I smile and lean into him. I consider telling him about the voice in the darkroom. I know I need to after he’d taken a leap of faith last night. But the moment doesn’t feel right. It’s just one more thing hanging over our heads.
I lean into him. “It’s scary hearing I’m not the only human with this mark.”
Rowen sighs. “Even more terrifying is not knowing what it is.”
“Grant said they called it a shadow bond. Do you think that’s because it’s made with dark magic?”
He considers it. “Maybe. But like Trivanka said, you were the first. So they might not’ve known what they were doing yet. Which means, whatever they did to the next one was probably very different.”
I shudder. It also means they could’ve screwed up. Turned my brain to soup or something.
The front door swings open, and Grant comes out with the drone.
Rowen laughs. “You’re starting to scout more with that thing than you are as a wolf.”
“It’s safer, is all.”
“Mm-hmm. Your poor wolf is not going to keep up soon.”
Grant rolls his eyes. “Fuck off.”
Their banter chases away some of the dread. I take another sip of the warm, chocolate-rich drink. We might not know what’s coming, but at least for now, everyone’s safe.
At least for now, I can be happy.
I just don’t know how long “for now” will last.
27
ROWEN
The house has been humming with the constant, low thrum of conversation for two days now—the kind that carries tension in every word. I sit in my usual spot at the table, trying to ignore the ball of dread in my stomach. It’s been gnawing at me ever since we returned from Prodigy.
Red flips through a notebook filled with Taren’s latest findings—or rather, lack thereof, his brows drawn together in a frown.
“Any luck?” I ask.
Red snaps his head up, almost surprised to see me there. Everyone is so on edge, so focused lately. “No. She’s still coming up empty.” He closes the notebook and sits back, scrubbing his face. “It doesn’t make sense. This pattern isn’t like one she’s seen before. She can pick out parts of it, like the protection and ownership. But… I don’t know. Something’s off.”
Jasmine sits down next to him. “Tell him what Neal said.”
“Ah, yes.” Red sits up. “Neal thinks since we know the second mark will be different, there is also a chance it may be different for each person.”
“So even if we figure out Tobias’s, we might not know the other victim’s?”
He exhales, nodding. “Exactly. But it’s all just a theory at this point.”
“Foxx does like collecting unique things.” I barely contain my growl. “He’ll probably make each one different just for kicks.”
Jericho enters the room holding his phone. “Just talked with Kaine. He’s tracing a new trail that might lead us to the compound where they’re hiding.”
“Really?” Red seems deeply skeptical.
Jericho shrugs. “Kaine says it’s a long shot, but it’s something. He’ll call me when he knows more.”
Something.
It’s always something. Never enough.
