Alex beamed at him. “That’s good, right?”
“I think so. It’s just all moving so fast. I didn’t expect any of this. Falling for a demon, being faced with the choice of walking away from everything I’ve ever known.”
Alex nodded. “It’s big. But believe me, it’s worth it.”
Nathan believed that. He’d never been happier than when he was with Storm, and being able to stay with him would be worth it.
Being with Storm was forever. He knew that from the very first kiss.
“You don’t think the guild is suspicious about your relationship, do you?”
“No, I don’t think so. Sloan’s given me a time limit on working with you, but I’m taking advantage of it while I can.” He straightened, and Alex’s hand fell away. “Speaking of that, his goodwill might last longer if I actually bring him some useful information regarding this case.” If he could find more evidence of the pills’ existence, maybe together he and Maxwell could convince Sloan.
Alex nodded curtly. “Let’s get a move on then.”
Chapter20
Nathan
After some askingaround near the dormitory, a smoker lingering near the entrance directed them up to the third floor. The hallways were wide and long, with pale tile floor and bare brick walls. Nathan waved Alex and Zachary ahead, as they could pass for students who lived on a different floor.
“Fake names, yeah?” Alex murmured to Zachary, who nodded. Then he glanced back at Nathan. “Ready?”
“Ready,” Nathan and Zachary said in unison.
Alex knocked on the door. Nathan worried, for a moment, that Jace wouldn’t be in right now. It was the middle of the week, after all. He could very well be in class or at lunch. Maybe they should’ve waited and come in the evening.
But then the door opened, and a lanky young man with curly blond hair and brown eyes blinked at them in surprise.
“Uh. Hi. Can I help you?”
“You’re Jace, right?” Alex said. “I’m Chris, and this is my roommate…”
“Pedro,” Zachary said, sticking out a hand for Jace to shake, which he did in consternation.
“We heard about David, man, and we just wanted to come and give our condolences,” Alex continued, affecting a sympathetic wince.
“Oh.” Jace deflated. “Yeah. Thanks, dude. Do you guys live in the building?” His gaze lingered on Nathan, the obvious outlier.
“Yeah, we’re upstairs,” Alex said. “Oh, sorry. This is my big brother, Will. He came up to visit this week after I told him what happened.”
Jace relaxed. “Oh, yeah, I feel you. I went home over the weekend. Just had to get away, y’know? You guys want to come in for a sec? How’d you know David?” He turned away, as trusting as a kitten, and invited three strange men into his small dorm with him.
It was a basic space. A double-sided desk with a privacy divider separated the two sides of the room. Only one bed had blankets on it. The other had been stripped bare, and the wardrobe built into the wall was open, displaying empty drawers and one lone coat hanger. The odds of them finding evidence of David’s drug usage diminished greatly without any of his things left behind.
A strange, herbal smell lingered in the air, despite the window being open. Had Jace been burning incense?
Zachary glanced at Nathan, his gaze calculating. He didn’t understand why until Zachary spoke.
“David, he was a great guy. He introduced me to my supplier.”
Nathan’s gut lurched. What if that was too forward? What if it gave them away?
But Jace brightened. “No shit? You know Perry? He’s a good dude. He keeps some addys on hand for me when exams are coming up.”
“Yeah, yeah, he’s great,” Zachary agreed, smiling broadly. Then he sobered, leaning in conspiratorially. “Listen, though. David told me he got something new he wanted me to try sometime. Did he say anything to you about it? I’ve been real paranoid it might’ve had something to do with what happened to him, y’know?”
Jace’s eyes widened, and Nathan realized they were red. Everything clicked, quite suddenly. Jace was astoner. Zachary recognized it right away. Nathan, on the other hand, had never tried any kind of drug. Never even been around them, sheltered at the guild as he was. Sothat’swhat that smell was.
