Now she had Tristan to play the villain, though. She wouldn’t have to get her hands dirty anymore.
Not out of necessity.
Starting with tonight.
Brochan didn’t engage, and the spark between them fizzled as he left the garage.
Natasha hesitated before following him, her body tense, as though stalling wasn’t her choice.
“Do you want me to bring you dessert?” she asked.
Her energy tugged at Tristan, and he closed his eyes to savor it.
“No,” he said, letting his eyes drift open again. “I’m good. See you tomorrow.”
Still she hesitated for a moment, and then took that step away, stretching their connection until it broke. In a while, all was silent. Not even Edgar crept out in the grass, having been taken home. Mr.
Tom, too, had been told to go back to the motel. Jessie and Austin would be entwined and preoccupied, Sebastian drugged out, and Natasha hopefully entering the dream world to thoughts of him.
He stood as the captured mage moaned.
Tristan’s gargoyles were spread around the perimeter, all in stone. They would only emerge if Jessie or he willed it.
The mage groaned louder. Tristan collected the supplies he’d need, then set them in a neat row on the ground about five feet away.
First, he took the potion he’d taken from Sebastian, three vials in all. There was no telling how long this would take. He twisted off the top of the first and tucked the cap into his pocket so he didn’t leave any evidence behind. After ripping off the duct tape, he fed the potion to the mage a little at a time. The mage sputtered at first and then took it all as though it were water.
Then he did give the mage a little water while the potion started to work.
The mage’s form hazed, followed by his words. The potion was taking effect. No one would be able to see him—a risk, but more importantly, no one would be able to hear his screams.
Tristan applied some of the contents of the little orange bottle onto the cloth before pressing it to the mage’s nose. The man tried to hold his breath, like they all did, struggling against his ropes.
Finally, though, he gave in, sucking in much-needed air. Then breathed faster, then faster still as his eyes widened and pupils dilated with fear.
Tristan applied his magic to heighten the effect. He let his aura of shadows roam, biting into the mage’s middle with cold claws that showed no discernible marks. Wrapping around his heart and softly dragging across the jugular.
His magic teamed with the elixir in that orange bottle would make the nightmares soften his mind.
The mage would spit out just about anything the asker wanted to know.
It was old magic. Blood magic. Magic no one in polite society would dare talk about. Black magic, some might say, but to Tristan’s kind, just as natural as the mage magic sitting in front of him.
Just as pure, or just as corrupt, depending on the eye of the beholder.
Natasha had no idea what a monster really was. No idea how far he would go to protect himself and his own.
“No, no, no, no,” the mage whined, over and over, eyes soaked with fear. He would plead next.
He’d beg. He wouldn’t even know what he was begging for, just that he was so scared he couldn’t see his way out of the nightmare.
The truth would set him free.
Free from the terror. Free from living—at least after Tristan applied what was in the clear plastic bottle. Free from his soul if Tristan willed it, but even he never went that far. Not yet. He hadn’t had the cause to.
“Now,” he said in a rough voice, “I want you to tell me everything you know about Momar and his plans for this territory, and then I want you to tell me every last detail you know about Elliot Graves and his Captain.”
SEVENTEEN
AUSTIN
“DID YOU GET SOME SLEEP?” Austin asked as he stopped beside Tristan.
Tristan would be the only gargoyle in this morning’s pack defense meeting. It was limited to leaders, essential personnel, and those of Jess’s people who’d ignored their commands yesterday and needed a talking to.
“I got enough,” Tristan replied. “Indigo said she’d make me feel better.” He quirked an eyebrow with a little smirk. “She didn’t say how, exactly…”
Austin barely stopped himself from chuckling. He needed to keep with shifter norms right now, and alphas didn’t show emotion.
“How about you?” Tristan asked as Jess turned Phil away from the lineup. Of the basajaunak, only Dave would be in attendance. “Did you go back to sleep after I woke you?”
Austin looked out over the parking lot as Kingsley and his people arrived, right on time. His brother was always punctual when it came to official business.