Tobe reached us in just a couple of steps, his amber eyes narrowed and his mane slightly tousled. He was tired and frustrated—not that I could blame him. “I didn’t know we were forbidden to enter the Bestiary, too, especially after I delivered ten captured gargoyles less than an hour ago,” Wade replied, slightly offended.
“New rule.” Tobe sighed. “All magicals are forbidden from coming into the Bestiary, with the exception of Alton and the investigation team. Not even preceptors are allowed anymore.”
“I saw Nomura coming out of here, about fifteen minutes ago,” I said, crossing my arms.
“I know, I had to politely ask him to leave,” Tobe replied. “He wasn’t too happy about that, but eventually complied.”
“That explains the sour look on his face,” I said. “Why the new rule?”
“Isn’t it obvious? With ten gargoyles out, we’re on high alert. Magicals are on constant patrol throughout the Bestiary. Garrett and his team are investigating. And I’m keeping watch and disciplining the monsters, as usual.”
“It’s funny that you say that,” Wade said, “because I just watched Garrett and his team search an entire section of the Bestiary, and not one of them was able to find this.”
He lifted the spell disruptor for Tobe to see. A growl escaped from the Beast Master’s throat, as he realized what the object was. “Where was this, Wade?”
“Underneath Murray’s box,” he replied, handing the object over to Tobe.
“This is how they’re getting out, then.” Tobe reached the same conclusion, carefully holding the disruptor with two feathered fingers.
“It’s definitely an inside job, Tobe,” I said.
Tobe nodded slowly, then looked at Wade and me. “I’ll take this to Alton, but you two really need to get out of here. You cannot be seen here right now.”
Wade took me by the forearm and walked us both out of there, leaving Tobe and the spell disruptor behind. We sneaked out of the Bestiary, just as a couple of magicals turned a corner into the main corridor, missing us by a fraction of a second.
The tall, oval door closed behind us with a clang.
Wade and I stood there for a while, as he absently gazed ahead. “Don’t tell Garrett about this,” he said. “Now, go. I’ve got something to take care of.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“None of your business, Harley. You’ve got a hot date, remember?”
Oh, wow, he can really hold a grudge.
I rolled my eyes and walked away, feeling somewhat helpless and rejected. Wade was going to keep investigating this behind Garrett’s back—it was my only certainty in this situation, knowing how competitive those two were.
There was no way I was letting him do this alone. It had already gotten personal with the gargoyles, so if anyone in this coven was messing with the Bestiary and setting those fiends loose so they could chew me up, they were in for some serious ass-kicking.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Garrett picked me up from outside my room at nine p.m. sharp. I’d slipped into a short and tight denim dress, along with one of my new leather jackets and a pair of black ankle boots. My hair was pulled up in a loose and messy red bun, and I’d even added a touch of lipstick, just to make sure I had Garrett’s full attention.
Which I totally did.
The Noble Experiment wasn’t insanely busy, but it was crowded enough to put some noise in the background—laughter, glasses clinking, and plenty of flirtatious remarks. I focused on Garrett’s emotional silence, since I was surrounded by… randy people, basically. I could feel desire flowing through me, pure physical attraction. It was date night for most of the patrons.
“I have to say, I’m very pleased to see you,” Garrett said, breaking my train of thought, “but I’m feeling a little neglected. Where’s your mind, Red?”
I gave him a shy smile, my fingers fiddling with the straw in my fruity iced tea. “I’m here, just a little tired. And everybody’s got the hots for someone in here. It makes it difficult for me to focus at times.”
“Oh, yeah, you’re an Empath.” Garrett grinned, biting his lower lip. It made him look like a mischievous teenager ready to show me his parents’ bedroom at a house party. “At least you’re aware of how hot I find you.”
“No need to use my Empathy for that—you do a good job of making that clear with words and… gestures,” I replied, my voice weak. I didn’t want him to know that I couldn’t feel him, but I didn’t want to make stuff up. Lying about his feelings could land me in some very uncomfortable circumstances that would, eventually, lead to me telling him that I couldn’t feel him. Either way, discretion and deflection were advised.
