Page 43 of Curses & Keys (Curses & Gods #1)

MATHIAS

C harlie didn’t have the license plate for the SUV Phaedra was driving when it left the airport in Rome.

Cameras follow the vehicle for a while, but winding roads and urban planning that evolved over thousands of years mean tracking is scattered.

He tried to reach out to her for me but received no response.

She must have realized the phones were hacked and ditched hers.

The laptop I gave Hawthorne has a beacon on it, but it’s either turned off or the battery is dead.

Still, I keep the program locator running just in case.

Why didn’t I add another tracker to their bags or a burner phone with our numbers?

Damn it. I should have anticipated and planned accordingly.

If I had, Phaedra and Hawthorne would be here. With us. Safe.

I take off my glasses and rub my eyes. No matter which way I turn, it’s roadblock after roadblock.

Jamison stirs beside me but doesn’t wake up.

Technically, he should be dead. At some point, I’m going to have to tell him I gave him a drop of my blood to keep him alive.

We never talked about it as an option, so I don’t know how he’ll react.

Gatlin is supposed to return this afternoon.

The interrogation isn’t going well. All of the humans are willing to die for this cause, and not one has given us any leads to follow.

Without evidence, we can’t reveal the council’s involvement, so the traitor remains in our midst, pulling our strings and accepting devastating losses.

A vampire stepped out of one of the portals to alert the human soldiers and call for their retreat.

Her profile was to me, but I know I’ve never seen her before, and all my efforts to identify her have proven futile.

She must be new to this world. We get a few every year.

Most of the time, the gods are able to keep the portals closed, but on rare occasions, they open.

Those who are willing to step through are searching for something—safety, a loved one, adventure—the reasons are numerous and varied.

All newcomers used to register with Nolan, who would take their tithe and enter them into the official record.

Nobody has picked up that task since he passed.

If the vampires are working with this human group, it would explain a lot.

The weapons they use are not effective on us, only those with magic.

Coincidentally, it all kicked off around the time of Nolan’s death, which makes me wonder if they took him out first. An attempt to take down the council and establish a new world order, perhaps?

But who is the other group working with? They were the ones who broke into the museum and Phaedra’s condo. Killed Letz. The footage at her condo suggested someone used mage magic to hide themselves from the cameras.

Vampires. Mages. Two of the strongest factions on the council.

If one got an inkling the other was trying to take over, they would do everything in their power to thwart them.

I frown. The only mage with enough power to fund and direct a group of humans is Jamison’s father.

And if he’s the traitor, we’re in one hell of a predicament.

The door opens, and I glance up, expecting Gatlin, but instead it’s a young nurse. A shifter named Eloise, if I recall. She smiles at me, but when she does, her steps falter and her eyes widen. As if entranced, she moves closer and halts right in front of me.

Damn it. I slip my glasses back on and smoothly tell her, “Tend to Jamison.”

She shakes her head and gives me a puzzled look before moving to check on her patient. “Vitals are good. I’m reducing the pain medication. He should be more alert when he wakes. If he’s hungry, call us, and we’ll bring him a tray.”

“Thank you,” I reply, watching her closely as she leaves.

To my relief, the compulsion seems to have dissipated.

It’s why I wear these glasses. There is a special lens in them to prevent susceptible individuals from falling under mine.

While some vampires have the ability to compel, it takes concentrated effort.

Unlike me. It’s completely effortless and begins the moment they meet my unfiltered gaze.

I’ve yet to encounter anyone immune to my ability.

An hour later, the door opens again, but this time, Gatlin walks through, lips compressed and brow furrowed.

“How is he?” he asks, dropping into a nearby chair.

“Should be awake soon,” I assure him. “How did it go?”

A muscle tics in his jaw. “Later.” He glances at the window. “I tried to get rid of the guard, but the asshole told me he only listens to the council.” His eyes drift from the guard to Jamison, silently telling me we need to move him soon.

“Hmm,” I reply, agreeing with him. “I haven’t found them yet. I’ve got several programs running, but nothing has popped.”

Jamison opens his eyes. “Phaedra and Hawthorne?”

His hand reaches out, and he pushes the button to raise the bed so he can sit up.

“Nothing,” I tell him, watching as the guard angles his head closer to the window. “They’ve disappeared.” I lean in close. “We need to get out of here. How are you feeling?”

He grimaces. “Like a damn bomb exploded in front of me. Everything hurts.” He glances from me to Gatlin. “But you’re right. What’s the plan?”

Gatlin raises an eyebrow. “Can you stand?”

Jamison’s face fills with determination. “Let’s see, shall we?” He shoves the covers back and slowly swivels his legs off the bed until they’re dangling against the side.

