Page 6

I glanced at my friend, who smirked.

“When do I leave?”

Seamus pressed his lips together. “Tomorrow.” He paused, flashed his attention to Cristofer, then added, “In the early afternoon.”

I cringed. My insides burned at the mere thought of such a vulnerable hour, never mind that I would spend most of the flight over a vast ocean.

“I suggest fortifying yourself for the journey, Mordecai. It will be taxing, and you look,” Seamus raked his gaze over my face, “rather weak.”

Cristofer rested his hand on my shoulder. If it was meant to provide comfort, he failed. “I’ll ensure our dear friend is ready for his trip and gets on the damn plane.”

“I don’t need an escort.”

Seamus nodded as though I hadn’t spoken, then he bowed his head and departed.

The moment we were alone, I dislodged from Cristofer’s hold and glared. “I don’t need an escort.”

“I think you do. Now,” Cristofer said draping an arm over my shoulder and guiding me into the catacombs, “Let’s ensure you start your journey at your strongest. I know just the place.”

2

Ensley

“Did you close on that house on 6 th Avenue West?” Dany’s gaze never left her computer, the desk phone pressed to her ear. Only her raised voice suggested she was speaking to me, not whoever was on the line.

“Yes. The paperwork is filed. You should have gotten the notification.”

“How about 13th Avenue East?”

“They signed last night. I’m finalizing the paperwork right now. I was waiting for confirmation from the bank.”

Instead of responding, Dany lowered her voice and continued her conversation with whoever was on the phone.

Ten minutes later, I filed the report and peeked over the top of my computer. Dany seemed as settled as ever and in no rush to leave.

Fuck my life. The one day I hoped to get home early.

I checked the time on my phone. Quarter after five. Why was she still here? And on a Friday no less. Dany notoriously left the office at five. Something was up. She’d been on the phone all afternoon, a permanently pinched expression cutting a groove between her brows. I wasn’t eavesdropping, but her hushed conversations carried a hint of aggravation.

My message icon showed three missed texts from my good friend Marsden. Double-checking that Dany was occupied, I opened them.

Mars: Ten-man raid. Huldynstat’s Castle. 8pm sharp. You’re in, right? Aiming for Dorignaut’s Lair. That fucking chest piece is long overdue to drop.

Mars: We picked up Grunt for backup heals. Not our first choice, but the best I could do on short notice. Ziggy’s tanking.

Mars: Correction. Poet’s tanking with Krul. Zig’s bringing his rogue for added DPS. He has that spell interrupt that we need.

I typed a quick confirmation while Dany wasn’t looking. It was bad enough she saw me as the office lowlife, but if she caught me planning a dungeon run with the guys on a Friday night, it would do me no favors. My choice of desk décor and abundance of classic Nintendo and Zelda T-shirts already earned odd looks. According to her, thirty-three was too old for a gaming obsession.

Killing time—I refused to leave before Dany, especially since I’d arrived late that morning—I pulled up my personal email and discovered a new message from my mother.

My darling Ensley,

Just a quick one today. I’m running out the door. You remember Grace, who I met at yoga? She’s taking me for afternoon tea at a cute tea house that recently opened in town. I feel like royalty. We have a matinee at the theater afterward, then we’re meeting a few other people for drinks. Sweet child of mine, we are overdue for a phone date. Maybe next week sometime? Let me know what you have available. I have a few things on the calendar, but I’m sure we can work around them.

Love you always and forever, Mom

“Thank you, Grace,” I mumbled under my breath. My mother’s expanding social life helped me relax and eased the pressure.