Page 18 of Curses & Keys (Curses & Gods #1)

JAMISON

E verything I just told the council was half-truths.

Maybe even an outright lie or two. I admitted to them that Mathias hacked into the black-market website to get the address of the abandoned warehouse where the sale was happening.

True. I did not tell them that the disappearance of Phaedra Galanis prompted us to take this action. Omission.

I told them we sent Dr. Letz Samuels to purchase the key because we needed a credible buyer.

I did not tell them that he was the seller.

Why? Because he protected her. He could have easily conjured a portal to leave the premises, but he stayed and fought beside her.

He shielded her. Hell, he died for her. That means something. What, I don’t know.

All of these years, he’s been an honorable man, the kind of supernatural who puts the true greater good before himself. I couldn’t let his presence at the warehouse tarnish his stellar reputation. I lied.

Besides, there was enough truth for the council to see.

Body cams on our suits revealed to the council how bloody and brutal the fight was, and it showed the horrific sight of a human stabbing straight through a mage’s shield and killing him.

Shock rendered them speechless, the same way it did me when I saw it in person.

What is this weapon that can nullify our magic?

The video footage showed an anonymous figure in a black bodysuit dropping to Letz’ side and listening to his last words. I wasn’t close enough to hear. Thankfully, none of my body cams were close enough to catch Letz’ last words either.

When they saw me drop to my knees beside Letz, they drilled me for information on the stranger next to me—race, magic, scents, auras—any clues that would lead them to this person, but I told them the suit blocked everything.

Most of the information I gave them, such as height and build, they could see for themselves via the footage.

I didn’t tell them about the scent of jasmine and vanilla or the thought that crossed my mind.

Besides, if Phaedra was the buyer, she had done nothing wrong.

Buying or selling an archaeological piece on the black market is against human law, not ours.

Technically, neither Letz nor Phaedra did anything wrong.

But then, why conceal it? More importantly, why is a group of humans willing to kill for it?

We brought several human soldiers back to the compound for interrogation, but they couldn’t tell us anything.

Literally could not say a word. Several opened their mouths to spill the secrets in their eyes, but nothing came out.

We could only deduce they were under a mage’s secrecy spell. It’s the only answer that makes sense.

Humans having the ability to detect or nullify our magic always seemed like a tremendous leap forward to me. Impossible unless someone with magic helped them develop that technology.

I’ve always held my loyalty to the highest standards, but I just chucked it out the window and lied to the council. Not for her or Letz.

In order to take a large force to the warehouse, I had to first get the council’s permission. There should have been minimal risk. Even if the humans knew about the transaction, they wouldn’t have brought the number of soldiers they did. Their force rivaled ours. Men died under my watch.

Someone leaked our information to them, which means we have a traitor at the highest level. Five councilmembers knew the details. Add in the magic the humans are using…and the answer is obvious.

Before I leave the council meeting, I study each of their faces.

Ancient and powerful, the leaders of our races; their stoic expressions tell me nothing, but one of them is responsible.

I feel it in my gut. My father raises an arrogant eyebrow when my gaze drifts to him.

All of them are capable, especially him.

With a dip of my head, I drop my report on the table and promise to keep them updated.

Instead of taking the jet like I should, I open a portal to North Carolina.

My vision blurs, and the world shifts on its axis, the effects of using magic to traverse the globe.

I reach out to a nearby wall to steady myself.

Portals are extremely efficient, but it takes a toll to go so far with one step.

Thankfully, it doesn’t last long. My magic begins to rebuild, giving me back my strength along with it, and I’m able to continue to the condo.

The moment I walk in, I see them waiting for me. My team. They deserve the truth. With a sigh, I grab a beer and take off my suit jacket.

“We have a traitor,” I begin, telling them about the council meeting and the report I submitted. They need to know what I’ve put on the line.

Gatlin’s face hardens. “I wondered about that myself. It should have been a skirmish, not an all-out battle.” Hands on his hips, he stares steadily at me. “You know your father could be the traitor. He’s always been vocal about the need for supernaturals to own their place in this world.”

I rub a hand down my face. “Yes. He’s at the top of my list.” It’s true. In his eyes, we should be leading the world, not hiding from an inferior race. There are very few lines he wouldn’t cross to protect what is his. “Is she back?”

Mathias nods. “She’s at the university. Hawthorne met with her about an hour ago.” Dark eyes shift to the male standing next to him.

“Do you really think Letz’ mysterious friend was Phaedra?

” Hawthorne asks, a troubled expression on his face.

When I nod, he crosses his arms over his chest. “What is it with you and her? And don’t tell me it’s nothing.

