Robert’s phone rang, and he answered, “Gwen, is he there?”
“Not sure. Something’s going on. A woman showed up and Lamar freaked. She went in, but no one has come out yet.”
“Wait for us to get there. We’re almost done here.”
“Preston’s okay?”
“Yeah. Give us a minute to get there.”
Her tone took on an urgent note. “There’s something going on in there. I can sense the magic.” Then the phone went dead.
Robert ran back into the apartment and grabbed Preston’s arm. “Something’s going on at Lamar’s. Gwen went in.”
Liz frowned. “Go, I’ll bring Dacia with me. I’m almost done, then I’ll lock up before I leave.”
Dacia came out of the bedroom, her head tilted to the side. “What’s going on?”
Preston took in a deep breath and turned to Dacia. “Not sure yet. This may not have anything to do with your father. We were watching a Silver Council member who had ties with the Dales. Our mage went in without backup. Lamar’s a leak, so it could mean anything.”
“My father had ties to the Dales. Long and old. It’s likely him.”
Preston nodded.
Robert looked from Liz, to Dacia, and back to Preston. He knew this was his call, and no choice was easy. He also knew Liz would have his balls if he told Dacia no.
He took a deep breath and turned to Dacia. “After this morning, if you want to join us, I won’t stop you, but you need to listen to us. If we give you direction, or even an order, it’s for your safety.”
She nodded. “You’ve got it. Remus needs to understand that, blood or not, I will never help him again. He will pay.”
“Liz, you coming, or going home?”
“If you need me, you can come get me, but I’m no longer an enforcer, and I want to finish this.” She nodded to the drawer. “Preston, I’ll show you how to get the documents later. For now, I’m the only one who can get to them.”
Preston walked over to Liz and gave her a hug. Robert had to smile. Even after she pretended to be dead 21 years, Preston and Liz were close as ever.
“Thank you. I feel better knowing Gebiet can’t lay claim to Dacia.”
Liz grinned savagely. “We’d kill the damned dragon before we let that happen.”
“Got that right,” Preston replied and stepped back to grab Robert’s hand.
Robert took Dacia’s. “I apologize in advance if this makes you sick.”
* * * *
They landed on Lamar’s porch, but the door was open. Lamar lay in a pool of blood at the entrance.
“Shit,” Preston muttered, stepping over the threshold to roll Lamar to his back. He was barely breathing and bleeding from his head. Most likely a concussion.
“I’ll take him to Emily,” Robert said. “She’s at headquarters. Maybe she can get some answers out of him.” Robert knelt down, and zapped Lamar away.
Preston turned to Dacia. “Stay behind me, Minx. I’m positive he’s gone, but we still need to be careful.”
She nodded, not saying a word as she fell in line behind him.
He held back a laugh as he realized she was still in her sleek dress and stilettos. Hot as hell, but definitely not the most functional outfit.
He went through the house, then down to the basement. More blood, and layers of dead skin. It looked like a dozen charred snakes molted. There was also blood on the cement floor. Most importantly, no sign of Gwen.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Preston hurried up the stairs in time for Robert to appear before him. Dacia ran up on his heels.
Preston said, “Paineater was here. Remus is gone. So is Gwen.” He walked to the kitchen door and threw it open. Lamar’s car wasn’t in the carport or the street. “Remus drove out, so Gwen’s likely alive.”
Dacia cut in, “I know where he’s taking her.”
He prayed Dacia didn’t say Deception Pass, and yet, he knew she would.
“He has a hideout, well hidden, up on—”
“Deception Pass,” he groaned.
She nodded. “You know about it?”
“It’s where I found his contract with Gebiet. As much as I don’t want to know, I need to ask. Did he ever hurt you there?”
“My father didn’t. But Gebiet tried to claim me. I ran and never went back.”
“You don’t have to go now. You can stay in Edenton, where it’s safe,” Robert offered.
“Thanks to Preston and Liz, he can’t have me. I’ll be fine.” She grabbed Robert’s hand with a stubborn set to her lips as she stared back at him.
Preston sighed. It would take Remus at least ninety minutes to get there. They had time.
“Before we go there, can you take us to Dacia’s so she can change?”
Dacia looked down at herself with a frown. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
“It’s going to get ugly when he shows up. You may be able to run in those shoes, but wouldn’t it be easier if you were in something more practical?”
