Page 95 of Twist of Fate

Gomez set down his nugget. “Speaking of plans, you promised me answers.”

Luke’s smile faded. “Hale responded. He canceled the delivery and ordered me to keep the drive secure. I’m supposed to contact his office from another protected location at nine tomorrow morning.”

“Did he explain why someone tried to kill you?”

“No.”

“Did he ask whether you were injured?”

“No.”

Gomez looked unimpressed. “I don’t like your boss.”

“At the moment, neither do I.”

“But you’re calling him tomorrow.”

“I need him to believe I’m still following his instructions.” Luke sat on the edge of the bed. “If Hale was responsible for the warehouse, I need to know what he plans to do next. If he wasn’t, he may be the only person who can tell me who compromised the exchange.”

“And until then?”

Luke glanced toward the brown backpack he had placed near the foot of Gomez’s bed. His laptop was inside, but connecting an unknown drive to a machine tied to his own life would be reckless.

“I need to find out what everyone is willing to kill me for. But I’m not opening it on my laptop.”

“What would you require?” Tyson asked.

“A clean computer disconnected from every outside network. Preferably one we can destroy if this goes wrong.” Luke’s hand settled over the watch pocket holding the drive. “And someone qualified to identify whatever protections are buried inside before we try to access the files.”

Luke could define the equipment he needed. Trusting another person near the drive presented the greater risk. Too many people already knew it existed, and he had no intention of adding anyone else without knowing exactly who they were.

Tyson met his gaze. “The king determined that we required someone familiar with both human technology and fae magic. He ordered me to contact someone he trusts.”

Luke’s attention sharpened. “You told someone about the drive?”

“I told him we recovered a human storage device that may be connected to hostile magic and required isolated equipment to examine it. I did not give him your name, Hale’s, or any details about the warehouse.”

“But you arranged for him to see it without asking me.”

Tyson didn’t retreat behind the king’s authority. “I arranged the possibility of Koios’s assistance. I did not promise him the drive. Whether he examines it remains your decision.”

Luke studied him. He didn't like that the conversation had happened without him, but Tyson had shared only what was necessary.

“Who is Koios?”

Asterius lowered his food. The room didn’t fall silent, but enough of the others took notice to tell Luke the name carried weight.

“Koios has considerable knowledge of the human realm and its technology,” Connal said.

“Can you trust him?” Luke asked.

“Yes,” Tyson said.

“With our location, Connal and his brothers, and everything that happened at the warehouse?”

Tyson did not take offense at the question. “King Silenus trusts Koios with his life. So do I.”

Luke turned to Connal. Tyson’s assurances mattered, but Connal had followed Luke into the warehouse and trusted his judgment against a threat he didn’t understand. Luke could offer him the same.