The Stone Wolf (The Chain Breaker Book 4) by D.K. Holmberg (digital book reader TXT) 📕

shouldn’t have been concerned. Wrenlow had people around him, like Jessica, who cared about his safety. Olivia was also certain to worry once she found out what had happened. Even Gaspar did; a man who’d teased Wrenlow about his abilities from the start.

“You plan to go after him.” Jessica cocked her head to the side. “And from the look on your face, he’s not in the city.”

“You can tell that from my face?”

“I’ve seen that look before, Gavin. You might like to think that I don’t know you, but I did spend quite a bit of time around you. You’re planning, and in this case, it’s something different than what you’ve done before.”

“He’s out of the city,” Gavin agreed. “He’s not far from here, though.”

“That’s good, isn’t it?”

“You would think so.” Gavin glanced over to Gaspar. “Can you track down Imogen? See what she uncovered from that rat-faced man. We need to know who he might have interacted with and see what he knows of Tristan.”

“If he was just an intermediary, he wouldn’t know anything,” Gaspar replied.

“That’s just it. I don’t think he was just an intermediary. That’s not generally how Tristan does things.”

“You think the man actually knows Tristan?”

“It would fit,” Gavin said.

“Then why did you let him go?”

“Because I knew somebody else would follow him. And I needed to make him believe I was too distraught to go after him.”

“You were distraught,” Gaspar said.

Gavin shrugged. “That’s right, but he didn’t need to know that.”

Gaspar shook his head. “You know, there are times when I don’t even know what to make of you, boy.”

“Go and figure out what Imogen found. I’m going to talk to Olivia.”

“Okay, but then I’m going with you for that,” Gaspar said. “I don’t know how she’s going to take you suddenly springing in on her in the middle of the night.”

“Middle of the night? It’s barely midnight,” Gavin said.

“Not everybody has your job.” Gaspar shook his head again.

“Olivia would understand. I can do this.”

They stepped out of the Dragon, and as soon as the door was closed, the music and the noise from inside became muted. Gavin felt a strange mix of emotions. He was glad to get away from the revelry of the tavern, but he also felt some regret at losing that vibrancy from within. Another part of him felt the same thrill he often did when it came to getting ready for a job. In this case, the job was personal, something that he wanted to ensure he did as well and as accurately as he could. But the thrill was the same.

Gaspar looked over to Gavin and seemed as if he wanted to say something, but he didn’t. He turned away, slipping off into the darkness of the city before fading completely from view.

Gavin placed the enchantment back in his ear, making sure that he had it on him so that if Wrenlow or Gaspar were to speak to him he would be ready for it. He had gone only a little ways when the enchantment crackled again, the same way it had several times already.

“Wrenlow?” Gavin whispered into the enchantment.

There was no response.

He fingered the dark egg in his pocket, feeling the smooth surface.

That might be the real reason Tristan wanted him out of the city.

He would have to make sure the egg was safe before he left.

“Tristan?”

It might have only been Gavin’s imagination, but there was a shift in the energy over the enchantment. Had he been listening? There was that danger, which meant he’d have to use the enchantment carefully when reaching Gaspar—if at all.

He ran his finger along the surface of the marker Anna had given him, once again debating whether he should use that to summon her. Finding Wrenlow meant using every advantage he had. Gavin tried to activate it—but nothing happened.

Not that Gavin expected it to work. Why would Anna come running because he wanted her to help him with the enchantment? This was something he had to do on his own.

Gavin stayed in the shadows as he navigated through the streets, and he started to slow as he neared Desarra’s home. He didn’t visit her often, but he knew the way.

Desarra lived in a nicer section of the city. Most of the homes along this street were much larger than they were in other parts of Yoran. They were all built of stone and several stories high. Like all the homes in this area, Desarra’s house was surrounded by a low wall to keep out unwelcome visitors.

There were no lights glowing in the windows. Gavin stared at the iron gate for a moment before shaking off his hesitation, then pushed it open. The air smelled of the flowers growing in her garden. In the darkness of night, the flowers looked like inky black death, though he knew they were red and purple and even deep green—strange colors for flowers, but ones that Gaspar had once suggested that Desarra preferred. Gavin wondered if the unique colors had anything to do with her enchantments.

He took the cobblestone path that led up to the door and knocked. There was no answer, which didn’t completely surprise him, especially as he was visiting late at night. He knew he should turn away, but this was about Wrenlow. Gavin needed answers.

He tested the handle.

It was unlocked.

Under other circumstances, Gavin might have been relieved at the possibility of getting into a building without having to force his way, as Gaspar liked to tease—but this wasn’t any normal circumstance.

Desarra was not the kind of person to leave the door unlocked.

His heart pounded as he reached for his El’aras dagger and unsheathed it. The blade didn’t glow, so there was no sign of magic, unless it was shielded from him. He twisted the door handle, pushed it open slightly, and listened.

There were no sounds inside.

Gavin stepped through the doorway and then backed up to the wall. Everything was dark. He reached for the enchantment that would grant him enhanced eyesight and slipped