Chapter 6 Zeth #2
Once I got to her side, she kept her voice low and level. “When we get in there, I need you to read everyone in the room. Find out who feels guilty or nervous and flag them for me. If need be, we’ll track every single one later with fewer eyes.”
“You got it, Nov.” She didn't even look up at me any more to make sure I understood. She knew me so well that she never had to explain beyond the basics of what she needed. That ultimate trust burned a longing in my heart worse than her earlier wink had.
No matter how badly I wanted her, my first duty was the same as it always had been, to be at her side, to use what I was to make her stronger, to remind every supe in this city that the Syndicate had eyes everywhere, and the Rossey clan was not to be messed with.
It was the only way I still mattered in her life. For now.
Stepping in front of her, I opened the door and went in first. I held it wide as I released my magic, feeling out the crowd before she even crossed the threshold.
No one inside immediately registered as a threat, but that didn’t mean anything. Danger didn’t always show itself until it looked straight at her. When she stepped in behind me, all the eyes in the room fell on her. The shift in their emotions hit me like static.
Fear. Agitation. Exhaustion. Excitement. Hesitation.
When I was younger, the flood of all those emotions would’ve knocked me sideways, leaving me drowning in everyone else’s noise.
My father had been useless, his demon power more connected with levitation and moving objects, but Ax—Nova’s dad—he’d seen me unraveling and took pity on me.
He’d asked his dad, Manic Rossey, to train me.
Manic was ruthless when it came to controlling one’s powers, and Nova had naturally inherited an effortless control over her powers that others could only dream of.
Her wolf and core self were so in tune that she could transform a single fingernail if she wanted.
For me, it was blood, sweat, and years of clawing my way up to the kind of stillness I needed to be an asset.
Now, as the flood of emotions poured through me, I filtered it without a second thought.
Rather than getting lost in the river of emotions, I grounded my stance and plucked at each pulse of emotion, following it back to its source and cataloging it.
Most of them were fleeting—admiration, envy, fear.
Nothing was sharp enough to signal real danger.
“You’re good,” I murmured, signaling that she could step in without worry.
She glanced at the booth in the back and threw her chin at it before making her way down the walkway. I almost told her we needed more cover, but I could already hear her answer in my head. Do you really think anyone would take me out here? No one touches the Syndicate and lives.
Her arrogance should’ve irritated me, and sometimes it did, but other times?
It dragged heat through my chest, something that was equal parts pride and hunger.
The only ones who completely understood that edge of hers were her siblings, each of whom were unhinged in their own right.
Out of them all, Nova was the sanest one.
We slid into the back booth, her claiming the corner seat that put her back to the wall and left her facing the door.
That was how we worked. She called the shots, and I executed them.
Clean, simple. Except for the fact that I noticed the way heads tilted toward her, their eyes following.
She was in a room full of predators, and although she made it seem like she didn't notice, she really just didn't care.
She could slice up this whole room, tearing out hearts before they knew what was happening.
It took a few minutes for the bartender to finally come over, wearing a permanent fuck-you scowl, except her emotions radiated excitement, even admiration.
My lips turned down, but Nova, cheerful as ever, asked for a vodka tonic with extra lime, winking at her like they were best friends. I ordered a local beer under my breath, though it felt like an afterthought.
As the bartender left, Nova pulled out her phone and started up some game, feigning nonchalance. Like she’d said, no one wanted to fuck with the Syndicate, so she had to try to make herself look approachable.
The drinks came fast. The server nearly managed a smile when she set Nova’s glass down.
Nova murmured her thanks as my beer was set down in front of me.
I took a sip first, letting that initial jolt of alcohol tingle across my tongue before the effect wore off a second later.
The curse of being a supe. Our bodies processed human alcohol in an instant.
The woman turned to leave, but Nova’s voice cut through the noise.
“Hey. Do you know anyone who goes by the name Jeremy Delton?”
The server froze mid-step, every muscle locking tight. “I—I don’t know who that is.”
Nova leaned forward, her untouched drink gleaming under the dim light. Her smile turned sharp, a warning in her eyes. “That didn’t sound convincing. Why don’t you sit down and tell me everything you know before I get angry?”
Whatever admiration the woman had for Nova bled out in an instant, replaced by raw, sour fear that settled deep in my bones. Sifting through the emotion, I could tell it was tangled up with more than just Nova’s presence. She knew something.
Nova slid a magic-forged gun from her side and laid it on the table.
Her finger traced along the barrel, tongue flicking over her lip.
“Now, I don’t want to use this on you. You were sweet enough to get me a drink, but I need the information in your head.
We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Up to you, sweetheart.”
Oh, shit. She was pissed. “Sweetheart” only came out when she was done playing games.
A man’s voice suddenly cut in. “Why don’t you leave the poor girl alone? Jemma, get to the other customers. I’ll talk to Miss Rossey.”
I turned to see a dark-haired werewolf, late fifties maybe, scowling at us like we’d pissed in his beer.
