“I don’t like it,”Jono said, watching as Patrick finished lacing up his combat boots.
“So you’ve said. Doesn’t change that we have a plan and we’re sticking to it,” Patrick said.
He double knotted the laces and stood, automatically checking the security of the straps connecting the dagger sheath to his belt. It was the only physical weapon he was bringing with him, but he still wanted his gun.
“I wish I could go in with you.”
Patrick looked over at where Jono sat on the bed, dressed in dark clothes, a backpack with an extra set of clothes resting beside him in case he needed to shift later. Sage and Wade would do the same.
Patrick and Spencer were set to be picked up by Lucien and his Night Court in less than ten minutes. The rings with their inlaid glamour were still in their warded box on the table. Jono and the others would follow in a rental, and Nadine would keep them hidden from prying eyes.
The Auction of Curiosities and Exceptional Items was taking place at Smithfield Market, the location having finally come through the invitation at noon. The place had apparently been a meat market at one point before being turned into a museum, but everyone still called the building the Smithfield Market, according to Jono.
When Lucien had notified them of the updated location, Patrick and Nadine had in turn notified their individual directors. Neither of them had notified the WSA, though Special Agent Santiago was on standby to aid them. Gael hadn’t been made aware of the auction location, a fact he’d bristled at but which neither Patrick nor Nadine would budge on. The decision concerning the WSA was one Patrick was glad he wasn’t responsible for explaining when this was all over.
His phone rang, and Patrick ignored Jono’s frown in favor of whoever was calling. He wasn’t surprised to hear Carmen’s voice on the other side of the line.
“We’re two minutes away. Be ready out front,” she ordered.
“We’ll be there,” Patrick said.
She ended the call and Patrick shot a text message off to Spencer to meet him downstairs in the lobby. Then he went to stand between Jono’s legs, framing the other man’s face with both hands. The scrape of a beard coming through pricked his skin, but Patrick didn’t care. He still kissed Jono as hard as he could, relishing in the heat of Jono’s hands that gripped him by the waist and held him tight.
“No matter what magic they have wrapped around that place, you can still feel me. You can still find me,” Patrick murmured against his lips.
Jono chased after his mouth. “Always.”
They kissed for a few seconds more before Patrick reluctantly stepped back. Jono stood and hauled the backpack onto one shoulder while Patrick pocketed the rings. They left the hotel room for the lobby, finding everyone else waiting for them by the front doors.
Sage and Wade were dressed in comfortable clothes they wouldn’t miss if they shifted. Nadine wore a casual outfit with boots, no weapon in sight, but Patrick could see the outline of her badge in her back pocket. She and Spencer had come over earlier for the pickup. Spencer was dressed like Patrick—in durable clothes that would hopefully survive a fight.
Patrick’s shields were locked down so tight his joints ached a little. It would keep his damaged magic from being recognized, and he’d come across as human to anyone casting invasive spells at the auction, but he could do without the encroaching headache. He hoped the rings Órlaith had given them would work as they should and hide them both in a seamless glamour.
“Ready?” Spencer asked, looking less bruised and more awake than he had the other night. Nadine must have forced a healing potion down his throat.
“Let’s go,” Patrick said.
They made it outside in time to see Lucien’s caravan of luxury SUVs pull up in the valet parking area, tinted windows making it impossible to see who was inside. The side passenger door on the middle SUV opened, and Patrick caught of glimpse of Carmen in a crimson red dress he wasn’t sure was lingerie or not. One never knew with Carmen.
Patrick climbed into the far back after Spencer while Carmen closed the door behind them. She looked over her shoulder at them, the rubies and diamonds wrapped around her throat sparkling even through the tinted windows. As he watched, her personal glamour sloughed off, revealing her red-pupiled eyes and the curled horns of her kind.
“Your face is still your own,” Carmen said.
“Not for long,” Patrick said as he dug out the rings. “The London god pack assigned some of their people to watch us. We may be followed.”
“We came prepared. The London Night Court is handling escort duties tonight.”
“Did Lucien order them to, or did they do it out of the goodness of their cold, undead hearts?”
“What do you think?”
“Obedience through threats means we can’t trust them to watch our six.”
“Get rid of your face, Patrick.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Patrick handed one of the silver filigree rings to Spencer and slipped the other onto his right middle finger. The ring seemed too big for a second before the filigree twisted tighter, creating a snug fit.
