Tharion took another challenging step toward the door. But Bryce said, “You can’t drop all that information and expect me not to do anything. Not to go looking for this kid.”
Tharion arched a brow. “So softhearted. But stay out of it, Legs.”
“No way,” Bryce countered.
Hunt cut in, “Bryce. We were given an order by the Asteri—by Rigelus himself—to lie low.”
“Then obey them,” Tharion said.
Bryce glared at the mer, then at Hunt. But Hunt said, storms in his eyes, “The Asteri will slaughter us, along with your entire family, if word reaches them that you’re involved with rebel activity in any way. Even if it’s just helping to find a lost kid.”
Bryce opened her mouth, but Hunt pushed, “We won’t get a trial, Bryce. Only an execution.”
Tharion crossed his arms. “Exactly. So, again: stay out of it, and I’ll be on my way.”
Before Bryce could snap her reply, the front door banged open, and Ruhn filled the doorway. “What the— Oh. Hey, Tharion.”
“You invited him?” Tharion accused Bryce.
Bryce stayed silent, holding her ground.
“What’s going on?” Ruhn asked, glancing to Hunt and Ithan. Ruhn startled at the sight of the wolf. “And what’s he doing here?”
“Ithan’s a free agent right now, so he’s staying with us,” Bryce said, and at Ruhn’s puzzled look, added, “I’ll fill you in later.”
Ruhn asked, “Why’s your heart racing?”
Bryce peered at her chest, half expecting her scar to be glowing. Mercifully, it lay dormant. “Well, apparently Tharion thinks Danika was involved with the rebels.”
Ruhn gaped.
“Thanks, Bryce,” Tharion muttered.
Bryce threw him a saccharine smile and explained Tharion’s investigation to Ruhn.
“Well?” Ruhn asked when she’d finished, his face drained of color. “Was Danika a rebel?”
“No!” Bryce splayed her arms. “Solas, she was more interested in what junk food we had in our apartment.”
“That’s not all she was interested in,” Ruhn corrected. “She stole the Horn and hid it from you. Hid it on you. And all that shit with Briggs and the synth …”
“Okay, fine. But the rebel stuff … She never even talked about the war.”
“She would have known it’d endanger you,” Tharion suggested.
Hunt said to Tharion, “And you’re cool with being press-ganged into working on this shit?” His face remained paler than usual. Tharion just crossed his long, muscular arms. Hunt went on, voice lowering, “It won’t end well, Tharion. Trust me on that. You’re tangling in some dangerous shit.”
Bryce avoided looking at the branded-out tattoo on Hunt’s wrist.
Tharion’s throat bobbed. “I’m sorry to have even come here. I know how you feel about this stuff, Athalar.”
“You really think there’s a chance Sofie is alive?” Ruhn asked.
“Yes,” Tharion said.
“If she survived the Hind,” Hunt said, “and the Hind hears about it, she’ll come running.”
“The Hind might already be headed this way,” Tharion said thickly. “Regardless of Sofie, Emile and his powers remain a prize. Or something to be wiped out once and for all.” He dragged his long fingers through his dark red hair. “I know I’m dropping a bomb on you guys.” He winced at his unfortunate word choice, no doubt remembering what had happened last spring. “But I want to find this kid before anyone else.”
“And do what with him?” Bryce asked. “Hand him over to your queen?”
“He’d be safe Beneath, Legs. It’d take a damn long while even for the Asteri to find him—and kill him.”
“So he’d be used by your queen like some kind of weaponized battery instead? Like Hel am I going to let you do that.”
“Again, I don’t know what she wants with Emile. But she wouldn’t harm him. And you’d be wise to keep out of her path.”
Ithan cut in before Bryce could start spitting venom, “You really think the kid is coming here? That the Hind will follow?”
Hunt rubbed his jaw. “The 33rd hasn’t heard anything about the Hind coming over. Or Ophion being in the area.”
“Neither has the Aux,” Ruhn confirmed.
“Well, unless one of the marsh sobeks swam all the way across the Haldren to take a bite out of an Ophion soldier, I can’t think of any other reason why I found dismembered body parts of one here,” Tharion said.