I walked out. ‘I’m ready.’
‘Then let’s go.’
Maktel gave me a small nod as I came closer, discreet as always. Hanlon slugged me on the shoulder, but he pulled it so much that it was barely more than a nudge. I shot him a glare and gave him a far harder reciprocal punch, making him grin. Ivan jerked his chin up in acknowledgement. We were all one big happy family.
We left the flat. As I shut the door, I heard the kettle switch on and off again. Bob was freaking out.You and me both, Bob.
I didn’t want to go to Wraithmore. Didn’t want to meet up with Vance Broadlake or look at his hands, knowing what he’d once done to my flesh.
My stomach was churning so badly I felt like everyone could sense it, but I kept my face blank as I made my way down to the three identical black SUVs parked outside my apartment building.
The tree outside was black with crows. I sent them a pulse of friendship, and they burst into raucous caws in response.
Despite his tension, Robbie’s expression warmed. ‘They like you.’
‘Yeah. I like them too, so it’s all good.’
Ten crows peeled away from the tree and thrust their bodies into the air.
Ignoring the crows’ antics, Ivan strode to the front car and climbed in. Robbie and I took the middle vehicle, and Hanlon and Maktel brought up the rear. Apparently, we were riding in convoy today with a corvid escort. I texted Bastion our estimated time of arrival at Wraithmore. I didn’t receive a response. Whether he would join us or not was anyone’s guess. He was the ultimate man of mystery.
The atmosphere in the car was tense as we moved off.
‘Are you okay, Stacy?’ Robbie asked.
‘I’m fine,’ I said tersely.
‘You’re not,’ he shot back, hands tightening on the steering wheel. ‘You’ve got a poker face on, Inspector, and you only wear it when you have something to hide.’
I grimaced. ‘I’ll have to work on that.’
‘Don’t. I like seeing your emotions. Don’t hide them from me.’
‘I’m not hiding them from you,’ I said. ‘I’m hiding them from me.’
His left hand left the steering wheel to rest lightly on my knee. A silent support. He was good at that – offering support.
Loki better,the bird muttered in the recesses of my mind and my poker face relaxed.
The rest of the journey passed in heavy silence, each of us in our own heads.
Wraithmore’s walls loomed up out of the land, red-brick and austere. Lit all around by floodlights, it was painted with more runes than I’d ever seen in my entire life.
Even at this time of night, a pair of witches were up ladders, painting on more runes. I assumed it was a job akin to painting the Golden Gate Bridge; when you were done, it was time to start all over again. And there was no job more important than keeping the occupants of Wraithmorein.
The dull, cloudy day had rolled into a dull, cloudy night, adding to the oppressive atmosphere. Tonight suddenly did not feel like a good time to venture from home. It wasa night for a glass of wine, a movie and a fire, and I wished I were doing exactly that. Hell, I’d rather be doing anything other than heading into the highest-security prison that had ever been made for the Other’s denizens.
As we came closer, an eerie screech penetrated the air, and thewhump-whumpof huge wings flapped right by us.
‘Bastion,’ I said.
Robbie toggled on the radio handset and barked, ‘He’s with us. No action.’
‘Roger.’
‘Roger.’
I probably should have mentioned that I’d messaged Bastion, but without a reply from him, I’d assumed he wasn’t free to join us at the drop of a hat.
