“He wouldn't have to. If Silas failed to convince him, he could kill Ace and bring him back. Resurrection creates a bond. Silas's soldiers are loyal to him because they have to be.”
“What?”
“When he brings them back, his magic infuses them. It ensures that they obey him.”
“So, Ace . . . he could be a pawn?” I looked at the screen.
“Yes. He could very well be going to a work meeting right now, but if this is where Ace works, Silas showing up there makes it likely that he got to Ace. Do you understand?”
“Yeah, I get it,” I growled. “You don't have to keep harping on it.”
“Salina, Silas has already established one of his Host groups here. They're based out of that house in the French Quarter. A man like Ace would be a great addition to their number. His money and influence would help—”
“What did I just fucking say about harping?!”
“All right.” Lex held up his hands.
“We're here,” Cyrus said. “Same as it was before. Just an office building.”
“Do they have a directory?” Lex asked.
“Hold on.” After a few minutes, Cyrus said, “Pouderoux Pharmaceuticals is on the fifth floor. Should we go up?”
My heart sank. Poor Ace. Was he an unlucky soul? Or was it me? Was falling for me bad luck for him? I died the last time we met and this time, it could be him who got murdered. Shit, even if Silas hadn't gotten to him, Ace would die before me this time around. I was immortal.
“Go,” Lex said.
“They're just going to walk into his office?” I asked.
“When we're hounds, we can become incorporeal.”
“Oh. Right. They're going ghost to haunt my boyfriend.”
“He's not your boyfriend, Salina.”
“Fuck off, Lex.”
He sighed, stretched his neck, and started typing again. Soon, there were more images on the monitors. All of them were from inside an office building. I saw a shiny sign on the wall that read “Pouderoux Pharmaceuticals.” Then there was a glimpse of Ace. He was walking through a huge office space that looked more like a law firm than a drug company. A lot of people dressed in very nice corporate clothing paused what they were doing to smile and greet Ace when he passed by. He was likea superstar. Except that he didn't ignore his fans. He returned every greeting and every smile.
It was nice to see that Ace treated people with the same respect that he showed them when we were out. Sometimes, a guy behaves differently in front of a woman he's interested in. But Ace, from the looks of things, was sweet to everyone. How unfair it would be if he got bound to Silas because of me.
“Is there a way you can tell if he's one of them?” I asked.
“They have a trace of magic that lingers in their aura. Silas's magic. It's distinct,” Lex said. “That's another reason Cy and Jake are using their ghost forms.”
“Why?”
“Because it's easier for us to sense things like that when we're in—”
“He's one of them,” Cyrus said. “Silas got to him. Poor bastard. He's Host all right. I'd recognize that magic anywhere. It's strong on him too. Silas must have double-dosed him or something.”
My heart sank, and my breath lodged in my throat. Tears gathered in my eyes.
“All right. Set some bugs if you can and then come home.” Lex clicked off the comms and turned to me. “Salina, are you all right?”
“Don't!” I pointed at him as I lurched to my feet. “Just stay the fuck away from me!”
I ran out of the room and down the hall. My room was in the west wing of the home, so I had to take another corridor toget there, but it was better than running out to the garden where anyone could walk up to me. I needed a door I could lock. And maybe a shower to muffle my crying.