No fear came off him, just a weighted acceptance for what was to come, like a man who’d survived too many fights to ever be scared of violence.
He was probably the owner since he slid into our booth with the air of someone who belonged there.
“What do you want with Jeremy? He’s a good boy. ”
My fingers flexed, wanting to scratch that itch and introduce his face to the table for even thinking he could be eye-to-eye with her, but Nova lifted her hand, telling me to stop, and sipped her drink instead.
“I never said he wasn’t. He was last seen with someone else, and that someone’s family wants him back. ”
The wolf’s mouth split open in a hollow laugh. “Since when has the Syndicate ever cared about missing family members and lost boys?”
The urge to smash in his teeth burned hot, but Nova didn’t rise to the bait.
“We care plenty.” Her calm, carefree voice gave off the illusion that she was just talking about the weather, but when her eyes flashed, you could see the lethal beast just under the surface. “As long as they’re part of our Syndicate family, we care a whole hell of a lot.”
“Jeremy isn’t one of yours.” His arms crossed, his glare screaming he wasn't afraid of her, but I caught the tremor in his hand and the nervousness behind his bravado. I gave Nova the nod. She smiled, took another slow drink, and pulled up her phone.
“Maybe not, but Reece Walton is.” She slid the screen across the table with his picture on it. “Now, tell me… did Jeremy come in with his new friend?”
The wolf hesitated.
Nova sighed, her patience snapping. In one smooth flash, she pulled out her pocket knife and drove it straight through his hand.
His howl tore through the bar, the sound almost comical for a man his size.
A few people stood up, but I pulled out my gun and aimed it at them, warning them not to get involved.
Her smile was razor-sharp. “I’ll ask again, good sir. Did you see Reece Walton with him or not?”
He nodded frantically, eyes locked on the silver knife still jutting from his flesh. The skin around the blade shriveled as the smell of burnt flesh filled the room. Nova smiled and lifted her glass to him in salute. “This is quite good.”
The bar had gone silent. Every head turned our way, their breath held at bay when she stood up and scanned the room’s occupants.
“Now that you know what I’m after….” She fingered the handle of the knife, twisting it until the old wolf gave a groan.
“And that I’m serious, let’s add some incentive.
” Her whole face lit up, and she took her hand away from the knife.
“Whoever coughs up information first gets a thousand dollars cash. Right here, right now.”
It didn’t take the room more than a few seconds before they started moving. Half the room surged forward, waving for her attention, eager to spill whatever they knew.
While all that commotion happened, the wolf was desperately trying to yank the knife out, but it was useless. Nova laughed at him. “It’s spelled, sweetheart. Only I can pull it free.” His eyes went wide, despair creeping in.
Her fingers elongated, nails hardening into claws as she slowly raked them down his hand.
Thin red lines bubbled along her path as her tone became almost soothing.
“Now, your job is to sit tight. Let’s hope these people you were willing to defend will tell the truth.
The sooner I get what I want, the sooner this will be pulled out. ”
Some individuals in the crowd recoiled. A bunch of eyes flicking to his hand, burning with a blade shaped hole, before looking at her, reconsidering their odds of survival.
Some red-haired fae lifted his head and pushed his way forward. “I saw them a few days ago.”
The closer he got, the easier it was to take in his appearance.
The fairy kid looked like he was fresh out of school and struggling to make it on his own.
His worn-out hoodie and jeans had obvious holes, and his shoes looked like they were barely hanging on.
Not to mention, that glowing skin fairies had when they were regularly fed life essence was vacant.
It was obvious what side of the tracks this kid was from.
“So, you saw them? Both of them?” Nova asked.
The kid nodded. “Yeah. About two days ago. They came in and had a few beers. Looked like they were in a heated conversation, but it stopped the second the human boy showed up.”
Nova’s eye twitched, and I forced my expression into something neutral, not wanting either of them to see my shock. A human was mixed up in this? That was bad.
“How long did they stay after he got here?”
Nova placed her hand on the hilt of the knife and spoke the incantation, letting the old wolf go now that we had someone who was talking.
The fairy boy tilted his head, searching his memory, then snapped his fingers.
“They left once they finished their beers. I guess they didn’t want to stick around long. ”
“Where did they go after that?” she asked, a bloodhound locked on the trail.
Trembling under her gaze, the fairy blurted, “The human underground fights! I heard Reece telling Jeremy it was wrong, that they didn’t need to do it, but Jeremy said they had to.
He was meeting someone to make a bunch of money, so they all went.
” I pulled out a wad of cash and handed it to the fairy boy, whose eyes went so wide you would think they might pop out.
“One last question.” He looked at her, nodding. “How old was the boy who showed up?”
The kid squinted, thinking. “Probably seven or eight.”
Nova’s eyes snapped to mine. Fuck. That changed everything. A human child in the middle of this made the entire situation a hell of a lot messier.