I dismissed your appearance at the university.

Thought it was just your need to control everything, but I hear how you say her name.

Then you go and lie to the council. You knew it was her on that roof. ”

“I met her at Hawkes House the night of the museum event,” I reluctantly confide. “You’re right. There’s something intriguing about her. Half of me wants to know what she’s hiding, but the other half doesn’t give a damn. I know she’s a suspect. Believe me. It’s driving me crazy.”

“Do you think she’s involved with the humans?” he asks, a note of concern in his voice.

“No, but I don’t have any proof. Call it a gut feeling. She’s mixed up in this, but I haven’t figured out how or why yet,” I admit to him, watching the tension ease from his shoulders. “You like her, don’t you?”

“She has a passion for history that rivals mine. I could talk to her for hours,” he says with a puzzled expression on his face, as if he can’t figure out why that makes her so attractive.

I want to chuckle but don’t. Despite being one of the most eligible bachelors in London, he finds most women boring, but apparently, not Phaedra.

“We need to concentrate on finding this group,” Mathias interjects, with an impatient glare at us both.

When did Mathias take on my role? I sigh.

He’s right. “You’re right. This group is meeting somewhere.

Communicating with each other. Training together.

I want to know where. Tap into all your resources and see what you can find.

I’ll quietly start investigating the council’s activities.

See if there have been any significant changes in their lives. ”

Since my father is the most likely candidate, I’ll begin with him.

Gatlin jerks his chin and picks up his phone to start calling his contacts.

For the next few hours, I use a backdoor to access my father’s calendar, then I double-check his attendance at those events.

Most of the time, his demand for publicity proves his whereabouts, but there are a series of private meetings that I can’t confirm.

As his son, I know most of the afternoon meetings are code for a rendezvous with one of his lady friends.

There doesn’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary.

I throw down the pen I’m using and stretch. “I’ve got nothing so far.”

Mathias shakes his head. “The council’s finances are steady. With the exception of the auction, there have been no large deposits or withdrawals. Not even in their personal accounts.”

I glance at Gatlin.

Gatlin slowly nods as he puts down his phone.

“There’s been a huge uptick in activity at a training camp in Greece.

One of our counterparts said he reported it a few months ago, but when I requested the report, he couldn’t find it.

I checked with the records department. They have no record of it either. ”

I raise an eyebrow. “We should get a team over there to at least check it out. No contact. Surveillance only.”

Gatlin agrees and places the call.

Hawthorne has been diving into Dr. Kline. “Kline’s in trouble. Owes a serious amount of money to a bad group of supes. Word on the street is he reneged on payment,” Hawthorne says, then looks up from his notes. “Have you heard from Basilisk?”

“No, and that’s odd. Usually, they’re on top of things, and this is something they should have found relatively quickly,” I reply with a frown. Picking up the phone, I call the team lead.

“Cian,” he answers.

“Jamison here. Do you have an update on Kline?”

He’s silent for a second, then a loud curse fills the line.

“I knew you didn’t make the call. Should have listened to my gut.

” I hear rustling in the background. “Sorry. Had to get out of earshot. We were pulled from the investigation two days ago. Told we weren’t providing security for a demon with a gambling addiction. ”

“Who pulled you?” I ask, furious that an order was given without my knowledge.

“Order came in via encrypted text. Official channel. No name attached,” he replies in a gruff voice. “I thought it odd. You never use that channel. I did text you, but when I didn’t hear back, I assumed you were out of touch, so I followed the order.”

“I see,” I say nonchalantly, although the implications of what he’s saying is causing magic to spark from my fingertips. “You did the right thing. I was on a mission. The council must have decided on a different course. Would you mind sending me your report?”

“Will do,” he replies quickly. “Call if you need anything.” The tone of his voice tells me he knows something’s up and is willing to help if there’s trouble.

“Thanks, Cian. Appreciate it,” I say, hanging up. The second I hear the dial tone, I pulse magic through the phone, instantly frying it. Then I motion to the others to give me their phones and do the same to each of them. “Mathias, can you get us new ones, please? Something a little more secure.”

He immediately turns around and orders us new encrypted phones from his contact. Someone he knows isn’t affiliated with the council. “He’ll courier them over in an hour.”

After taking a few deep breaths to calm down, I tell them what Cian said. “I never got his text, which means someone is monitoring us and interfering in our communications. Damn it!” I flick my fingers at the nearest chair, sending it flying across the room.

Mathias suddenly blurs out of the room, shouting for us to follow. Phaedra’s in trouble.