Page 69 of Cast in Shadow
“When I incapacitated you in the clearing that first night, could you have broken free?”
I wasn’t about to answer that question because the answer was no. My magic, for the most part, still required physical contact. It was only when it became too overwhelming to control that I could create the kind of pulse that I had in the parking lot that morning.
I held up a hand to stop anyone else from talking, and to prevent Emerson from saying anything else in my head. “The point is, Navali will see only as much of my power as I want her to see. That gives us the advantage.”
After countless drinks and several hours of heated debate, we managed to work out a plan. None of us liked it. It wasn’t safe. But it was the best shot we had.
25
I eyed Shay over our late dinner at my small kitchen table the following evening. The girl was a sucker for all things ramen, so I’d whipped up a batch with poached eggs, cheese, and green onions. “I want you to stay in the building until the Navali case is closed.”
She didn’t look at me when I made the announcement. Instead, she just kept swirling the noodles around her fork without taking a bite.
“Shay?”
Still no response.
I reached across and hooked a finger on the lip of her bowl, dragging it my way an inch. “Are you listening?”
The sigh that heaved from her chest was entirely too tired for a young woman her age. “Yes.”
“Then what did I say?”
“You want me to stay in the building.” This time she lifted her eyes to meet mine. “Which, fine, whatever. I’ll stay here like a good little puppy, but I don’t have to like it.”
“A puppy?”
“Sit, puppy. Stay, puppy. Woof.” The response was as dry as desert sand, and it might have been funny, if not for the hurt lingering beneath the words.
“It’s for your safety.” And my peace of mind.
She huffed out a bitter laugh. “What’s the worst that could happen? They could kill me? Pretty sure that dick demon already gave that a shot.”
The thought drove a spike through my chest. She might heal quickly, but that didn’t make her immune to death.
“It’s not just that. You’re good at research, and you think faster on your feet than Dennis. I need you here with him in case something goes wrong.”
She rolled her eyes half-heartedly. “Why did you make him lead on comms again?”
“Because he was the best fit at the time. Why? Do you want to give it a crack?”
Another eye roll, only this time her irritation was pointed. She folded her arms over her chest and leaned her head back against her chair.
Having Shay take over the communications position wasn’t the worst idea I’d had, but we both knew that wasn’t what she wanted.
I held my tongue and let the seconds tick by until she deigned to look at me again. When she did, accusation filtered through her stubbornness. “Are you serious?”
“Only if you are. You’ve been in the room with Dennis for damn near every operation for what, a year now?”
“Yeah, and I listen in on the other teams when they’re out in the field. Do you know why?”
Of course I knew. Shay was a sponge, soaking up every drop of information and experience life had to offer, and she was ready to do it outside of these walls. “I know you want to be part of the?—”
“I want to be out in the field,” she snapped.
Which was precisely where I didn’t want her. I’d gone against my better judgment and called her in on the vehicle swap. If she’d been any other eighteen-year-old, Phineas might have actually succeeded in killing her. The idea of sending her back out and putting her in the path of the next horrible thing coming down the pipeline, because there was always a next horrible thing, made me sick to my stomach.
“I know, but this isn’t the mission to start with, honey. I’ll feel better, and be better at my job, knowing you’re here. At least for now.”
