“Oh. Okay.”
Nate, who was listening awkwardly, tried to strike up a conversation in the uncomfortable silence that followed. “So, Scar… The magic thing?”
“What about it?” I muttered. “It doesn’t matter anyway, she’s in their grasp. There’s nothing we can do.”
Nate sighed and turned to Ryu. “Maybe you’ll listen to me. Has anyone actuallyseenthis wolf and fox use magic?”
Ryu began. “No, but the barrier—”
“Aha! You saidbut,” Nate interrupted. “So you don’t know for sure.”
“What the hell is your point?” I growled at him.
“I’m saying, if you can prove whoever abandoned hercan’tuse magic—or at least magic that strong—you could prove that they weren’t the ones who abandoned her.”
“And therefore, not her parents?” Ryu finished.
“Right.”
Ryu and I exchanged glances. We’d been so sure that night speaking with Lorenzo that Henry was the one who’d caused the barrier to flicker and made his scent trail disappear—were we wrong?
“Even if you’re right, we can’t justforcesomeone to use magic, and I doubt they would agree if we asked,” Ryu pointed out.
Nate shrugged. “Sure you can. Send some magical arrows their way or something. They have to defend themselves somehow.”
Judging by Ryu’s expression, we both remembered the time Angel protected herself from Charlotte’s little claws by creating a clear magic barrier. It happened instinctively—there was no way she could’ve thought it out beforehand. If you had magic, you used it.
“Actually, that’s not a bad idea,” I mumbled. “They used underhanded tactics to steal her from us in the first place. Might give them a taste of their own medicine.”
Nate nearly choked on his scotch. “Theystoleher?”
“Yes,” Ryu said. “But they rationalized it under the guise thattheywere her biological parents in the first place, and they were just reclaiming what wastheirs.” He spat the words contemptfully.
“Man, fuck these guys,” Nate declared.
“So if we can lure them out, you can shoot magic at them,” I said to Ryu. “Maybe stop it before it actually hits him, in case we’re wrong and theydon’tknow magic.” I paused, remembering my hatred for Henry and Mav. “Or don’t. I don’t care.”
Ryu gave me a wry smile. “We’ll see.”
“Now we just have to find—”
My words cut off as the bar’s door slammed open, hitting the wall. The loud smack drew everyone’s attention.
My blood ran cold as I saw who was sauntering into the bar.
Henry and Mav stood side by side. Mav wore a smug grin and walked in like they owned the place. He seemed ready to gloat and rub the misery in our faces. Henry’s expression seemed a bit more guarded, and he tossed glances over his shoulder, as if he was expecting someone to sneak up on him.
But they weren’t alone. Looking uncomfortable in Henry’s arms was our daughter.
Angel!
My heart flared up with hope.
“Those filthy snakes,” I snapped. Then to Nate, I added, “No offense.”
He shrugged. “None taken.”
A customer in the lounge muttered, “Is he bringing a baby to a bar?”
