If they’ve locked her in a dungeon beneath the Keep…
The canteen crumpled in my fist, and water sprayed everywhere.
Fuck.
Soft footsteps approached as I flicked droplets from my throat. I twisted around as Mela came up beside me. She took in the buckled canteen with a single raised brow, then set a steadying hand on my arm. “When’s the last time you slept?”
The question pulled me up short, shoving me out of Nelle’s desperation. I gazed up at the cavern’s glistening ceiling, mentally calculating it. “Three days ago.”
“You’re going home and staying home,” Mela ordered. I frowned, and before I could begin arguing again, she said, “Don’t bother, Gray, my decision is made.”
“What the fuck?”
She held her ground, whisper-hissing, “Until you get some actual sleep and recharge, I’m kicking you off the team.”
I scowled at the fucking audacity of booting me off my own hunt. As was typical, my friend didn’t back down, she merely squeezed my arm harder and scowled right back. She gave a quick glance over her shoulder to ensure we weren’t within hearing distance of any members of her House. My own were well aware of the affliction that hounded me. “You’ll put this entire mission at risk if it happens in the middle of capturing Yezekael.”
My bottom lip poked out a fraction in irritation because she was right. I could go under at any moment, and when it hit, it hit like a tsunami and I’d collapse where I stood. I opened my mouth to argue that I could at least help with planning and setting the trap, but she cut me off. “Jiao, your Second, is welcome to join us at myHouse, but the Vaduvas are taking control of every aspect of this.” Her features softened, and she released my arm to tap my cheek lightly with a palm. “Go home and get some sleep.”
Maybe I should be thanking Mela for taking the choice away. I’d been given permission to head straight to Nelle, yet guilt tormented me for not focusing on my mother.
Mela took a couple of steps backward. “Come on,” she urged, waving her fingers, encouraging me to follow.
I shoved the canteen into my daypack, hefted it over a shoulder, and strode after her. Tipping my chin at Jiao, who was sipping coffee. He caught the gesture toward the passageway that led back to the surface and gave the order. Our team packed up quickly and fell into line.
Both Houses, Vaduva and Crowther, moved swiftly from the cavern and through the twisting tunnels toward the ancient stone door. We emerged into the maintenance corridor, shifting from pitch-black to harsh industrial light. While my sight adjusted instantly, Mela squinted and rubbed the heel of her palm against her eyes.
A cascade of guards was already present, awaiting my arrival. But before I left in their company, Mela stopped me with a hand on my forearm. I turned back to face her, curious. She waited until both our teams had walked on ahead to give us privacy. “Wouldn’t photographs be enough?”
I knew instantly she was referring to what I’d asked her this morning to help me with.
Shaking my head, I blew out a heavy sigh, remembering what it was like for Nelle when sheswiftedus to the abandoned cottage by the lake. I’d been passing in and out of consciousness, but I was aware she’dswiftedin short bursts along the river before encountering the lake. I had a feeling she needed to have either physically been to a place or at least could see it ahead of her toswiftthere. And I wanted all my bases covered if that was the case.
“I need more than photographs,” I replied.
Mela didn’t question me, she simply nodded. She hadn’t asked why I wanted this done, or for whom. She’d just mentally taken note of what I needed. “I’ll get it sorted within the week.”
“Thanks.” I nudged her with my elbow, rocking her off balance. She flashed me a grin that slowly melted away when she saw my somber expression. “You know that when you get word back from Evelene, I’ll be at your side, right?”
Mela’s soft nose scrunched as she blinked away the liquid shimmering in her eyes. Her voice was rough and uneven when she replied, “I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to keep you away.” She brightened and slapped me playfully on the chest. “Go home, get some sleep, and maybe by the time you’ve awoken we’ll have everything set up to snare this Yezekael.” And on that note, she jogged off to catch up with Petra and her team.
The SUV cascade was waiting at the curbside to escort us home. I ducked inside my limousine and flopped down on the plush leather seat. As I’d done every day I spent hunting Yezekael, there was going to be one more stop before we left the city and traveled the highways home. The warband never questioned it, they left me to do whatever I wished. My driver lowered the privacy screen and simply asked, “Where to?”
“The lake,” I replied.
I knew this side trip was going to delay my return to Nelle, but it was important.
Three SUVs traveled ahead of us, three behind. My knee bounced with agitation as I stared out at the winding freeway, the shield of hardened air shimmering around us like heat waves. All around us, cars and trucks peeled off toward the lakeside neighborhoods or climbed the hills toward the mansions overlooking the water. My gaze locked on theMonarch Tower,a streamlined monolith with a glass face that reflected the water.
The Monarch Tower, which mysteriously had a power shortage twelve years ago.
And something peculiar occurred.
A burst of memory, like a bubble of time, arose in my mind.
And I speared back to a moment when I was five years old.
My mother stood in front of a gigantic shelf lined with glass jars. She gave me the stern-mom-eye. “Empty all your pockets, Gray.”
