Page 55 of Tethered Fates

“I found some information you might find interesting,” Kate says instead of an introduction.

“Tell me.” My voice is tight. All the energy I had to pretend and flirt was redirected to the swirling mess before me.

“Summer might be some magical bullshit, but she still had to pay her bills. Especially for the house she rented,” Kate informs. “But her last payment bounced because I’m assuming she’s on the run from you lot.”

“And other supernaturals.”

“Please don’t remind me,” she complains. “But someone else covered for her.”

“I wait with bated breath, detective.”

“Ha-ha,” Kate deadpans. “A guy named Mickey Harris.”

I sort through my memories, come up empty. “The name isn’t familiar. But the others might know something. Address?”

“Already sent it over.”

“Good.”

Before I can hang up, Kate rushes out, “Is everything okay? You don’t sound like yourself.”

The wall in front of me is ruined, but when it brought me closer to Teagan, I can’t think of it as anything but perfect.

“If you find out anything else—”

“I’ll let you know,” Kate assures me. “And if you need help keeping your human safe…”

For the first time since leaving Teagan, a smirk crests across my face as I turn away and head towards the shower. “Things would have to be pretty dire for me to rely on you, detective.”

***

My car jolts as Lucero slides inside.

“And here I thought you’d be too tied around Golden to arrive on time,” I say.

“Jealous?” Lucero drawls like the famous playboy he pretends to be, when really, when it comes to love, we both know he couldn’t be softer.

I reply with an indifferent chuckle and a dismissive gesture. I can also pretend.

“Your message said your detective found Mickey?”

I start the engine and drive out of the hotel’s garage. “So you’re familiar?”

“The short story is that he was working with Golden’s brother, Jace, at some ridiculous fight club. Jace got his hands on the First Blood Mage Tome, and he made Mickey into a blood mage and his right-hand man. When Emma killed Jace, who was also her nephew—”

“No wonder Elio doesn’t think highly of his family.”

“—The warehouse we were in went up in flames, and Mickey managed to escape,” Luc finishes. “To be honest, I didn’t think much of him, but he does seem to keep popping up.”

“Like Bran,” I retort.

“Fucking Bran,” Lucero scoffs. There’s a beat of silence, then Luc adds, like he hasn’t stopped thinking about it, “What do you think of his prophecy?”

I tap my fingers on the wheel as we drive through the night.

“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “It wouldn’t be the first time he’s toyed with our lives.”

“Just standard Bran behaviour,” Lucero remarks bitterly.