“Yeah, I’m not going to apologize for that.” Garrett smirked. “I see something I like, I take it.”
“You’re not taking me. I’m the one nice enough to let you buy me a drink. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here, Garrett.”
“Ah, red and feisty.” He chuckled softly, his dimples doing a number on my head. “I like that. So! How are you liking the coven so far?”
“Frankly, I’m a bit worried about this whole gargoyle incident. Today’s events show that it’s gone from bad to worse,” I replied. “How’s your investigation going?”
“We searched the Bestiary again after you guys brought in those gargoyles,” he said, then gave me a playful wink and an appreciative half-smile. “Well done, by the way. It couldn’t have been easy for you and the Rags to successfully capture ten freaking monsters. Not that I was worried about you—you show promise. It’s the others I have my doubts about.”
“You’re grossly underestimating my team, Garrett.”
“No, you’re grossly overestimating your team, beautiful. Wade’s a pompous prick who can’t think for himself unless there are coven regulations to follow, including how to tie his damn shoes. And that alone disqualifies the Rag Team from ever being taken seriously. I have little faith in Alton’s lackey, and neither should you.”
There was a tinge of anger in his voice, the emotional kind that came from someone who’d definitely once considered Wade to be his friend. I leaned in, noticing how his pupils dilated whenever I got closer. “You don’t like Wade at all, do you?” I asked. It was an obvious question, but I was hoping I’d get him to ride that wave of contempt and spill the beans about their broken friendship.
“You are sharp,” he said quietly, his fingers gently brushing mine across the table, before they moved to tuck a loose lock of hair behind my ear. His touch was soft and gentle, the complete opposite of his sharp, almost painfully blunt nature. “Nobody really likes Wade, Harley. Even you don’t seem too crazy about him.”
I would’ve liked to agree with him, based on my back-and-forths with Wade. But I couldn’t. I had a feeling it was because Wade was kind of growing on me.
It was time to steer the conversation back to a more useful topic. We’d already exchanged the evening’s allocated number of decent pleasantries and basic date-night questions.
“You know, I’ve been thinking,” I said, eyeing him carefully. There was a playful flicker in his eyes, while his lips lazily stretched into a smile. “Have you considered the possibility of an inside job, regarding the Bestiary?”
That charming smile dropped at lightspeed. His gaze darkened, and a muscle twitched in his jaw. Well, too late to take it back now. Ride it out.
“We’re out here, in one of the city’s swankiest places, and you want to talk work?” Garrett replied, pursing his lips.
“You can’t really blame me. Not after what happened to my apartment, my car.”
My voice trembled a little, enough to touch a soft spot for him, it seemed. “I’m not rejecting the idea of an inside job,” he conceded. “I just wouldn’t know where to start looking for suspects. The entire coven is so… lame, I find it hard to believe anyone would be smart enough to pull this off.”
“So, no one springs to mind?” I asked, then took a sip from my iced tea.
His ga
ze dropped to my lips, before settling on my eyes. “I wouldn’t be surprised if someone on your Rag Team was responsible.”
I chuckled softly. “What makes you say that?”
“They’re all weird. Santana’s a powder keg with a grudge, because everybody taunts her over her practice of Santeria. No one knows anything about Tatyana, though we all suspect she terrorizes puppies and babies in her spare time. And don’t even get me started on Raffe. That guy’s as weird as they come.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. The way he depicted my teammates clearly stemmed from a personal dislike. If I were to seriously consider any one of them as a potential suspect, I couldn’t go on Garrett’s impression of them. It was hilariously skewed. “What about your own team? Don’t you think the likes of Finch, or Poe, or anyone else, for that matter, would be capable of such foul play?”
“I doubt it. Poe is incompetent, but loyal to a fault. Rowena’s more interested in makeup trends,” he replied, then paused for a couple of seconds. “Finch is an exceptional magical. His head is screwed on right, despite his short fuse. He can be a jerk, but hey, that applies to all of us. But anyway, back to you, Red. You’re not dating anyone, are you?”
