Page 118

“Get out of here before I do some real damage, man,” he says.

“You and I both know Xander Vasilyev has been under investigation for years. I’m telling you now that the police have something and if you don’t let me speak to him, they will be here in under an hour with a warrant for his arrest.” The guard still looks unconvinced. His friends loom in the background, watching on curiously.

“Bullshit.”

I almost groan.

“It has something to do with a dead guy in one of your warehouses. Sying I believe?”

This time, he visibly flinches, his eyes meeting another guard’s.

Bingo.

Xander is their direct boss, and this guy must have heard the rumours about Key and how he probably ended up under after Xander’s torture.

I decide to press on. “I don’t care if you believe me or not, but if the police come and swarm this building, Xander will kill both of us for not warning him and you and I both know he’ll take his time.”

The guard’s nostrils flare. His friends exchange uneasy glances. They are loyal to him, and they also know what he’s capable of.

“Look, they are both occupied,” he tries feebly.

I know,I think,that’s what I’m trying to stop.

“Fine,” I say. “Then you will explain to them both why Xander ended up in handcuffs tonight.”

“C’mon Roth,” one of the guards standing a little behind says. “He has a badge. If this he’s telling the truth…”

Roth stares at me, jaw clenched. “What did you say your name was?”

“Detective Alexander Kimura. You can look up my badge number if you’d like, but we’re running out of time.”

He nods. “If you’re lying, you won’t make it out of here.”

I nod, tucking my badge away.

“Search him first,” he mutters to his friends. “Make sure he’s not carrying.”

I wasn’t stupid enough to bring my gun. I hold out my arms, opening my legs as one of them comes to pat me down. I spot his snake tattoo on his hand.

“All clear,” the man says.

Roth gives me one last warning look before turning on his heel and walking into The Serpentine. I swallow, letting out a cold breath before following him inside, a guard’s hand tightly gripping my arm. “Let’s go,” he mutters.

Somewhere inside, Rowan is standing among his enemies, and I hope I’m not too late to stop them.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Rowan

The air in the Sanctum is thick, the heavy expectation of what comes next almost overwhelming. The golden serpent etched into the black granite walls seems to shimmer in the flickering light, a silent witness to everything unfolding.

I keep my eyes trained on my father, but like he can feel me, his eyes land on me and he smiles. There’s something about it that makes me uneasy. Despite the warmth emanating from the candles that litter the room, a cold sweat runs down my back.

He tears his eyes from me and looks through the room. “However, before we can cast our votes, there is something I must bring to your attention.”

A low murmur runs through the Keepers. Across the circle, Hayden meets my eyes. My father waits for silence, but his expression doesn’t shift. I know that look. It’s the same one he wore with a whip in his hand. Coiled, patient. Snake-like.

“Zaina was not just my wife. She was a leader. A mother. The backbone of The Snake. She brokered a peace deal with The Scarlet Ravens. She gave us unimaginable influence in Senna. It is clear that her strength held us all together.” He pauses to take in a shaky breath. “But in her final moments, she was betrayed by someone she loved deeply; someone she trusted above most.”

“Speak plainly, Jonathan,” Cordelia’s cool voice cuts through the room, disturbing protocol. “This is no time for riddles.”