Page 122 of Anchor

My eyes had closed, and I hadn’t even noticed, more exhausted that I was willing to admit to myself. But when I heard the sound coming from much too close for my liking, I was on my feet with my gun pointed ahead and my hand raised as my magic buzzed under my skin.

Then…

“Girl, I wouldn’t even use that thin barrel as a dildo. Put it away; don’t embarrass yourself.”

Cassie’s voice broke the absolute silence around me, and it was a miracle I didn’t scream. I put the gun down even thoughI knew there was still a chance that she wasn’t here alone, but I was so happy. So excited. So relieved to hear a friendly voice that I didn’t question it.

Then she came closer and I saw her face. Hersmilingface.

It was another accomplishment that I didn’t jump and hug the hell out of her but stayed put until she was in front of me.

Alone.

“Girl’s got balls,” she said, nodding her head as she looked me over. “Get in here, you little shit.”

Then she wrapped her arms around me and hugged me just as tightly as she had that night she saved my life.

Goddess, I had never been more thankful for a hug. I held onto her shoulders and allowed myself to close my eyes for a moment, smiling as she laughed, not even bothering to look around us anymore.

Yes, she was most definitely alone. Cassie wasn’t going to sell me out. And the twins hadn’t, either.

I felt damn lucky, despite the situation.

Eventually, Cassie let go of me, and looked me over again to make sure I wasn’t wounded. I’d left the charm in the car again because I’d needed her to see my face, and I was currently under the protection of my own magic, my own spell that I’d renewed before going to see the twins. So far it hadn’t failed me, and I feltluckyabout that, too.

We sat on the ground near that tree together, and Cassie kept looking at me like that and smiling, grinning, eyes sparkling blue.

“The Mergenbachs,” I started before she could even ask me. “Your cousins, right?”

“You finally figured it out,” she said with a roll of her eyes.

I nodded, and even though the next words could potentially get me killed, I said them anyway.

“Taland told me. I helped him escape pretty much the same way you took me out of Headquarters that night. He told me about Selem and the Mergenbach siblings.”

My heart pounded in my chest as I waited, and…

“Yep, I thought so. He and I have been in Selem since we were born, pretty much. His dad was one of the originals. His brothers are extremely powerful, too. Just like my cousins.”

Goddess, thank you,I thought, and I was planning to tell her everything, toaskher what it meant that those siblings were her cousins, and why she was working for the IDD. Was she a spy? Was shethespy that Radock Tivoux had talked about while he tortured me?

I wanted to talk about all of it, but in the end, there was only one thing that mattered to me right now.

“Cassie, he’s gone,” I said, and her smile faltered.

“Taland?”

I nodded. “We were in a Selem safe house together, and then last morning I woke up and he just wasn’t there. No sign of a struggle or anything—he was just gone.”

Her mouth opened and closed a couple of times. “Well, fuck.”

That summed it up pretty well.

“Yes,fuck’s right. Now I have no idea where to find him. Nobody’s in the Blue House anymore, and I don’t have access to even my phone. I’m wanted, too.” I offered her a smile. “Which is why I had no choice but to call you here. I hate putting you in danger like this.”

She waved a hand. “Oh, please. I’ve been doing this for a long time. Believe you me, I’m in no more danger than usual. But I have no idea where Taland is and I can’t get in touch with my cousins till next week,” she said. “We have a system—the reason why I haven’t been caught, and probably never will.”

I flinched. “Next week is too long.” How the hell was I supposed to live another week without knowing where Taland was?

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