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“I’ll be feeling everything through the bond.”

“I know.” Ethan kissed him, and Rook had just enough time to realize it was the first time his mate had approached him that way, before Ethan pulled back. “I know, and that’s why I can do this without having a major panic attack.” He climbed out of the van before Rook could think of another reason to stop him.

Silas pulled up the body camera feed. Ethan walked east, portfolio under one arm, shoulders relaxed despite the fear humming through the bond. Rook pressed his palm against the van’s wall, his shadows spreading across the metal, every particle of his being straining toward his mate.

“His vitals are stable,” Silas murmured, watching a separate monitor. “Heart rate elevated but controlled. He’s managing the anxiety well.”

The bond pulsed with Ethan’s determination, underlaid with a thread of protectiveness that made Rook’s chest tight. His mate was walking into danger, thinking about future beacons who might need protection.

“I’m going to marry that man.”

Silas looked amused but nodded, keeping his eyes on the screen. Yes, Rook knew it was a human concept, but he felt he could pretend to be human for a day and absolutely should do it because it was the way humans bound themselves to a loved one. Rook would do that for Ethan, right after he tore Sebastian Pope into a million atoms.

The body cam showed Ethan reaching the church steps. They were pristine white stone, and there were brass fixtures on the double doors, with a historical preservation plaque mounted beside the entrance. Ethan climbed the steps and rang the doorbell.

Thirty seconds crawled past. The bond flickered with Ethan’s awareness - he was cataloging exits, noting camera positions, and measuring the distance back to the street.

He’s assessing how safe he is, Rook realized. He sent a calming - hopefully - push through their bond just as the door opened.

Sebastian Pope stood in the entrance. He looked just like the photos Silas had, his skin just a bit more tanned and his hair more silver against the black strands, but otherwise the same. Watching the camera screen, Rook took an instant dislike to the way the man was looking at Ethan, and his shadows started twitching, recognizing the predator for what he was.

“Mr. Park.” Pope’s smile didn’t meet his eyes. “You’re right on time. Please, come in.”

Ethan smiled back, and Rook noticed it was the same smile he used when tending the bar at the theater. Pleasant enough to be friendly, but still keeping things professional. “Thank you for the invitation, Mr. Pope. I’m looking forward to seeing your acquisition.”

The bond hummed with Ethan’s controlled fear as he stepped across the threshold. The door closed behind him. Rook’s shadows exploded outward, cracking the van’s interior walls before Silas caught his arm.

“He’s inside, he’s fine, and his vitals are slightly elevated, but they are still stable.” Silas kept his voice level. “Watch the feed. Trust your mate.”

Rook forced himself still, every particle of his being focused on the body camera and the bond thrumming with Ethan’s steady heartbeat.

The camera showed a renovated interior - exposed brick, reclaimed wood floors, and track lighting illuminating religious artifacts mounted on the walls. Pope led Ethan down a hallway lined with display cases containing manuscripts, jewelry, and ceremonial daggers.

“Your credentials are impressive,” Pope said. “European universities, specialized training in occult authentication. Tell me, what brought you back to Madison?”

“Family circumstances.” Ethan’s voice stayed even. “I needed to be closer to home, and the Garrison Theater offers flexible hours while I build my consulting practice.”

“Ah, yes. The theater.” Pope glanced back, and Rook saw the calculation in his expression. “I understand you’ve had some excitement there recently. Missing staff and even police investigations. Quite distressing.”

“Very distressing. I hope they find Fiona and the missing people soon.”

He’s lying. Ethan had been there at the warehouse, but clearly he was being careful, not sure just how much Pope knew.

“I’m sure they will.” Pope opened a door at the hallway’s end. “The manuscript is in my private study. After you.”

The bond spiked… Ethan had caught something in Pope’s tone, some warning Rook couldn’t hear through the feed.

“Actually,” Ethan said, “I prefer to conduct initial assessments in controlled conditions. Would you mind if we worked in your main gallery? It appears to have better lighting for examining the binding and ink composition.”

Pope’s smile never faltered. “Of course. I appreciate a person who maintains professional standards.”

Rook felt Ethan’s surge of relief through the bond - he was taking the adage about not going to a second location to apply even in a limited environment. It was a sensible thing to do, as it was unlikely a private study would have more than one exit, and the wards there, or even artifacts, could be stronger.

“He’s mapping the ward structure,” Silas said quietly, watching thermal overlays. “See how he’s positioning himself near the display cases? He’s triangulating the primary seal’s location, I’d guarantee it.”

Rook watched Ethan move through Pope’s gallery, asking questions about various pieces while his gaze cataloged everything - electrical outlets, ventilation grates, and even the way shadows fell across the floor.

Pope pulled a wooden case from a locked cabinet. “I have a manuscript here I’d like your opinion on. It’s anonymous, possibly Bohemian origin, and I was told it dated to approximately 1480. The content appears to be alchemical, but several symbols don’t match standard reference texts.”