Page 103 of Magic Claimed
The only answer was a brief huff. I couldn’t tell whether it was meant to convey amusement or an eye roll.
“Yeah, you’re right. Blake is more the motorcade type. Or maybe an armored car full of heavily armed guards type. He isn’t likely to risk an ambush. Or damaging his prisoner.”
I was already feeling a little jumpy, so my heart about leaped through my throat when we suddenly heard a series of thuds and clangs—coming frominside the abandoned trailer.
My brain went from black market exotic animal trade to human trafficking to zombie apocalypse in less than three seconds, which was when the rear door of the trailer swung open…
And Blake himself dropped to the ground.
Score one for my intuition.
We’d scoped out the entire lot to make sure we weren’t being ambushed, and Kira had even shifted long enough to do a scent check. We knew he hadn’t been here an hour ago, which confirmed what I’d been arguing for all night—that this plan was the only way to get what we truly needed…
The location of Blake’s hidden base.
He was followed by a half dozen of his minions dressed in nondescript dark clothing, and while the few functioning lights weren’t enough to reveal details, I could at least tell—to my immense relief—that none of the new arrivals were Heather.
One worry dealt with, on to the next three thousand or so.
“It’s good to see you again, Raine, Kes.” Blake’s voice wassoft, warm, and welcoming. I might have been fooled if it weren’t for the light of anticipation brightening his eyes and turning his rather average appearance into something slightly worrying. Almost hungry. “I’m so pleased we were able to come to this agreement.”
“I’m sure you are.” I took a step closer, placing myself between him and his quarry. As if I could somehow prevent him from taking Kes. “But now that we’re here, I need to see the antidote. I’ll also need proof that the march is called off right here and right now, or there’s no deal.”
Blake didn’t move. Didn’t touch his phone or signal to any of his people, so I kept going—careening headlong down this path that I could only hope would lead us where we wanted to go.
“You should know that I have people watching your chat groups and monitoring social media to make sure the posts get made.”
I glanced at the huddled figure behind me and added one more very important caveat. “Also, Kes has agreed to go with you willingly, so she deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. That means no one touches her without her permission. She might not be strong enough to fight back, but she’s not afraid to ruin whatever artifacts you’re carrying if you get violent or handsy.”
Blake shook his head. “Raine, do you actually think that little of me? Of course Kes will be treated with the utmost respect. We owe her everything for leading us here, and she will be my honored guest. But first… I’ll need you to remove her hood to confirm that you’ve met your terms in this bargain.”
Good. We already had him looking the wrong direction, so Irolled my eyes and bowed sarcastically. “Whatever His Majesty wishes.”
I was grateful for the darkness that hid my shaking hands as I reached up and pulled back the cardigan’s hood… to reveal Kes’s long dark hair, gray eyes, and pale, tremulous features.
Blake took two steps closer, peering through narrowed eyes as if he could somehow see through whatever chicanery we might have planned. As if he couldn’t believe we’d actually given in to his demands. But eventually, he was forced to be satisfied.
“Good.” He nodded and stepped back again. “I hope you and whoever is listening in right now can understand that whatever rescue plan you’ve concocted is doomed to fail. Even if you’ve planted a tracker, it will not be in your best interests to use it. If we get even a hint of an attempt to find Kes after tonight, Idrian violence against humans will increase a hundredfold. We will accelerate our efforts, and urge the Bureau to move forward by requesting a vote on registration and relocation for all Idrians.”
So he assumed our people were listening. Luckily, none of these humans had any way of knowing just how close they really were.
“You’re truly a credit to your mistress,” I said coldly. “Elayara would be so proud.”
For a single instant, Blake froze, and his mask cracked, allowing a hint of rage to slip through.
“I amnothinglike Elayara,” he bit out. “Every one of my people are here because I offered them something they want. There are no unwilling victims. No oppression. No prisons. Butmaybe you’re just too blind and brainwashed to understand the difference.”
I wondered how he would explain Jeremiah and the other teens, and now Kes. But asking would reveal that we knew about the kids he’d taken, and I didn’t want to show even the tiniest part of our hand until we were ready.
“You are her true successor in every way that counts,” I returned, “but rest assured. We understand the risks and will make no attempt to rescue Kes.”
I held out my hand, palm up. “Now. The antidote?” Then I tilted my head to the side and surveyed him thoughtfully. “Unless, of course, that part was a lie. Unless all of it was a lie just to get us here.”
“Oh, Raine.” Blake’s head tipped back, and he stared into the night sky as a laugh burst from his lips. “Did you really think we somehow found a cure for naga venom in a mere matter of months?”
Nope. I honestly hadn’t. But not gonna lie, a part of me had at leasthoped.
“And did you honestly expect we wouldn’t notice your shapeshifter friends hidden in the shadows? Preparing to follow us back to our headquarters?”
