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“It's possible, given he knows I'll be pushing for you to follow Penny through it.” He hesitated. “The bigger question is, how did he even see the Deseo rift, let alone enter it? I can't do either, and I now share your DNA.”
“Perhaps Dream reprogrammed the rift to allow him passage.” And perhaps he had one of those eye things the sand base’s people used to see them.
Jonas hesitated, his gaze briefly distracted. “Nuri says she doubts that's possible given everyone who is capable of using them has vampire in them.”
“But if he didn't go through the rift, where the hell is he? He can't just disappear.”
“No.” He paused again. “Nuri's going to send Ela into Deseo to scan the owners and guards. Branna can’t have gotten into a locked basement without someone either seeing him or giving him access.”
Ela was not only a mercenary, but also a telepath of some power. She’d been sent into Deseo when I'd first discovered the rift there, but as far as I was aware, hadn't uncovered anything. I very much suspected that, other than confirming Branna’s presence there, it would probably be the result once again.
“What if Branna comes back and sees her?”
Jonas’s smile was grim. “Simple—she’ll kill him.”
I didn’t think there’d be anything simple about that particular task.
What do you want Bear and me to do? Cat said.
I hesitated, but given my earlier promise, it was better if they were here, where it was relatively safe, to wait for that call.
Bear, come back, I said, and then returned my gaze to Jonas. “Is everything ready to go?”
He nodded. “I'm meeting Nuri and a crew of mercenaries in the old forest. Once you're through the rift and we pick up the signal, we'll move.”
“And the tracker?”
He held up a hand. Between two of his fingers was what looked to be a rather long white pill.
“I'm gathering I have to swallow that, because it sure as hell is going to be obvious if you stick it in my arm or even my foot.”
He smiled. “Unlike most trackers, this one is made of a substance that can't be picked up by scanners.”
I frowned as I plucked the pill from his fingers and studied it. “What about bioscanners?”
“The newer ones might.”
“So it could be a problem if it’s still in my system for tonight's dinner with Karlinda.”
“No, because private residences rarely have bioscanners installed. They're too expensive.”
“Ah, good.” I grabbed some water and quickly swallowed the thing. It felt like I was swallowing plastic. “What about a comms device? If something happens this time, I want to be able to contact you.”
“I have an ear-mic ready, but you'd better kit up before we place that on.” He paused, amusement tugging at the corners of his lips. “I asked your little ones to bring up some clothes from your bunker. They rather cleverly brought up weapons, as well.”
They giggled and danced around with pleasure at the compliment. Jonas shook his head and handed me the neatly folded combat pants and a camouflage shirt. They'd obviously retrieved them direct from the old stores because the machines that washed my clothes no longer pressed them.
I arched an eyebrow and, with a snort of amusement, Jonas turned around so I could change. The little ones then handed me two smaller guns, a machine rifle, ammo for them both, and my knife. Jonas attached the ear-mic, his scent filling my nostrils and stirring desires that could not be acted upon. Not yet.
“Do you know how to use one of these?” His voice held the slightest hint of huskiness.
“Yes. It automatically activates if someone contacts me, but I have to press it to reply.”
“Make sure you keep us posted.” He stepped back, giving me space I wasn't entirely sure I wanted. “I want to know when you're at the rift, when you're through, what you find. We need to know what to expect if we need to come in and rescue you.”
“Will do, though I don't expect—” I stopped as Bear reappeared.
Sorry for losing Branna, he said. I looked everywhere, but there are no exits out of that place aside from the one we were watching and that rift.
