His gaze remained fixed on mine, clearly not giving a flying fuck that we weren’t alone. “I missed you,” he murmured, reaching out to trace a thumb along my jawline.
I shivered under his touch.
“I missed you too.”
He flashed a wicked smile at me, mouthed “later,” then turned to face the rest of the room.
I felt Mase’s eyes on me, but I ignored him, focusing on Max instead. He had his phone to his ear now, listening intently to whoever was on the other end.I’d give anything for shifter hearing right now.
He ended the call, then shoved his phone in his pocket. “We go now, before Yates has time to realise Larissa isn’t where she’s supposed to be. We have the authority to search the compound and bring them all in for questioning.”
“How long will it take to get there?” Mase asked, standing and tugging on his jacket.
Max grinned, a touch of wildness to it. “Not long at all. We’ll be using the teleportation stones.”
Mase shuddered. “Lovely.”
“What are those?” I asked, looking around the room.
“Hunters use them when police request their help tracking down fugitives,” Mase answered.
“They’ll get us outside Yates’s compound in a matter of seconds,” Max added. “But first we need to get kitted out in tactical gear.”
Dathal frowned. “Tactical gear?”
“Have you got magical shields embedded in that uniform?” Max asked him.
“Yes.”
Max gestured to his combat trousers and T-shirt. “Well, unless Mase and I want to get stabbed or shot with one of Yates’s silver bullets, we need some protection.”
“What about me?” Axel asked.
“What about you?” Max faced him, eyebrow raised. “This is a police matter.” His gaze flicked to me. “I know you and Nick have been helping us with this investigation, but I’m afraid you’ll both have to sit this part out. Yates and his hunter group will more than likely object to us searching their compound, and I doubt they’ll be all that willing to come in for questioning. I can’t have any non-police on site when we go in there.”
Up until that moment, the idea of going with them hadn’t even occurred to me. With my magic still locked down, I’d be no fucking use to anyone. But now Max had stated that we definitely couldn’t go…I kind of wanted to. I had every faith that Dathal could handle himself, and it wasn’t like I could protect him in any way, but still…
Axel’s hands curled into fists at his side. “The witches might be there, and I want to talk—”
Max shook his head. “No. I’m sorry, Axel, but I can’t let you come with us. The witches are more than likely with Yates, which is even more reason to let us handle it. We’ll have our own magical unit going with us. I can’t risk you getting in the way.”
Axel was one of the most easy-going people I knew, and I often forgot that he was fae. Looking at him now, though, his violet eyes flashing with barely concealed anger, he had a dark aura about him that almost crackled with magical energy.
“Axel.” Dathal moved to stand in front of him, his hands on his shoulders. “We’ll get the witches, and when they’re safely in custody, we can question them. Together.”
“As long as it’s approved by—” Max began, and Dathal whirled around to glare at him.
“No.” His voice was like steel, brooking no argument. “I have authority from the high court to question everyone we arrest todaywithAxel present.”
Max didn’t so much as flinch. “We can discuss all of that when we return. If we don’t get a move on, there might not be anyonetointerview.” Turning to me, he said, “I don’t know how long this will take. You and Axel are cleared to wait here for us, or you can go home and we’ll let you know when it’s over.”
“We’ll go home,” Axel answered. I turned to glare at him, because what the fuck? There was no way I was leaving. But when I met his gaze, he gave the barest shake of his head that no one else seemed to see.
Going on instinct, I said, “Yeah. Home sounds good.”
Max nodded. “Right, I’ll see you two later. The rest of you with me.”
Dathal was the last to leave. “Be careful,” I whispered as he pulled me in for a fierce kiss.
