Page 134 of Fortress of Ambrose
“Jordan.”
“I am not asking.”
“They areactualprisoners if you do this.”
“So be it. Someone is feeding information to the person who wants to kill us.”
“But punishing all of them for the betrayal of one…”
Jordan’s gaze finally leaves the fire. His shadows retreat as he suffocates the distance between us. His hand runs tenderly along the bridge of my nose. Then he traces the rise of my cheeks and the slope of my jaw. He caresses my neck, then his fingers dance across my collarbone, before he slides his hands down my arms and laces his fingers between mine. He brings our bodies together. My heart skitters when his mouth moves to my ear.
“If anyone attempts to hurt you, I will do far worse than lock them up.”
Breath sticks in my chest. I don’t know what to say, and yet I have so many questions. How is he comfortable with us so close?
“I have to leave tonight to meet my brother. Do as I’ve said.”
“Jordan.” This feels wrong.
“Quell, do as I’ve said.”
I nod. Then my heart knocks into my ribs. “The ball,” I mutter. “Dexler planned it for tomorrow night. I have an idea.”
“That’s too much of a risk until we know who the rat is.”
“No, the ball is our chance to draw the rat out of the shadows.” I squeeze his arm. “Trust me on this.”
“Only if I’m back in time. Otherwise, not a foot in the hallways unless it is yours or Dexler’s. Not even Knox and Willam.” He peels his arm away from me and hurries out the door.
Fifty-Three
Yagrin
Yagrin double-checked the address on the note in his pocket as he neared the downtown San Diego Tavern. The Duncan family had been invisible since their House was destroyed decades ago. He promised information about Shelby’s death and just hoped it was enough to get Titus Duncan to show. He didn’t know another soul in the Duncan family. This guy was his only chance to get the Scroll.
Yagrin took off his thick wool socks and heavy coat and shoved them into a dumpster before stepping through a trick wall between condominium high-rises. He unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and rolled his sleeves as he followed the long corridor up several flights of stairs. He reshouldered the strap of his bag, which was digging into him. When he reached the top floor, a cloud of chatter greeted him.
This Tavern was like any other but with palms and lots of open air. Empty gambling tables overlooked soaring views of the harbor. Drink and peckle trays on tables were untouched.It is still early.He didn’t see his brother. He’d told him to meet him here. Facing Titus together would be more convincing.
Head down, he walked straight to the bar and set his bag on the ground between his feet. Copper and something worse stung his nose. He tugged at the zippers on the duffel before turning in his seat to scan the place. Titus Duncan was a behemoth of a man in both attitude and stature, he’dheard. Notorious for his boisterous, booming voice and heavy hands. Yagrin counted twelve people. None of them Titus Duncan. All of them Traders.
“What are you drinking?” the barkeep asked.
Something was off. This was where Titus’s note said to meet. Yagrin pulled his coin from his pocket and turned it in his hand, clearly enough to ensure the bartender got a glimpse of its face but discreetly enough to make sure no one else saw. The bartender rang out a towel, throwing a glance over his shoulder toward a door behind the bar. Yagrin hesitated, checking the Tavern entrance once again before reluctantly following the bartender to a back room, where a dark-haired fellow sat with his meaty arms folded across his chest.
“It’s about time you showed.” Titus rose from his seat, towering over Yagrin, and clapped him on the back with an iron slap. Yagrin swallowed, hoping his plan would work. Because he couldn’t overpower this guy with his shoddy magic. Not by himself, if it came to blows.
Yagrin set his bag on the table, and it landed with a thud.
“Look at you. Brother to the keeper of the world.”
Yagrin leaned across the table. “What?”
“Your brother stole the Sphere’s magic. And he’s putting together a whole new Order.”
Yagrin shifted in his seat. Wasthatwhy Titus agreed to meet with him? To get favors from Jordan?
“I’m not here to talk about my brother.” Jordan either wasn’t there yet or wasn’t coming. He thought of how much Nore was counting on him. “I’ll get straight to it. I want a meeting with the Duncan Elder.”
