Page 137 of Coerced

Of course he wouldn’t. A prince would never tellanyonewhat he really wanted. Might send an underling or rival on a wild goose chase, but he’d never give up the truth. That was a card he’d hold until the final hand was played.

“Who is Samuel Castle?” I asked.

“Tangled with that SOB already, have you?” He smirked. “He’s hardcore, but my stepfather keeps him on a short leash. Castle is his little errand boy, does his dirty work for him. Hubler has to keep his hands clean if he wants to run for president.”

“What kind of leash?” Travis asked.

“Castle has a secret. He’d do anything to keep it from being revealed to certain people. Somehow, Hubler discovered it a few years ago and has held it over him ever since.”

We asked, but he didn’t know the secret because his stepfather had never told him. With more questioning, he said the thrall necklaces appeared in his campus mailbox whenever he asked for them, and he’d told the truth when he’d testified that Travis and Aspen Abernathy were the only thralls he’d made, although my angel had been next on his list until I got too involved. Then he thought it’d be better ifIwere under his thumb instead.

“Was the harpy only acting like a go-between for you and Hubler, or did she have another job?” That harpy still bothered me.

“She was the prince’s servant.” He looked down and I didn’t trust that. “I suppose she did whatever he asked her to do.”

“Answer directly. As far as you know, what else did the harpy do for the prince?”

“She ferried messages to another nephilim on campus.” Each word seemed torn from his mouth.

“Who?”

“I don’t know.”

“Do you know if there are other traitors - by choice or by force - at the Sanctuary?” When he shook his head, I pressed harder. “At your trial, you said a demon prince was your master. You blamed everything on him. To save your stepfather, right? Makes sense. No warden can interrogate a demon bound in Hell. Is it the same demon prince who wants the miracle worker?”

“Yes.”

“What did they want you to do?” Travis asked.

“Find any record of miracle workers in the Council’s files. Then, about a year or so ago, he told me to find a girl over at the college and put a trace on her.” He met my eyes. “If she ever leaves the Sanctuary, he’ll know it.”

“Any girl?” Gigi cut in. “Or a specific one?”

“Oh, he was very specific. Her name’s Anne Tamang. She’s a muse.”

I thought about that. Who was this girl? And why target her? Muses were one of the rarer classes, and their power could be used both offensively and defensively, making them valuable. Was Hubler looking to make some quick cash selling her?

There’s easier and more convenient prey outside of the Sanctuary, though.

While I was thinking it over, Gigi demanded to know how Argaud had kept all of this out of his trial

“I didn’t.” Argaud shrugged. “The Council knows everything I just told you, except I never mentioned Hubler and they didn’t ask me much about the harpy.”

Clem had said the harpy part was still under investigation. Did she trouble him as much as she did me?

“Is the Council still looking into who the traitor is?” Argaud smirked. “Don’t want to be them when they’re caught. This place will look like a luxury hotel compared to the punishment the wardens will dream up for a turncoat among their own.”

He’s relaxed enough to be talkative and volunteer information I didn’t ask for. Let’s go back to Mommy.

I took a step closer, nudged the table out of the way, and stood right in front of the glass wall.

“Help me now,” I dropped my voice, “and I’ll help your mom and siblings.”

“Hubler’ll just find them again,” he said through clenched teeth.

“Tell me what I need to know to get Gemma back, and I promise I will make them safe.”

“Why would you do that?” Surprise flashed across his face.

---