Page 19

“A backup plan? A spare scepter? I’m afraid I don’t have any others lying around.”

“A backup plan for Mack.” I fold my arms. “There’s nothing we can do about the scepter right now. But we need a plan B in case the elixir doesn’t work.”

Thornfield sits down in the armchair and sighs heavily, as if this entire thing with Mack and Snow is an annoyance. A distraction. His eyes graze my stomach, my thighs, my legs. And I’m suddenly very aware that I’m not wearing pants.

Retrieving my jeans from beside Mack’s bed, I continue. “I know they’re not your concern. I know you brought us here because you needed us for something else, and that helping Mack is just a side quest for you. But⁠—”

“It’s fine.” Thornfield waves his hand in the air, still watching me as I button up my jeans and adjust my tank top.

I’m conscious of the fact I’m not wearing a bra and should be. I find the bra, but just hold it awkwardly instead of attempting to put it on. “Fine?”

“I have no particular feelings for the shifter and the bear, but I think an alliance between us might be useful in future.”

I shake my head a little incredulously. “Your compassion is astounding.”

Ignoring me, Thornfield says, “I know where we might be able to find some information to help us.”

“All right…” I glance at Kim. He’s been studying Lucien carefully, and I’m not sure whether it’s because he’s interested in what he’s saying or because he’s trying to see him clearly without his glasses on. “And where might we find this information?”

For some reason, everything Thornfield says makes me suspicious. As if there’s an alternate motive to every single thing he does and thinks.

“A bookstore in town. Occult. Some of my family’s books ended up there, and I know there is one in particular that includes some writings on bear shifters. It’s not something you’ll find in any other edition.”

“How did they end up in an occult bookstore instead of here with you?” I fold my arms in front of my stomach, aware the movement makes my breasts swell above the neckline of my tank top.

Lucien licks his fangs. He’s noticed too.

“They were stolen a few years ago.”

“And you just left them there?” Kim asks, frowning.

Thornfield ignores him. He glances at the window. “The sun sets early this time of year. We’ll leave as soon as it goes down. Get in, get the books, then I’ll go and deal with Zephyra.”

“That’s a lot to do in a short space of time. Why not just tell me what the book is and I’ll go get it?” I move toward him, but Thornfield flashes me a red-tinged stare that stops me in my tracks.

“No,” he snaps. “I go with you or there is no book.”

“All right.” I frown, tapping my foot with irritation. “Fine. Then I’ll meet you down front at sunset.”

“Just before,” Thornfield calls as I exit the room. “Before sunset, Nova.”

9

LUTHER

White hot fire surges in my palm. It grows, swirling into a small orb of contained inferno. With a practiced motion, I hurl it to the ground. It snakes to the edges of our curtained cubicle, stops, and expands upwards. Soon, a ring of fire encircles us. The flames lick the air hungrily, illuminating our faces with a flickering orange glow.

Paul purses his lips, even though the heat is causing beads of sweat to form on his brow.

We have been doing this for almost twelve hours, now. And he has not broken.

“I need to know where the Scepter of Disillusion is.” I rise from the stool, my movements deliberate as I shed my jacket and reveal the black vest clinging to my skin. The muscles in my arms tense, ready but unwilling. “It’ll be easier if you just tell me now.”

Slowly, steadily, Paul replies for the hundredth time, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I glare down at him, and sigh. “I really didn’t want to do this.” I flex my hands at my sides, closing my eyes as heat floods into my fingertips.

“I’m not sure I believe that,” Paul mutters. “You’re a demon. A filthy fucking super. You live for this shit. You don’t know how to feel. There’s not an ounce of humanity in your rotten, evil body. You’re enjoying every second of this.”