Page 96 of Twist of Fate

“Koios saved our king,” Connal said. His gaze held Luke’s. “I trust him.”

Luke still intended to ask questions before anyone touched the drive, but he could agree to the meeting. “All right. When do we leave?”

“Tomorrow morning,” Tyson said.

“Before I contact Hale?”

“Yes. Koios needs time tonight to secure the equipment and location before we arrive. Nothing he uses to examine the drive will be connected to an outside network, and no one beyond Koios and those present will know the meeting occurred. I’ll collect you at first light.”

Luke calculated the time that would leave them. If the drive revealed Hale’s involvement—or gave Luke any indication of what Hale expected him to deliver—he needed those answers before the call.

“I’ll need time to understand whatever Koios finds before nine.”

“You will have it,” Tyson said.

“Good.”

“You also require rest,” Connal added.

“I’m fine.”

Gomez pointed a chicken nugget at him. “You’ve been attacked twice, dragged across realms, and forced to spend an unreasonable amount of time with men who think shirts are optional. Go to bed.”

Asterius glanced down at his human clothing. “I am wearing a shirt.”

“And yet you still look shirtless. It’s a gift.”

“I have often thought so.”

Luke ignored them. “I’m not arguing with the plan.”

“You’re arguing with the sleeping part,” Gomez said.

Luke opened his mouth.

Gomez raised the chicken nugget in warning. “You’ve delivered my food, so your responsibilities here are officially complete.” He gestured toward the chamber doors. “Go. Rest. Do whatever magical soulmates do when their best friend is safely supervised.”

Luke looked around at the pixies, gargoyles, and warriors surrounding the bed. “Supervised may be overstating it.”

Fizzwick landed on Gomez’s shoulder. “I will protect him.”

“See?” Gomez said. “Perfectly safe.”

Luke stood and retrieved his backpack. “I’ll see you before we leave.”

“You’d better.”

Luke left the chamber with Connal beside him as the others began to disperse. Zer collected Avaneel, who carried one final fry into his hair. The gargoyles remained with Gomez, Fred still holding his new toy, while Asterius and Keir left in search of whatever food had survived the pixies.

By the time Luke and Connal reached Connal's chamber, the castle had quieted around them. Luke closed the door, shrugged off the backpack, and removed the drive from the watch pocket of his jeans. Hale had told him to keep it secure. Someone else had been willing to kill for it. Tomorrow, Luke might finally learn why.

He opened the backpack and tucked the drive inside an inner compartment.

“It will be safe in my chambers,” Connal said.

“Safer than sleeping with it in my pants.”

Connal’s gaze dropped.