Page 118 of Winterfall Destiny

Ash throws me a look. "I can't sense anybody inside."

“Steel that thick would keep people out," says Tobias. “I sense lead to. Helps against magic.”

Witches are occasionally bulkier than vamps, but Ash's size places him firmly in the 'shifter' category at first glance. That and they'd pick up his shifter scent. Natalie indicated that the Dominion don't involve shifters in this 'project', which is why we need the 'dragon checking up on their treasure' angle for Ash. Leaving him behind would be a greater risk than any suspicion about who Ash is.

"When did you arrive?" asks a voice behind us.

I don't take my eyes away from the wall as Tobias turns. "We're here to assess your operations," he says.

"Yes, but who—" The man halts even though Tobias hasn't interrupted him. Not with words, anyway.

"Where do you think I'm from, Art?" Tobias asks evenly.

Good. The right person.

"Oh. You. Wasn't expecting anyone from the boss until tonight." The man's aggressive tone drops. "Daywalker, huh? Who's with you?"

I pivot to face Art but don't meet his eyes. There's nothing remarkable about this vamp, even his face isn't as obviously hemia. Middle-aged when turned, thinning brown hair, could be an average human if it weren't for how his heartbeat matches mine and my blood recognising his.

This man, with his authoritarian aura, contains the First's blood.

"I never travel alone," says Tobias. "Safety in numbers. Threats abound." Ash remains quiet, body pulled straight as he regards Art with a disinterested, disdainful expression. "My dragon friend would like an update for his boss, too."

Art frowns. "Why? What did you hear? Nobody around here touched any dragon storage."

Ash slants his head. "Are you positive about that?"

"Why did the dragons suddenly send someone to talk to me?" he asks, annoyed not suspicious. "I'm told to keep out of their business."

"But the dragons allow you to use their space," says Ash impressively haughtily.

"Yeah, extra security for you lot in return for somewhere safe for us." Suspicion now edges across his features. "What're your names?"

I straighten. Does nobody in this army know what our group look like? That's crazy. I side-eye Tobias, detecting his gentle caress of the man's mind to push away questions, in order to ask his own.

"Have you encountered Confederacy recently?" Tobias asks. "That's becoming a concern."

"Found a few rats in the tunnels the other day." Art pulls a disgusted face before chuckling.

"They're causing issues," says Tobias. "I'd like an update on how many Confederacy and when."

"Who's your other friend? He has the?—"

"An interested observer," interrupts Tobias, placing a hand on the guy's shoulder, starting to manoeuvre him away from his focus on me. "We're here for a progress report."

Crap. Do I follow Tobias and Ash? Tobias must've dug around in the vamp's head and figured who we're supposed to be. If the real 'whoever' we are don't arrive until tonight, that at least gives us time.

I do as Tobias requested earlier and stick by his side, Ash walking beside Art. Then I take one last look at where Maeve stands with Jamie at the edge of the room, hoping to hell they stay safe.

She's safe, Andrei. Maeve can protect herself.

But the familiar uncomfortable feeling that she's too far from me sets the familiar discontent running in my veins.

Art leads us to a space behind a battered and rusted metal door, with black runes daubed around the edges. Possibly an old storage room. This windowless space contains a scratched desk and chair, where a tray with neatly sorted sheets of paper looks out of place in the dilapidated surroundings.

I'm no longer attracted to blood apart from Maeve's, but any vamp would recognise the red splatters covering most of the walls in the makeshift office.

"Jared. Could you wait outside and ensure we're not disturbed?" says Tobias. Only when he nudges me away from my staring at the unsettling stains do I realise he means me.

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