Yeah, that seemed about right. “What about Containment? Don’t they care that she’s here?”
“Being an Arsenault has its advantages,” he said. “I have a couple of allies in PCC, which helps. And she has allies, friends, across the country. Her money doesn’t go far in the Zone, but it matters to the rest of the world. She has, let’s say, protectors. Containment thinks she’s here so I can keep an eye on her. That’s right, in part. They know she’s blind, and that she’s getting older. They think that makes her harmless. They’d be very, very wrong about that.”
I kicked a pebble down the sidewalk, then again, watching it skitter in front of us. I accidentally sent it too far to the left, but Liam caught it with a toe, sent it moving again. It was a little thing, but I put it in Liam’s “win” column. Finding whimsy in a war zone wasn’t any easy thing to do.
“I like her. She seems very formidable.”
“She is. You remind me a little bit of her, actually. You’re both recklessly brave.”
I snorted. “Liam Quinn, I don’t think you mean that as a compliment.”
“Claire Connolly,” he said, my name slipping softly from his lips. “I’m not sure I do, either.”
I stopped to look at him, to check his expression against the sudden thoughtfulness in his voice. His eyes were stormy, his expression intense, considering.
“Come on,” he said. “Let’s get you home. Then I’ll talk to Nix.”
“She doesn’t live in Devil’s Isle?”
“She moves around,” Liam said cryptically.
“And what, exactly, will she be doing?”
“Teaching you not to become a monster.”
“That’s a good goal. Also, could you be a little more specific?”
“It involves regulating the magic,” he said. “I’m not sure about the details. That’s pretty far outside my wheelhouse.”
“And what’s in your wheelhouse, exactly?”
“Being a warrior and general badass.”
“And humble soul, barely aware of his own strength?”
“Well, obviously that, too.”
I had a thrill of surprise when Liam bent his mouth to my ear. But his interest wasn’t romantic.
“I’m going to tell you something, and I want you to keep your eyes on the street in front of us.”
His tone was flat, all-business, and I was smart enough to realize he meant it. I nodded, just a little.
“There are two Paras following us, and two more in front of us watching. The two behind us are at my seven o’clock. The ones in front are at your two o’clock. The ones in front want to talk to us. The ones behind want to cut off our exit. Take a quick glance, if you want, but like you’re taking in the architecture.”
I did, glancing casually ahead, but not to look at the architecture. I was looking for the Containment agents who were supposed to be at their posts . . . but weren’t.
“The guards?”
“Probably paid for a few minutes of privacy. It’s not hard to bribe folks in the Land of Unplenty.”
“Sounds like this isn’t your first experience in a situation like this.”
“I don’t know these guys in particular, but they probably belong to Solomon. He’s the friendly neighborhood crime lord. A coward, but very good at giving favors—and extracting payment.”
“He did you a favor?”
“No. But he thinks he did. And that’s enough for him. I’m going to handle this. I need you to stay behind me.”
I’d been in war, knew how to fight, could hold my own, as the wraiths should have proven. “I’m not going to stand by and just—”
“You can’t use your magic,” he reminded me. “And I brought you into Devil’s Isle—that makes you my responsibility.”
I didn’t have time to argue. They stepped into the street. Two in front of us, two behind. They looked generally like humans, but their patterned skin gleamed like an amphibian’s. Their eyes and ears were large and round.
“Cave dwellers,” Liam whispered. “They tend to flee instead of fight.” That explained why I hadn’t seen them before—and why Liam didn’t sound very impressed.
The Para on the right stepped forward. His teeth were small, white, pointed. I’d seen other Paras with teeth filed to points, and the memory made my heart flutter. But looking scared wasn’t going to help. I made myself stand a little straighter.
“Solomon wants a word,” the Para said.
Liam’s expression chilled. “I don’t see him here, and I don’t speak to men who are too cowardly to deliver their own messages.”
The Para bared his teeth. “Only an idiot insults Solomon.”
“Only an idiot works for Solomon,” Liam corrected. “He was captured by Containment, lives in Devil’s Isle, and uses errand boys. Not exactly great leadership.”
It happened simultaneously—the Paras behind moved forward to grab me as the ones in front moved toward Liam.
Liam’s gun—the one he’d handed over to Containment—sure would have been handy right now.