“That’s right. On the South Side.” Dr. Grabstein returned to his work, humming.
“Thanks!” Hailey hurried down the hall and inside the elevator, the stench of chlorine and death, sticking to her, making her nauseous. Rushing outside, she shook out her shirt, letting the sweet smell of city traffic and river water wash over her.
Fin’s car sat empty in theparking lot.
When Fin rounded the corner into the alley, the cat with purple eyes, which he’d glimpsed from the parking lot, strutted next to a dumpster, and sat itself down.
“Asher?” Fin said cautiously. “This is a new look for you.”
The cat faded into the shadows and a tall, gaunt man emerged.
“Pádraig O’Shea,” he said, and he bowed.
“Cobon,” Fin replied coldly. “What are you doing here?”
“I might ask you the same,” said Cobon.
Fin weighed his answer. The Envoy would know if he lied.
“Research. And you?”
“I hit a snag,” Cobon replied, baring his rotting teeth and looking suddenly…amused.
Fin made a choking noise in his throat. “You…you got a little…” He curled his lip and pointed to Cobon’s mouth. “I know a good dentist,” he said, leaning back, wrinkling his nose.
Cobon’s smile snapped into a grimace. “Mind your manners, slave,” Cobon said slowly.
“Forgive me, your highness.” Fin swung his arm with a flourish as he bowed mockingly in front of the Envoy.
Cobon drew a sharp breath as his violet eyes ping-ponged around the alley. “You were sent to protect her,” he said in a high voice, “weren’t you?”
Fin’s cocky smile melted, and Cobon exchanged with him a knowing look.
“Don’t make me laugh, Pádraig,” Cobon jeered. “You? A Guardian?” Cobon put his face next to Fin’s. “You would have ripped her apart if I’d asked you to, don’t deny it.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Cobon,” said Fin stepping back. “You’re incapable of laughing—first of all.” Fin rolled his eyes. “And second, you don’t control me. Those days are over. I’m a free man.”
“Are you so sure?” Cobon chuckled, and that chuckle morphed into a cackle, which turned into a maniacal belly laugh.
Fin eyed him cautiously. Cobon was clearly mad, and that was dangerous.
“Why didn’t you ask me, then?” Fin said backing away slowly, and the Envoy straightened up.
“Asher’s favorite pet?” he spat. “You would’ve run straight to him, and Asher…Asher the Benevolent!” Cobon raised his arms dramatically. “He still thinks he’s so just. So…righteous. He objects to my…” He stifled a laugh. “…my…methods.”
Fin stepped back again.
“So Asher made you a Guardian,” Cobon taunted, and Fin wasn’t about to correct him. “You’re not a very good one. And now that you’ve failed in your duty, do watch your own back, Guardian. Asher does not very happily tolerate failure, and I find you insufferably annoying.”
He turned toward the shadows, but then pivoted and lunged at Fin, thrusting his hand through his chest. Cobon wrapped his fingers around Fin’s soul and tugged it just a little. He stared into Fin’s wide-open eyes.
“I would do it, you know,” he whispered, “but why ruin a perfectly good servant?”
“You’d be doing me a favor,” Fin grunted.
Cobon slammed him against the brick alley wall and vanished. Fin fell like a rag doll to the pavement and rolled onto his back, clutching his chest.
Hailey was calling for him.