I reach out to help, but he pushes my hand away. Sliding his feet down to the floor, he takes a deep breath and tries to stand, but his legs crumble with the slightest weight. Thankfully, I’m there to catch him and get him back in bed.

He exhales. “Fuck. Got any other ideas?”

I exchange a glance with Gatlin. “I’ve got a few ideas.

Stay with him. I’ll be back in a minute.

” Leaving the room, I walk past the guard without acknowledging him.

Down the hall, I ask the nurse for a wheelchair.

She points to the supply closet in the hall.

I grab one, remove my glasses, and head back to the room.

As I near the door, the guard stops me. “He can’t leave.”

I raise my head and stare into his eyes. “We’re going to leave with Jamison, and you’re not going to stop us. In fact, you’re going to continue to see us every time you look in the room. You will not raise an alarm or call anyone. Now, tell me, when is the next guard relieving you?”

His eyes are fixed on mine. “At midnight.”

Five hours. “Ten minutes before midnight, you will go to the restroom on the first floor. At twelve ten, you will return to your post. Got it.”

He nods. “Yes, sir.”

I pat him on the back and put my glasses back on. “Good job.” Wheeling the chair into the room, I position it by the bed. “Let’s go.”

Gatlin gathers Jamison’s things while I help him into the chair.

“I’ll go first and scout for any other guards. If we get separated, my truck is on the third floor of the parking garage. Here are the keys.” He opens the door and signals “all clear.”

Once we leave, he strides ahead to make sure the path is clear. It takes us about fifteen minutes to get to the truck. Jamison gets in the back and lies down across the seat, clothes bunched up to cushion his head. Gatlin and I jump into the front.

“Where to?” he asks, turning on the vehicle.

“Three,” I tell him.

Years ago, Jamison set up ten safe houses under shell companies. Even then, he didn’t trust the council to always have our backs, and he wanted to be sure we had a few boltholes in case things went bad or we had to hide a suspect. Once we reach “three,” we a portal to access “four.”

Carrying Jamison into the living room, I prop him up on the couch. Sweat beads on his stark white face. The brackets around his eyes and mouth deepen with every movement.

With a deep sigh, he eases into the cushions. “Status.”

“Nothing on Hawthorne or Phaedra,” I begin, sitting across from him and opening my laptop. I go on to update them both on my theory about the two groups and their affiliations with the vampires and mages.

Jamison asks to see the footage of the condo, and once he sees the wavering cameras and the brown dress shoes, he agrees with my assessment. “Which means my father’s involved in this mess.” He rubs a hand down his face.

Gatlin leans forward. “The humans are dedicated. None of them talked. Even when we killed their fellow soldiers in front of them. They were fanatical in their defense of human rights and the need to get rid of all supernaturals.”

“Which means they don’t know they’re working for the vampires,” I state with a frown.

“Compulsion. Erased memories. Easy to do on one person. On that scale, it would take a pureblood.” When they both appear confused, I explain.

“As you know, most vampires are sired, and their abilities are diluted accordingly. Purebloods are born vampire and have no such restrictions.”

“Like you,” Gatlin says with a grim smile. “That’s why you can compel so easily.”

“Correct,” I reply. “Although that doesn’t help us. There are quite a few purebloods in this world, and most of them have the ability to compel.”

“But on that scale?” Jamison asks, tilting his head. “Did Nolan keep track of everyone’s abilities?”

“Probably,” I reluctantly admit. “But to get access, I would have to enter the bid for his council seat. Life or death matches where winner takes all.”

“That’s not happening,” Gatlin says firmly, looking at Jamison, who nods in agreement. “Maybe I can get back in to see the prisoners. Work the vampire angle. When is the guard change at the hospital?”

I glance at my watch. “Midnight. That gives you at least four hours.”

“You going to be okay here?” he asks gruffly. “Weapons are stashed in the safe. There are some basics in the pantry for Jamison.”

I wave a hand. “Go. Call me if you hear anything.”

Once he’s gone, I turn toward Jamison. “I need to tell you something.” He turns toward me, and I take in a deep breath. “In the field, you were dying. My blood saved you.”

Jamison blinks. “Will there be repercussions? Effects?”

I lift a shoulder. “I’m not sure. I’ve never given my blood to a mage. Only a human. Humans often heal faster and pick up slight changes like better eyesight and more strength after receiving vampire blood.”

“Thank you,” he replies in a serious tone. “I’ve got too much to live for to die.”

There’s a curious expression on his face I’ve never seen. “You’re not mad? What if there are repercussions?”

“Then we’ll find out together,” he says with a shrug. “Got any ideas about how we can locate them?”

“Besides what I’m already doing?” I ask with a sigh. “Maybe. Something Gatlin said gave me an idea.”