“That’s bullshit,” Faye snapped, rising to her feet. “Sorry for cursing,” she added when Tanner frowned at her. “Bullshit was the least offensive word I could think of. We helped them defeat the Queen. We saved Order members’ lives.”
But the Order didn’t see it that way.
I didn’t say that, because I doubted anyone in the room needed to hear it.
“I will try to talk some sense into Miles. It’s just that right now, we have a lot of new recruits still learning the ropes,” Ivy advised. “Things are a bit chaotic on that front.”
“But he could learn to multi-task,” the King countered. “If not, I believe the Order needs a new leader.”
Ivy looked at him dead-on. “I’ll let Miles know you said that.”
“Please do.” His tight smile returned. “Perhaps it will motivate him.”
Ren coughed out a laugh. “Hopefully, it motivates him to do what you intend.”
The King lifted a shoulder that said he wasn’t worried. Not even remotely.
Kalen turned to me. “The King told us you found something in your mother’s research about Devil’s Breath. Some kind of substance mixed with nightshade that changes those who drank it, correct?”
I nodded. “Actually, I found it in Harris’s old journals. He said my mother had discovered it, but it sounded an awful lot like what happened with Elliot. I didn’t see any rapid degeneration with his body that was mentioned in the text, but Harris wrote that it caused violent aggression.”
“Degeneration? Like falling apart?” Ren asked.
“Yes.”
“Like a zombie degenerates?” he added.
“Well,” I said, my brow pinching. “I don’t know if there’s that much degeneration.”
“I hope not.” Ivy shuddered. “I really do not want to face down zombie fae.”
Those were two words I’d never thought to hear combined.
“I was hoping that you could check to see if there was anything else written about it,” Kalen asked. “How it’s made or being used. Anything.”
“I’ve looked through all of Harris’s journals. There were a few pages torn out, which yes, is suspicious, but there’s a lot of my mom’s stuff. I haven’t gone through all of it yet, and it’s possible there could be something there. I will check.” With all eyes on me, I felt a little nervous flutter in the pit of my stomach. “But I’m glad you brought that up because I’ve been thinking about it. The best thing I think we can do is somehow get a sample of Devil’s Breath so we can test it. Even if my mother orHarris wrote more about it and I can find those notes, we still need it to see what it truly is.”
“And how do you suggest doing that?” the King asked.
I remained focused on Kalen. “We know that what is being done to the younglings is related to Neal, who owns Thieves. And Aric. Now, we know that bars like Thieves cater to the fae. They have a ton of nightshade on hand. It’s possible that this Devil’s Breath could be there, too. We just need to get inside.”
“Wehave thought of that,” the King replied. “And we’ve been inside.”
Surprise whirled through me as I twisted toward him. “You have?”
He nodded. “Over a week ago. We raided the place and took possession of the nightshade. The drinks were tested, and they came back clean. As did the entire bar.”
“Well, first off, knowing that would’ve been helpful,” I said, piqued. “And that’s why Neal has disappeared. People tend to do that after they get raided.”
“It was necessary.”
“Was it? Really?” I shook my head. “For a several-hundred-year-old King, I’m surprised by your lack of stealth.”
“Brighton,” Tanner said under his breath.
“What would you have done?” the King asked.
“Glad you askednow,” I said. “I would’ve snuck in and obtained samples of the nightshade while searching for what probably resembles bags of coke.”
