Devilish Game (Shadow Guild: The Rebel 4)

With any luck, we were going to save the kidnapping victims tonight.

5

Grey

I climbed out of the car first, scanning the ornate courtyard for Anton’s guards. Immediately, I spotted eight of them. I cataloged their weapons and species—what was visible, at least.

“Hey, let me out.” Carrow’s voice sounded from behind me, where I’d blocked her into the car on purpose.

Satisfied that it was safe, I turned and reached for her hand. She laid her palm in mine, and satisfaction surged through me.

No.

I couldn’t feel those things anymore.

I shouldn’t. The bond was broken.

My heart and body didn’t seem to care, but I tried to shove the feeling aside anyway. I helped her stand, forcing my eyes off the way the glittering golden silk clung to her curves. Her eyes gleamed with interest as she looked around.

I turned, tucking her hand into the crook of my arm, and tried to see it through her eyes.

All around, people in glittering finery strolled up the stairs, looking beautiful and bored. It was an obscene amount of wealth on display, and distaste flickered through me.

“Is this not your scene?” Carrow asked.

“Hardly.” I turned toward the massive entryway where Anton’s goons guarded the doors.

They couldn’t have looked more like a mob boss’s henchmen if they tried. Big shoulders stuffed into tight suits, slicked back hair, and their magic on full display, the way humans would wear their guns visible.

I could feel their magic from where I stood, a billboard of a threat that was meant to keep the supernaturals in line. Not everyone in the crowd was magical, however, and the humans had no idea.

Sheep.

As if she read my thoughts, Carrow leaned close and whispered, “Are there humans here?”

“Yes. So no magical fights on the casino floor. Anton has a spell blocking most powers, especially around the gambling tables, but the goons are here to keep order as well.”

“Ah, I see.”

I caught the eye of one of the bouncers and raised two fingers in a clear signal. We wouldn’t be entering through the normal way.

The man snapped to attention and turned, leading us to a side door.

“This way,” I said. “We need to go through a different type of security.”

“All of these wealthy people tolerate security?” she asked.

“To get in here, they do.” I nodded toward the crowd we’d left behind. “Humans and low-power supernaturals go that way. More powerful supernaturals go this way.”

“What is Anton looking for?”

“Any kind of threat. Magical weapons or particularly dangerous powers. If we tried to sneak through the human entrance, the sensors would catch us, and we’d be evicted.”

She shivered. “You were right about this place being heavily guarded.”

“We’ll be fine. But we won’t be able to use a transport charm until we are out of the building, so keep that in mind.”

She nodded.