Page 256 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

“Now?” How could he tell them that Kass was out of the country?

“He might drain you tonight. Tomorrow you’ll be dead.”

An hour ago he’d have believed that, but not now. While the bond wasn’t back to how it had been, it was warm and alive and he liked knowing that it was there. That Kass was there. He played dumb. “How do I follow the bond?”

“You think of it. Do you not feel it tugging on you, drawing you to him?”

Oh…that’s what that was. “Maybe? Maybe I don’t have a witch problem and I have glandular fever or something.”

Gold Watch considered him for several heartbeats. The hope that he’d think Bailey was a dumb teen vanished as fast as it had formed. “I do not think so, Bailey. Your grandmother does not think so either. There’s witch magic on you, so do not lie to us.”

“I don’t think he’s close. Like it felt strong for the first week, then faded.”

“The familiar bond doesn’t fade.”

“Well, it feels weak.”

“Distance,” the man behind Bailey said. The weight of his hand making Bailey sit crooked.

“Did you steal his card?”

“No.” The lies were stacking up, but would they protect him or be used as ammunition?

Bailey’s head hit the back of the sofa; the thin cushion didn’t do enough to protect his head from the wooden frame. Stars burst in his eyes and he had to blink to clear them.

“Don’t lie.”

“Fine, I did.” But he hadn’t it to over to them.

“Good. Now we will get a location.” Gold Watch nodded at his buddy behind Bailey and the weight was removed.

Bailey rolled his shoulders but didn’t reach for the bump on his head or his cheek, even though he tasted blood. He’d assess the damage in private later. “How will you get a location?”

“You will use the bond to dowse for him.”

Bailey scowled, but there was no avoiding it. Crooked Nose left them sitting in silence and returned with a map. Gran provided the needle and a thread. She nodded and smiled like this was the obvious solution.

Gold Watch spread the map on the coffee table.

Bailey stared at it, trying to work out where Kass had been sent. The odds were good it was the Middle East. Though for all he knew there were other smaller wars or peacekeeping or something going on.

“What are you waiting for?”

Bailey glanced at the chatty thug. “Nothing, I don’t see how this will work.”

“Let the needle guide you,” Gran added. “As you think of him.”

Right, so wherever the needle went, he’d send them elsewhere.

Bailey held his hand out, and the needle dangled over Sydney. Then he conjured up thoughts of Kass—which were never far from the surface. A pain formed in his side, a dull throb, and he knew that Kass had been injured, possibly shot. The tug in his gut drew his hand north and west, over the ocean, over India, and when he wanted to stop over Afghanistan, he kept going all the way to Germany to throw them off course.

“Hmm.” Gold Watch had run out of words.

Bailey frowned and pretended that he wasn’t clued in. “Did I do it wrong?”

“Was he German?”

“We didn’t exactly talk.” He dodged the incoming backhand from Gold Watch and got a slap to the back of the head from Crooked Nose that reinforced the building headache. If he’d had the energy he’d have hit back. As it was, sitting and pretending he was fine was almost too much. If they didn’t go soon, they’d realize how weak he actually was. “I can’t help it if you don’t like the truth. What do you want from me?”

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