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Chapter Twenty-Nine

Rogue

W e find Cohen in the kitchen with a full breakfast spread laid out on the table.

I ignore every bit of it and beeline for my warlock.

Waking up sandwiched between Calyx and Owen was nice, but I still missed Cohen.

It felt like he was supposed to be there, and seeing him now hits me harder than I’m expecting.

“Morning,” I mumble, wrapping my arms around his lower back and burying my face in his shirt.

“Good morning, sleepyhead.” He chuckles, kissing my forehead. “I almost put everything back in the fridge and the oven.”

“Maybe this pack life thing isn’t so bad,” Owen says from behind me.

Based on the sounds alone, he’s already digging into the breakfast.

“What time is it?” I didn’t think we slept that late, but I am feeling rundown with the effects of the quickening.

It was a struggle to even pry myself from the nest. My instincts would have been content forcing the three of them to stay trapped in there all day.

Unfortunately, we still have real-world problems to tackle.

“Hmm,” Cohen says, turning us. “The house says it’s almost three p.m. I woke up a little after one, but the food should be fresh since I gave it a while before I started cooking.”

“I appreciate it,” I tell him, rising on my tiptoes to give him a quick kiss. “But don’t feel obligated to take care of all of us. We can make a schedule or something. I’m actually an okay cook.”

My warlock shrugs. “I enjoy it. It’s one of my favorite ways to pass the time.”

Well, then, I wouldn’t want to take that away from him. Plus, I might have been slightly exaggerating my cooking abilities.

I can make some delicious tofu, but I doubt that would cut it, especially for Owen.

The four of us lounge around the living room, trying to make a plan for what we should do tonight, when Gemma pops in.

Her shadows swirling around her, she plants her hands on her hips. “I’ve bounced all around town, following Delta, and all you’ve been doing is cuddling on the couch?” She snorts, jabbing a finger in my direction. “Lazy asses.”

Siblings are the gift that just keeps giving.

“We were in the process of deciding who should split up where,” Owen says, running his hand down my hip.

“I can help with that,” Gemma says, focusing on Calyx. “You should come with me.”

“Why?” I ask, tilting my head.

“I followed Delta to a shitty little storage unit.” Gem shrugs. “Nothing too exciting, except that it’s warded to hell and back. I couldn’t get in, and I tried repeatedly .”

“I should come too, then,” Cohen says. “I can break wards. It takes some time, but if you can get me close to it, I can determine what we’re working with.”

Owen’s phone rings, and he sighs as he extracts himself from me and climbs off the sofa. “This is Owen…”

“Why don’t we all go?” I offer. “Maybe I can get a vision or something?”

“I can only siphon two of you.” Gemma shakes her head. “And that’s pushing what I’ll be able to handle.”

Owen strides back into the room, shoving his phone into his pocket. “I have to head to the office. I might have poked a bee’s nest when I started looking into Maxwell—the council agent assigned to Calyx’s case.”

“What does that mean?” I ask, a shiver of fear running down my spine.

“He’s in the office, asking for a project update,” Owen says, cursing under his breath as he glances at Calyx. “I don’t suppose you got names or any other info on the guys working for Delta? The shifters and warlock?”

“Dimitri is the guy that she’s fucking.” Gemma’s nose wrinkles. “Please don’t ask me how I know that.”

Calyx snorts. “I don’t have names, but we did follow them to their safe house. I can provide you with the address, and apparently, we have one name.”

“That will have to be good enough,” Owen says, sighing.

“Why don’t you go with Owen?” Gemma says to me. “I’ll take Cohen and Calyx to check out the storage unit, and everyone can regroup afterward?”

“I’m good with that.” Owen looks at me. “My only concern is, what happens if he asks you a direct question that would incriminate us?”

Sometimes the whole not being able to lie thing is a real pain in the ass.

I shrug. “If that happens, you better think on your feet and find a way to distract him.”

Maxwell is a sloth demon with long white hair, pale blue eyes, and a very round middle section. Apparently, it wasn’t Owen looking into him that summoned him, but the fact his superiors asked for an update on the case.

He glances over the files, that have very few actual updates, and frowns. “Essentially, you’re telling me you’ve gained no intelligence at all.”

“No,” Owen says, leaning against the edge of his desk. “Unfortunately, our investigation has taken a turn a little too close to home…” He continues on, explaining our suspicions about Delta.

“And you know that because of your soothsayer?” Maxwell asks, nodding at me. His creepy pale eyes study me a little too intently.

“I had several visions,” I say, clearing my throat. “And, yes, they brought some things to light that made me suspicious.”

The sloth demon shrugs. “Fine, bring her in. I’ll handle the interrogation.”

“We don’t think that’s the best course of action,” Owen says firmly. “Delta is calculating enough to have an escape plan in place. As soon as she knows someone is on to her, she will bolt. So, unless you plan to take her into custody immediately, I believe the best course of action is to hold off.”

“If she confesses, I will be happy to arrest her,” Maxwell says.

“She won’t break,” I say before I can stop myself. “She doesn’t have a guilty conscience. Even when faced with hard proof, I don’t believe she’ll cave.”

“I agree.” Owen crosses his arms over his chest. “She’ll play nice in the interrogation, and as soon as she’s out of the building, she’ll run.

It’s not just this case on the line. It’s all the others before that she’s gotten away with.

Give us a few days to continue our investigation.

If we find nothing, you can call her in and see what you can learn. ”

The sloth demon has an excellent poker face.

I can’t tell which way he’s leaning.

At all.

He finally nods, and I feel like I can breathe again.

“Fine.” Maxwell shoves himself out of his chair. “Keep me updated.” He shuffles toward the door.

Owen’s eyes meet mine as the door closes, and he pulls up a hand, waving it around the room. When I tilt my head in confusion, he sends me something in the bond that makes me realize that he wants a sound barrier.

I focus my magic and nod when the spell is complete. “We’re good.”

“That went better than I was hoping.” He steps over, pulling me into his arms. An overwhelming feeling of safety hits me square in the chest as he holds me tight. “We’re not in the clear yet. We need to be extra vigilant for whatever comes next.”

Nodding against his T-shirt, I say, “Yeah, and pray the council doesn’t have any leaks or that Maxwell isn’t a chatty guy.”

Owen chuckles. “He doesn’t seem to have a whole lot of personality. I’d be surprised if anyone could stand chatting with him.”

“Can we leave and check in on the others?” I ask.

Dealing with Maxwell was a solid distraction, but worrying about what the others have found has been in the back of my mind the entire time.

“Let’s give Maxwell a few minutes to leave the building, then you’ve got it.” Owen kisses the top of my head. “Don’t stress, little one. We’re going to figure this out.”

That sounds lovely, and I want to have the same level of confidence that he has, but I’m still nervous. We need to hand over verifiable proof that Calyx isn’t behind the heists. Otherwise, we’ll always have to be wary of the paranormal council.