Page 2 of Kiss the Dawn (Order of Helsing #4)

L orenzo took the call off mute and went into the other room to finalize the logistics.

“This is shady as fuck,” Holly said. “Like, she didn’t even ask about who took you or raised you. Like they either don’t care or…” Her eyes widened. “Maybe they know?”

“They thought I was dead.”

“And then they realized you weren’t,” Holly said. “They probably found out who took you.”

“If that was the case, they would have been able to grab me much sooner.”

Holly deflated. “Yeah, that makes sense.”

“They just don’t care,” Merry said apologetically. “Because their war is all that matters.”

“What are you going to do about the Order?” Holly asked. “Someone there took you from your family.”

My stomach tightened. “I’m going to ask Hemlock to investigate it. My parents…the people that raised me are dead. They may be the only people who know the identity of whoever gave me to them. And why take me anyway?”

“Maybe you’ll figure that part out once you’re on the Isle,” Merry said.

Lorenzo returned. “We’ll leave in two days. You’ll be under my protection and the protection of the consortium. It’s in the Circle’s best interests to adhere to the Mundi Ending Res .”

“What is the Circle?” Merry asked. “And what’s a Mundi…what you said?”

“The Circle is the governing body on the Isle. The consortium and the Circle have an agreement when it comes to matters of Mundi Ending Res— world-ending events. Any individuals essential to prevent a world-ending event must be released to the relevant side. In your case, you’re essential to Dracul territory, so they can’t take you from us, but you’re also important to keeping the virus on the Isle in control so the consortium is obligated to meet any reasonable demands they have. Execution is not a reasonable demand.”

“So the whole ‘ we don’t condone kidnapping and mutilation’ line was bullshit?” Merry said.

“Not necessarily,” Lorenzo replied. “They would have a humane way of ending life. But that won’t be happening. Trust me.”

“Wait a second…” Holly said. “Are you saying that if yo u can’t find a loophole, they’ll make her marry some witch dudes once the Loviator thing is done?”

“A seventh daughter of a seventh daughter is rare,” Lorenzo said. “An occurrence that happens a handful of times every century. It sounds archaic, but it’s how they’ve survived the virus and staved it off all these years.” He sighed. “But we will find another way. We have to.”

A prickle of unease skated over my skin, but I had faith in Lorenzo. “Well, I’m not going anywhere until Edwin and Padma are safely back with us and Shay has a broken face.”

“I can help with that,” Crush said from the doorway.

It was easy to forget how large the troll blood fae was when he wasn’t in the room with you. Which made me wonder how we’d missed the tinkle of the bell when he’d entered the building.

He scanned the room, and when his gaze fell on Merry, it softened. “You called, and I’m here.”

Her cheeks pinkened. “Thank you for coming.”

Lorenzo’s phone beeped, and he checked it. “Documents canceling the bounty just came through. You have a printer?”

“Yeah,” Holly said.

I turned to Crush. “Your friend Shay has my friends.”

“Not for long,” Crush said. “Let me get them back for you. It’s the least I can do after I allowed him to infiltrate your group by making introductions.”

“This wasn’t your fault,” Merry said to him, shooting me a pointed glare.

“No, it wasn’t,” I agreed. “And I can get them back myself. We have a document that confirms his bounty is canceled.”

“Shay has always been a dark horse,” Crush said. “I knew he was a bounty hunter, but I didn’t expect him to hurt innocent people in his pursuit of a bounty.” He tipped his head to one side, his penetrating gaze on me. “Merry didn’t tell me why he’s after you, and frankly I don’t care. What he’s done is unacceptable. I’m not sure if he’d try and take you anyway and force the contract to be honored. Best if you don’t go tonight. Give it to me and let me deal with it. Please.”

A week ago, I’d have rejected his offer and insisted on dealing with this myself, but my life no longer belonged just to me. I was essential to keeping a big evil locked away, and now also to furthering the immunity of a bunch of witches against a dark virus.

Staying put was the smart choice. “Okay. Thank you. But you should know he probably won’t be alone.”

Crush grinned, but it was a mirthless smile. “Neither will I.”

“And one more thing.”

He arched an inquiring brow, waiting.

“When you get your hands on him, introduce him to the true meaning of the word pain. ”

His grin returned, wider and almost feral. “With pleasure.”

The only way on or off the Isle was via doorways opened from the Isle itself. Entrances and exits were closely monitored. For Shay to get me onto the Isle, he’d have had to petition for a door to be opened. That option was now closed to him, but there would be a door opening for us in two days’ time as long as Lorenzo presented the documents that had been emailed over to us. Apparently, there was already a door scheduled for some other travelers, and we’d been added to that one.

