Midnight Marked

It was another shot, and a completely fair one. Reed had distracted us, which was probably part of his plan.

“I’m also working on the safe-deposit box key. I’m about sixty percent through the first search of bank records but haven’t found anything yet.”

“Thank you,” I said. “I plan to offer my help to Paige as soon as I get back to the House.” And out of the dress and heels. What novelty there’d been had completely worn off.

“Where’s Catcher tonight?” I asked. “It’s unlike him to miss a chance to bitch at us.”

Jeff nearly smiled, which was good enough for me. “He’s following up with the Order again. Still trying to confirm they don’t have any information about our alchemist. He made the trip to Milwaukee in person.” He checked his watch. “Probably on his way back.”

“Not the wisest move to induce a pissed-off sorcerer to travel to see you,” Ethan said.

“No,” Jeff said. “It wasn’t. But then, you usually have better sense, too.”

I snorted. “I think he sank your battleship.”

“Maybe Reed is making everyone crazy,” Ethan said.

“Speaking of which,” I said, gesturing to the station, “did you know there are River nymphs in there?”

Jeff nodded. “We’re letting them cool off. They won’t press charges against each other, so they’ll be released when they calm down.”

“Already in process,” I said. “They were gossiping about us when we left.”

“Just doing our part,” Ethan said. “Thank you again, Jeff. I’ll try to get Merit back to Cadogan House without further trouble. And perhaps we could meet at dusk to discuss what we’ve all learned so far?”

Jeff nodded. “I’ll tell Chuck, Catcher.” He squeezed my hand before walking toward the bike, then climbed on the bike behind Fallon and put on the helmet she offered him. More engine revving, and they drove away.

“I believe I pissed off your knight in shining armor,” Ethan said.

“Probably so,” I said, and gathered up voluminous silk to slide into the passenger seat. The anger I’d pushed down began to bubble up again. “He’s protective of me, and I got arrested, so . . .”

“Would you like me to say you told me so?”

“That won’t change anything.”

“No,” Ethan said, closing the door. “It won’t.”

It was the first time we’d been alone together since we arrived at the Garden, and my first opportunity to vent. “You put my father and my grandfather in a hell of a position, and you put us right into Reed’s hands. We made our reputation worse—and we’re damn lucky there weren’t paparazzi outside the station waiting to reveal our arrest to the world.”

“He got under my skin.”

“And that’s no excuse. You have centuries more experience. You know better. You are better.” Tears stung my eyes. “That was absolutely humiliating.”

“He thinks he’s invincible.” His voice was measured, still edged with fury. “He thinks he’s untouchable. None of that will change if we go along to get along. If we wait for someone else to do the dirty work. Nothing will change until someone calls him out.” He looked at me. “If we don’t do it, who will?”

“I don’t disagree with you. But he’s powerful, well protected, and very savvy.” I looked at Ethan. “He plays games with people, Ethan. He did it with Celina. He did it with the vampire pretending to be Balthasar. That’s who he is. He’s a narcissist, an opportunist, and a criminal entrepreneur. But maybe most of all, he’s a psychopath. He likes to torture people, take advantage of their vulnerabilities. Their insecurities. We have to be smarter than that. We can’t just play into his hands.”

“I should have listened to you. I didn’t, and I should have. I may be wise in the ways of supernaturals, but you’re better with humans.”

In fairness, I’d been one about four hundred years more recently than him.

“Now you’re just kissing my ass,” I said.

“I am trying my damnedest.” He paused. “Is it working?”

“No.”

He glanced at me, reached out to push a lock of hair behind my ear. “You know I lost my family once. You are my family now, Merit. I will not lose you.”

“I still have a family, Ethan. They certainly aren’t perfect, but I won’t lose them to a man like Reed.” I looked at him. “And I won’t have them used.”

I could practically see his frustration rising again. “It was one phone call,” he said. “Your father owes you that much and more.”

“That was my decision to make. Not yours.”

“As you reminded Jennifer Jacobs, no one forced him to do as I asked.”

I nearly punched him. Right then and there, I nearly plowed a fist into that gorgeous face for turning that around on me. Even if he was right.

Ethan started the car, backed onto the road. “Be angry with me if you must, Sentinel. I can bear it. But Adrien Reed will not lay a hand on you.”

• • •

It was past midnight when we rolled back into the Cadogan garage.

Ethan went to his office to update Malik and Luc.

I went upstairs to update my ensemble. The gown had done its part, whatever that part might have been. I placed it on the bed, where laundry or dry-cleaning elves (or a vampire directed by Helen, more like) would attempt to clean and repair it.

I changed into jeans and a navy T-shirt with CADOGAN in white block letters across the front to head back to the library.

My phone beeped as I was closing the door. I found a message from Jonah: HEARD ABOUT ARREST. CALL IF YOU NEED TO. AND PHOTO NOT FAMILIAR.

Word of our near incarceration had apparently spread. Jonah hadn’t been in a hurry to get back to me about the Rogue, and I hadn’t thought to follow up. But I’d have to deal with him and the RG’s baggage later.

I made it down the flight of stairs before my phone buzzed again, this time with a phone call. I pulled it out but didn’t recognize the number. “This is Merit.”

“Hi, Merit. It’s Annabelle—the necromancer. You told me to call if I found something alchemical.”

My heart began to pound with anticipation. “Hi, Annabelle. What did you find?”