Page 80 of Twist of Fate

Luke touched the small watch pocket at the front of his jeans. “It came from Hale’s assistant. I was supposed to deliver it to a contact Hale selected.”

“Then your employer remains the clearest path between the drive and the trap,” Silenus said.

“Yes.”

Connal already knew what Luke would propose. Every protective instinct rose in protest, but he did not speak over his mate.

Luke met the king’s gaze. “I need to contact Hale.”

Silenus regarded him steadily. “How?”

“By giving Hale what he expects,” Luke said. “A report that the warehouse was compromised, the drive is still secure, and I’m waiting for new instructions.”

Connal reached for Luke’s hand. “Contacting him will confirm that you survived.”

“My silence has already told him something went wrong. If I contact him, I can control what I reveal. If Hale was involved, he’s wondering whether I survived and what I know. If he wasn’t, he’s wondering why I haven’t reported.”

“And his response will tell you which?” Silenus asked.

“Not by itself.” Luke glanced toward the gargoyles. “But I know how Hale normally handles a failed exchange—what questions he’ll ask, what information he’ll give me, and what precautions he’ll expect me to take. If he breaks from those habits, I’ll know something has changed.”

“And if he directs you to another location?” Connal asked.

“I don’t go charging into it.”

Connal did not find the promise reassuring. Luke had already entered one prepared trap because he believed reaching the drive’s intended recipient was worth the risk. Connal could not assume he would not make the same calculation again if Hale offered him the possibility of answers.

Luke met Connal’s gaze. “We examine whatever he sends before anyone moves. If he gives me a location, Tyson’s contacts can watch it. If he asks me to return to the office, we decide whether approaching him is worth the risk.”

“We decide,” Connal repeated.

“Yes.”

The answer came without hesitation. Luke was not asking to act alone. This time, he was making room for Connal in the decision.

Silenus turned to Tyson. “Can you arrange a secure location in the human realm?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I have access to several properties unconnected to Luke, Hale, or the warehouse. I can have one checked before we arrive and provide whatever human equipment Luke requires.”

“I’ll need my laptop,” Luke said. “It’s in the backpack in Connal’s chamber. I may not use it to make contact, but there could be information on it I need.”

Tyson inclined his head. “I will see that it comes with us.”

“No message will be sent until the location is secured,” Silenus said. “Nothing Hale provides will be acted upon until it has been examined. You will report what you learn before proceeding further.”

Luke nodded. “Understood.”

“And you will not make contact alone,” Silenus said.

“I wasn’t planning to.”

“I will accompany you,” Connal said.

Luke turned toward him. “If Hale sends me somewhere, your presence might activate another trap.”

“Then I will wait until the location has been examined and remain beyond the structure’s reach.”

Connal disliked the concession even as he made it. Fighting at Luke’s side had barely been enough to get them out of the warehouse. However, insisting upon standing there again would mean little if his presence activated another structure designed to capture magical beings.