Clay’s face pales. “If that’s true, and you can shift, that would be a fucking game changer.”
“Don’t I know it,” I growl, gripping the bars until my knuckles turn white. “I need to find a way to let the beast out, before that de Vaux cunt destroys us all. The Guild are going to fucking rampage soon if their heat doesn’t go back up.”
Clay looks at the bars, then back at me. “If Frank’s magic is bypassing the wards, there has to be a blind spot. A crack in the system. How do we find it?”
“Good fucking question,” I reply. “Any ideas?”
Clay hums, his expression turning thoughtful. “I think you need to trust Hector. Tell him what’s going on. He’s the only Digger with a shifter inside him, so he’ll know what to look for, right?”
I nod, but then something occurs to me. “We have had another Digger come in since the Great Awakening—little Sky.”
We look at each other for a beat, then Clay shrugs. “I don’t see it, Boss. That little kid? But Layla could talk to her about it, or your Princess, the kid loves Aurora.”
I raise an eyebrow at him and he snorts. “And the kid isn’t the only one, am I right?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I grumble.
“Gotta say, from here it looks like you have a real soft spot for her. Or maybe a hard-spot.”
“Fuck off, Clay. You gossip like an old woman.”
Imran moans quietly in his sleep. Clay exhales deeply and gets to his feet. “I’m going to take this one back to his cot.”
My nose picks the unmistakable odor of François’s ominous scent. “Yeah, get out of here, Clay. Frank’s on his way back.”
“How do you know?”
“Told you, I can fucking smell him.” I also know Aurora’s scent now and wish I could put it into words. Fresh, wild, rainclouds? Nope, that’s not quite right. Crisp? Mint?
Fuck knows. I’m not a fucking perfume expert.
“That’s wild, Tally. OK, I’m out, I’ll talk to Hector as soon as I have Imran settled.” My friend gives me a sharp nod, drags Imran to his feet then splits, half carrying the boy out of here.
I slump back against the wall, feeling fucking desperate.
Gods.
Moments later, François enters with Rory. I ignore him to focus on Aurora. Is my girl OK?
My girl?
I wish.
“Hey,” she says, walking immediately toward me. “What’s going on? You look better but sad.”
“Just worried about Imran,” I sigh.
“Fuck. Yeah, I’m sorry.” She turns to de Vaux. “Open the cage,” she snaps. “I want in.”
He scowls in return. “I find myself annoyed that youwantto be in there, Aurora. Maybe I will have your cot moved to the outer cell—with me.”
Fuck.
“If you do that, then you’ll regret it, let me assure you,” Rory hisses. “Give me freedom and I’ll dedicate every second of it to making your life miserable.”
François’s lips twitch in amusement. “Cheri, do not ever lose your fire.” He removes the key from his pocket. “For now, you may return to your caged life, but in time I believe you will choose an alternative.”
“Dream on,” she mutters as François unlocks the bars and she slides in. “Wish there was something I could do to help Imran.”
