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“What’s being done to find her?”
“The council is sending a team that includes one of their top tracers down to Melbourne. They should be in the reservation within the next twenty-four hours.”
“Which might be too damn late.”
“If Clayton is behind this,” she said, her tone a little stiff, “then there’s time. He was never one to act irrationally or without meticulous planning.”
There’d been nothing meticulous about his actions on our wedding night, but that had at least played in our favor. If he’d been more controlled, he might well have sensed Belle’s assault on his defenses and countered them. If that had happened, we might never have escaped.
But he wouldn’t make the same mistake again—and he certainly wouldn’t underestimate either of us again.
“The investigators will be in contact with you when they arrive at the reservation,” my mother continued. “I’ve given them your address and phone number.”
“Fine. Thanks.”
“They have one of Clayton’s watches in their possession, and I’ve directed them to give it to you. They’ve been informed of your psychic capabilities.”
If the investigators got here quickly enough, and if I was able to find Clayton through the damn watch, then maybe we could stop him before everything escalated.
Maybe.
“Who’s in charge of the investigators?” I asked.
“Samuel Kang—I believe you went to school with him.”
I frowned. “The name doesn’t ring a bell.”
“He said he remembers you.”
“That’s hardly surprising, considering there were no other Marlowe witches with a human familiar. Doesn’t mean we actually knew each other.”
“Indeed.” She paused. “How’s Belle?”
“Fine.” And more powerful than you imagine, I wanted to snipe, but she and my father already had plans to have me audited. I didn’t want my link with Belle or Belle herself to be included in all that.
“Good.” She paused again. “If you do encounter Clayton and are forced to defend yourself, keep to his left if possible.”
I frowned. “Why?”
“He had an unfortunate accident a few months ago and has little sight in his left eye.”
“How does that help? He only needs one good eye.” And sight certainly wasn’t necessary when it came to spells.
“Yes, but he now has difficulty tracking moving objects, judging distances, and perceiving depth. It gives you more of a chance—perhaps not magically but definitely physically.”
“If it comes down to a physical fight between the two of us, I’m still going to be in trouble.” I might have had youth and speed, but he was taller and stronger.
“Perhaps,” she said. “But in all likelihood, it’s doubtful it’ll come down to such a base confrontation. Samuel and his people will undoubtedly take care of this whole messy situation before then.”
I liked the positivity in her voice. I just didn’t believe that would be the case.
“I hope so.” I hesitated, torn once again between the childish need to reach out and the adult desire to keep my family at arm’s length. “I’ll update you if anything happens.”
“That would be appreciated. We’ll talk later, Elizabeth.”
“Samuel Kang,” Belle mused, once I’d hung up. “Wasn’t there a Kang in Monty’s homeroom?”
“There were Kangs in every homeroom,” I replied, voice dry. “There are only three royal lines, even if there are lots of branches of each.”