The journey from Dracul territory to the location that housed the doorways was a day and a half, so the two days we’d been given was hardly anything at all. We’d have to leave by midday tomorrow.

I had tonight to get my ducks in a row here. To make sure that Padma and Edwin were returned safely and let the important men in my life know where I was going.

I chose the apartment gifted to me by Ezekiel as the location to do it from.

Kaster arrived first, his expression saturated with concern, and I quickly established a mental link with him so I could fill him in on what had happened while we waited for the others to arrive.

Lorenzo had commandeered the small table on the balcony and was on the phone, espresso to hand, as he sorted out our travel details.

You should have messaged me earlier , Kaster said . I could have put a recon team on the warehouse.

He’d have been looking out for a move like that. I couldn’t risk it.

Couldn’t risk it or you didn’t think of me.

Dammit. I’m sorry.

He swallowed hard. No apology necessary. I understand. I put the distance between us the other night when I ? —

Are you serious? This has nothing to do with you not wanting to date me. I just…Lorenzo was there, and he handled it. I was too shocked.

The tension in his jaw eased. I’m sorry. Of course you were. And I have no doubt Crush will get your team back.

The doorbell rang, and I let Merry and Holly in. They’d insisted on getting food, saying we needed to keep our strength up, although I doubted that I’d be able to eat a bite until Crush called to say he had my friends.

They set up on the kitchen island anyway. There were four stools there, and the sofa, so we’d have to make do.

Despite my lack of appetite, my stomach grumbled as the aroma of pizza and garlic bread filled the room .

“I got paper plates and cutlery too,” Holly said, setting another bag on the island.

If I was going to be using this place, I’d need to think about going shopping soon. The mundane thought felt wrong considering the situation we were in, so I filed it away to worry about once I got back from the Isle.

The doorbell rang again.

I’ll get it. Kaster vanished down the hall.

I unpacked the paper plates. “Did you send a Raven to Haiden?”

“Yeah. I told him not to worry,” Merry said.

The smell of woodsmoke and leather drifted into the room, bringing Hemlock with it. His dark hair was artfully tussled and beaded with water, and his calf-length coat was also speckled with it. When had it started to rain?

He shrugged off the coat and hung it up before regarding us all with a wary frown.

“What happened?”

“Padma and Edwin have been taken by a bounty hunter named Shay.” I quickly filled him in on the events of the last few hours.

“You can’t leave,” Hemlock said. “We need you here.”

“She can leave,” Lorenzo said as he entered the room. “And she will. But she’ll be back. I can promise you that much.”

Hemlock’s hands flexed, and the next moment there was a coin skating across the knuckles of his left hand. “Mageri.”

“That’s right,” Lorenzo said, raking Hemlock up and down. “I don’t have to guess which Tepes brother you are.”

“This is Hemlock.” I stepped between them, confused by the strange charge in the air. “What is going on here?”

“He can sense the otherness of my power,” Lorenzo said.

“It’s fine,” Hemlock replied. “I’ll get used to it in a moment.”

Mageri power came from a deal with the fae. It’s how they’d been created, but Lorenzo was the first of his kind, the first to be able to manipulate the power of weave and miasma. Power that was vastly different from Hemlock’s, which left me wondering why he hadn’t reacted to Holly strangely. Her power was obviously not as potent as Lorenzo’s.

“Is the consortium providing protection?” Hemlock asked Lorenzo.

“It is. The Circle can’t harm her without inciting a war with the mageri.”

“No one wants that,” Hemlock said. “The stakes are too high, and the focus needs to be on maintaining a balance.”

“Exactly.”

The two men exchanged a look of solidarity on the matter .

“I’ll keep her safe,” Lorenzo said again. “You have my word.”

Hemlock pocketed his coin and raked his hair back with a sigh. “If the consortium have her under their wing, then…I wish I could go with you.”

“Why can’t you?” Holly asked.

“Strict law and red tape,” Lorenzo answered for him.

No, there was more to it than that, but the look on Hemlock’s face and Lorenzo’s tone warned me not to push the issue. I’d have to find out from him later. Because I had no doubt that if he could come with me, he would and damn the red tape. Lorenzo would have found a way to cut through that.

“We should eat,” Merry said. “I’ll save some for Padma and Edwin.”

I glanced at the clock. It was just past six. Two hours and Crush would be descending on Shay and his minions. I hoped he broke the fucker’s face.