Though not the smoothest of transitions, I had to give him credit for trying. I figured that was as much as I was going to get out of him tonight, so I didn’t pursue it further. He was definitely going to punch a wall or two once Alton showed him the spell disruptor—especially since Garrett had been trying quite hard to prove his investigative superiority to Wade.
One thing was clear, though. It was easy to suspect everyone in the coven for this. But it was damn near impossible to take anyone’s suspicions seriously, as they were all based on personal feuds. It was all very subjective, so playing the guessing game wasn’t an option.
“I’m here with you tonight, am I not?” I replied, offering a smile.
“Yes, you are.” Garrett seemed satisfied with my response, and he leaned forward, leaving just a few inches between our lips. “Tell me something about yourself, Harley. Something you haven’t told anyone in this coven. I want to feel special.”
“I have a shellfish allergy,” I said absently, still thinking about the Bestiary. I had a feeling we’d uncover more if they allowed the Rag Team to get involved and help, instead of turning this into a stupid competition.
Garrett chuckled, gently tapping my nose. “You’re a funny girl. I like that.”
“I’m serious, though. No shellfish for me. I’d swell up like the Michelin Man,” I replied.
Something dark and heavy invaded my stomach. It felt deeply uncomfortable, like the indigestion of a lifetime. Not my emotions, but definitely aimed at me… and Garrett. I glanced around and stilled.
Wade had just come through the door, accompanied by a bubblegum blonde in a pale blue cocktail dress with a pearlescent scarf hanging loosely over her bony shoulders. She annexed Wade’s arm in a possessive manner, as she gazed around the place. The satisfaction on her face irked me. It was as if she was proudly displaying her man-trophy, while said man-trophy was busy glaring at Garrett and me.
“Seriously?” I said.
Garrett followed my gaze and let out a sharp exhalation. “What’s that stooge doing here? And with Clara Fairmont, of all people?”
“Do you know her?” I asked.
“I think 70 percent of the guys in the coven know her. If you know what I mean.” He grinned. “Which is why I didn’t expect to see Crowley with her. He’s the noble and righteous type. And a pretentious one, too. He doesn’t date anyone with the IQ of a bumblebee.”
I stifled a chuckle, somewhat relieved to hear that Garrett didn’t like her. But why don’t I like her? Is it because she’s Wade’s date tonight? Wait, why do I care who he dates?
“Maybe he decided to change things up a bit,” I replied.
“You mean change things down?” Garrett laughed.
“Funny running into you here.” Clara Fairmont giggled, prompting both Garrett and me to put on straight faces. I hadn’t thought they’d stop by our table—or, at least, I had been hoping they wouldn’t. I hadn’t even seen them coming. Then again, I’d been busy snickering with Garrett just now.
I gave Clara a polite smile, before I looked at Wade. “What’s up?”
“What are you doing here, Crowley?” Garrett asked, sounding particularly bored.
“What does it look like I’m doing?” Wade replied.
“Do you want the unedited version or the politically correct one?”
“What… Um, what’s going on?” Clara giggled nervously, her gaze darting between Garrett and Wade. The air had gotten thick and difficult to breathe all of a sudden, tension brewing between these two fine alpha males.
Someone needed to put an end to it before they fanned their tails out like freaking peacocks.
Garrett grinned. “I’m just out on a date with the most beautiful girl in the coven. What are you two rejects doing here?”
Ugh, and just like that I remembered the parts about Garrett that I thoroughly disliked. He threw insults around like a Pez dispenser, and, based on the hurt look on Clara’s face and the stab of shame she felt, they were quite painful.
“Who are you calling a reject?” Clara asked, her soft, blonde brow furrowed.
“Don’t let him get to you,” Wade interjected. “Garrett tends to get aggressive when he feels threatened.”
