Brute’s snarl disappeared. He nodded and then shook his head.
“So, maybe?”
Shake.
“Partially?”
Nod.
“And partially somewhere else too?”
Nod.
“So he’s partially trapped here in the city, in our dimension. And partially trapped elsewhere. And the key and the crucifix are part of it all somehow.”
Nod.
“Do you know where Hayyel is trapped?”
Head shake.
“Do we need the sound board?”
Shake. He sat down and sniffed the dog’s backside. The dog jumped on him and began mock fighting, mouth and teeth and fake growls. The werewolf had nothing to add.
To my team, I said, “What about the journals? Were there any more maps in them?”
Alex called Santiago and asked, the cell on speaker phone.
The scholarly vamp said, “Yes, My Queen. There was a map of Dauphin Island, of the old fort when it was in use, Fort Gaines. That is all, thus far. And thank you, My Queen, for the rooms at the Yellowrock Clan Home. It is more than I ever expected.”
I frowned at Bruiser, who smiled slightly at me, proving he had given Santiago rooms in the clan home, rooms that were obviously better than the one in HQ. Making the appropriate noises, I ended the call.
“Maps of Dauphin Island won’t help us,” I said, “despite the ancient history of a possible massacre there. We’re wasting time. We know the angel is here, at least in some form. How do we set him free, or keep him safe?”
“We could bring the statue here,” Alex said, “but if he’s here and not here, and his wings were on the walls and he manifested within the statue, it could be that the statue and the place are both necessary for Hayyel to manifest. If so, bringing the statue here? I don’t see how that would help.”
“Ahedge of thorns? Surrounding the church, to keep Mainet’s witches out?” Eli asked.
“Can the witches handle two good wards at the same time?” Koun asked.
“That would be four. One at the null prison, HQ’s, the clan home, and the church.” I tapped the table as I counted, and finished my tea. “So I’d guess no.”
“We’re gonna need more witches,” Alex said. “I’ll contact Lachish and work with the Everharts.”
“Speaking of witches,” Bruiser said, “we are expected at HQ.”
I looked at the wet-dog-stinking wolf. His crystal eyes turned from his playmate to me. “You coming with, or you doing that interdimensional timewalking thing youdo?” The wolf stepped up to me and rubbed his damp coat across my jeans-covered thigh before walking out the doggie door. “And now I smell of wet werewolf.”
Will use killing claws on stupid dog,Beast thought.
Don’t hurt him too much. He has secrets we need to ferret out.
Beast has secrets. Beast will not tell stupid long furry rat creature.
It took a moment, but I put the long furry rat creature together with the secrets and ferret and thought back,What secrets do I need to know?
Beast went silent.
