“You found the pandora’s box?” Peter asked, coming out from the spot where he’d hid himself on Roslyn’s appearance.
Tate frowned at him. She was beginning to see why he had thrown his lot in with Christopher. He had the same instincts of self-preservation.
“You know about it?” Roslyn asked.
Peter looked at Tate. “It was only an idea Dad and the others were toying with as a possibility for leaving their relics to the next generation. I didn’t know they’d actually done it.”
“What happened after the idiot over there made off with me?” Tate jerked her head at Peter.
Anguish filled Roslyn’s face. “We were taken.”
“All of you?”
Roslyn hesitated before nodding reluctantly.
Tate was silent as Night moved closer, chuffing softly. She breathed deep and then released it slowly, trying to shake off the tight, trembling feeling in her stomach at that news. As awful as the idea of Ryu and the rest being held captive by Nathan, it was not as bad as them being dead already.
“That’s not all,” Roslyn said softly. “The ancient has sent some of his monsters to find Dewdrop. They’re getting close.”
Night was restless as he shifted in place, his hands clenching into fists before releasing. Tate was no better, the urge to get out there and do something was nearly overwhelming.
It was better to wait rather than mindlessly running around and getting caught themselves. Then they’d really be in trouble.
Tate looked up to find Roslyn’s gaze distant, as if she was debating whether to share something or not.
“What is it?”
Roslyn’s struggled to meet Tate’s gaze. “He’s hurting Ryu.”
Tate made a small sound before clamping down on her emotions. Losing her head wouldn’t help anyone and would just jeopardize their chances of rescuing the rest.
Ryu wasn’t the only one in danger, Tate knew.
Roslyn huddled in on herself, crossing her arms over her front as if she physically needed to hold herself together. Tate suspected others were enduring the same treatment as Ryu. Roslyn’s father most likely. Perhaps even Roslyn herself.
It made it all the more imperative to move fast and carefully.
For that reason, Tate took all of her emotions and stuffed them into a box. The urge to act impetuously. The fear she wouldn’t be in time. The looming specter of failure. All locked away behind cold rationality.
“Peter, tell me exactly how you managed to steal me right out from under Nathan’s nose,” Tate instructed.
She had an idea but it’s implementation would depend on what Peter had to say.
Peter grimaced at her, his expression full of reluctance and unwillingness.
Night let out a snarl and snapped his teeth at Peter, chuckling when the other man flinched.
So good to see the Veles hadn’t lost his touch at intimidation even if his form was currently that of a human’s.
Peter took a marble the size of a pebble out of his pant pocket, holding it up grudgingly so they could see. An emerald shimmer danced along its surface as if saying look at me.
“A warp stone,” Roslyn gasped. “I thought the academy was still decades from replicating those.”
“They are. I stole a prototype and made a few modifications.”
“How did you know how to do that?” Tate asked.
Peter’s hand dropped. “Dad taught me a little.”
