Time slowed down as we both stared at each other. I softened my knees and he squared his shoulders.
Anytime, buddy.
Rose jerked her head at him and moved away from me, allowing me to follow them both in. Mages and bounty hunters were gathered in the lobby, mostly silent, all eyes on me. Someone had tipped them off that I was being brought in. Ben, the power-hungry coward and pain in my ass, leaned against the wall near the elevators and gave me a wide smile as we approached.
Rose pressed the button for the paranormal elevator. The elevator we used when bringing in dangerous bounties. What a nice touch.
Ben winked at me. “Danica Amana brought in for questioning. I never thought I’d see the day,” he drawled.
“I’m not surprised by your mental inadequacies. As always, your train of thought is stalled at the station.”
The male bounty hunter snorted, and Ben glowered at me, stepping close. His hand twitched as if he’d like to smash his fist into my face. I ignored him, sauntering into the elevator as soon as the doors opened.
Rose pressed the down button. They were taking me to the interrogation rooms. Just a few weeks ago, I’d stood in one of those rooms with her and questioned a witch who’d been suspected of killing demons. Now, I was going to be the one interrogated.
Life was funny.
The elevator doors opened and my eyes met Keigan’s. He was pale, his mouth turned down. He narrowed his eyes at Rose, and the look on his face clearly communicated his disappointment. She shifted on her feet and looked away.
“Danica,” he murmured. “I’m sure this has just been a big misunderstanding. We’ll get this cleared up.”
“I don’t think so. They tried to put me in Naud chains, Keigan.”
He blanched and Rose flushed. “Naud chains? What were you thinking?”
“Albert’s orders,” Rose said.
Keigan ignored her. “I’ll speak to him,” he said to me. “We’ll figure it out.”
I had a feeling we wouldn’t figure anything out, but I nodded and followed Rose to interrogation room three. Yes, she remembered the last time we were here too. She’d been so terrified of Vas she’d nearly pissed her pants, and now she was attempting to prove that she was in charge.
I sat down on one of the metal chairs and both bounty hunters leaned against the wall. The room was silent as we waited. Rose had her head bowed and was silently studying the ground. If she hadn’t been such an asshole from the moment I met her, I’d probably feel sorry for her. She’d imagined she would bring me in here in Naud chains, humiliating me in front of everyone. Instead, I’d walked freely behind her, while Keigan— a mage she looked up to— had made it clear he was disgusted by all of it.
The door swung open, and my eyes met Albert’s. He was dressed in a gray suit, his eyes hard, a deep pillow crease on his cheek. Clearly, he hadn’t lost any sleep after firing me.
“Danica,” he said. I nodded at him. He jerked his head at the bounty hunters, and they left the room.
The door opened once more. Keigan. “You’re entitled to a representative,” he said. “Would you like me to stay?”
I smiled at him. “Sure.” It was more for him than me. He was clearly miserable, his face pale and his brow furrowed. If I said no, he’d likely just stand outside the door, wringing his hands. I didn’t knowwhyKeigan had taken me under his wing when I first began contracting for the Mage Council, but he was the only person here who truly gave a shit about me.
Keigan took a seat next to me. Albert didn’t seem pleased, but he didn’t object, sliding into the chair on the opposite side of the table.
“Do you know why we brought you in?”
Oh, is that what they’d done? I gave him a look that said he knew damn well I’d brought myself in. He sat back in his chair, tenting his hands on the table in front of him.
“Rose said the Mage Council got wind of my argument with Gary.”
“Yes. A few hours later, the gnome ended up almost dead. He may still die.”
My stomach twisted. “I have no motive to hurt Gary.”
“Then why were you seen screaming in his store? Why did a bounty hunter nearby report a wave of dark power? If you went back tonight and lost control, it will go better for you if you admit it now.”
“I went back to apologize. I found Gary crumpled on the floor. His shop looked like someone had tried to ruin everything he owned.”
Or, like someone had been looking for something. Had his goods been broken because someone wanted to hurt him, or were they broken by someone who was looking for something?
