116
Tony
The Council was useless, and I hadn’t cultivated enough of the right pull in the human world to help us much. Thus, there was only one way forward. It was a lot of hassle, so a lot of me was wary about it, but my contacts in the Council assured me that this was the right path since David had refused to aid us or cooperate.
I almost growled, but the pain from where that witch had cursed me pulsed with a warning. I was told that it was a good sign that the curse was heading toward the end, and I would be able to shift again in a few weeks. They also said to try to refrain from getting angry as it would only grow more agonizing.
Somehow, Matt was already through most of it, I believed. It seemed that he would be free within a few more days. It was probably because he didn’t let himself get angry often. We hadn’t spoken since the ride home from the Council meeting.
I huffed, shrugging into the clothes I’d bought for the evening and heading downstairs to get into the car. It was old, bought in cash, and of the cheapest quality. It would be hidden away on the estate in case I needed to make any more trips like this. Without a word, he pulled away from the estate and started the long drive to our destination.
Once we hit the city, he guided the car through the streets to the darker side of town, where the street lamps always seemed to be malfunctioning, and pulled to a stop. My beta, wearing a hooded jacket and a face mask in the driver’s seat, put the car in park.
“We’re here.”
Undertow was one of the seediest bars in any supernatural territory. Technically, it was a neutral zone which meant that anything done here went under the Council’s nose so long as it didn’t bleed into Council-allied territories.
I adjusted the mask on my face. “If I’m not out in an hour, you know what to do.”
I pulled my phone out of my pocket. “If Matt calls, tell him I’m in a meeting, and we’ll talk later.”
“As you wish.”
I pulled the hood of my sweatshirt lower and got out of the car. I walked up to the door. The bouncer eyed me skeptically.
“Never seen you before,” the man’s eyes glowed as he looked at me.
“I’m here on a recommendation…” I met his eyes and let my wolf surface enough to make my eyes glow.
His lips twitched. “If you step one hair out of line and cause trouble, we’ll skin you for a new rug.”
He smirked. “With that bind on you, it should be quick work.”
I clenched my jaw as he nodded me inside.
I pulled my hood lower and scanned the dimly lit bar. The air hung heavy with the scent of smoke and stale beer and alcohol. A half-dressed woman sat in a man’s lap as he and his companions drank, each with their own half-naked companion. My cock stirred at the sight. It had been too long since I’d last had sex, and it was only adding to my irritation. As soon as I got Lucy back, she wouldn’t be leaving her chambers until she was pregnant. I went to the bar to get a drink as I was told to do.
“The Moonlit Brew.”
The bartender whistled and nodded me in the direction of the only empty table. No one looked at me as I walked to the table and sat facing the door. Minutes passed. I impatiently tapped my fingers on the table, irritation gnawing at me as the minutes ticked by.
Just when frustration threatened to consume me entirely, a man, accompanied by a small black cat, made his way toward my table carrying two pints. I scowled, ready to tell him to fuck off. The cat leaped from his shoulder onto the table and curled up.
He set the two pints on the table and slid one to me. Then, he pulled out a piece of parchment and slid it in front of me.
I frowned, glancing between him and the paper. The pint he put in front of me was empty, yet he drank and leaned back in his seat. His cat purred and stretched on the table.
Then, words appeared on the page.
How much are you willing to pay?
I swallowed, glancing around the bar. Was the message from the witch or the familiar? The cat looked at me with far too intelligent eyes as I considered the question. I leaned back in my chair. Then, he pulled out an old pen and set it beside me. It looked like a fountain pen.
This pen will force you to tell the truth, so be prepared.
I picked it up and felt a jolt go through me as I started to write.
The right price for what I want.
The words vanished.
Cocky…. Then again, your father was the same way.
My stomach jolted as the words vanished.
Wait there.
A flicker of light went through the man’s eyes. He finished his drink and stood, leaving the paper, pen, and cat with me. The bar’s noise continued around me as he walked away, then suddenly vanished. When I looked back at the pint, the cup was full, and the cat purred again.
I looked at the pint and lifted it to sniff. Then, I realized it was cream. I eyed the cat.
“I suppose… this is for you.”
I set the pint down in front of the cat, who purred and got onto its haunches to start licking the cream out of the pint.
“Whoever sent you clearly didn’t give you much information,” I turned to look at the woman who had appeared beside me. “They should have told you not to bother with the second cup. I don’t pay for drinks of customers.”
I blinked, then looked back to where the cat had been, only to find that the cat and the pint were gone.
The woman turned to look at me from the darkness of her hood. She had dark skin and bright emerald eyes. It was then I realized that she had the same eyes as the cat.
Or maybe she was the cat?
Her lips twitched. “Nearing thirty by my count.” Her gaze dipped to my chest. “You crossed the wrong witch, but it’s probably the only thing keeping you sane. What brought you to see me?”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Without your twin, nonetheless? I hear you’re inseparable.”
I swallowed, thinking of Matt. “He’s not… in a position for this.”
She chuckled as a pint appeared in her hand. “You mean he’s not scratching at the walls the way you are.”
She took a sip. “Whatever. Not my problem. “What is that that you want?”
“I need you to find someone.”
Her lips twitched. “This someone have a name?”
“Lucy.”
“And why should I bother? What makes Lucy so important?”
“Lucy is a person of interest, and there are many reasons that I need to find her. I am willing to pay your fee.”
“I have no interest in your money. I deal in favors and information, Little Oren.”
My gut clenched as she took another drink.
“You… knew my father?”
“Knew? You make it sound like he’s dead,” she chuckled. “Oren and I go way back.”
A faint smile tugged at the corners of the witch’s lips, intrigued by my request. “Ah, my neutrality is indeed a valuable asset. But tell me, Tony, what is it about Lucy that’s so important? Why is she worth my time?”
I clenched my jaw and looked down at the page.
“You deal in secrets.”
She smiled viciously. “I like to have a little insurance against the people who can’t seek legitimate avenues for help.”
I swallowed. “She’s our mate.”
She hummed. “You sound like your father.” She chuckled. “Why would I care about your mating problems?”
I clenched my jaw. “Because there will be war if she’s not returned to us. Immediately.”
She laughed. “There will be war, and it has nothing to do with Lucy’s position on the planet.”
She sighed. “You are in luck that while I am a vagabond. I am an honorable one.”
She looked at me. “I’ll tell you the same thing I told the last person seeking Lucy.”
My gut plummeted. “Someone else?”
“I can’t find her,” she said. “She is obscured by a protective spell. It’s very powerful and not worth the effort it would take to try and break it and fail anyway.”
I clenched my fist. “Who was it that came looking for Lucy?”
“Now that is private information,” she smiled coldly. “And I believe you can see your way out. Until next, we meet.”
“Wait—“
She and her pint vanished into shadows, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I grit my teeth and looked down. The parchment and pen were gone as well. I got up and rounded the table heading out of the building.
“How’d it go?”
I closed the door behind me. “Someone else is looking for Lucy, and I have a feeling I know who it is.”
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