Page 98 of Son of a Witch

Selena watched on, stroking her lip, and smiled as if impressed with Tor’s skill.

Then I clued into his strategy. Win trust. Avoid suspicion, especially since they had a history. Make it easier to coax a human mind when resistance took its toll.

“It’s all in the past, bud.” Tor closed his eyes and shook his head.

“I, uh.” James scratched the back of his neck. “I sold it to sentry Phil.”

Phil. Fuck. Casualty of the gantii.

“Ah, that’s a shame.” Tor tapped the iron bars. “Not important. What is important.” He waved his finger. “Is the information on the fugitive prisoners.”

James resisted, blinking, his mind fighting Tor’s hold. The sirens did this when Tor dug away like a mole trying to tunnel into their minds.

Selena glanced at me and I reassured her with a bounce of my hand. Resistance always happened when he asked tough questions. I just hoped Tor could go the distance with the recent stress on his body and mind.

“I can’t tell you, Tor.”

“Why not?”

James scraped the side of his neck. “They’ll kill my family.”

Tor’s family weren’t the only ones with tabs kept on them.

“Who, bud?” Tor prompted, brows dipping in greater focus of his powers. “Maybe we can get the warden to get security on your family.”

James shook his head. “I can’t.”

Sparks rained off the cell bars as Tor’s magick amplified. “It’s important, bud. We really need to know.”

Dizziness hit as I felt the effect of his strength and got lulled under his spell.

James’ eyes moistened. “Will you promise to protect my family?”

“Consider it done.” Tor didn’t have that authority, but he could try. Might not be a priority for him, given the violent and unforgiving way he and James ended their business relationship.

“They’re moving around through portals,” James began, encouraged by Tor’s friendly nods. “Evading the Guardians tracking them.”

“That’s clever.” Tor played dumb. “Any idea how they’re doing it?”

“Some magical device.” James’ brow pinched in recollection.

“What does it look like?” Tor prodded.

“A red amulet on a black velvet cord. It belonged to someone. I don’t remember who.”

“That’s good, bud.” Tor slid his palms along the unelectrified part of the bars. “Any idea where they’re hiding out?”

“No. They keep moving.” James scratched his jaw. “They gave me a burner phone for staying in contact.”

“Why didn’t you go with them?” With each of Tor’s questions, his mind trick took hold and he plied more answers out of the prisoner.

“I went home to get my family to take with me.”

“That makes sense. Where were you going?”

“Passage to the gantii worlds where they arranged for us to stay.”

Fuck. I stabbed a hand through my hair. It was illegal to reside in the gantii worlds without permission from the Guild or the gantii council.

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