I can’t resist asking, ‘No naked time?’
Ethan’s shoulders shake as Raj’s cheeks redden beautifully. ‘No.’
Pity, although I did expect that answer, and after my dragon’s tantrum yesterday when we were separated, I could do with finding some chill before I scare Raj off. I need to slow down and take the time to really woo him.
Ethan takes pity on Raj and joins in the conversation again. “Would you still like to know about our investigation, and how you might be able to help?”
Satisfied that there’s time to get to know my tiger better, I nod.
Raj’s hand movements become businesslike, although not all of his signs are one hundred percent correct. ‘We’ve been investigating Far Out Freight for multiple reasons. Initially, because they were paying Nyoka Muroyi for something and we wanted to find out what that was.’
Raj doesn’t insult my intelligence by asking if I know who Nyoka Muroyi is. Every supe in Birchester who’s spent time in Wargate is well aware of that bastard. I didn’t know he had a connection to Lance’s company, though.
‘Then we started getting reports of workers at Far Out Freight quitting unexpectedly, moving away without notifying friends or family, and not being available for video calls or meeting in person despite being active on social media and responding to messages. They were all on the mandatory work programme and left before the end of their six months, and now we have a possible link to workplace accidents like ours. I’ve been trying to verify whether they’re missing or not, as well as locate them if they are.’
I lean forward. ‘Is Val on your list?’
‘Valerie Lunaire?’ Raj fingerspells her name as quickly as he can. ‘You know something?’
‘Harley said Val moved away with two months left on hercontract. She’ll be sent back to Wargate for the remaining time if she’s caught, and I don’t know of anyone willing to risk that.’
Raj and Ethan exchange a look.
‘We weren’t aware that there’s a penalty. Do you have a copy of your contract?’ Raj asks.
‘Yes. I’ll email it to you if I can borrow a laptop for a few minutes. My phone is fucked.’
“Our IT specialist can take a look at your phone for you,” Ethan says. “Kit can fix anything. And you can borrow this laptop after we’re done.”
That’s generous. ‘Thanks. Can you not just ask their local task force to check in on them, wherever they’re supposed to have moved to?’
Ethan scowls. “I fucking wish. We can’t submit an official request without evidence of a welfare concern, and we don’t have the contacts around the country to ask for favours yet. We might be able to do more with proof they’ve breached their contracts, though.”
Raj’s expression remains serious. ‘There’s more, Bryn. After the explosion yesterday, it’s now a high priority to determine what kind of freight is actually being shipped by the company and how dangerous it could be.’
‘Are you saying they’re moving something illegal?’ I try not to let my hand movements show my excitement.
I knew there was no way we were only moving books and clothing, not with those heavy duty containment fields in place, but it never occurred to me that the local task force would take a serious interest. Now there’s a genuine possibility that if Lance is being a naughty fae, prison could be in his future. Of course, there’s every chance he’d get away with it, but it seems like Raj and Ethan are serious about gathering evidence.
‘That was always our initial concern,’ Raj signs. ‘It just might be a larger problem than we originally suspected.’
‘And you’re undercover?’
‘Yes. I think you could really help us, but we have to be careful. If this turns out to be the worst-case scenario and the maybe-missing shifters have been killed to remove any evidence after being injured at work?—’
My adrenaline spikes immediately, my hand movements tense. ‘I won’t let them hurt you. I’ll keep you safe.’
He raises his eyebrows, which survived the explosion better than his hair. ‘I’m a highly trained former Special Forces soldier. I can take care of myself, and you.’
Shit. Right. I forgot about that part. I rub a hand over my buzz cut and try to calm down. It doesn’t help that my dragon is urging me to protect our treasure at all costs.
Ethan leans forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “You’re in as much danger as Raj if the accidents and disappearances are linked. I’d prefer it if you didn’t go anywhere alone until we get to the bottom of this.”
‘They’re not going to be stupid enough to try to attack a dragon. All I’d have to do is shift.’ It might even give me an excuse to barbecue them a little, like I should have done to Lance.
Ethan raises an eyebrow. “You know as well as we do that magic exists that can suppress a person’s supernatural abilities—in our case, our shifter sides.”
A chill runs over me and my dragon gives a low vibration deep inside me. Neither of us ever want to experience that again.
