The Black Tide (Outcast 3)

He’s looking into a shop’s front window six back from your current position, but on the other side of the road.

I again resisted the urge to look as I swung into the walkway that led to Seventh. I came out half a block down from Seven Sins, and not far away from the building where Nadel Keller—the man I’d initially intended targeting to get information on Winter Halo—had drawn his last breath. Dream didn’t muck about when it came to loose ends, even one as remote as Keller.

Seven Sins came into sight. I paused just inside the entrance, my gaze sweeping the small but pleasant front room. The place wasn’t crowded, and there were only three tables occupied—one by a couple, one by two women sharing a platter of sweets, and, at the back of the room, a gray-haired, craggy-faced man of indeterminate age.

Jonas, in disguise.

I walked over to one of the tables near the window and sat down. A waitress immediately walked over; once I’d placed my order and scanned my RFID chip to pay for it, I crossed my arms and leaned against the table, staring out the window as I said, Is there a problem or is this just an update?

The latter, mostly.

Mostly? A smile teased my lips. Does that mean you were desperate to see me?

If I were to say yes, how would you respond? Amusement ran through his mental tone.

I wouldn’t be averse to hearing it, though I rather suspect it’s more a case of needing to pass information, and not wanting to keep using the ghosts as go-betweens.

That would also be true, though it doesn't mute the strength of the original intention. His amusement faded. Nuri’s kin have managed to install recording equipment in the chancellor’s quarters—

How the hell did they manage that? I cut in. Isn’t she guarded twenty-four seven?

Yes, but Nuri isn’t the only earth-capable witch within her family, and they have... various ways of getting what they want. Although none of them hold her power or experience.

Naturally, given none of them had survived a rift and had their life span extended and abilities sharpened. When did this happen?

Because if it was before last night, then they might just have captured either Hedda Lang or Dream herself taking on Karlinda’s form.

It was operational by last night, but I can’t say at exactly what time, he replied. And we won’t be able to access the recording until at least tomorrow evening.

I frowned. Access it? Does that mean it’s not wirelessly connected?

It does indeed, he said. We had to go old-school, because all transmissions in and out of Government House, the House of Lords, and the homes of all officials are monitored twenty-four seven.

Wouldn’t that be problematic when it comes to deal making or information that requires the highest security?

Yes, he said, but there are devices and codes in place that can be employed in such situations. We know them, but can’t use them given this is an unapproved operation.

Because if they did, they’d alert the very person they were trying to entrap. And Hedda Lang? Are you trying a similar tactic within her office?

No—we’re working on something else.

The waitress returned with my coffee and macaroons. I gave her a smile of thanks, and then said, You’ll have to excuse me for a second—I promised Cat and Bear we could try linking so they can understand how good these things taste.

Seriously? The amusement was back.

Yes. Sweets like this weren’t offered to déchet, Jonas. We got what our bodies needed for growth, nothing more and nothing less.

After getting to know your little ones, I find that a rather sad fact.

Indeed it was. Cat, you first.

As she whipped through me to create the deeper-level connection that we’d used before the rift, I concentrated on trying to reverse the polarity of it—or at least equalize it. She pulled free, but the connection remained sharp. Not only could I see through her eyes, but—if her gasp was anything to go by—she could now see through mine. I bit into the macaroon. It was every bit as good as the first time I’d tasted it.

That’s lovely, Cat said, awe in her mental tones. And unlike anything I’ve ever tasted.

An ache was beginning to stir behind my eyes; a warning the deep-level link was starting to drain my strength. Cat, you need to disconnect and give Bear a go.

She immediately did so, and a second bite had him echoing her words. He didn’t linger either, but the ache remained when he broke the connection. I rather suspected that, given their silence, it had also drawn heavily on their own strength.