“Uh-huh.” An older woman pursed her crimson lips and nodded, clearly not believing us. All the same, she didn’t try to stop us.
We kept going, finally reaching Grey’s tower. The shifter guards at the front nodded at me and opened the door, inspecting the unconscious man with bored stares. In the lobby, Miranda looked at us impassively. “What is that?”
“Something we need help with.” I nodded toward the back hall. “Is he in?”
“Just a moment.” She pressed her comms charm, never taking her gaze from the unconscious man. Mac and Eve stood by me, idly tapping their fingers against their arms. Miranda murmured into her charm for a moment, then met my gaze. “He’ll see you in his office.”
His office.
Of course. We were avoiding each other now, so of course he wouldn’t invite me into his home. Which was for the best, not only because I came bearing terrible gifts, but also for our future.
We wheeled the wagon back to his office, where a guard stood, leaning against the open door. I wheeled the wagon into the office. Grey sat at his desk and, as soon as I met his eyes, there was something different about him.
“What happened to you?” I demanded, forgetting my friends and our captive and even the edict that we should maintain our distance.
“Carrow.” He nodded, his voice strangely cold.
What the hell?
I looked at Mac and Eve to see if they sensed the change, but they were looking at me like I was crazy.
Shit. I needed to get my head in the game. I turned back to Grey, who was suddenly reminding me more and more of the Devil I’d first met. I shoved the thought aside and gestured to the unconscious man. “This is a member of the cult that is kidnapping Guild City’s people. He’s immune to truth serums, but we were hoping you could use your power to question him.”
Grey nodded. “I can try.” He gestured to one of the two guards who stood back by the wall. “Get him in a chair.”
The two men approached, retrieving the unconscious man, and binding him in a chair. I couldn't take my eyes off Grey as they worked, but he didn’t look at me.
“What is it that you would like to know?” he asked, slipping on a thin pair of leather gloves. Why the gloves?
“If the victims are still alive,” I said. My bet was that they were, but I needed confirmation so I could stop vibrating with worry. “And if Anat has risen.”
“What else?”
I listed off all our questions, and he went to stand in front of the unconscious man, whose chin once again rested on his chest. I’d feel a little bad for him if I didn’t know what he’d done. But kidnapping by a cult was the kind of trauma that didn't just go away, and he was partially responsible.
Eve stepped up to the chair. “I have the serum to wake him. Tell me when you’re ready.”
“Now is fine,” he said.
She poured a few drops of a potion on his shoulder, and the man jerked awake, his wild eyes traveling around the room.
Quick as a snake, Grey reached out and gripped the man’s chin, forcing him to meet his gaze. That was why he put on the gloves. No doubt he didn’t want to touch the miserable bastard. As he spoke, power radiated in his voice, making me sway toward him.
I straightened, pulling back.
“Tell me if the kidnapping victims are still alive.” His magic made the man’s gaze go foggy.
Thank God.
“They’re alive.” The red cloak’s voice was wooden and tense, as if he fought Grey’s power. “For now.”
“Will you kill them?”
“We won’t have to.”
I frowned.
“What does that mean?” Grey asked, as if reading my mind.