Kellan immediately took the only seat in the room. It was a huge, worn leather armchair that fit Trace’s bulk snugly, his box of yarn made out of an empty lemon crate propped next to it.
The chair didn’t swallow Kellan though; he had far too much presence for that. Instead he crossed his legs and sat upon it like a throne while his subjects stood before him.
“The case—” he began.
“Has nothing to do with you.” Wren cut him off.
Kellan gave a placid smile. “Everything a cursebreaker does is Nexus business. I thought you’d already learned that.”
Teddy swallowed past his dry mouth. “Why this case specifically? Why not wait for the report?”
“I have my reasons.”
“So we have to tell you everything and you tell us nothing. Sounds like Nexus,” Wren spat.
“Why aren’t you asking Saint if you want to know about the case?” Teddy said, trying to pull his focus. “It’s his, not mine.”
“Yet you’re involved. Why is that?” Kellan needled.
“I’m helping out in my free time. None of my cases or workflow have been affected.”
“How exemplary. You always were a good boy.”
Teddy flinched viscerally and Wren noticed.
Kellan pushed up from his chair in a graceful move. “The Worthinghams. You think they’re involved in this? Is that why you were visiting their country club the other day?”
“We’re considering all options. We have no concrete leads so far, just a lot of individual cases with only the drug connecting them,” Teddy said honestly.
Kellan adjusted his watch and nodded. “I’ll expect frequent updates.”
“Why?” Wren demanded.
Kellan flicked his eyes up, hands still on his watch. “Call it professional curiosity.”
“I’ll call it what it is. Shady,” Wren growled.
Kellan chuckled. “You’re lucky you’re not still in my class.”
Teddy was reading his face though, mind working. “You want to take credit.”
“Credit is such a passé word,” Kellan said. “There’ve been a lot of interesting cases circulating lately. I simply would like to lend some insight.”
“To get your name attached to the case.”
“Let’s just say Nexus owes me. And you should be careful with your words, Damir,” Kellan said, looking pointedly at Wren. “I think you forget your circumstances here. One word from me and he disappears again.”
Wren gnashed his teeth, but there was nothing he could do.
“I expect the reports to be timely.”
Teddy glanced at Wren helplessly before nodding.
Kellan grinned. “Wonderful. Oh…and there’s one more thing.”
“What?”
“Wren might be able to help me out with this.”
