“Economy seats aren’t comfortable.” Spencer ran a hand through his hair, ruining it even more. Paired with his bruised but healing face, worn jeans, and wrinkled T-shirt, he definitely looked as if he’d seen better days. “So when did all this happen?”
“When what happened?”
Spencer gestured widely. “Don’t be dense.”
“The soulbond mess happened last June. The rest of it all came after. Right now, our focus needs to be on the Orthodox Church of the Dead. The WSA is certain the Patriarch of Souls was the one who summoned the drekavacs today even though he wasn’t caught on CCTV,” Nadine said.
Spencer made a face. “I hate those things.”
“They’re why we called you in.”
“Yeah, but I can still hate them.”
Patrick crossed over to where Jono stood, ignoring Fatima’s growl directed at him. Jono reached out and curled a finger through Patrick’s belt loop, tugging him closer.
“Is he the only one who can see the soulbond?” Jono asked.
“Spencer?” Patrick glanced over at his friend and arched an eyebrow in a silent question. Spencer waved at him before shuffling over to the minibar with its decimated snacks. “He breaks souls. He knows when one’s been messed around with.”
“If you’re worried about another magic user being able to read your auras, don’t be,” Spencer said as he came back with a bag of chips in his hand. “Patrick’s specialty is hunting monsters and demons. Mine is sending them back to where they came from. I peel souls apart when I do that, so I know what a pieced together soul looks like. I’ve seen soulbonds before, but never one as cleanly placed as yours.”
“The gods did it,” Jono said.
“Yeah. That would explain it.” Spencer popped a chip in his mouth, chewed once, then made ahurknoise before swallowing quickly. He turned the bag around in his hands and groaned. “Aww, chips, no. Who thought ketchup was a good flavor?”
“Dinner should be here soon. I ordered us room service,” Sage said.
Jono tugged pointedly on Patrick’s jeans. “Lucien rang. Sage and I were chatting with him before you arrived.”
“What did that bastard want?” Patrick asked.
“He saw the news about what happened in Tottenham. Said you’re too recognizable for the auction.”
“My name didn’t even make the news.”
“Doesn’t matter. Lucien doesn’t want any of us to go with him to the auction.”
“Oh, fuck that. He’s not going alone. He’s getting oversight whether he likes it or not, because that was in the bargain we made. I’ll call him.”
“Wait,” Spencer said, blinking at them. “Wait. Lucien is here in London?”
“Weren’t you read in to this mission?” Nadine asked exasperatedly.
“I was briefed about the Morrígan’s staff, just not the specifics of this mission. The director put me on a plane and said go to London.” Spencer wheeled around to face her, clutching the chips bag to his chest. “You didn’t tell me Lucien was here.No onetold me Lucien was here.”
“He’s getting us the Morrígan’s staff.” Nadine narrowed her eyes. “You are not fucking him.”
Wade paused in opening up another box of Jaffa Cakes. “Ew. Lucien? Really?”
Patrick left Nadine to deal with Spencer and grabbed Jono’s wrist, hauling the other man with him into Sage’s bedroom. He closed the door, muffling the beginnings of the argument out in the living area.
“Is he really attracted to Lucien?” Jono asked, wrinkling his nose.
“Vampires have no souls, so Spencer’s magic doesn’t work on them. It’s a danger kink with him, I think. He’s always had shitty taste in men and women the entire time I’ve known him.” Patrick paused before shaking his head. “Except for Nadine. She’s been his only good choice.”
“She looks ready to throttle him, the poor sod.”
“Well, he owes her a really expensive dress and he’s bunking with her, so they’ll either end up arguing all night, or fucking all night. Either way, their neighbors won’t be happy.”
