It wasn’t long ago where Daemons were just stories told to naughty children to scare them, and now look at her.
Kyle blinked, his irises turning green.
“Cool trick,” she said.
“Thanks,” he muttered. “But I would appreciate it if you put the gun away so we can finish the meeting.”
“Atlas?” she asked, refusing to look away.
“Kyle’s from the Knights. I invited him.”
“Why would you invite him?” Her heart pounded behind her ribs, and she knew Atlas could hear it. “This was supposed to be between us.”
“Because once we take out Vivian, Kyle will be the one taking over Crimson Hollow. Unless you’re interested in the role?”
“Of course not!” Rae gripped the gun harder, her arm wavering. “Fuck.” She dropped her arm, turning without giving Kyle her back. He took a seat, but Rae refused to take the remaining one, instead pressing herself against the wall so the door was to her left, and both men were in her sight.
“I’ve been trying to get rid of Vivian for years,” Atlas said, placing both of his hands flat on the table. “She’s corrupt, taking side unapproved assignments. The Syndicate was designed to regulate the assignments, making sure the reasoning for the assassinations were justified.”
“Protect the innocent. Slay the corrupt. Defend the realm,” Kyle added.
“How would you…” Rae began. “Shit, you’re a mole,” she finished, the realisation hitting her like a sledgehammer. “You work directly for the Syndicate.”
Atlas smiled, the emotion forced. “She’s been under investigation for years, it’s the reason she rarely leaves her quarters. If what you’re saying is true, it’s cause to remove her from her position.”
She’d never heard him speak so formally. It was disconcerting. “I’m not planning to stand up at trial, I’m going to kill her.”
Atlas didn’t even blink. “I didn’t hear that, so any consequences that she may find herself suffering don’t concern me. All I care about is restoring Crimson Hollow, otherwise the entire guild will be unsanctioned.”
Rae looked between the two men. “Does that mean you’ll get me back inside?”
He shrugged. “The wards only repel those that aren’t already blood bound, so you can pass through without problem, but you’ll find it difficult to harm her.”
Rae worried her bottom lip. “Do you know a way around her wards?” If she couldn’t get Vivian out, she was fucked.
“Blood,” Kyle said, having been sat there silent. “Powerful blood will be able to break the wards, at least for long enough to take her out.”
“And where exactly will I find –”
“You’ll figure it out.” Kyle’s face smoothed into an emotionless mask, and she knew he was hiding something. “Give me a warning, and I’ll make sure to take the magic in which binds the Guildmaster to the guild.”
Chapter36
Rae
Rae looked ridiculous. The leather trousers and skin-tight top were fine, although she would’ve preferred the ease of a skirt. But the luminous pink bum bag Lucy had forced her to wear around her waist made her look like a murderous doll.
“Do you remember the plan?”Titus asked over her earpiece.
“Do you mean the one I came up with?” she whispered quietly, unzipping the bag to check the contents while she waited for his green light. Fresh runes had been carved into the doorframe, stained red.
“Brat,”he grumbled, and Rae wanted to grin.“I’m linking into the server, you’re good to go in three, two...”
Rae cautiously pulled open the door to the garage, expecting to meet an invisible shield. “That feels weird.” It was like the building was trying to repel her, her skin tingling as she stepped over the threshold, shivers crawling down her spine.
“The ward feels dark. Likely blood magic, so we’re not going to be able to cross it until it’s been removed from the source.”
The lift doors opened within seconds of her approach. She pressed the button to the ninth floor, unable to stop herself from glaring up at the camera blinking in the corner. She knew Vivian couldn’t see her, Titus reassuring her he was going to loop all the footage.
