I twirl my fork through the noodles and take another bite, thinking it over. I have another plan in mind, one I can’t share until Malachi and I are alone.
“If for some reason that’s not feasible, our main focus is still to find and infiltrate the lab,” Bash adds, ever the voice of reason. “We may have to make the Volkovs a separate mission.”
We’re exhausted, worn thin, and soon, the only sound in the room is the scrape of forks and the quiet clatter of glasses. No one lingers around the table, there’s an unspoken agreement that tonight we need rest more than talk.
The house has eight bedrooms, more than enough for everyone to spread out, but I want Malachi and me to have our own space for what I need to do tonight.
“Can we stay in the shed?” I ask him quietly as we load our dishes into the sink.
He glances down at me, that irresistible half smile curving his lips. “We can stay wherever you want, little demon.”
The warmth in his eyes makes my chest ache, and I have tostop myself from kissing him right there. Instead, we say our goodnights, agreeing to meet for breakfast at first light.
Outside, the night air bites hard, and our breaths curl like smoke as we jog across the snow toward the shed. My teeth chatter, my heart pounds—not from the cold but from everything I know is about to happen once we’re alone.
Malachi drops our bag of clothes onto the couch and kneels by the little brick fireplace. Sparks crackle, then flames catch, filling the shed with a faint orange glow. I tug off my jacket, my fingers twitching, and pace the length of the room, chewing on my bottom lip.
“Malachi, I don’t think we need to risk sending anyone to the estate tomorrow to stalk your father and brothers,” I say.
He glances over his shoulder as he closes the little doors on the fireplace. His brows pinch together. “What do you mean?”
“I’m going to use my gift to contact Viktor tonight,” I begin, but his head is already shaking.
“I don’t like it, Kat. Your gift has been unpredictable lately, and what if he tries to hurt you? Fuck.” He pushes to his feet, running a hand through his hair, pacing now too. “I don’t know how to protect you from ghosts I can’t see.”
I step into his space, pressing a hand to his chest, tilting my face up to his. “I’ll be okay. I’ve been getting stronger. You’ve missed a lot of the trainings, so you haven’t seen me in action, but I promise I’ve got this.”
Some of the tension leaves his shoulders, but I can see in his eyes he’s not convinced.
He sits on the couch, bracing his elbows on his knees. I follow, sinking down beside him. His hand scrubs over his face, then falls limp against his thigh.
“After I took your Avidian and we saw her, the spirit, that Project Viridian girl who looks so much like you… I thought it was you, Kat. I couldn’t reach you, couldn’t help you. It scared the hell out of me, feeling so helpless, not being able to protect you.”
My heart squeezes, tight and aching. I slide closer until our knees touch, until I can lace my fingers through his. “I’m okay. That wasn’t me. I’m here with you. Always. I’m not as breakable as you think. I can handle this.”
He lifts his head slowly, his gaze catching mine, and I give him a reassuring nod.
“What makes you think he’s even going to tell us the truth?” Malachi asks.
“Because his fucking twin brother and their sister had him killed,” I say. “I thought Banks wanted revenge, but your uncle will be livid.”
Viktor was always unnerving to think about, and the thought of summoning him makes me queasy.
Malachi exhales slowly, his jaw tight. “Let’s get this over with, then. What do you need from me?”
I scrunch my nose, thinking. “Nothing. Be here with me. And don’t freak out if anything bad happens. Actually, grab a pen and paper so you can write down anything I say. That way we don’t forget.”
He rises, muttering under his breath, and digs around in the kitchen drawer before coming back with a notepad and pen. “Real reassuring, Katja,” he mumbles as he sits beside me again.
I give him a quick kiss, then ease back, moving to the chair by the fireplace. The firelight flickers across the walls, throwing restless shadows, and I put a little space between us. If I’m going to focus, I need distance, need silence, need to breathe.
I close my eyes and picture Viktor, holding onto the memory of his sharp features, the gross musty smell of his cologne. I will him to come, and it happens faster than usual. A cold chill slides over me, stealing the heat from the fireat my side. When I open my eyes, he’s towering above me in his translucent form, eyes hollow, expression twisted, same dark suit I saw him in at the party.
“If it isn’t my brother’s favorite pet,” he drawls, glancing around the room. “I wondered when you’d call upon me.”
I steal a look at Malachi, giving him a quick reassuring nod before fixing my gaze back on Viktor. “I need to know how to find Marco’s lab in the gutter zone near here.”
Viktor throws his head back, a deep, mocking laugh rolling from his chest. “And why would I do anything to help you or my traitor of a nephew?”
