It was the one thought I clung to all the way there.
We found Rys’s car parked on the street outside Midnight, about fifty feet from the front entrance.
I shared a look with Max. “Zane said they never got to Midnight.”
“Fuck,” Nick whispered from the back seat, and I understood. Zane was his boss and his friend. I didn’t know how long they’d known each other, but I knew Nick liked him.
I’d liked him on the few occasions we’d met.
He’d bent over backwards to help us.
But Rys’s car was parked in full view of the security camera. Zane said he’d checked the security footage and hadn’t seen them. Either Rys and Axel had suddenly become invisible…
Or Zane was a liar.
“Talis,” Max said quietly but with an authority that had Talis snapping to attention. “With me.” Turning to us, he said, “You two wait here.”
Nick and I did as we were told, watching as Max and Talis strode over to Rys’s car.
“I’ve known him for over five years,” Nick murmured, sounding shocked. “I can’t believe he’s had anything to do with this.”
“Maybe he lied about checking the footage.” I couldn’t bring myself to sound like I believed it, and Nick sighed.
“He’s a witch,” he added quietly. “A practising one.”
The implications hung heavy in the air.
“I did some research on the way over here,” he said, and when I glanced at him, he had his head back, eyes closed, phone clutched tightly in his hand. “Spells like the ones needed to alter memories and perceptions are dark magic.” He took in a shuddering breath. “They take a toll on the caster. I’d noticed Zane looked tired recently, but I thought he was just burning the candle at both ends. I should’ve paid better attention.”
“It’s not your fault.” I knew that without a shadow of doubt. “This is Tombs. Whatever his reasons behind this, it’s to do with me. Not anyone else.”
Nick’s gaze shot to mine. “Because you left his hunter group?”
I shrugged. “Maybe?” I tried to think of something else, but that was the only thing I could come up with.
Nick’s brow furrowed. “I guess he always did act creepily possessive around you at times.”
Before I could comment, the driver’s door opened and Max stuck his head in. “Their scent leads right up to the front door.”
Zane had lied.
“Come on.” Max stepped back and shut the door. Nick and I scrambled to follow him and Talis.
The door was locked when he tried it, and he raised an eyebrow at Nick. “Do you have the code?”
“Yeah.” He sounded sad and resigned but stepped forward and punched in the code to unlock the door.
The lights were on inside.
Talis and Max both tensed as we walked in.
“They were here,” Max muttered, voice like steel. We walked into the main body of the club, coming to an abrupt stop at the sight of Zane sitting at one of the high tables, nursing a glass.
He looked up, not seeming the least bit surprised to see us.
“He said you’d come.” He swirled the amber liquid in his glass. “I was supposed to leave my laptop playing the message he left for you. I should be on my way to the coast by now.” He tapped the closed laptop on the table next to his glass.
“Why aren’t you?” Max asked, no trace of warmth in his voice. Nothing like when he’d spoken to him before.
