Page 85 of Twist of Fate

Tyson crossed to a desk positioned beneath the windows and touched the keyboard waiting there. Three security feeds appeared on the monitors: the elevator lobby, the corridor outside the suite, and the entrance from the parking structure.

“My contacts cleared the floor and left before we arrived,” Tyson said. “The building’s internal cameras are under our control. The exterior feeds remain active so the security company sees nothing unusual.”

“You can do that?” Luke asked.

“For a limited period.”

Luke added another item to the rapidly growing list of questions he had about Tyson.

Zer surveyed the office and each of its approaches before turning to Luke. “You understand how danger moves through a human building better than we do. Where do you need us?”

Connal glanced toward his brother. The slight lift of his brows vanished quickly, but Luke caught it.

The invitation surprised Luke too. Zer had not surrendered command of his brothers. He had simply recognized who knew the terrain.

“Take the main corridor,” Luke told him. “You’ll be able to see anyone coming from the elevators or the first stairwell.”

Zer inclined his head and started toward the door. Avaneel rose from his hair and hovered beside him.

“You stay concealed,” Zer told her.

“I am always concealed.”

“You sparkle.”

“Only a little.”

She disappeared into his hair again. Zer’s expression suggested he had not been reassured.

“Keir, watch the second stairwell,” Luke continued. “Asterius, take the parking entrance.”

Asterius glanced toward Tyson. “And where will he be?”

“Here,” Luke said. “Doing something useful.”

Tyson’s mouth twitched before he turned back to the monitors.

Asterius sighed. “A tragic misuse of my talents.”

“You heard him,” Zer said. “Go.”

The three brothers moved into position, leaving Luke with Connal and Tyson. Connal stayed close without questioning Luke’s choices or trying to alter the plan.

Luke set his backpack on the conference table and pulled out his laptop. The familiar device felt oddly fragile after being surrounded by living walls, portals, and creatures who could turn into stone. He opened it anyway.

Nothing happened.

Luke pressed the power button again.

“Human technology works here,” Tyson said.

“It usually requires power first.”

Luke found the charging cable, dropped to one knee, and searched beneath the table. The castle had spoiled him. It would have produced an outlet the moment he needed one instead of making him crawl across cheap carpet while Connal watched with increasing concern.

“I am fine,” Luke said before Connal could ask.

“You are beneath the table.”