XANDER

I straighten my shirtsleeves and scan the room, taking another good look for Alasdair. Vee's in the centre of our group, relaxed and smiling as she jokes with the other guys. People's reaction amused me when we walked in earlier, Vee holding Joss's hand and Heath's arm around her shoulder. There are dozens of people in the room, and their arrival shut down much of the conversation happening around us. Because of the guys? Or the girl clearly indicating “back off, they're mine”?

Vee keeps asking Seth if he's okay, and her concern for him annoys me still. I share Ewan's opinion he's not one hundred percent what he says, but I'm biding my time. I watch Seth’s every move, have done since he joined us, despite Vee chastising me to give the guy some breathing space. I sense genuine discomfort from him at being in tonight’s social situation, and he seems physically weak, but what's happening behind the facade? The longer he's with us, the more my suspicion grows.

A girl dressed in a white shirt and black skirt approaches and offers us drinks from a tray. I swig mine and look around for a table to place the empty glass on. There's a guy opposite with a beer. Where do I get one instead of this mouthful?

"I don't normally come to this kind of thing," says Seth in a low voice. "I'm not big on social events."

"I can tell. Just have a few drinks, you'll relax," I say. "I'll keep an eye on you."

Seth snorts. "Yeah, I'm sure you will."

The number of people here makes it difficult to study them all without wandering the room and staring at them all like a lunatic. At least two of us need to get out of the room and explore the place; if demons are here I want to know how many and why. This isn't a big surprise, nor is the fact we've been lured here for a reason. Yeah, well, they'll be sorry when the five of us start on them.

Alasdair hasn't shown his face again, and more than ever, we need him to answer questions. More than that, we need Joss or Vee close enough to him to be able to detect if he's a demon too. The red-haired girl exuded the demonic presence, and she's connected to somebody.

Someone in this room?

Breanna's here now, dressed in a tight-fitting green dress, distinctive red hair spilling down her back. She works the room, chatting to group after group, adding in smiles and touches. The sight sickens me, as if she's taunting us that she can get this close to humans. What worries me more is Breanna’s with a human guy, young and attractive, and stuck to her like a guard dog. I’m holding onto the thought demons are unlikely to kill anybody while we're here and draw attention to the place, but what else are demons doing here? If they’re not killing, are they looking for new people to possess?

I lower my voice and tell Heath, “I’m gonna find Breanna and talk to her.”

He nods and continues his conversation with Joss and Vee.

I walk across the room in another attempt to corner her, but Breanna steps to one side and into a new conversation.

I halt next to a group, and after ten minutes forced to chat about their boring lives, I catch sight of Heath staring at me from across the room. I frown as he holds his hands at waist height and subtly points to the right, and the doorway. Turning my head, a sure of adrenaline joins my surprise.

Logan.

He's with his wife again, immediately and enthusiastically greeted by a younger couple who evidently know him. If we stand out, Logan eclipses us in his tailored suit. He’s taller than the average human, and the fae has made no attempt to disguise his unusual appearance. Gazes are drawn to the unusual man with bronze eyes and pale blond hair. I make a hasty excuse to the man droning on about hedge funds—which I've finally figured out isn’t a business related to gardening—and weave through the people back to the guys and Vee.

"What the fuck?" I whisper.

"This is good," replies Ewan. "This proves there's a link between them all. He obviously knows people here."

"And Alasdair," puts in Heath. "He must do."

"Has Alasdair arrived yet?" I crane my head, watching Logan approach the red-haired demon as I scan the room. "Whoa. Okay. Could he be any more public?"

The familiarity between the two is confirmed when Breanna greets him with a warm smile, and he kisses her on the cheek.

"Why behave like that when they know we're here?" I ask. “Right in front of us all.”

"Because they want you to see, of course." Seth steps from where he's hidden himself in the corner of us and pushes his glasses against his face. "Who is this man you’re all staring at? The fae I've heard you talking about recently?"

We haven't spoken about Logan, or what happened with Mac, in detail, but he's heard the name. I suspect Vee has shared who Logan is, because she looks at the floor rather than at me. I can't blame her. Seth is smart at extracting information.

I nod. "Yeah. Logan. Portia's adviser."

"But you said the girl was a demon. You told me fae don't like demons." A woman a few feet away throws Seth a curious look, and I make a hand gesture to indicate he should keep his voice down.

"Correct. Joss? Vee? Any others here?"

Joss shakes his head. "Honestly, I can't feel any more demons around."

"What the hell is this Alasdair guy doing? Do you think he knows he's working with demons?"

"Oh yeah. Us humans? We’re really good at picking up on supernatural creatures we don't believe exist." Seth snorts. "Or maybe he knows, and he’s sold them his soul or whatever. Could be how he’s so wealthy and good-looking."

"People don't sell their souls to demons," sneers Ewan. "Don’t believe what you learn from TV shows and movies."

"Some people will do whatever it takes to get what they want."

"Drop the cryptic shit, Seth," he snaps back. "I'm not in the mood."

"Just saying. Sometimes people are made an offer they can't refuse."

Ewan tips his head and looks at me. When Seth breaks long silences with statements like this, he doesn't help with our trust issues.

"Really? Did someone make you an offer you can't refuse?" Ewan asks him.

All eyes turn to Seth who taps the edge of his wine glass and stares at the floor. "No."

I exchange another glance with Ewan. Lying bastard. I look to Vee for confirmation, but she shakes her head and mouths "truth" at me.

Shit.

"Forget this distraction." I jerk my head in Logan's direction. "We need to get him somewhere for a cosy chat."

Seth drains his glass, before grabbing another from a passing tray held by the waitress.

"Did Logan see you?" Vee asks.

"I don't know, but he'll expect us to be here. Heath. Come with me."

We leave the other four and walk back to the table laid with food, then take plates and watch Logan from our vantage point. He doesn't move from talking to Breanna, although his wife has moved on to flirt with a younger guy nearby.

I believed Mac, but now I have confirmation. Logan is working against Portia with the Order. Demons and fae are involved with whatever the hell is happening with this charity and are linked to Nova Pharm. Why? And why the fuck are they killing humans and flaunting their alliance in front of us?

Things are adding up, but I can't figure out the whole equation. I will by the end of tonight because this guy isn't leaving my sight.

"What's the plan?" Heath asks.

"We let Logan know we're here—when he leaves, we follow him. I'm damn sure he'll lead us into something else they've planned for us."

"Then that needs all five of us."

"No. We'll follow Logan, see where he goes, then head back for the others. I think it's better some of us stay here to watch what's happening in the room. Again, in case the idea is to get us all away from here."

“Or they might want to split us up?”

I drag a hand through my hair. “Yeah. Could be either, but this is how I want to handle it.”

Heath looks as if he’ll protest, but then sighs. "I'll tell the others."

As he walks away, I lick crumbs from my fingers, fired up and ready for this. Finally, Logan turns his head and meets my eyes. We hold each other’s gaze, unblinking and silent, and the world falls away. But this isn't star-crossed lovers whose eyes meet across a crowded room, this is a mutual understanding.

Shit is about to change.