“Yes.”
She smiles at that, nodding faintly. “The others are…” She sighs, and her gaze moves over Njáll’s desk as though she doesn’t wish to look at me. “Well, when Tamesis took Njáll in December, he took Elle too. She’s having a tough time of it. I’ve left Kayode and Briar to keep an eye on her, to maintain control of their districts…”
“And you?”
“I’m dealing with the rest.”
“What’s the rest?”
“Augustine appeared before Hunter Alwynn earlier this evening,” she says, and I can’t help my growl. Afsaneh gives me a sharp nod. “There’s nothing we can do. He broke into Kieran’s pack house but did not actually harm anyone. Deacon is close to agreeing to a challenge.”
“He can’t.” Njáll wouldn’t want this. He wavered on what to offer Augustine, I know that, but once he knew how hurt that young wolf is… “Can I speak with him?”
“Alpha Deacon?”
“No, Augustine.”
Afsaneh shakes her head. “Not through any usual route. He says he fears for his life. The hunters are keeping him under lock and key.”
Which wouldn’t have been a problem for melast night, but there’s the odd witch among the hunters, and I’ll be fucked if I come up against them now.
“You’re different,” Afsaneh says, brow furrowed as she looks me over properly this time.
There’s no point in lying or holding out on her. Njáll will know from the first instant, I think. “I am no longer a member of the Wild Hunt.”
“Oh.”
“I want—I want to help find him, but I am not sure what I can do.”
“You have a better idea of who took him, don’t you?” she asks, and I nod. I can’t force myself to say the words. Still keeping their secrets, even after the Huntsman cast me aside.
“I do,” I say when Afsaneh doesn’t speak.
“Then use your contacts. If you need help from us, just ask for it. Do you have a way to keep in touch with me?”
For the second time tonight, I pull out my phone. Afsaneh smiles a little when I hand it over and enters her number alongside all those of the Hunt.
“I will answer when you call,” she says, “and whatever you need, you can have.”
“Thank you.”
She eyes my bag next, which I’ve dropped at my feet. “I’ll have someone take care of that, too. The rooms you used before are still empty. Will they do?”
“Y-yes.” I clear my throat. “That’s more than… Thank you.”
Does she know what Njáll and I were doing?Did, that one time anyway, but did he tell her? Or can she just see that I… feel something for him?
It doesn’t matter, does it? The point is that she’s helping, so now I need to fulfil my side of this deal and go find her crai.
“I’ll call you when I have anything,” I say. I know where to go first.
Sam and Spectra are both standing outside the front of Kieran’s pack house when I arrive. I frown. It’s still early in the evening for them to be performing magic so openly, but then I realise that I don’t know if they are—I can’tfeelif they are.
Spectra notices me first, and her eyes go wide when she realises what’s missing. Sam scowls. “What’re you doing back here already?”
“I… need some help.”
“More of it?” he says, but Spectra shakes her head, and he looks at her, then at me again.
