I smiled at Arlo. “See? Hardly a security threat.”
“Willow Rhoswen’s pup?” he asked curiously.
“Yes. He’s working with me for the time being.” I pulled my dagger out of its holder and proceeded to unload the rest of my weapons and magic-infused jewelry into one of the baskets. Then Link and I walked through the scanner.
Arlo placed my basket into one of the lockers and handed me the key. If they went through the scanner, all my spells would be neutralized and rendered completely useless. Dax did the same, and together the three of us headed upstairs.
I was just about to round the corner to head into the research office when a young witch I recognized as the director’s assistant ran up to me, clearly winded, and said, “Agent Kilsen, the director is waiting for you.”
“She is?” I glanced back at Dax. “Did you get a directive?”
He shook his head.
“Director Halston wants you to report to her immediately,” the young witch said, glancing over her shoulder. “It’s urgent.”
“Fuck me,” I muttered. What else kind of shit had gone down last night? Whatever it was, the Void was just going to have to get some other agent, because I had two fae to find.
Dax immediately turned and started to make his way toward the director’s office. Link stayed at my feet, waiting for my order. How come all shifters couldn’t be as loyal as the shih tzu? I jerked my head, indicating we should follow Dax, and led Link into the west wing of the building.
“She’s in there,” the assistant said, her hand shaking as she pointed at Halston’s office.
“Carla, right?” I asked, hoping I was remembering her name correctly.
“It’s Marla.” She gave me just a hint of a smile before she glanced nervously at the director’s office again.
“Right. Marla. Um, is there something we should know before we walk in there?”
She nodded, but when she opened her mouth to speak, no sound came out. Her face turned ashen, and shaking her head, she ran back down the hall.
I met Dax’s gaze and cursed the Void and their goddamned stupid security rules. There was something seriously wrong in Halston’s office, and not only did I not have any weapons, but neither Dax or Link could shift into wolf form while in the building. The neutralizing scanner had seen to that. It’d be a few hours before they got their abilities back.
Walking with a calm that didn’t actually exist, I moved to Marla’s desk and pulled the top drawer open. I stifled a groan when all I found were extra pens and notebooks. “Come on, Marla,” I said under my breath. She had to have something I could use as a weapon. A stapler, a letter opener—hell, a paperweight would be welcome at this point.
Dax, who’d obviously caught on to what I was doing, opened the drawers on the left while I took the right. Both of us quickly rummaged around. I scowled in annoyance at the drawer full of every snack under the sun. Pushing aside what had to be two dozen individually wrapped Kiss Me Chocolates, I shoved my hand into the back of the drawer. My fingers closed around a cool metal handle.
Yes! Jackpot!
I tugged the knife free and almost laughed at the bright pink handle. Good for Marla. I tucked it into the small of my back and turned to Dax. He held up a stun gun, indicating he’d been just as successful.
“How the hell do you think she got these past security?” I asked in a hushed tone.
“Halston. No doubt she gave them to her assistant just in case.”
“Well, it’s a good thing she did, even though Marla is probably off vomiting somewhere.”
Dax stuffed the stun gun into his pocket and pressed his back to the wall on one side of Halston’s door. I wrapped my hand around the hilt of the knife and did the same. Link, my new sidekick, stayed at my feet, obedient but on alert. Even in shih tzu form, his presence felt slightly ominous, and I started to seriously regret not taking one of his littermates… even if I would’ve had to sacrifice my entire shoe collection to a gnawing puppy.
Link and I hadn’t gotten off to a great start. It’s hard to love the creature who eats your favorite boots for dinner and your favorite red pumps for dessert. But now I was thinking it was a sacrifice worth making.
Dax slowly reached over to grab the doorknob. He looked up at me and I nodded, indicating I was ready. He nodded back and in the next second, he threw the door open and spun, the stun gun out as he scanned the room for danger. “Son of a bitch!” he yelled and flung himself into the room.
Without hesitation, I whipped the knife out and followed. The moment I stepped through the threshold, I froze, taking a moment to process the scene.
“Holy shit! Allcot, what the fuck are you doing?” I cried.
The blond vampire, who looked like he couldn’t be a day over seventeen years old, had Halston hauled up against the wall and was holding her by the neck with one hand. Her face had turned almost purple, and she was clawing at his hand, indistinguishable sounds coming from her. He whipped his head around, his bloodshot eyes wild as he growled at me.
Dax shot forward, the stun gun sparking to life.
Allcot dropped Halston, just as I knew he would, and flew at Dax. The old vampire was so fast I barely saw him move. But then he was on Dax, his hand wrapped around the shifter’s wrist, and he squeezed, the bones crushing under his vise-like grip.
Dax roared and clocked Allcot in the temple with his free hand. More bones crunched, making me wince, but I wasn’t sure if it was Allcot’s face or Dax’s fist. The vampire barely rocked back from Dax’s powerful blow.
I rushed to Halston’s side, dropping to my knees as Link ran back and forth barking, clearly frustrated he wasn’t part of the action. “Director,” I said, pressing two fingers to her neck right over her thready pulse. Good. She was still alive at least.
She let out a gargled choke. Then her eyes flew open and she sat straight up, her light blue wings fluttering in clear agitation. “What are you doing?” she rasped out as she pointed to Dax. “Are you just going to let Allcot kill him?”
“I was— Never mind.” Grateful Allcot hadn’t killed her, I shot to my feet. The old vampire had quickly overpowered Dax. The shifter was on his knees, and Allcot had grabbed a fistful of his hair, yanking his head back so far it was a wonder the vampire hadn’t broken Dax’s neck.
“Where. Did. They. Take. Her?” Allcot ground out. “You have one shot, shifter.”
“That’s exactly what we’d like to know,” I said, my tone full of ice and fury. “Why the hell would Dax abduct Willow?”
“Willow?” Allcot let out a short humorless laugh. “Do you think I’d go through all the trouble to get to the director if I were here for Willow Rhoswen?”
“You have in the past,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest, not believing him for a second. “I remember when you and your crew blew a hole in the wall to help her escape.”
“That was business,” Allcot said and yanked harder on Dax’s hair. The shifter let out a high-pitched whine that I knew had to be involuntary. Dax would never willingly show weakness in front of Allcot. Allcot cast him a disgusted glance then added, “This is personal.”
“Damn right it’s personal. This is my best friend we’re talking about. The fairy you swore you would protect from the other supernaturals in this city.” Allcot and Willow were related. Sort of. His consort Pandora had family connections to Willow’s nephew and the woman who would’ve been Willow’s sister-in-law had her brother not perished in an untimely death. At Pandora’s request, Allcot had agreed to keep them all safe. “Did you forget you made that promise to Pandora? What would she say about this?”
Allcot threw Dax against the wall. The shifter crashed into it, causing the plaster to shatter and fall around him. Link let out a howl and shot forward, running to Dax’s side.
“Dax—” I started, but Allcot cut me off, backing me up until the backs of my legs hit Halston’s desk.