“What could I possibly be threatened about?” Garrett chuckled. “I’m having a drink with Red here, I’m leading the investigative team, and you’re stuck doing cleanup and dating a very used model. There’s nothing threatening me. But you two are butting into my date, so why don’t you grab a table and pretend you like each other?”
Wade’s rings lit up. I shot to my feet and instantly slipped between them. Wade was a little too close to me, making it difficult for my brain to function properly, for some reason, but I knew I had to diffuse the situation before they kicked off a brawl.
This was my first time at the Noble Experiment. I didn’t want to get kicked out because of Wade and Garrett’s measuring contest. “I was having a nice time until you showed up,” I hissed at Wade.
He shrugged in response, his gaze darting between me and Garrett. “Clara wanted to say hi.”
“Hi, Clara,” I said to her, and she gave me a weak and confused smile. I then shifted my focus back to Wade. “There, I said hi. Now, do us all a favor and put some distance between us.”
“Not until Garrett here apologizes to Clara,” Wade fired back.
“Apologize for what?” Garrett said.
“You know what?” I replied, taking a few deep breaths. “I’m not doing this. You can blow yourselves up, for all I care. I just wanted a drink and casual conversation, but clearly I can’t have that!”
I walked away, prompting Garrett to jump out of his seat. “Red, wait!”
“Nope! You should’ve known better than to act like a jerk!” I barked, and headed toward the main exit. To my surprise, Clara joined me.
“Hope you don’t mind,” she said. “I don’t want to be left alone with those two. Garrett’s an absolute jerk, and Wade… well, Wade didn’t really want to go on a date with me, obviously.”
“What makes you say that?” I asked, then pushed open the door, welcoming the mild evening breeze blowing against my face. I glanced over my shoulder. Wade and Garrett were both staring at us—gaping, to be precise, their jaws nearly hitting the floor. Neither had seen that one coming. Good.
“Because he’s more interested in picking a fight with Garrett. Duh!”
She rolled her eyes as I made my way to the edge of the sidewalk and signaled a cab. “Well, then, they can fight all they want now. I’m not sticking around for their crap.”
“Can I share a ride with you?”
She was a little hurt. Based on what I’d just heard about her, what I knew about Wade, and what I could feel from Clara, directly, she’d put her hopes into this date. She’d probably had ba
d luck dating others in the coven, making Garrett’s remarks crass and downright disappointing. Wade asking her out had probably made her feel like she still had a shot at a decent guy. Or at least, that’s how I was feeling, sitting next to her in the cab.
What was Wade thinking?
I’d made it perfectly clear that I was going to try and get some intel out of Garrett. Why the hell was he throwing pebbles at my wheels, then?
Chapter Twenty-Four
One good thing did come out of that botched evening. It was over sooner rather than later, so I could get back to the coven and start digging through my dreams for clues about my past.
After a long, hot shower, I mounted the dreamcatcher on the wall above my headboard. I finally remembered the Navajo words that Tobe had taught me and murmured the first one, then proceeded to sink into the mattress. My lights were out in less than a minute. With everything that had been going on, my brain had been working overtime.
I had some disturbingly weird dreams. Most of them involved Wade repeatedly asking if I liked him. As if fully aware of the ludicrousness of the situation, I repeatedly shook my head until my subconscious took me elsewhere. I didn’t want to answer that question.
As if navigating through a lucid dream, I pushed deeper into the darkness beneath my feet. My view warped outward, all matter distorted into irregular swirls of color, until an image tried to come into focus. No matter how hard I focused, however, I couldn’t see clearly.
My body didn’t respond. I looked down and noticed my hands, my arms were small. I was little, maybe a toddler.
“Good morning, sweet little angel,” a voice said.
It felt oddly familiar. I’d missed it, though I didn’t know whose it was.
A blurry face came closer. Two dark spots served as eyes, and a thick, curved white line offered the hint of a smile. It filled me with joy and relief. Everything was right in the world, somehow. I belonged there, in that pair of strong arms.
Harley Merlin and the Secret Coven Page 26