Page 112 of Twist of Fate

Asterius stiffened. Tyson went still beside him.

“Yes,” Connal said.

Silenus rose, and the magic filling the chamber settled around him.

“One system can become many.”

“Then we destroy it before that happens,” Asterius said.

“And determine who built it, who intends to purchase it, and why.” Silenus looked between them. “Until we have those answers, this information does not leave this room.”

“Of course, Your Majesty,” Tyson said.

“There is more.” Connal forced the words past the tightness in his throat. “Luke believes his employer built the system and is arranging its sale. He is on his way to stop the exchange.”

Silenus’s attention returned to him. “And you did not follow.”

“No, my king.”

“Because your magic could alert the system.”

“Yes.”

Silenus regarded him for a long moment. “That could not have been an easy choice.”

Connal thought of the portal closing between them. Of reaching for Luke and finding nothing but absence.

“No,” he said.

“You made the correct one.”

Connal inclined his head. The reassurance should have helped.

It didn’t.

“Then Luke remains our best chance of approaching it without being detected,” Silenus said.

“He is exposed,” Connal said.

“So are we.”

“I should be with him.”

“If you enter the human realm now, the system may detect you before you reach him. You would expose Luke’s position, confirm that we know of its existence, and give its creators time to react.”

The logic was sound. Connal hated it anyway.

“We will not leave him unwatched,” Silenus continued. “Tyson?”

“Human observers are already being positioned around Hale’s building,” Tyson said. “They will observe and report without approaching Luke.”

Silenus inclined his head. “Good. We will prepare to respond if the situation changes. Until then, you will trust Luke.”

Connal forced himself to incline his head. “Yes, my king.”

Silenus held his gaze for another moment. “Go. Prepare.”

Connal turned, Asterius and Tyson falling into step beside him as they left the chamber.