Page 237 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

‘Whose?’

‘One of the cooks.’

‘Didn’t they ask questions?’

‘I said it was sentinel screening for a possible outbreak. My point is that’s the first time Lachlan’s body stopped radiating hunger signals.’

‘OK, so… what does that mean?’

‘I don’t know what it means, but he’s getting less human with every passing hour. Even his bone marrow smells weird. I think we need to take his ritual seriously.’

‘I have been this whole time.’

‘We need to see the book.’

‘Blaire has it.’

‘But we know where Blaire is,’ Riley points out softly. ‘Sorrenko told us they live together.’

‘We don’t know where their HQ is, though.’

‘I do.’

‘Really?’

‘For a long time now.’

‘You never told me.’

‘There’s a reason I’m the boss.’

‘So… maybe we go for a visit?’

‘Slip in, grab the book and get out.’

‘Would I have to use my Vox?’

‘I’m not gonna order you to, but we could avoid a lot of bloodshed that way. Just think about it, yeah?’

‘I will.’

‘All right.’

‘We’re doing this?’

‘If you’re on board.’

‘Of course I am. Get one over on Sorrenko and see Lachlan’s ritual in detail? Fuck yeah. When do you wanna do it?’

‘Needs to be tonight. Just the three of us.’

‘Smart. After dark?’

‘Obviously. I’ve got things to do in the basement. You go tell him.’

‘Where is Lachlan, anyway?’

Riley gestures up.