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Daire jerked his chin.

“Find out who was behind that ambush and bring them to me. I don’t want anything getting in my way. No matter what, we start when the moon is at its highest,” Kefir said.

Daire nodded and strode out. What he didn’t do was acknowledge that he knew who I was or what he’d done.

CHAPTER 39

Ronan

I tried Rose’s number again but got no reply.

I’d been gone all day on a wild-goose chase. Oliver Kelley seemed to be forever on the move, meeting after meeting, never in one location long—except for now. I’d given Rose my word, but I wasn’t going to get this chance again and I needed to take it.

The restaurant was full, and Kelley’s minders stood outside the bathroom, guarding the door. This was the only shot I’d get, so hidden by my powers, I walked through the guards and into the bathroom. Kelley stood at the urinal, zipping up his pants.

I moved up behind him and covered his mouth as I dropped my block. He exploded into action, yelling for help under my hand. I easily subdued him, forced him into a stall, and pressed him against the wall.

Judging by his wild eyes and how much he was sweating, Oliver Kelley believed he was about to die. If he hadn’t already urinated, he would have soiled himself. Fear rolled off the male.

“I’m going to remove my hand from your mouth, and you’re not going to make a sound. If you make a sound, I’ll hurt you. Nod if you understand?”

He nodded.

I eased my hand away from his mouth.

“Tell Kefir I didn’t know. I thought it was legit.” He shook his head. “That was the last one, I can’t find anymore. I’ve tried.”

“Last what?”

“Effigy,” he sputtered, then his eyes narrowed. “Who are you?”

“Kefir? That’s his name? That’s who hired you to source the effigies?”

“Who the fuck are you?” he asked again.

“Someone who will kill you if you don’t give me what I want, understand?”

He nodded, swallowing hard. “Y-yes, it was Kefir who hired me to find the effigies.”

“Do you know why?”

“There’s only one reason someone wants one of those things. To make a bargain with a demon.”

“Why does he want to kill you?”

A breath shuddered out of him. “Because the three effigies I did find that were the real deal summoned the wrong kind of demons, and couldn’t give him what he wanted. And the last one was only a replica. He wasn’t happy. I barely made it out of our last meeting alive.”

“What kind of bargain does he want to make?”

“I don’t know, he refused to tell me.”

I studied his expression. I believed him. “Where do I find this Kefir?”

“At the colony,” he said.

“Colony?”

“He’s king of the bats.”