“What’s the emergency?” Wade asked as he flung himself onto the sofa.
“Don’t get crumbs everywhere,” Sage warned.
Wade shoved the rest of the sandwich into his mouth and chewed, cheeks bulging. He pointed at his face, then gestured widely to prove he hadn’t gotten crumbs anywhere.
“We need backup,” Patrick said bluntly.
“You already pulled Lucien into this mess,” Jono said, not believing those words were coming out of his mouth.
“Lucien won’t be any help against a demon old enough to hide what it is from preternatural senses while living in a pack.”
“We agreed to leave everyone else back in New York,” Sage reminded him.
Patrick shook his head as he pulled out his mobile. “I’m not talking about Emma’s pack, or even the fae. If we’re going up against demons and necromancers, we need someone who can break that kind of magic.”
“Another necromancer?”
“No. Not exactly. He’s an old friend of mine. He sometimes fought with us Hellraisers in the Mage Corps.” Patrick hesitated before meeting Jono’s eyes. “If the PIA sends him out here, he’ll take one look at us and know about the soulbond. Shields never mattered to him for shit like that.”
Jono crossed his arms over his chest, shoving down his worry. “Do you trust him?”
“Yeah.”
“Then so will we.”
Patrick bit his lip before nodding. “Right. I’m going to call Setsuna before I head out. Anything else?”
“If Devin really is dead, it sounds like Cressida is using the dire position to get rid of personal enemies or anyone who would risk challenging her and maybe winning,” Sage said.
Jono nodded slowly. “I think you’re right. Devin always wanted a higher rank in the god pack, but he never struck me as dire material, even when I lived here.”
Sage made a face. “It’s an ugly precedent. Even Estelle and Youssef never went that far.”
“They might get ideas from this,” Patrick said over his shoulder as he headed for the bedroom to take his call.
Jono rolled his eyes. “Then we’ll take in more packs if they do.”
“Hey, can we go see the London Eye today?” Wade asked, looking at his mobile. “Ooh, no, I changed my mind. I wanna see the Tower of London.”
Sage poked Jono in the side. “You’re the native Brit. Time to play tour guide. We can see who the god pack sends to watch after us.”
“I’d rather we lose them in the Tube. Parking over by the Tower is nonexistent,” Jono said.
Wade pumped his fist in the air. “Yes! I can’t wait to see the Crown Jewels.”
“No stealing,” Jono and Sage said in unison.
Wade scowled and gave them a sulky look. “Fine.”
Jono had a feeling the monarchy would lose a diamond or two if they didn’t pat Wade down before leaving the Tower.
11
“You’re late,”Nadine said by way of greeting when she slid into his car.
Patrick waited long enough for her to shut the door before hitting the gas pedal and clutch, pulling away from the pickup area in front of the Waldorf Hilton. “I texted you why.”
He’d done it in code he knew she’d understand. Patrick did his best not to leave an electronic trail about his personal life with other government agents, even ones he trusted with his life. Patrick just didn’t trust the government.
