Page 46 of Bitten By Betrayal

“She doesn’t know where the other children were taken, other than off the island. We think they used a submarine or some kind of ocean supe to get through the shield. We just aren’t sure what could do that. But we need to figure out where they were going and what was done to them when they got there.”

“I think it’s time to visit the doctor in the brig,” I said, standing on much stronger legs. “I have a few questions for him.”

* * *

When we got to the brig, the stone walls and torches reminded me of the fight with a kitsune, and how Karma had broken through as a dragon and set her on fire. As we walked the winding tunnel of a hall, our steps echoing in the empty space, I remembered with clarity the sight of Julian lying prone on the table with the device on his head and the way I’d fought so hard to save him. Why had I done that? No one deserved that fate, that was why. Although, I fully expected the doctor to be attached to the fae machine since that was what the general did with dangerous prisoners, and I wasn’t as bothered by that. I wasn’t looking forward to seeing him naked, though, that was certain. It became obvious as we reached the end of the hall, however, that the cells were empty with no sign of Orpheus.

“I knew the general was behind this,” Sam growled. His skin started to buckle, and I put a hand on his arm to calm him so he wouldn’t go full wolf and attack.

“We still don’t know for sure. But even if he is part of it, we have to be smart about how we approach this. If we charge in the command center, we’ll end up down here with that fae thing on our heads or dead.”

“I’m tired of waiting while they do gods-know-what to those kids. Surely, he knows his prisoner is missing.” Sam’s anger flared red on his aura. I didn’t blame him. I wanted answers too.

“Back to my earlier idea,” I said, taking his hand and pulling him into the elevator.

It opened exactly where I’d intended—Tittwell’s office. The imp looked up and his eyes grew even bigger at the sight of the growling man with sharp teeth.

“Sit,” I commanded before he ran. “And answer all our questions truthfully.”

Tittwell dropped back in his seat, fidgeting.

“You won’t remember this conversation,” I added, something about the sentence making me feel wrong. I’d always hated using my mind-bending because it stole people’s free will—something I believed in strongly. Not for the first time, I wished I couldn’t do it in the first place, so I’d never have to deal with the moral dilemma of its use.

I shook it off. We couldn’t blow our cover to the general if he was indeed behind this, and it was looking more and more like he was as the events going on under his nose piled up. And if he knew, then it stood to reason his right-hand rat knew too.

“Where are the missing children?” Sam demanded, pounding a fist down on the glass desk so hard I was afraid it would crack.

“At the offsite laboratory,” Tittwell answered.

“Where is that?” I asked, exchanging a glance with Sam.

“Greenland,” he said.

My heart sank as I pictured the lonely, snow-covered land stretching out for miles around wherever they were kept. The hopelessness they must feel… It made me ill.

“What’s the security like?” Sam asked.

“Heavy. You’d need an army to get to the center where the subjects are. Guards are stationed all around the building, so there’s no chance of breaking in.” Tittwell grinned.