Page 25

Dane

P apers flew from my desk as Brian, my third in command, scurried out of my office.

My son was a damn fool, but perhaps it was my fault.

He thought I wasn’t aware of his little trips to my prison to care for the creatures down there.

Now, after explicit instructions to avoid the one I’d brought into our headquarters, he was missing.

I wished I could fear the worst, that he’d been kidnapped, but I knew my son. The creature, disguised as a human, was too pretty for her own good. And a damn good actress. One simpering look at Jack and he’d fallen all over himself. It didn’t take a genius to know he had gone willingly.

I slammed a fist on the desk. The high fae, Sally, she called herself, was in my grasp.

Why had I wasted time on Janet’s petty mission?

I owed ISHFA nothing, and I was tired of playing their games.

I should have made a deal with the royals and traded her as I’d originally intended.

Now, she was gone and with far more valuable collateral than she realized.

“Sir.”

I looked up, swallowing the rage swimming in my veins. “Yes, Alice. Come in.”

She glanced around at the papers scattered on the floor and I bit my tongue before I said something I’d regret later.

Stopping on the other side of the desk, she placed a silver money clip and black leather wallet on the sleek metal surface.

“Connor found them beside a stream just outside our perimeter.”

I swiped the wallet, flipping it open. A younger version of my son grinned up at me.

He’d taken that picture before the fae invaded.

Before his mother had shown her true colors.

Before everything had changed. The innocence twinkling in eyes so like his mother’s it hurt to look at them, was gone now.

A piece of me died the day she betrayed us.

The piece that housed my compassion. She had deceived me.

Deceived us all and, in the end, it cost me everything.

I would never tell Jack the extent of her lies.

I let him believe the best. Some glimmer of humanity lived in me after all, because I still yearned to keep the worst the world offered from him a little longer.

I tucked the wallet into my pocket. “Thank you. Have we questioned all the fairies who may have seen something?”

Alice nodded, tucking her hands into her pockets. “Everyone we had was already down there when she escaped. Grif thinks we should target the guardians.”

Ice pebbled my skin. The guardians of the pocket entrances to Faerie.

Access points that could apparently move, but that had always existed on Earth, were now all conveniently in New York City.

Why the fae chose our city, I’d likely never learn, but fae royals who conducted business with our leaders used them freely to travel back and forth.

Morgan, the autumn court’s emissary, had permanently relocated to our realm. Unlike the other royals, who remained in Faerie, she was regularly seen on our streets and in our cafes. She enjoyed the luxuries of human life all while touting the ISHFA principles of co-existence.

I hated her more than the rest. She and the other high fae who looked so like us but would never be our equals.

“The Bitter Wraith never leaves the water, but we would have the prince of lakes and streams’ entire army to contend with if we made a move on her. Have Grif round up our strongest and meet me in command. Our best option is Trym.”

Alice paled, taking a step back. Her weak stomach made her a nuisance at the best of times and dangerous to my cause at the worst. “Are you sure? The king of the trolls.”

I ground my teeth. “Are you questioning me?”

She swallowed audibly. “No.”

“Get Grif and send him to me. There’s more I need to discuss with him.”

She nodded and saluted. I waved her off, sending her out.

Alone in my office, I leaned against the desk, pulling Jack’s wallet out again. I flipped it open, staring at his wide, goofy grin. “Oh, son. I should have better prepared you for what’s coming.”

Grif appeared at my door and knocked once.

“Enter.”

“Alice said you asked me to meet you in command, but I was in the hall. I knew you were still in here.”

I raised a brow. “Spying on me?” I knew someone in my faction was a spy for ISHFA, but I hadn’t yet rooted out the culprit. I never would have suspected Grif. Orphaned by this war, no one had more reason to be here than him.

His lips quirked up, and he chuckled. “Nah. I was following Alice.”

I smiled, wrapping my knuckles on my desk, and slid Jack’s wallet back into my pocket. That’s what I liked about Grif. He was never afraid to go after what he wanted. “Did she relent?”

His grin fell. “Not yet. But I’ll wear her down.”

I rounded my desk laying a hand on Grif’s shoulder. “Come. It’s time I share more of my plan with you.”