Chylath chuckled. “I did wonder. Which would you prefer me to use?”
“Either works for me.”
“Gabriel is a beautiful name, suits you. I think I’ll stick with that.”
I laughed when Gabriel blushed but took pity on him and changed the subject. “If it’s not too personal a question,” I said, hoping he’d meant it when he’d said to ask him anything. “Do you have any other magic?”
His expression turned serious, and I felt Max stiffen beside me. “I do. And while I have no problem disclosing it to you, as we will all be working together, I would ask that it goes no further.”
Gabriel immediately pulled the door to my office closed, giving us privacy from the rest of the floor. “It won’t go past this room.”
“I can affect emotions,” Chylath said.
“Affect them, how?” I asked, beyond intrigued. “Can you change a person’s mood?”
Chylath scrunched up his nose, which looked odd on someone so…fae. “I can’t alter it entirely. I can’t make anger turn into joy, but I can take the edge off. Take the intensity down to a manageable level.”
“So if I was in a mad rage, unable to be reasoned with, you could take enough of it away for someone to get through to me?”
He frowned. “I… yes, I suppose so. Although I’ve never had cause to use it on a shifter. You experience heightened emotions, yes?”
“We do.”
Before I could ask anything else, he added, “I don’t use that side of my magic often because it’s a violation of privacy. People have a right to feel how they feel, unless they become a danger to themselves or others.”
“Fair enough,” Max said. “Is there anything you’d like to ask us?”
We spent the next twenty minutes in a quick-fire getting-to-know-you session. Gabriel mentioned his newly discovered magic, and Max and I talked a little about being shifters.
Finally, Max pushed off the wall and shared a glance with Gabriel. “We have a meeting with Zane Collins in about five minutes, so if you’re ready, we should probably head downstairs.”
Max led the way down to the cells located below us.
They weren’t what the human prisons classed as cells, more like self-contained units. Four in total, each one had iron incorporated into the door and walls. Inside the facilities were basic but comfortable. A bed, separate toilet and shower, and a small fridge made up each unit. All meals were provided for them, but they were allowed to keep snacks and drinks in their fridges.
The front of each unit had special glass that became transparent at the touch of a button. Three of the units were empty, the interior visible.
“This is not what I was expecting,” Chylath said as we walked past towards the interview room. “Fae prisons are nothing like that.”
“These are holding cells. The prisoners staying here are under investigation. If their sentences include a prison term, then the accommodations aren’t anywhere near as nice.”
I’d requested the largest interview room for today to allow for the four of us in attendance. Wyn waited outside the door, smile appearing as we approached. I was one hundred percent certain it wasn’t for me, Max, or Gabriel.
“Zane’s waiting inside,” he said, addressing Max. “His magic is contained, but do you want me to stay while you talk to him?”
Max shook his head. “I don’t think that’ll be necessary, thank you. Zane is about to be released into the custody of his coven. I can’t see him doing anything to jeopardise that.”
“I hope not.” Wyn stepped back, gaze lingering on Chylath. “I’ll see you later.”
“You will.” He watched Wyn walk away, and I held in a sigh, hoping nothing actually happened there.
The high court would stop sending their fae through the gateway if none of them wanted to return.
“Shall we?” I opened the door at Max’s nod.
Zane glanced up, eyes widening at the four of us. He held his hands up, the magic-dampening handcuffs clinking. “I’m literally powerless. Do I really warrant four of you?”
Max snorted. “Chylath is Jake’s new partner. He’s here to observe.”
