Sorting through the list of briefs takes only moments, as we quickly rearrange them by dates. My eyes drop down to a grouping of four names under the month of June, submitted three years back: Seth Marlowe, Cam Arden, Isaac Young, and—there it is.
“Wyatt James,” Demi utters. “Wait, isn’t that?—”
“Move,” I growl, clicking on the first document.
At the top, the date reads June 7th. The date weburied Kiersten six feet underground.
Departed Alban 05:00 hours. Headed SW to track accomplices, by order of Commander Skornokovy. Three lycan scents detected near Agathora Falls: one female, two males.
The second report is dated four days later. June 11th.
Departed Crayford 6/9, 03:00 hours. Two rogues dispatched. Bodies burned. Located female at the scene of a car collision, where she had maimed and killed a human woman. Found her clothes and cell phone 0.75 miles from the site. An exchange with other contacts indicated that other two partners were also in the city. A male named Elias engaged me second, during which I also dispatched him. The third I did not intercept. His contact is L.H. Messages exchanged between the two suggest they came this way upon taking a new job while fleeing Alban. Will continue to pursue L.H. further south and report once apprehended.
That lying motherfucker. He never did send a third update. But I think it’s safe to assume that L.H. is Levi Hawley.
Why don’t I remember this? Surely, I would’ve visited the scene of the killings in the days that followed, to mitigate any suspicion on behalf of the Council. But I wasn’t asked to make the routine trip to Crayford. Clearly, they sent someone else to clean up the Aux’s mess.
Why would they deviate from protocol?
There is one other file in the folder. A news article from the ninth of June.
Demi gasps, reaching the end of the article before I do. The story describes a collision between a sedan and what enforcers deemed to be a mountain lion. The woman behind the wheel—No.
It was Vessa’s mother.
Chapter 44
VESSA
Levi’s unnerving smile is wide in satisfaction. “Allow me to formally introduce the two of you. Sponsa Noctis, meet my Servant of the First Moon.”
Esmé scoffs, discreetly glancing at Joseph as one of the guards puts him in silver cuffs. “You’ve got the wrong girl.”
My body tenses as the lycan drops his mouth to my ear. “A talented liar, I might add.”
"I've had visions of the one he seeks for decades. You’re wrong. It isn’t her.”
Levi drags his tongue along my wounded shoulder, causing me to whimper. “You witches don’t know when to stop, do you?”
Esmé takes a step closer to me, contemplating her next move. Levi chuckles, letting his hands explore my chest. Nauseous, I force myself to look at the floor.Stay calm. Stay very, very calm.
"We already have the confirmation we need. The Master’s emissaries are preparing for their journey here as we speak."
The oracle flinches. “You honestly believe Remick will let you keep the reward? Let me assure you, you and your little pea-brain associates won’t stand a chance against the havoc when he steps foot here. You’re nothing more than a pawn.”
Levi tugs me across the room where Esmé’s mate is chained against a steel beam. “The half million dollars sitting in our account says otherwise. So, if it’s alright with you, I’ll carry on.”
He pulls out a six-inch knife from his waistband and brings it to Joseph’s neck. The beaten male fixes his golden eyes on Esmé, chest heaving.
“Don’t do this, Levi,” she croaks.
Heart pounding, I wrap my hands around Levi’s arm. But he promptly shoves me off, knocking me to the ground. The impact has my injured legs throbbing, shooting excruciating bolts of pain all the way down to my toes. Before I even have a chance to react, the tip of Levi’s blade is resting under my chin.
“What are you doing?” Esmé gasps.
“What was my only rule?”
He increases the pressure, the knife’s tip pricking my skin. Levi motions to Dustin, who seizes my elbows from behind, triggering a groan.
