I nodded. “He was not immortal. I would have felt it. I think that the desire to misinterpret the will of a god to serve your own ends is something that never goes out of fashion.”
“So we have a modern bunch of psychopaths holed up in a temple about to cause chaos,” she said.
“That’s what it sounds like.” Mac began to pace the room, her short blonde hair growing ever messier as she dragged her hand through it. “We need to get into that temple.”
“The only way to do it is with one of those transport charms,” Eve said. “Which only Anton’s kidnapper will have.”
“The security on Anton’s casino has doubled, according to my sources,” I said. “But I have found his contact in Guild City.”
“The evil talent scout who finds the supernatural with the magic that the cult wants?”
“The very same. It’s a weaselly mage who lives in Hellebore Alley. I put a charm in his flat that will alert us if Anton contacts him.”
Carrow nodded, ideas flickering through her eyes. “We can’t get the transport charm from Anton since his place is too heavily guarded. But we can get it from the kidnapper.”
“But how do we know where the kidnapper will be?” Eve asked.
Carrow smiled. “We force the talent scout to tell the kidnapper that I’m the target.”
Icy fear pierced my chest. “You’re suggesting that you become bait.”
She nodded. “Yes. They don’t know my name. Those miserable weasels have no idea that I was the one to try to break into their temple. They saw me, but it will be Anton’s intermediary who tries to kidnap me.”
Something roared inside me. No. She couldn’t take the risk. Pain shot through my head. I rubbed the bridge of my nose, frowning hard. I shouldn’t care if she took the risk. She was nothing to me now . . . the spells had seen to it.
And yet . . .
I did care. Incredibly much.
I drew in an unsteady breath, forcing it to move smoothly through my lungs. I don’t like it.
But I bit back the words. It wasn’t my place to like it or not like it. I needed to move forward as if she were no different than anyone else. But it was maddening to still feel the dregs of the emotion while having no memory of the events that had created those feelings.
“I’m not suggesting that the kidnapper actually kidnap me,” she said. “I’d be totally outnumbered and definitely screwed if he—or she—actually got me. But I’ll be the bait and, once he arrives, you guys sweep in and grab him. We’ll steal the charm, and then we’ll all go to the temple together. Strength in numbers.”
“It’s the only way,” Mac said. “You saw how many of them there were. If you end up actually kidnapped, it’s over for you.”
She nodded, her face slightly pale. “You’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.”
I despised this idea.
But it didn’t matter.
Carrow looked at me. “You’ve found Anton’s talent scout. Tomorrow, when Anton tells him what magic they are looking for, can you compel the scout to tell Anton that I have it?”
It felt like pulling teeth, but I forced a nod. It was the only reasonable thing to do. And I’d be there to protect her. “Yes.”
“Good.” Carrow nodded. “We’ll figure out the perfect spot for me to hang out tomorrow night so that the kidnapper feels confident approaching, but you guys can be hidden and waiting.”
“Then we’ll nab the transport charm and break into the temple and save our friends.” Eve grinned. “I like this plan.”
I still despised it.
&nbs
p; “Well, I’d say that’s that.” Mac brushed off her hands. “We have a plan, and now I need a bath.”
“Let’s head home,” Eve said. “Thank you, Devil.”