“As much as I would love to take credit for it, Atlanta isn’t as deep in the Society’s pocket as Savannah. They’re old school there. Makes sense, with the Lyceum downtown and all. Atlanta is more of a melting pot, and it allows those class lines to blur.”
A peculiar tang in the air hit the back of Midas’s throat, and he motioned for the others to slow.
Glancing at Ford, he asked, “Do you smell that?”
The comment perked Ambrose’s ears, and Hadley’s shadow crept across the pavement before them.
“No.” Ford shook his head. “I’ll have to get closer.”
“Don’t leave me hanging.” Hadley closed her hand over Midas’s upper arm. “What is it?”
“Blood.” He flared his nostrils, but the scent didn’t fade. “And black magic.”
Her nails dug in, almost piercing his skin. “That’s not unexpected, right?”
The question she asked wasn’t the one she wanted answered, and he came up empty on platitudes.
“The coven leaves behind a stain wherever they go,” Ford said, sparing him. “That’s a fact.”
“They also leave wards behind.” She stared ahead. “Nasty ones.”
“Are you sure you want to go in?” Midas cupped her cheek. “You don’t have to do this.”
“Yes,” she said, withdrawing with a wane smile. “I do.”
Part of her stubborn determination stemmed from a responsibility to her family, and he respected that. A larger portion of her disliked leaning on anyone, him included, out of fear everything she had worked for would be snatched out of her hands if she showed any signs of weakness. That part broke his heart.
The shadow reappeared in a blink and stabbed through her temple, causing her to wobble to one side.
Midas sent Ford ahead to scout, and to cover for her.
“Bastard,” she growled, impressing him with its grit. “I hope you choke on your bonbons.”
After flinging candies into the void, she took a moment to get steady.
“There’s a ward up ahead,” she gritted out between her teeth. “He’s confirmed the magical signature.”
“The coven’s work?”
“Oh, yes.”
Magic was outside his realm of expertise, but he trusted her skills. “Can you bring it down?”
“The question is almost never can I, but should I.” Her expression tightened. “Ambrose eats the energy. That’s what causes the wards I disassemble to fail. He’s at his deadliest on a full stomach, and it gives him enough power to sway my thoughts toward actions he wants me to take. Nothing major, I would catch on too quickly, but minor things I might not notice until it’s too late.”
The line he was asking her to walk was thin. Too thin. “Can he tell if anyone is in there?”
“The ward is too repellent for him to get a deep read.”
“We can still call Linus or Grier,” he offered. “They could be here in a half hour or less.”
“Waiting is too risky now that we’re here. We’re racing the clock. We have to move forward.”
Either Ares was in there and things were about to get bloody, or she wasn’t and things might be about to blow up in their faces. As much as he hated to put Hadley at risk, he agreed with her assessment.
“How can I help with Ambrose?” He fell in step with her as they caught up to Ford. “If it gets bad?”
“Force me to expend the energy. Once he’s drained, he’ll be docile again. Well, as docile as he gets.”
They got within spitting distance of Ford, and Hadley fell silent on the topic of her shadow half.
“I’m picking up two familiar scents,” Ford reported to them. “Ares and Liz have been here. Recently.”
Proof the couple was working together? Or evidence Ares had taken Liz as a hostage? Or as a host?
Drawing in deep breaths, Midas confirmed Ford’s assessment. “Do your best to minimalize casualties.”
“Stay alive.” Ford gave each of their shoulders a squeeze. “I expect to live to see mini Hadases.”
Hadley blinked at him. “Mini what?”
“Midleys?” Ford tried again. “Do you not know what happens when a boy gwyllgi and a girl—”
“We’re not having this conversation.” Hadley slapped a hand over his mouth. “Focus, Ford, or we’ll start ribbing you about mini Lisords.”
“Or Forbeths,” Midas tacked on. “Get your head in the game, Ford.”
“I don’t know if I can.” He appeared disturbed. “It sounded like you said lizards, and now I keep picturing Lisbeth and my heads on baby lizard bodies.” A shudder rolled through him. “Thanks for ruining procreation for me.”
Tipping the brim of an imaginary hat, she drawled, “You’re welcome, partner.”
Brows lowered, he glowered at her. “Cowboy jokes, really?”
“Hey,” she countered, “it got your mind off the lizard babies, didn’t it?”
Fourteen
We all knew what the others were up to, but we indulged one another in procrastinating a minute longer. It was easier to joke than to focus on whatever awaited us. It was easier to pretend than to face an ugly reality. But we didn’t have time for it, and my impatience won out in the end.
Certain they would follow, I strode toward the building. I didn’t slow to unsheathe my swords from Ambrose’s nebulous mass. I couldn’t risk stopping now that I had gained momentum. The urge to put off what I was about to discover about my family, about my friend, preyed on me.
The ward registered as a tingle over my skin, a gentle force nudging me back and away.
Ambrose strode beside me, curious, and I didn’t trust this weird dynamic duo vibe he was going for.
The shadow pointed a long finger, and I felt a magical pressure increase before I grasped his meaning.
The coven had used concentric wards at the meat packing plant too. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, I guess.
“Don’t come any closer,” I told the guys. “Let me see if I can get this ward down first.”
The space was also necessary to chat with Ambrose without giving myself away to Ford.
“Do you see the anchor?” I walked the perimeter as Ambrose searched. “Let’s go deeper.”
We passed through two more layers, each more viscous than
