“Yes.” His voice was rough, and he hated the fear that replaced her concern at his answer.
“Can you break it?”
He shook his head.
Cass’s gaze went to Sofia and back to him. “Why not?”
“Because whoever set this is highly skilled, and I don’t recognize the signature.”
Her eyes widened, her panic clear. “So, not Russ.”
“Definitely not Russ.” He flexed his magic, shifting the circle’s protections so he could step over the boundary without breaking the spell. Once clear, he locked it back down. “But I don’t want to poke at it until I know what I’m dealing with.”
“Which means what?” Cass grabbed the chalk from the nightstand and rounded the bed.
He began collecting the random tools and containers and tucking them into his bag as she closed in. “That I need to reach out to a couple people I know, get them to do some digging. Plus, I need to consult with an old mentor.”
Cass held out the chalk. He reached for it, but she didn’t let it go. “Can’t you just call him or her?”
“Him, and it’s not quite that easy.” He took the chalk, dropped it into the bag, and zipped it close. “He’s going to require a favor owed.”
“From you or me?”
“Most likely? You.”
She looked to where Sofia lay, and all the grief and worry disappeared under a grim determination. “If it saves Sofia and it’s within reason, I’ll pay it.”
He caught her hand and pulled her close until she was leaning into him, her head resting on his chest, her attention on the sleeping Sofia. “He doesn’t like people, so that means I have to hunt him down. While I’m doing that, why don’t you stay with Sofia? Make sure not to leave her alone with anyone, especially Russ.”
Cass lifted her head and stared at him, her worry hardening into something colder. “You said he wasn’t behind it.”
“He’s not, but he has been manipulating her emotions, though your grandmother’s ring seems to be helping to undo the damage.”
Anger, fast and furious, flashed over her features before worry settled in. “Is she going to be okay, Grayson?”
“We’ll keep her safe,” he said and prayed he wasn’t lying.
Grayson waited until he’d cleared the residential roads and hit the freeway that would take him to Rattler Springs, the small community situated outside Vegas in the middle of nowhere, before using his handsfree.
The line rang twice before being picked up, and a distracted voice said, “What?”
“I’m calling in my favor, Zane.”
“About damn time.” The sounds of movement came through the car speakers. “Hit me with it.”
Grayson checked his mirrors, flicked on his turn signal, and merged over to the far lane. “Get a pen ready because I’ve got a list of names I need you to dig into.”
The clunk of a drawer opening and closing came across the line, followed by an abrupt “Go.”
“Russell Seagraves. He works at Pythia Strategies, mid-thirties. Sofia Alcmene Ambrose, his fiancée.” Though that might not be true for much longer. “Her parents and Pythia’s owners, Rhea and Elias Ambrose. It might be worth it to look into Eric Swanson, lawyer.”
“Type?”
“Family, I think, since he’s handling the estate of the Alcmene matriarch.”
A considering hum came over the line before Zane asked, “Why does that name sound familiar?”
“They’re one of the original twenty-seven but like to play behind the scenes.”
