the whole coven, but whatever they are building in New Orleans moves through her. The rogues answer to her handlers, not to hunger. The male in the street was one of her bound captains, which means the attack on Cole was not random pressure. It was command.”
Malakai’s hands moved with controlled precision.
And X?
Cole’s expression tightened.
“If he is alive, then Marcella either has him or has what he learned before disappearing. Either way, his silence belongs on the same board.”
Dax looked at the map, then toward Sule’s empty chair.
“And if Sule went to the heretics for answers, he did not walk into a scattered nest of witches.”
“No,” Cole said. “He walked toward Diablo Levélle.”
“Then we stop waiting,” Rhen said.
Cole studied him.
“You intend to lead the assault without Sule.”
“I intend to destroy the threat before it reaches Norse.”
Malakai’s hands moved more sharply.
Without Sule’s authority, the council may challenge every decision we make.
“They can challenge the ashes afterward.”
Dax approached the table.
