Page 57 of Twist of Fate

“My laptop is in the backpack beside Connal’s chair.” Luke glanced toward it. “But human technology doesn’t work in this realm.”

“You will not return to the warehouse,” Connal said.

“No argument from me. Whoever prepared that trap may still be watching it.” Luke looked toward Cosmo. “I need a secure place in the human world where I can examine the drive without alerting Hale or anyone monitoring his systems.”

“The King has allies who may be able to provide one,” Cosmo said. “You will give him the full account first.”

Luke nodded. That was fair. Silenus had offered protection without demanding blind obedience in return. The drive had already drawn Luke into a conflict involving magic. He didn’t know whether the danger extended to Silenus’s people, but the possibility was enough to justify a full account.

“We should let both patients rest,” Cosmo continued.

“I am recovered,” Connal said.

Luke and Cosmo looked at him.

Connal scowled. “I am recovering.”

“Progress,” Luke said.

Cosmo rose and stretched. “I’ll inform Silenus that Gomez’s treatment was successful and that Luke has more to add to his report.”

Gomez raised one hand. “Before you go, I was promised snacks.”

The chamber doors opened.

A stream of pixies flew inside carrying enough food for a dozen people.

Cosmo stepped aside as they passed. “I suspected they would take that request seriously.”

Gomez’s eyes widened at the trays descending around him. “I love this place.”

“You were kidnapped less than an hour ago,” Luke reminded him.

“And I remain deeply traumatized. The pastries will help.”

Luke shook his head, but he couldn’t stop the smile pulling at his mouth.

Gomez was safe. His legs were healing. He knew enough to understand the danger surrounding Luke, even if the larger truth remained unspoken.

Connal sat in the chair behind Luke, close enough that Luke could feel his presence without looking. The drive pressed against Luke’s waistband, carrying answers someone had already tried to kill him to obtain.

For the first time since Patrick placed it in his hand, Luke was not carrying that threat alone.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Connal had never seen anyone command the attention of so many pixies without offering tribute or issuing a royal decree.

Gomez accomplished it with a plate of pastries.

He remained propped against the pillows in Connal’s bed, his newly healed legs hidden beneath the blankets and a half-eaten pastry in one hand. The pixies crowded around him, offering additional choices faster than he could finish examining them.

“This one has flowers on it,” Gomez cooed, as if it were the most perfect flowered pastry he’d ever seen.

“They are sugared,” Avaneel explained from her place beside his hip.

“Of course they are. Why would anyone put ordinary flowers on a pastry when they could make them sparkle?”

Three pixies immediately flew away, presumably in search of more impressive flowers.