Night Rune (Prof Croft Book 8) by Brad Magnarella (best e reader for academics txt) 📕

matter of finding it. We didn’t realize it was like you described, everything stuck together in the middle of nowhere.”

“Problem was,” Delphine said, “there was already a gang of wereboars here. Thinking they were smalltime, we drove half from the fort and charmed the other half for security. You know, to keep the freaks and nasties away. It was only going to be temporary, but it turned out they were part of a secret network.”

A network Everson apparently hadn’t known about it, I thought.

Jordan gave an exasperated snort. “Yeah, and when word reached the rest of the network that the boars were in our service, they assumed there had been a power transfer. Before we knew it, we were the head of a citywide syndicate. We went along with it at first, mostly to avoid a major power struggle.”

“Remember now, we weren’t planning on staying here,” Delphine put in.

“And then we just … forgot.” Jordan’s expression turned incredulous again.

“Is that why you went with the tough boss look?” Gorgantha asked.

“Oh, this?” Jordan rubbed his glistening pate. “Naw, that had to do with something else that came up.”

Delphine smirked. “He got gum stuck in his hair.”

“Yeah, but then I decided I liked the look.” He poked her side playfully.

When Delphine laughed, I caught myself grinning. Even though they’d landed in an impossible situation, they’d endured it together. By their distorted experience of time, that had been almost two years ago.

Jordan squared his shoulders back toward us. “So, do we know where Seay and Malachi ended up?”

I felt my smile shrink. “We found them, actually.”

“No shit?”

With the others’ help, I gave Jordan and the druids a summary account of everything that had happened. Jordan listened with his usual intensity. When we finished, he tapped his steepled fingers against his chin.

“So we have no idea if they made it out of 1660?” he asked.

“No,” I said, glancing over at Gorgantha. “But they may have left by a different route. Malachi had already given us the portal location for 1776. The Morton Building downtown. They could be waiting for us there.”

“And we don’t know how much longer this period is going to be solvent,” Caroline added. “The collapse of 1660 likely started a chain effect that will gain momentum as it rolls through the remaining catches.”

“So obviously the sooner we can all get there,” I said, “the better.”

“And that’s where you believe the demon boss is planning his big move?” Jordan asked.

“Arnaud confirmed that he placed the copper plates to boost the site’s ley energy.” When I looked over at the demon-vampire, he was staring back at me. “And I haven’t discussed this with everyone yet, but I have reason to believe Malphas was interested in your races for their elemental properties.”

“Explain,” Jordan said.

The small furrow returned between Caroline’s eyebrows. “Yes, please do.”

“Malphas acquired rights to the Strangers through three different demon masters. The ones who infiltrated the mer, half-fae, and druids. Races that correspond with Water, Air, and Earth. That’s why Malphas was holding them—holding you,” I amended, gesturing to Delphine and the druids. “To draw out those essences. Malphas wields Infernal Fire through the final demon, who’s probably already at the St. Martin’s site. All he needs now is Spirit to complete his five elements, his Aristotelean Set.”

“And what will that do?” Bree-yark asked.

“Presumably create a portal to Malphas, one that could trigger a larger demon apocalypse.”

“That’s it?” Gorgantha remarked dryly.

“You said presumably,” Jordan pointed out.

“Well, an arrangement like that would alter the energy,” I said, “but it still wouldn’t be enough to blow open the kind of hole Malphas needs. That would require a super fuel.”

“So there’s the fount of ley energy, the copper plates, and this Aristotelean Set,” Jordan said. “You think there’s something else?”

“The energy from the failing time catches, maybe?” Bree-yark offered.

“That’s a great thought,” I said. “I’m not sure how he’d capture and channel it, though.”

Plus, my magic was suggesting that Malphas already had what he needed, that those three components were the answer and it was just a question of how he planned to deploy them. Unfortunately, my magic wasn’t spelling that part out.

“Where did all of this come from?” Caroline challenged more than asked me.

I pulled my lips in. Across the table, one of Arnaud’s eyebrows rose slightly. If I told my teammates he and I had puzzled it out together, I was going to have to explain that my magic had advised me to listen to him. Otherwise, they’d think I was out of my mind. But at the same time, I didn’t want Arnaud to hear the magic-advising-me part. He would use that to his advantage somehow.

“When I went back to the apartment, I did some research.” I said. “I also talked with Arnaud.”

I decided I didn’t want to lie. Though surprised murmurs circled the table, being upfront with my teammates felt more important at this stage than ever. Soon, however, the murmurs turned angry.

“Him?” Jordan pointed at Arnaud. “I thought he was just a transport.”

“He’s also worked closely with Malphas,” I said.

“Which makes him the skeeviest sort of bitch,” Gorgantha snapped.

Their anger was understandable. Malphas’s demons had murdered half of Gorgantha’s pod and kidnapped Jordan’s wife.

“You’re right,” I said, showing my palms. “Arnaud is who he is. But he’s also our best potential source of intel.”

“He could be telling you anything,” Jordan said.

“Sounds like he already has,” Gorgantha grumbled.

Heat broke over my face, and my voice thickened. “Well, it’s either that, or us walking into a complete unknown.”

Bree-yark shook his head. “You’re better than this, Everson.”

His remark stung the most, probably because to this point Bree-yark had been my most solid ally. From his corner seat, Arnaud watched us with pinched eyes. I imagined the grin behind his muzzle, a part of him delighting in the discord he’d sown. And all the time, his offer dangled between us, awaiting my assent to snap firmly into place. I would never agree to the terms of his proposed truce, of course, but I wondered