Page 43 of Elven Prince

Rebecca didn’t doubt Maxwell’s commitment to the task force, what they represented, and what they strove to achieve for magicals in Chicago. Beyond that, she just didn’t know.

She wouldn’t know until she discovered how the hell that tattoo had gotten there and what it meant.

Her only option was to hope more fervently than ever that Maxwell’s odd and surprising connection with Xaharí elves had nothing to do with whoever was behind the attack on Archie and a possible attempt to pick apart her task force one operative at a time.

And if itwasconnected?

Rebecca climbed the stairwell to her office two steps at a time, eager to be alone again behind a closed door, with nothing but her own thoughts for company. Just for a few minutes.

If that elven rune on Maxwell’s chest was connected to the new attack, she’d cross that bridge when she got there.

Right now, more than anything—more, even, than wanting to nail Archie’s attacker or prevent anyone else from being next—Rebecca’s hoped she could physically bring herself to move against Maxwell Hannigan if it turned out that was exactly what she had to do next.

No matter how desperately she might not want to.

11

With the sun on its way down and the shadows growing longer, Rebecca wondered if she’d feel any better once darkness fell.

Darkness and shadow had always aided her before, and the fact that she questioned it now came as an unwelcome and confusing surprise.

Then again, she’d been questioning almost everything recently, and with good reason. What she didn’t question now, though, was her small team beside her, their readiness to move in on their target, or their ability to pivot and adapt.

Whether this operation remained a quick visit along their current investigation or turned into something entirely different.

For now, as she, Maxwell, Tig, and Lerrick approached the warehouse on foot, what little daylight remained would admittedly aid them in this last-minute operation.

Not everyone could see in the dark as well as a shifter and a Bloodshadow Elf.

The front of the facility was quiet, empty of employees or guards. The bay doors had already been closed for the night. Anyone who didn’t know otherwise would assume business hours were over for a place like Kash’s warehouse. Humans didn’t know better.

But the half-giant who owned this place kept working operations twenty-four hours a day, with a magical crew always available for magical clientele to get what they needed at reasonable prices without pretending to function naturally within the human-run surface world of Chicago.

Shade’s partnership with Kash and his distribution centers went way back, to far before Rebecca’s time or even Aldous’s. Rebecca suspected Bor was the one who’d formed and maintained the relationship. Mostly because it hadn’t fallen apart during Aldous Corriger’s nightmarish decade in command.

Even then, the team moved on full alert, armed and ready for anything.

After scouting the perimeter with no sign of Kash’s crew outside—or movement inside—Maxwell signaled for them to move in and prepare to breach.

Rebecca moved with them, swiftly and silently in the fading light. Like death on the wind, if that was what they had to be tonight.

No matter how badly they wanted answers, Rebecca still hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

The likelihood of confrontation dropped drastically when they reached the front door and it opened without resistance beneath Maxwell’s hand.

Not exactly the best way to protect a business still operating during the night while set up to look closed, but who were they to judge. This wasn’t their facility.

Only one light was on in the main hallway when the team filed through the open door. Taking up the rear, Rebecca paused to pull the door gently shut behind her and scanned the small front lobby.

It was empty.

No one behind the desk to greet them. No crew members appearing from the back to ask what they wanted. No sound at all.

“Kash?” Rebecca called out, eyeing the door into the back. “It’s Rebecca Knox. Anyone here?”

Still no answer or sign of anyone in the building.

Maxwell turned around to fix her with a questioning look, and she nodded toward the door.

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