Shade’s eyes flash. “Are you fucking kidding me? The nerve of this guy—”
“Hey.” I put a hand on his arm. “It’s okay. I’ll be fine. You guys go on up, and I’ll meet you once I get the debrief from Theo.”
“Good enough for me,” Hunter says. “I could use a shower.”
“Excellent.” The concierge gestures to an underling, who hurries to her side. “Huel here will help you with your luggage. If you’ll follow me this way, Ms. Brix…”
Casting one last glance back at the guys, I allow her to lead me through the lobby in the direction of what looks like a restaurant: spacious and bright, all bathed in the glow from a sun window. It’s more or less entirely empty. “Theo is just at the table in the back corner, there,” the concierge says, pointing. Indeed, I can see a figure with a familiar head of snow-white hair, his back to me.
Thanking the woman, I excuse myself, taking a deep breath as I make my way over to his table. He doesn’t seem to hear me coming, and at last I come to a stop stiffly behind him. “Hi, Theo.”
Chapter 5
For a moment, I wonder if he even heard me. I’m just opening my mouth to speak up again when slowly, he turns around in his seat. Those white eyes bore into mine, ethereal and unnerving in equal measure. His hair is slightly mussed, I see, but what’s more shocking is the fact that his pale skin is mottled with fresh cuts, scrapes and bruises—much like Silas’ was last night. Seemingly seeing my surprise, Theo smirks at me. “You should see the other guy.”
Clearing my throat, the tension momentarily broken, I reply, "You look like shit."
"I feel like shit," Theo informed me, before lifting his left arm. To my surprise, it's in a sling.
"What happened?" I ask, my nerves giving way to my curiosity.
"Wolf shifter got to me," Theo replies. "Nearly ripped my arm right off. It was hanging by a thread by the time the others dragged me out of there. I… wasn't ready to leave," he adds, and his eyes flicker up to meet mine almost tentatively. A rush of… something hits me squarely in the chest, my cheeks flushing a little as I look down at the ground, suddenly desperate to not have him staring at me the way he is. Seemingly sensing my agitation, Theo pulls his gaze away from me, straightens in his chair, and gestures at the seat across from him. "Please, sit." I do as I'm instructed, careful not to brush against his injured arm as I settle into the chair on the other side of the table. "Anything to drink or eat?" Theo asks, already rummaging for his wallet. "I'm buying."
"That's okay," I hasten to assure him. "Forgive me if my appetite isn't the best right now."
"Indeed," says Theo. "I've been told congratulations are in order. You're a shifter again."
"For better or worse," I mutter dryly, venturing a glance at him.
Theo smirks. "Thank god for that."
A moment passes, and then I clear my throat. "Out of curiosity, Theo, why did you want me to come here alone?"
Theo clears his throat. "Yes, about that. I hope this doesn't make you feel uncomfortable, Millie, but I…" He takes a breath. "You are special to me, and that's the long and short of it. Not in spite of your hybridism, but because of it." Leaning forward in his seat, Theo makes a move to reach for me with his free hand… but then seems to think the better of it and lets it drop to the table. The longing in his expression is palpable, so much that it's almost unbearable. "We're two of a kind, Millie," he says conclusively. "Whatever else we are, we share a story shared by almost no one else in the world."
"Except Hawthorne," I reply in a dismal tone. "And whoever else he's gotten his hooks into."
Theo's expression darkens, all the tenderness seeping out of his voice. "He isn't going to get away with this, Millie. One way or another, we're ending his despotism."
"How, though?" I ask, finally allowing the cracks in my disposition show. "He's brainwashing real shifters, Theo. I assume you've figured that out by now."
"I had heard reports," Theo admits. "Nothing concrete, though, nothing that standard manipulation wouldn't be able to do. I take it you've seen this firsthand?"
"Silas' parents," I reply quietly. "They used to be heads of their community. They were planning a coup. Until yesterday, we all thought they were dead."
"The dark dragon shifter's parents?" Theo's brow furrows. "I think I remember meeting them once or twice, back before the Academy's oppression became overt. They had some of the strongest convictions I'd ever seen."
"So what do we do, then?" I am. "Any ideas on what could be controlling them in the first place?"
"My first thought would be sirens," Theo says, "but not even the strongest of them is able to sustain their song for that long, and at that distance."
"Witches, then?" I prompt, wondering if it's possible Josie just isn't in the loop.
Theo shakes his head. "I grew up among witches," he reminds me, "and I never once heard of a spell that powerful. That said, though, a spell seems to be the only possibility. If the witch shifter were powerful enough…" His voice trails off and he looks thoughtful.
My thoughts once again return to Edith, the strongest witch shifter I've ever met. I'm having a hard time imagining someone stronger than she is. The prospect puts an unsettling feeling in my stomach. "Let's say it is a spell, then," I suggest. "What would we have to do to stop it?"
"The only surefire way would be to kill the witch who cast it," Theo replies. "There's no giving immunity to everyone in the world. We would have to take it out at the source."
"Cut off the snake's head," I say, nodding. "So how would we find this shifter, in theory?"
"Tracking isn't easy," Theo explains. "It's not something that can usually be done off the cuff. Some say it's impossible if you don't have the innate talent for it. I can't speak to that, but I do know that most tracking is done using an enchantment, not a spell."
"So, like, a magical item?"
The white-haired shifter nods. "But such items are exceedingly rare."
I groan, putting my face in my hands. "Nothing can just be easy, can it?"
Theo chuckles dryly. "If only. I do know someone who might be able to help us, though. He's here in the hotel."
I sigh with relief. "Can you get him down here to talk to us?"
"I can certainly try," Theo replies cryptically, before pulling out his cellphone and firing off a quick text. A moment later, his phone vibrates. "He's on his way down," Theo informs me. "Should be here any minute."
I nod, fold my hands in my lap, and wait. A heavy curtain of silence falls over the two of us, and I can feel the tension mounting before even a moment has passed. As nonchalantly as he does it, Theo is still watching me pointedly with his pale, otherworldly eyes. It's moments like these that make me wonder how I came out looking like a normal human.