I wanted to ask him, wanted to know if anything had happened as a result, and being unable to do it made my fists clench and my magic unsettled.
Axel stood and nudged me with his elbow. “Everything all right?”
I could lie, and Axel could look in my head to get the answer himself. But neither of those things were an option.
“No.” I unclenched my fists and forced myself to relax. “I have things on my mind, but I can’t tell you what they are.”
Axel nodded. “Anything I can help with?”
“No, unfortunately. I just hope the high court doesn’t keep us long tomorrow.” And that they didn’t decide that my time through the gateway was at an end. The thought stopped me cold.
Blake had given us a fae name, after all.
As though Gabriel was the mind reader, he put a hand on my shoulder. “Let’s hope Melhak gives us information that we can take back to Max for further investigation. Remember, the Blue Alhuirn is being refined somewhere through the gateway. This investigation is far from over.”
Yes.
I wanted to kick myself for having such tunnel vision that I’d forgotten. Nick was proving a distraction in more ways than one. With effort, I pushed all thoughts of him aside and slung my rucksack over my shoulder. “Let’s go eat before we lose our window of opportunity.”
My job was to find out who was responsible for the acquiring and distribution of Blue Alhuirn. I needed to focus on that and nothing else. At least while I was here, anyway, under the scrutiny of the high court.
When we went back?
Well, what they didn’t see wouldn’t hurt them.
NICK
Max was waitingfor me when I pulled into the paranormal police car park on Wednesday afternoon. His message had been short and to the point, asking me to come into the station.
Nothing more.
My curiosity was instantly piqued, obviously, but so was my suspicion. As far as I was aware, Dathal, Axel, and Gabriel were still through the gateway. At least I hadn’t heard that they were back, and I was hoping Dathal was going to keep his word and contact me when they returned.
So if that was the case, why did Max want to see me?
I got out and eyed him over the roof of my car. “Got to say I was surprised by your message.” On closer inspection, Max had a tightness around his eyes that I wasn’t used to seeing on him, and his usual smile was somewhat dimmed.
He blew out a breath and grimaced. “Sorry I couldn’t give you more information, but you’ll understand why in a bit.” He gestured to the building behind him. “Come inside and I’ll fill you in.”
I shut the car door, then paused. “I’m not in any trouble, am I?” My cuff was back in place, hiding the evidence of my altered mark. The punishment was council mandated, nothing to do with the police, but the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, nevertheless.
Did they know?
Had they involved the police?
Max’s huff of laughter stopped my runaway thoughts in their tracks. “Not that I know of.” He raised an eyebrow. “You do have a guilty air about you, though. Anything you want to tell me? Mase did say you left Midnight rather early last Saturday.” He smirked, eyes full of amusement, and it suited him way more than the sombre expression he’d greeted me with. “And not alone.”
I rolled my eyes, forcing myself to calm down and not overreact. “I take it you know about me and Dathal?”
“Nope.” He full-on grinned. “But I do now.”
With a sigh, I walked around the car to join him, and he nudged me with his shoulder when I got next to him. “Nice.”
It was. Very.
“I can’t believe Mase didn’t tell you.” I only asked him to keep the news about my magic, or lack thereof, a secret, not the fact I’d slept with Dathal. I smiled at the thought of him keeping it all to himself.
“I guess he figured it was your business.” Max shrugged, then started walking, so I fell into step beside him. “And I’m sorry I didn’t make it to Midnight for your reopening.”
