Page 57 of Waifs And Strays
‘It does make a sick sort of sense,’ Samantha said softly. ‘It’s practically the only topic of conversation amongst the entire pack. Everyone wants you to mate, Alex.’
He rolled his eyes in irritation and returned his attention to me. ‘How did you know?’ he barked. ‘How did you know that she spiked my coffee with magical Viagra?’ As I hesitated, he bared his teeth and answered for me. ‘The cat.’ He raised his eyes heavenward. ‘The damned cat. That wasyou.’
I kept my gaze level. ‘I’m a cat sith,’ I admitted.
‘That’s how you—’ He broke off and glanced at Samantha. She raised an eyebrow and waited for him to finish his sentence, but there were some things even his right-hand woman couldn’t be allowed to know. He changed the subject. ‘Rebecca didn’t take Nick, so who did?’
Thane sat a little straighter in his chair. ‘Kit,’ he breathed. ‘What have you found out?’
I told them everything I’d learned from Tommy and the deacon from the Church of the Masked God. I even told themabout the junk mail flyer I’d received and the dying assassin’s muttered words.
‘A demon-worshipping cult called Umbra has abducted Nicholas? Seriously?’ MacTire’s incredulity was palpable.
I nodded. ‘It appears that way.’
‘I’ve had that flyer,’ Samantha said slowly.
‘I think Umbra have been delivering them all over the city. They’re planning some sort of solstice event in Crackendon Square. If what the deacon told me is correct, they’re going to try and invoke a demon.’ I paused. ‘And somehow they’ll use Nick to help them.’
MacTire stared at me. ‘A cult is all very well, but a demon hasn’t been seen in this country for…’
‘Two hundred and three years,’ Thane finished for him. ‘My mother, God rest her soul, used the word as a threat to try and keep me in line – behave or the demons will get you.’ He shrugged. ‘I was a contrary child and I didn’t believe her, so I asked one of my teachers and he said no demon has come to Britain from the netherworld since 1822.’
Samantha folded her arms, her scepticism clear. ‘What exactly is a demon?’
‘A chaotic creature with nothing but destruction on its wish list,’ MacTire answered grimly. He glanced at me. ‘According to the old stories, anyway. But this can’t be true. Even if Umbra exists, nobody would be stupid enough to call upon a demon and bring them into this world. They answer to no-one and they can’t be controlled. Umbra must know that. And what on earth would Nick have to do with any of this?’
‘Somebody mentioned something recently.’ I hedged my words. ‘They suggested that a demon can be invoked through the blood of a werewolf.’
MacTire’s eyes blazed. ‘Who?’ he demanded. ‘Who said that?’
‘It was a throwaway comment. They’re not part of Umbra.’
‘You’re positive about that?’
‘Well, no, but?—’
‘Then who the fuck are you talking about?’
I didn’t want to drag Trilby into this mess; they had nothing to do with it and didn’t deserve to be involved. But Nick didn’t deserve this either, and I didn’t know anyone else who might have any answers.
My shoulders sagged. ‘A black-market seller at the riverside market,’ I whispered. I looked at Samantha. ‘The one who sold you the magicked catnip.’
It tooka lot of arguing on my part before MacTire agreed to let me go to the market rather than send several burly werewolves to haul Trilby kicking and screaming back to this hellhole of a hideout.
‘You catch more flies with honey than vinegar,’ I’d repeated over and over again until he yielded simply to shut me up. But he insisted on accompanying me and instructed a posse of muscle-bound wolves to join us. He left Thane behind in the torture basement with Samantha, but at least allowed her to untie him.
Before I left, Thane sent me a long look and a clear warning. ‘Watch yourself,’ he said. ‘And make sure you come back safe.’ I had absolutely no intention of doing otherwise.
As soon as we were outside, with Alexander MacTire sticking so closely to my side that he could have been mistaken for a needy kitten looking for a new home, the werewolf alpha glanced at me. ‘I’ve never seen Thane Barrow interested in anyone’s welfare before.’
He obviously didn’t know Thane very well. ‘He’s beenworried about Nick from day one.’ I refrained from mentioning the building with the viewing platform into the MacTire stronghold and the flats that Thane rented out at a pittance. I doubted it was information that he’d want me to reveal.
MacTire grunted. ‘He’s a lone wolf. His interest in Nicholas is simply to encourage a malleable young boy into following in his footsteps.’
I frowned. ‘That’s not true.’
He chuckled.
