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Martin loosened his grip enough for me to turn in his embrace. I was greeted by Hikaru’s mischievous grin, his gold-green eyes alight with something that promised further razzing. A broad warlock stood slightly to the side and behind Hikaru, his expression far tamer and stoic. Hikaru’s tails flicked about, dancing across the warlock’s body, lovingly touching him here and there.

With a groan, Martin lamented, “Dear Gaia, save me.” Hikaru only laughed harder. Or maybe it was more of a cackle. Either way, it was a far better sound than the grief I’d heard the last time we met.

“Oh, this is way better than I thought this trip would go. Don’t you agree, Niki?”

“Indeed, it is not what I expected.” Nikodemus Holland’s voice was deep and sonorous, just like every warlock I’d met in the past. What wasn’t the same was the touch of fondness underlying his words.

Clearing his throat, Holland turned his attention to the minuscule item I’d found. Any softness immediately evaporated as his jaw clenched, his lips pulled into little more than a thin line.

Hikaru’s joyous mood instantly dimmed. “What is it, Niki?”

The kitsune moved toward the object. I thought Holland would tell him to stop, but he didn’t. Instead, he asked, “What do you see?”

Hikaru frowned and this time, the rapid flick of his tails was far different from their earlier playfulness. Hikaru was definitely agitated. “Nothing good.” He shivered. “I don’t like the look of this, Niki. I don’t like it at all. It’s magic, but it’s been corrupted to the point it barely feels like it.” Hikaru stepped back, moving until his body came into contact with Holland’s.

“As I feared,” Holland said as Keir arrived.

“Thank you for coming,” Keir said, not the least bit winded from walking down countless halls to get to…wherever the hell we were. “I hope I didn’t take you away from anything important.”

Holland waved Keir off. “Only idiotic rhetoric,” Holland answered, those few words filled with disdain.

Hikaru patted Holland on the chest before snuggling in. “Poor Niki finds running the Warlock Council tedious.”

“It is beyond irritating,” Holland ground out. “I do not know what possessed me to agree to such a ludicrous idea.”

Hikaru’s head tilted so he could look Holland in the eyes. “Yes, you do, and you’d do it again if given another choice.”

Holland’s coiled muscles relaxed as he gave a single, agreeing nod. “As usual, you are correct.”

Hikaru beamed. “I’m always right! Except about Martin and Keir.” Twisting so he could see Keir better, Hikaru sounded scandalized when he asked, “Did you know Martin’s stepping out on you?”

“Oh, for the love of⁠—”

I smacked Martin on the chest before he could complete that sentence.

Amusement filled Keir’s amber eyes. “I am perfectly aware and more than pleased by this development.”

“Oh, well then. I suppose that’s okay. You may carry on with your tryst then,” Hikaru stated with an authority he didn’t have. I had the distinct impression such things mattered little to the kitsune.

While the banter was nice, the small object pulsing within the wall wasn’t. Keir moved around our gathered bodies, leaning forward to get a better look.

“I wouldn’t recommend touching it,” Martin warned. “I got singed before making contact.”

Keir pulled back, eyebrows raising before dropping with concern. “Do you know what this is, Holland?”

Stretching out his hand, Nikodemus Holland pulled on the magic surrounding him. It twined between his fingers, rolling over his skin as it inched forward, only to recoil as if it had been slapped.

Lowering his hand, Holland’s eyes slipped closed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “It is as I feared.”

“Feared?” My gaze darted around the room. “Coming from the powerful warlock, that doesn’t sound good.” It didn’t sound good at all.

“That’s because it isn’t good.” Holland winced. “In fact, I’d say it is quite bad, and if I’m correct, it is hardly alone.”

My head snapped up. “You mean there are more of these things?”

“I’d wager at least a dozen, possibly ten times that many depending upon how large this compound truly is,” Holland answered.

My knees felt unsteady. I barely noticed when Martin led me to a nearby chair and eased me into it. I stared at my hands, allowing blue flames to dance along my fingertips. Eyes slipping closed, I concentrated. Martin was right beside me, helping me focus. Now that it had been found, this object should no longer sing. And yet, that same, grating song scratched its way into my mind. My fingers clenched, extinguishing my flame.