Takoma headed for the far door that led farther into the plant. He made his way to the office elsewhere in the building, where Alyona and William were huddled around a computer terminal.
“Everything wiped?” Takoma asked.
Alyona looked up, not blinking at his bloody state. “Yes. Are you finished?”
“We have some information to follow up on. I want their cell phones hacked by the time I wake up tomorrow night.”
“I’ll notify the team and send them into the office early. Mother will take over in the morning.”
The heart of Takoma’s Night Court was in Medina, but he owned other places. Several were located in the outskirts of Seattle in smaller suburbs, and still others were within the city itself. Those homes were where his vampires slept during the day, watched over by loyal human servants and enough hidden magic to run afoul of laws he didn’t believe in. Alyona’s mother oversaw the daily operations for the legitimate side of his Night Court’s business endeavors, as well as the illegal ones in an office downtown. Alyona kept his hours more often than not, taking action on his orders with a skill he’d long since learned to trust.
There was something to be said about generational loyalty. Takoma might not be human, but he knew what blood ties were worth. He’d given the Zaitsev family a way out all those many years ago. He rather thought Spencer might be amenable to the same sort of offer. Even if he didn’t take it right away, just knowing the option was there would be a lifeline. Takoma wanted to be that for him—not just to possibly have a mage by his side, but because Spencer was intriguing and enticing in his own right.
“Are the territory reports ready?” Takoma asked.
Alyona waved her hand in a vague gesture. “Haitao is still compiling them, but he said so far nothing is cause for concern.”
“Was Caleb able to track down the vampire?”
“No. He didn’t want to venture very far from Spencer. He did call and say the mage is approaching the city limits.” Alyona slung the straps of her tote bag over her shoulder and stood, gaze raking over Takoma. “You’ll want to clean up before you visit him.”
Takoma glanced down at the bloodstains on his clothes and the tacky residue drying on his arm. “We’ll take a detour to the penthouse on the way over so I can change and pick up a potion.”
Alyona frowned at him. “For you?”
“No.”
“Ah. For the mage, then. Will you be staying in the city tonight?”
It was well after midnight, and Takoma needed to allocate for the travel time needed to return home before dawn. He could only spare a couple of hours with Spencer, but it would be enough. “Yes.”
She unlocked her phone, eyes on the screen. “I’ll notify the home staff. I’m also revising your itinerary for next month. With everything going on, I don’t think it’s prudent that you leave for the Shanghai auction.”
“Alyona.”
“Haitao agrees with me. The invitation allows for a proxy. I’ll go if it pleases you, Master.” She looked up at that, meeting his gaze with a steadiness that lacked any bit of fear others might have when addressing him. Takoma knew she only had his best interests at heart when it came to his safety, as any favored human servant would.
“Very well. I will leave Shanghai up to you and your escort.”
Alyona bobbed her head in deference to his order, relief flashing across her face. “Thank you.”
They left, Takoma satisfied that his Night Court would handle what needed to get done while he pursued a rather tempting lead.
CHAPTERELEVEN
“Thanks for the ride,”Spencer said tiredly.
The sheriff who’d driven him back to Seattle without lights or sirens but still going above the speed limit gave Spencer a professional nod. “Glad we could help. We’ll be in touch with the SOA in the morning.”
Spencer waved a hand at that before trudging toward the lobby door, eyes burning from the need to sleep. His entire body ached, the painful stiffness that came from whiplash having long since set in. He had some painkillers in his luggage but wouldn’t have access to a potion until he went into the office tomorrow.
Today.
Whenever.
Spencer didn’t care what time it was because the only thing that mattered was it being time tosleep.
He shoved the building key into the lock and let himself inside, stumbling to the elevator and leaning against the wall while he waited for it to descend. He closed his eyes, ignoring the way his shirt rubbed uncomfortably against the scabbed-over road rash on his back. The weight of Takoma’s wool coat made the pressure worse, especially after sitting in the sheriff’s vehicle for nearly an hour, but he wasn’t keen on taking it off just yet. He liked feeling as if Takoma were close by.
