Page 69 of Soulmarked

The next target became clear as I followed the progression. The ritual was methodically charging each point of the star, and only one significant location aligned with the next position in the sequence.

“Here. The old psychiatric hospital on Roosevelt Island. It's the next point in the sequence.”

“Perfect location,” Lex agreed. “Decades of pain and suffering soaked into those walls. Plus, it's isolated enough for whatever ritual they're planning.”

“Then that's where we'll be.” Sean's voice carried the kind of certainty that usually preceded violence. “When?”

Lex checked his tablet. “Based on these energy readings? Tonight. The lunar cycle peaks at midnight.”

“Of course it does,” I muttered. “Because why make it easy?”

“Where would be the fun in that?” Lex's grin returned, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. “I'll coordinate with Skye,get surveillance set up. You two...” He glanced between us meaningfully. “Try not to kill each other before then? Sexual tension is one thing, but we need you both functional.”

“Lex,” Sean's warning carried enough edge to cut glass.

“Going, going.” He headed for the door, then paused. “But seriously. Whatever's happening here?” He gestured vaguely at the space between Sean and me. “Figure it out. Because we're going to need both of you at your best tonight.”

The door closed behind him with surprising gentleness, leaving Sean and me alone again. The tension crackled back to life, but different now, weighted with purpose and the promise of violence to come.

“He's right,” I said finally, keeping my voice neutral. “We need to be able to work together.”

“Aye.” Sean still wouldn't look at me directly, but his posture shifted slightly. Less hostile, more resigned. “Professional, like I said.”

“Professional,” I agreed, ignoring how the word tasted like ash. “So what's the play?”

He finally met my eyes, and for a moment I caught a glimpse of what we might have been. Then his expression closed off again, all business.

“We scout the location, set up surveillance. Work the perimeter, identify entry and exit points.” His voice was pure hunter now, focused and deadly. “Then we stop whatever ritual they're planning and kill anything that tries to break through.”

“Simple as that?”

“Simple as that.” But there was something in his tone, not quite regret, but close. “We do the job, we go our separate ways. Just like professionals.”

I nodded, though everything in me wanted to argue. Wanted to tell him the truth, consequences be damned. But he was right, we had a job to do. Personal revelations would have to wait.

16

POINT OF NO RETURN

The wind off the East River cut like knives, carrying the stink of old death and something worse. Ravensbrook Asylum loomed against Manhattan's neon glow like a bloody wound in the skyline, its Victorian towers reaching up like grasping fingers. Even from our rooftop perch three buildings away, I could feel the wrongness radiating from the place.

“I'm counting twenty-plus guards,” Skye's voice crackled through our earpieces. “Mixed bag of nasties, vamps, weres, and those Fetches from the church.”

“Any sign of ritual preparations?” I asked, methodically checking my arsenal. Silver rounds slid into magazines, each bullet etched with sigils old as sin. The familiar routine kept my hands busy while my mind ran through all the ways this could go sideways.

“Hard to tell. They've got equipment vans with Phoenix logos, but whatever they're unloading is shielded from my scanners.” A pause filled with rapid typing.

Beside me, Cade loaded his own weapon with similar rounds. His movements were precise, methodical – the kind of carefulpreparation I'd come to expect from him. Not that I'd been watching.

“Remember the plan,” I said to our assembled team, trying to sound like I wasn't making this up as we went along. “We're not here to stop them yet. We just need to confirm what they're building and get proof before we move.”

“And if they spot us?” Lex checked his own gear, designer suit somehow immaculate despite the grime of our surroundings.

“Then we show them why people still fear hunters.” I smiled, though there was no humor in it. “Alive or dead, they'll learn.”

“Always with the dramatic declarations,” Cade muttered, but I caught him watching me when he thought I wasn't looking.

“Are you two going to bicker all night?” Skye's voice held equal parts amusement and exasperation. “Because I can think of better uses for our comm channel.”

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