“Maybe.”
Robert took them to her house.
“I’ll be right back.”
“It’s at least two hours from Lamar’s to Deception Pass by car, and he can’t disperse and travel with another person. She was taken recently. You don’t have to rush.”
Her head dipped into a nod before she walked up the stairs.
Preston turned to Robert. “I’m worried. Gwen’s in trouble.”
“Me too. Her absence is the only reason I can come up with to explain why he didn’t take the opportunity to ghost away like he normally would.”
Preston scrubbed a hand over his face. “What was Jayde thinking, healing him? She has plenty of reason to hate the fucker. Remus destroyed her family.”
“She also thinks long term. Maybe she thought whoever took him in would make him suffer more than she could.”
His phone rang, and he answered, “Yes?”
Speak of the devil, Jayde sounded shaken. “Remus has the mage. You best track him and fast. He’s likely to beat the shit out of her. Or worse, torture her when he realizes he can’t get it up. I made sure he couldn’t fuck another person.”
“Why do you sound like hell?”
She swallowed hard enough he could hear it over their phone connection. “Someone cooked him from the inside out. I’m healing, slowly for me. I’ll be better tonight.”
“Shit, I fried him while he was without form. I wish you’d left him to die.”
Jayde snarled, but it was pained. “Yeah, well one of your enforcers showed up. It was take his favorite means of escape or be taken in for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Give me some credit. His body is whole—by outward appearance, but he can’t slip away like he has in the past, and he can’t rape anyone else.” With that, the call ended.
Preston slammed his hand against the wall.
“Why does the Paineater have your number?”
“She has helped on a number of cases. Usually right after she took some important talent from our criminals.”
“She’s wanted,” Robert pointed out.
“For aiding criminals. I know, but think about this, Robert. Those monsters she’s helped, she crippled them, leaving them easier to take in. She’s not on their side, though at first look it may seem that way. She called to tell me about Gwen. She also mentioned he can’t disperse, and his dick is still broken. So there’s a positive in this. Gwen will be worse for the wear, but she won’t be violated. We have time to stop him from killing her. The bastard will want his sanctuary.”
“Right. Doesn’t make me feel much better, but you have a point.” Robert sighed.
Dacia came back out in jeans, hiking boots, and a hoody. She chewed her lip a second before asking, “This work?”
“Yup,” Preston answered, trying not to take too much notice of how tempting she was in faded denim, and dressed down. Later, when they were alone, and not dealing with a million things, he’d show her how sexy he found this casual side of her.
He closed the distance and caught her face in his hands, threading his fingers into her hair. Staring into her eyes, he gave her one more out, “Are you sure you want to be there? I have every intention of nailing his ass, but I don’t know what shape Gwen will be in, and I’m not sure what tricks he still has up his sleeves.”
“We’ll get her out. I understand what he’s capable of. Better than either of you. I can help. I want to.”
“If it ever becomes too much, Robert will bring you right back here.”
“He won’t need to.” She reached out toward Robert.
Shaking his head, Robert took her hand, and grabbed Preston’s shoulder. They immediately stood in the dungeon, untouched since they left.
Preston’s eyes widened as he noticed his light was still shining.
Dacia looked around, her head tipping to the side. “It feels like your magic.”
“Um… I… uh...”
Robert snorted. “New talent indeed.” He looked to Dacia. “He made a magelight, and when he blew out a breath it exploded into some kind of glowing dust. Apparently the magic isn’t fading away like it normally would.”
Dacia shivered as she took a look around. When her eyes landed on the cage, she backed into Preston.
“Sure I shouldn’t take you home, Dacia? No one will blame you,” Robert prodded.
Preston wanted to urge her to take him up on the offer, but he also knew everyone had to face their demons sooner or later.
She took a deep breath and shook her head slowly. Her wide-eyed stare turned into a defiant glare. “I’m fine. No one else will ever be put in that cage. I won’t allow it.”
Robert met Preston’s gaze. He seemed to relax which helped Preston. Then he had an idea. One corner of his mouth tipped up as he turned to Dacia.
“What if he’s the only one to ever set foot in that cage again? Those wards on your place? Can you replicate and alter them? I think I know how the three of us can trap him.”
“I helped my mother do Dane’s and I did mine myself, tweaking them slightly. If you tell me what you’re looking for, I can weave them to do what we need.”
“Here’s the plan...”