"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.
20
VEE
The evening begins with the room filled by soft, polite conversation and English reservation, but as the time passes, the volume grows and laughter becomes more raucous. I switch from wine to orange juice. It’s harder to avoid telling the truth with too much alcohol in my system.
Logan’s arrival shocked the guys and me. My mind flooded with the feelings Logan gave me the last time I saw him, but I managed to push down the doubt and fear. He’s linked to demons. Of course he was lying that night. Xander spent the best part of the evening stalking him; the people in the room are the jungle he has to work through—or the prey for Logan and the demons. We don’t know which yet.
After an hour, Xander and Logan’s stand-off ended as Logan left the room, without his wife, and with Breanna. How could Logan and his wife be close to Portia and not arouse suspicion? Unsurprisingly, Xander and Heath followed minutes later. We’re all aware that any of these actions could be a ploy, but Death and War are the best to step after them. Despite their sibling issues, they’re the most in sync and strongest.
We'll have plenty of chances to dig around if we're here all weekend, but I think that's the issue. Xander wants evidence now, and to leave as soon as possible. I’m surprised Alasdair hasn’t made an appearance yet; he struck me as a guy who’d enjoy being the life and soul of an expensive party he organised.
Ewan and Joss have positioned themselves in a better vantage point, and I’m left with Seth.
Seth barely says two words to anybody after his strange words to Ewan, and his face flushes as he drinks enough wine for both of us. His silence is joined by perspiration crossing his brow, and he sways before finally slumping onto a nearby seat.
"Seth, you need fresh air."
He looks back at me, his pale blue eyes awash with the wine he’s drunk.
"I don't usually drink much, Vee. I think I had too much."
"Uh huh." I help him to his feet. "Let's take a walk into that bracing November weather. That'll slap some sobriety into you."
He smiles back at me. "Yeah. What about the guys? Won't they be worried?"
"What about?"
"You and me disappearing. You should tell one of them."
"Oh. Hang on."
I walk over to Ewan, whose boredom level matches Joss beside him. "Guys, I'm taking Seth out for some air." Ewan opens his mouth. "Don't follow me. You're supposed to be keeping an eye on things while Xander and Heath aren't around."
Ewan straightens and cranes his head to look at Seth, now leaning forward with his head in his hands. "DoomGeek can't hold his drink, huh?"
"I don't blame him for trying to blank his mind for a few hours," I say. “I’ll take him outside before he pukes on the floor.”
"Don't be long," Ewan warns. "I don't like the idea of you alone with him."
"I think we all know I can defend myself. He also knows he'd take his life in his hands if he did try anything."
Joss laughs. "Oh, yeah."
Leaving them, I return to Seth, and we head along the dimly lit hallway, past the walls covered in local landscape paintings, towards the large entrance hall. Seth hunches over, hands in his pockets as he stares at the ground.
"The carpet is moving," he mutters.
I look down too, at the circular gold pattern against the burgundy. "I hope you're not going to vomit."
Seth doesn't speak again until we break out into the frosty evening. He draws in a lungful of air. "Thank fuck for that."
I cross my arms around my body to keep warm and watch the guy stumble backwards and sit on a wall. He grips the bricks and stares at the ground.
"I need to leave, Vee," he mumbles.
"If you want, I can make sure you get back to the room safely. Sleep this off, and hopefully, you’ll be okay tomorrow."
"No," he says to the ground. "You need to help me get away from them. I can't do this anymore."
"I can’t do that, and I don't think you should try, Seth. You've seen what's out there."