Confusion rippled across Saoirse’s face. “We’ve tracked the IP address to this pub. I’m certain the owner is the one behind thescheme.”
“Whoa.” I held up my hands and strode across the room to peer at the board. “Slow down. What scheme, exactly? What IP address? Catch me up on what’s been going on since I’ve beengone.”
“Right.” Saoirse turned to the board and tapped her staff against the street markings. “Someone has been seeking out supernaturals for a mission against Lugh. We heard rumors it was happening, and then one of our fae went undercover, to this very bar, and overheard some people talking about it. Apparently, they put an ad on a notice boardthere.”
I frowned, furrowing my brows. “They put a notice up on a pub board to find supernaturals? Yeah, that doesn’t sound dodgy atall.”
“Well, here’s where it gets weird,” she continued. “Some similar inquiries popped up online. They were all over Reddit, Preloved, and Gumtree. A request to meet supernaturals who don’t like the fae king that rules on thehill.”
Finally, I cut my eyes toward Lugh. His face remained impassive, but his jaw slightly rippled as he clenched his teeth. Lugh had been an enigma when I’d met him. At first, he had seemed hard and cruel and as wicked as Nemain. But I had learned that beneath his cold exterior, he was pretty much a sheep in wolf’s clothing. That said, there was one thing he couldn’t stand, and that was his authority beingquestioned.
There was probably some part of his ancient past that still echoed through the very depths of him. He had once been a nightmare wraith, a creature of darkness who fed on fear. But he’d been more than just a wraith. He had beenthewraith. The King of them. Their commander. He had the power to wield his will over themall.
And that was one very big reason why Lugh could never lose his soul. If he did, hereallywouldn’t be Lughanymore.
He would be the commander of a nightmarish army onceagain.
“And so you somehow tracked the IP address?” I asked, turning my attention back onSaoirse.
She nodded eagerly. “Yep. And it went right back to A Knight’s End where that first flurry of posters showed up. It’s the pub owner. It’s got tobe.”
“Maybe it’s someone staying in one of the rooms?” I asked, remembering that the pub also had a hotel on top ofit.
She shook her head. “Nope. We checked. No one has been staying there for that long. He hasn’t had any long-term tenants inyears.”
“Huh.” I crossed my arms and stared harder at the board, as if it would flash the answers to my many questions. Why was ahumangoing after Lugh? How did he even know about the spear to begin with? And why did he suddenly want to team up with supernaturals when he’d been so angry about thembefore?
It boggled themind.
“There were loads of these ads,” Saoirse continued, turning her attention toward Nero. “How many did you count in theend?”
“Approximately sixty-seven.”
I whipped my head toward the warrior. “Sixty-seven?I thought you were going to say there were maybeten.”
“Sixty-seven,” he repeated. “All saying the same bloody thing. Whoever is intent on getting his hands on Lugh’s spear isserious.”
I didn’t blame him. I wanted to get my hands on Lugh’s spear againmyself…
Ahem.
“So, then…” I glanced from Nero to Saoirse, and then to the twins, and then finally to Lugh, who still avoided my gaze. “Why don’t you just go and do something about it? He’s human. It’s not like he would stand much of a chance against you. Throw him in the dungeon for a year, and he’ll probably get the hint that going after the King of Wraiths is a bloody terribleidea.”
“Well, here’s the problem.” Saoirse winced. “He’s not acting alone at this point. He put out so many ads that he’s somehow managed to find some takers. Some supernaturals have joined the cause. And they’re plotting to steal thespear.”
“What if you hide the spear?” I offered. “We could take it down to London and keep itthere.”
Lugh shook his head. “I need regular contact with it. If I sent it away, the separation would affect me. And I am not leaving my Court here alone. That is not up fordiscussion.”
By ‘affect’ him, he probably didn’t mean that he’d miss the damnthing.
“I thought as long as no one destroyed your spear, then you wouldn’t lose your soul,” I saidsoftly.
His jaw clenched. “It’s not as simple as that. I am bound to the spear, and the spear is bound to me. That means I need it by myside.”
“Right,” I said slowly. “So, burying it isn’t an option. And throwing the human into the dungeons isn’t an option.” I scanned the room. “But you must have something else in mind. Something that involves some sort of sneak attack. Is that why Uisnech wanted to bring mehere?”
Lugh’s eyes turned my way as he crossed his arms over his chest. A sharp burst of magic stabbed my gut, forcing me to gasp. It hurt to even look him in the eye, especially after our awkward confrontation in the library the night before. “You spied once before. I want you to spy onceagain.”
