“Time to leave,” Grant says, already grabbing Ivy’s arm.
We all hurry outside before we’re pulled into a fight that isn’t ours.
Outside, the night air tastes of exhaust and day-old French fries. Puddles splash onto the sidewalk as cars whizz by. Prodigy’s skyline glows miles above—glass towers laced with magic sigils pulsing like veins. The urge to shift ripples through me, but I tamp it down.
When we reach the parking lot, Forest sighs.
“Fine. We’ll all follow Kaine to the hotel. But we arenotgoing near her tonight. You hear me? If anyone goes in without my permission, I’ll hang their pelt in my office.”
He studies me for a long moment, like that threat was more for me than anyone else.
Kaine starts toward the alley where he parked, with Willow trailing behind.
“I’ll go with them, so I can text directions if needed,” Jericho says.
As we pile into cars, I look up at the city lights one last time, and Tobias’s face flashes in my mind.Just go, Rowen. I’ll see you when you get back.
Moons above. That was so long ago now, and we never even said goodbye.
I shove the thought down and head after the others. This could be the clue to setting him free.
24
ROWEN
No one can deny Prodigy is beautiful at night. Neon sigils crawl across buildings like living graffiti and wards shimmer faintly over doorways. Even the air smells charged—like static and spice with faint copper undertones.
I fist my hands when we pass what remains of The Iris—just bits of charred broken bricks. No evidence of Rip’s cruelty. They won’t get away with it. Theywillpay.
Kaine leads in a matte-black sedan with tinted windows. Grant, Forest and I are in the middle of the caravan, with Ivy, Evan, and Sage in the car behind us. Forest opens the intercom system between our cars so we can talk while following Kaine.
“Do you believe him?” Sage asks.
“About what?”
“About Trivanka no longer being with Foxx.”
Grant scoffs. “I believe he believes it. For all we know, the coven could’ve spread out for a while.”
Forest nods, eyes out the window. “I agree. Even if she did leave, Foxx wouldn’t let her go easily.”
“We all know Foxx is good at two things: manipulating people and hiding,” Grant says. “If Trivankaisn’tworking with Foxx anymore, we need to assume he still has eyes on her, even if she doesn’t think there is.”
“So, expect an ambush?” Sage says.
“Expectanything.Be alert. And don’t forget. Kaine only does things for himself, so don’t expect him to save you if you’re compromised.”
“That vamp saved my life,” Evan says.
“Only because he wanted answers,” Grant mutters. “I promise you, Ev, he doesn’t give two shits about us.”
He’s not wrong. Kaine seems loyal to no one except Willow. He could turn on us just to get nearer to Foxx. It’s what he wants—revenge for his family.
The city thins as we head south. The evidence of magic dims, and with it, its strength. Thick cracks run up some buildings, and even the streetlights seem less bright, powered only by simple electricity.
Kaine finally turns down a narrow road that follows the river. The Fisherman’s Rest sits near the bend—a squat, three-story building with peeling paint and a buzzing red vacancy sign. Beyond it, past the docks, the river is swollen and dark.
It’s shady as hell, just like Kaine said.
