I burst out laughing, and they both look at me like I’ve fallen off my rocker. “Of course she has. It’s been almost a week since someone tried to kill me. I’m overdue!”
Morpheus exchanges a glance with Maeve. “Is she all right?”
Maeve nods. “Just give her a minute.”
Eventually I wind down and catch my breath. “So what happens next?”
Maeve locks eyes with Morpheus. “The Gowdies and Caspians have been allies for centuries. But if you do a single thing to put Eloise at risk, I will consider it an act of war.”
His lids lower. “You’d do well to remember that we do not respond to threats, Ms. Gowdie. However, in this case, I have no desire to help the queen. She has already amassed far more power than any of the supernatural communities are comfortable with. If she succeeds in mating Damien and forcing him to become her consort, she’ll be unstoppable. A shade bound to his mate by blood will protect her at all costs. He’ll obey her direct commands. He will be her deadliest weapon. It is imperative that Ms. Harcourt’s identity remain a secret.”
“If that’s the case, why not rescue him!” I say, popping out of my chair. “With the power of the triune, you could have him home before nightfall.”
Morpheus growls. “Sit down.”
I’m raging mad that he hasn’t already rescued his friend, but reluctantly I lower myself back into my chair.
The shade glares at me. “While I respect and admire Damien, unfortunately, crossing the vampire queen is akin to declaring war on Night Haven. I’m sorry for your loss, Ms. Harcourt, but that isn’t a battle my triune is willing to fight. I’ll keep your identity as his mate a secret, and I’d advise you to do the same, but that is all I can do for you.”
I glare at him right back, folding my arms in front of my chest. “Fine. At least tell me where this Night Haven is. We can go.”
He looks confused for a beat, darting a glance between Maeve and me, then snorts. “I can never tell when you humans are making a joke.”
“I’m serious.”
He folds his hands on his desk. “As a favor to Damien, I won’t share the location of Night Haven with you. And now I have truly paid my debt to him, for you and Ms. Gowdie, if she was dumb enough to help you, would be dead the moment you set foot in Valeska’s territory, if not for being his mate then because you are human and would make a delicious meal.”
I look him dead in the eye, my voice low as I say, “But we have to do something.” I’m so angry it feels like my skin might split like a dried husk to make room for all the fire in my veins.
“I am sorry,” he says, and this time there is no humor in his voice, only sorrow. “I cared for your mother, and Damien is a friend. I’d like to help you. But take it from a warrior far more experienced in the ways of war than yourself. You do not want to pick a fight with the queen of Night Haven. She’s a vicious, heartless psychopath. The worst of her species. She will lie, cheat, steal, or kill to get what she wants. Damien is a warrior and a very powerful shade. He’s faced worse than this in our world and survived. My advice to you is to lie low, allow Valeska to grow tired of looking for you, and trust that Damien will solve the problem of his freedom in time.”
Like he did with the candle? I stand again and stare down my nose at him. “There’s no doubt in my mind that Damien is strong enough to survive anything the queen throws at him on his own,” I say firmly. “But even the strongest among us need saving sometimes. That’s why we have friends and mates, so that we don’t have to face our enemies alone.”
Morpheus’s expression softens, even his scar becoming less pronounced, his eyes dulling with memories he doesn’t share, ghosts from a past spent in another world if I had to guess. “The only way he’ll truly be alone is if he loses you. Don’t make him suffer that fate.”
Maeve stands and takes my hand, tugging me toward the door. “Thank you, Morpheus. We appreciate your time and your silence.”
He bows his head and turns back to his work. I allow Maeve to guide me from the club, a lump lodged deep in my throat.
6
Old Family Recipe
ELOISE
I stomp into Harcourt Manor with Maeve frustratingly quiet behind me. She hasn’t said a word the entire ride home and asked that I wait until we got here to discuss everything. She said she needed time to process what we’d learned. But I’ve had enough of waiting. I confront her the moment we’re inside.
“What if we offer Valeska a trade? Like we find something else she wants and give it to her if she frees Damien? If that doesn’t work, maybe we can find the third shade, Cassius. Just because Morpheus won’t risk his own hide to help his friend doesn’t mean Cassius won’t.”
When she doesn’t answer right away, I march to the kitchen and grab a bowl from the cupboard. I dig in the fridge and find some deli meat, berries, and leftover vegetable medley. I dump it all in the bowl.
“What’s that for?” Maeve asks as I nudge past her.
“Phantom. The fox I saw last night. I never fed him this morning. At least I think it’s a him. It could be a her. I don’t know. I didn’t get close enough to check.” I rub my aching head and make a point of easing my heavy footsteps as I reach the back door. Quietly I open it and scan the backyard, looking for the critter. When I don’t see the fox, I set the bowl down and snag the empty water dish.
The thunk of Maeve’s moto boots follows me to the kitchen. I yank up the handle on the faucet and fill the bowl, then smack it down again. When I turn around, still fuming, Maeve is blocking the way out.
“What are our next steps?” I ask, meeting her eyes. “How do we get him back?”
