Page 36 of Priest

“Don’t give it another thought,” Seven said, deep voice reverberating through Priest’s chest. He gave him a half smile, then dissipated right in front of Priest’s eyes, the weight of his hand the last thing to disappear.

Knight wandered over, shoving his phone in his pocket. “Let’s find Sunshine and Slate.”

They rounded the corner of what was left of the law firm’s building, and the two firefighters who were still on scene turned to face them. Priest spotted the Dragon, nodding at him. He broke away from his partner and walked up.

He gave Priest a slow up and down. Dragons didn’t often hate the same way others did when they realized he was a Demon, but sometimes, they did. He braced himself, but after a beat, the Dragon’s shoulders relaxed.

“Trident, eh?”

“Alpha Team. I’m Pries.” He extended his hand.

“Kellan.” His palm was warm, as all Dragons were. “I spoke with the head of your team.”

“I’ve been brought up to speed and know about the person who was taken. Can you give us any information on him?”

“He was human,” Kellan said, sounding tired. “Young. Barely nineteen. His birthday was a few weeks ago.”

There was a sadness in his voice that hit Priest in the sternum.

“Were you two?—”

“No,” Kellan said with a laugh, and then his face fell. “No, nothing like that. But I’ve known him a long time. Since he was knee-high. Good kid. Really fucking good kid.” His voice cracked. “He doesn’t deserve this.”

“What’s his name?” Priest asked. He had a feeling Jeremiah hadn’t gotten details. When he was focused, he missed those small things.

Kellan closed his eyes in a slow blink. “Cody.”

Cody. Poe. Gods knew who else. Priest had a feeling this was just the beginning.

“Was he an activist?”

Kellan shrugged. “His parents were—if you want to call it that. He was just a student trying to make some extra cash over the summer. He wanted to buy a convertible before school started.” Kellan passed a hand down his face. “He babysat for my Hoard sometimes.”

“We’re going to do everything we can to get him back.”

“Give us your contact information,” Knight said, his voice a little stiff. “In case we need more information from you.”

“Will you call me if you find him?” Kellan asked.

“Yes,” Priest promised him as he took Kellan’s information down. “As soon as we know something, I’ll send a message.”

“Thank you. I’m serious, man. He didn’t deserve this.”

Knight bowed his head. “We know. None of them do.”

They made their way back to Jeremiah, who was leaning against the open door of his SUV. He looked more exhausted than Knight. Glancing up, he relaxed when he saw Priest and Knight, and he pushed away from the door.

“Find anything?”

“Nothing we don’t already know. Good kid, name’s Cody,” Priest said. “Not a vocal activist.”

“Neither was Poe, as far as I’m aware. But his family was,” Jeremiah said. He was frowning, rubbing at his temples. “And then there’s Remi. People didn’t love that he was half Siren, but he didn’t make a big fuss about it. Neither did his parents. None of this is adding up.”

“And the scents are disappearing into thin air,” Slate said as he walked up. “I don’t like it. I think you need to get Oliver somewhere safe.”

“Safer than his town house?” Jeremiah asked.

“Maybe.”

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