But at least we had enough beds with all the couples doubling up.
After stopping at our safe house we decided to scope out the property the traffickers were using. We had all of the surveillance footage from the previous team that we’d watched before we’d even left Sedoba, and we’d had a very thorough briefing with Kharis, so we had a good idea of what we were walking into.
Kharis had wanted to come with us, but Garrick had asked him to stay with him and help out with the other dignitaries coming to the tower today. Everyone, including Kharis, knew it was only a ploy to keep him safe after a traumatic event, but he’d still agreed. I was glad for it.
We also knew where the last team had hidden, so we were going to different spots in the hopes that no one would see us and follow us back to the safe house.
I was surprised that Phaeron hadn’t tried to stop us from going so soon. But he honestly seemed just as eager to take these assholes down as Oakley did.
It made me wonder about his past, but there was no way in hell I was about to ask him. We’d both been alive for a very long time and had crossed paths on occasion, but I didn’t know him well enough to pry. Even if I did, I doubted he’d tell me anything.
Plus, I honestly didn’t want him prying into my past either.
Tragedy had a way of sticking with you and making you act in unpredictable ways, and bringing it up mid-mission could be disastrous.
Everyone paired up before taking position. Normally, we’d all fan out and take a spot alone, but after what happened with the last team, we wanted to have a lookout as well. Of course, Oak was partnered with me.
Maybe we should’ve taken two different partners since we were both leading this mission—that way, if somethinghappened to one set or they were compromised, the other could still lead the team—but there was no way I was letting Oakley out of my sight while we were here. And if Oak’s determined expression was anything to go by, they didn’t want me out of their sight either.
There was a business district pretty close to our safe houses, and apparently, that was where these guys set up. They blended in with the other businesses on the street, but we knew what was really going on inside.
We already had plenty of evidence showing that they sedated—either with drugs or magic—their victims, and from what we could tell, they had soundproofing spells all over the building.
No one to hear their screams.
We had lots of pictures and videos from the last team, but we didn’t have anything from inside the building. And we really needed to get in there.
We watched the building for a long time and only saw what looked like business people walking in and out—we knew better. They were dressed in suits and dress clothes, but I noticed a blood stain on a witch’s shirt when he exited the building, so I pointed it out to Oak.
I had no doubt they were using those poor people for their spell work in there.
Oakley grunted beside me. “I know him,” they whispered. “That’s Master Brinik Norfiel—er, I mean just Brinik Norfiel. He was kind of high up in the chain of command, so it’s possible that he’s the new grand master.” They sucked in a breath. “I wish I could get closer. I’d be able to tell if I was close enough.”
My brow furrowed. “How?”
“The grand master gets power from the others in Gepisha’s Iron. He’ll smell like the blood of dozens of people at any given time. We used to have to donate blood to the grand master everyfew days. It used to make me want to gag when I was near him.” They shrugged, but I was horrified.
Every time I thought this damn cult couldn’t get any worse, it did.
“We have a lot of spells from Tan and the Ellwoods. Things that cover scent and everything. Maybe we can go back to the safe houses and make a plan to infiltrate.”
They nodded. “Alright. Let’s go back.”
I gave the order over our comms, and everyone met back at our cars that were parked well out of hearing range, even for the most sensitive supe or the best hearing spell.
“Team meeting in our house as soon as we get back. I want everyone there.”
The others nodded, and we all got into our vehicles and drove back to the safe houses. It took a few minutes to get everyone inside, but soon we were all standing around the dining room table where we had photographs and case notes spread out.
I said, “We need to go through our spells and see what we have. Oak knows some of the people coming in and out, but we need more information. We need to see what’s going on inside that building so we can plan our attack. We have the blueprints, but they’re decades old and likely not as accurate as we need.”
Basil said, “I can get a small team inside without being seen. We’ll just need some spells to cover our scents.”
“How can you…” I trailed off when he pulled on his magic and seemed to disappear into the shadows, almost melting into the wall—or so it looked like. One second, he was there, the next, it was only shadow. “Wow. Okay, that’s perfect.”
Basil reappeared beside his viramore with a nod. “Great.”
“Let’s get an inventory of our scenting spells. I think we should move out in the early morning before the fake cover business is open. We know from the last team that there’s a lot of movementat night, so it might be better to check the building when there are less people inside.”
