Page 44 of Blades and Bone

Next, they made their way into the rainforest where Hamish had left his guard.

Hamish stopped and turned, as if confused. “He was here.”

“Are you sure you didn’t go further up the path?”

Hamish rolled his eyes and stepped off the path. “Of course, I’m sure.”

Brodie followed him into the undergrowth and around a tree. Purple rope hung from the branch in a noose. There were several things he didn’t like about what he was seeing. “Is that my rope?”

Hamish winced. “I needed something, and it was all I could find.”

“Uh-huh. You can climb up and get it. And I dare say it’s no longer going to be of any use in the bedroom.” It wasn’t designed for looping around trees and getting covered in moss and bark and God knows what else.

“Just add it to my penalty list.” Hamish sized up the tree as if working out where to start his climb. Then he jumped up, grabbing a branch, and swinging himself up and climbing until he could reach the knots.

“Oh, I am.” He hadn’t worked out what it was going to involve yet.

“Him escaping presents another problem…” Hamish worked the knot free, and the rope dropped into Brodie’s waiting hand. “He resisted my ensorcellment.”

It would be easy to suggest that maybe he wasn’t as good at it as he thought, but the guard by the gate had been fully entranced. “Do you think he played along, or do you think he was able to break free once he was alone?” Because they were very different things. “And what exactly did you tell him?”

“That he was a sleepy possum and that he should sleep until either I returned or dusk fell.” Hamish jumped down and landed neatly in a crouch.

“There is a third possibility.” Which was more troubling. “That someone else found him.”

Hamish stood. “The noose is concerning.”

“Really? Concerning isn’t the word I’d use. I’d say it’s a very clear symbol that they want you dead.” He looped the rope around his hand and slipped it into his pocket.

Hamish frowned. “Me specifically, or the treaty?”

“Hard to say. It could also be a warning,” he conceded.

“Either way, it’s a grim message.”

Hamish stared up at the tree. “If he played along, then it was for a reason…but then why would he out himself like this?”

“Perhaps you ditching him was a good enough reason? I think we can probably eliminate him being human and not being susceptible, because he wouldn’t have played along.”

“And if someone found him, then it means he’s potentially in trouble, given that they left the noose.” Hamish glanced at him. “I’m hoping it’s not that option because I don’t want someone getting hurt on my behalf.”

“So he’s either working with the spies or is being held by the spies.” It was a complication he really didn’t need. How many other people was he employing who were actually working against him?

“And we don’t know who they are, but they were doing their best to poison my…the Reids.”

Brodie pretended not to notice the slip. At least Hamish was trying. “And Ashbys. We all had access to the same food.”

“So it’s more about the treaty than anything else?”

Brodie frowned. “If we are working on the principle that there is a spy or multiple spies working here, then we should assume that they knew about the Reids arrival. If I were Mirabella, that would bother me, as I’d assume the two families were looking to work together.”

“That means they know we’re married.”

“It does, which means they know an alliance has been formed.” That knowledge painted a rather large target on both their backs. What further pissed off Brodie was that Orlan operatives had worked their way into his organization. It made him look incompetent, even though he couldn’t bite every single new hire to determine if they were vampires or not.

“Do you think we’re dealing with blooded or unblooded vampires?”

“The latter…or at least I hope it’s the latter. If your bodyguard is working for them, no doubt he’s reported he’s been made.”