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Peacemaker:“You don’t want to know what they’re saying? I can translate.”

“If they can’t be bothered to say it in a language I know, I’ll assume they’re planning where to bury my body.”

That thought is met with a disturbingly loud laugh that makes me startle. Ben and Mitri are so into their one-sided conversation they don’t notice.

Ben’s the only one speaking, but Mitri is focused on him. I reach for the music, change it to something I know, and turn the volume low so I can try and concentrate.

Problem one: will the rings work? It cleared them out of the influence, but are they infallible? Ben said controlling his kind is difficult because he’s from another dimension, but he got influenced by one Delegate. Same with Kimi in the mansion of bullshit, despite his denial. Even if it’s for a little bit, either one of them could do some severe damage before they snapped out of it.

Peacemaker:“Kimi is more vulnerable due to his already unstable mentality. Just having you with us going back in is an ace in the hole. I think the rest will be fine, though we haven’t risked it.”

Maybe I should go in alone. I don’t know if I’m now immune to all mental persuasion or just King’s. If not, how long will it take me to build that immunity? Would everyone wait for me to come back?

Peacemaker:“Your immunity adapts? Mitri has a ring for you as well.”

“I’ll wear it as long as I can confirm that’s what it is.”

I’m not trusting anyone but Ben right now.

Peacemaker:“Rude. He’s already killed four people for you, five if you include Kimi.”

“Kimi is alive. We just saw him.”

Peacemaker:“He is for now. Mitri got bored with it because he just comes back.”

“He’s immortal?” Fuck my life, man. Ok, setting that crap aside before my mental seesaw takes a downswing.

There has to be another way for me to locate hexes. I’m stronger now, but the manor is huge. Letting the spark wander all over the place to find hexes is going to wear me out. Especially if I have to heal someone or two someones.

Peacemaker:“What spark?”

“Shh, I’m thinking, and it’s complicated.”

That’s three floors to search, possibly four. I know that maze of a basement will be a nightmare, but I can’t leave any stones unturned. I wonder if the Delegates know the layout of the place. Have pictures. If Laverne had access to anything she could attach a hex to we might be screwed.

Peacemaker:“Hold on, I’ll ask.”

Mitri turns to face the front windshield as Ben continues speaking in whatever language that is. Maybe Russian? The Artificer did say he became aCzar. The dots are connecting. Huh. Mitri is Russian.

Peacemaker’s voice returns quickly.“He thinks they know everything. It was built before he came to America, and agents already lived there. One was married to a Delegate. There was some remodeling to make the den below. We aren’t sure if that’s recorded.”

“Great, just great.” So we have to assume they knowallthe hiding places, just in case. Can they just move, and Mitri can set the place on fire?

Peacemaker:“Make a path directly to them and drag them out. The less influence they’re under, the better. Outside we don’t have to worry about reinfection.”

I try to keep my suspicions under wraps, but the damn gun is too quick. I don’t manage to conceal the thought well enough to hide it.

Peacemaker:“If King is the one doing this, he’ll still be weaker outside of the hex’s influence. We have our own suspicions there.”

I’m glad I’m not the only one, but I feel guilty for thinking it.

Peacemaker:“Why? He makes his own choices.”

“And Mal? What if he had no choice?”

I turn in my seat to see Mal and Kimi in the vehicle behind us. Mal is using one of his wings in the cramped space to keep Kimi in the backseat.

Kimi is leaning out the back window, yelling things to the people we pass. From the pedestrians' reactions, I think the maniac is propositioning them.