Dark Flame by Caris Roane Page B

the living room, he waved Fergus in from the patio.
    She found her phone on the kitchen counter. With trembling hands, she picked it up. In all the difficulty with keeping Brannick alive, she’d forgotten to follow up on Mary’s whereabouts. Although, it had never once occurred to her that Roche might have abducted her.
    She held the phone so Brannick and Fergus could see everything.
    She slid the cell face a couple of times, until Roche’s text came up, and there it was. I have Mary. You have three hours to turn yourself over to me at the Fae Cathedral or your friend dies.
    She glanced at Brannick, who scowled heavily. “So this is why Mary didn’t show up to drive the van. Ask how long she’s been with him.”
    She texted back. How long have you had her?
    Waiting for a response felt like an eternity.
    Then, finally, Ever since I found out she’s been helping you steal my women and tunnel-run them out of Five Bridges. Be at the Fae Cathedral and come alone.
    She glanced at the phone again. “What should we do?”
    “Well, you can’t go to him. I won’t let you.”
    She opened her mouth to protest, then realized immediately he was reacting to the situation, not offering a solution. She opted for stating her own thoughts. “I have no intention of turning myself over to that bastard, but I have to tell him something.”
    “Look, he’s the one who said ‘three hours’. Tell him you’ll be at the entrance to the cathedral within his timeframe. That’ll give us a chance to put a plan together.”
    And there it was, the response she needed.
    She glanced at her clock. It was already nine. She typed again. I’ll be there before midnight. Alone. She didn’t mind lying to a liar.
    Fergus nodded his approval, then resumed his post on the patio overlooking the canal. He levitated several feet in the air, disappearing from view. Even a few feet higher would give him a much better view of the entire canal. The more powerful wolves could levitate as well as transform into four-footed creatures.
    While holding her phone in her left hand, she absently rubbed the top of the case with her index finger. She had to think. She couldn’t turn herself over to Roche. He’d use her to service his wealthy clients while in the dreamglide. She’d die before she became enslaved to Roche.
    Brannick blew the air from his cheeks. “I’ve never been to the Fae Cathedral. Have you?”
    Juliet turned to face him. “Once. It’s a large club that has three different venues within the main building. But it also houses the entrance to a massive underground development called the Village. Off to the left side of the foyer is a large, descending ramp built like a corkscrew, the kind used in big parking garages. People who live in the Village use the ramp to come and go, though no cars are allowed. I think the main form of transport is electric golf carts.
    “The ramp is heavily guarded as well. It’s a residents-only development. I’ve never gone past the large foyer, however. Never wanted to. And I don’t know anyone who lives in the Village.”
    “So this is all below the Fae Cathedral?”
    “It is.” She thought for a moment. “Rumors have it that Roche runs his drug organization from the southern end, if I remember correctly.”
    Brannick slid his fingers through his hair. “Basically, we need to get down that ramp without being seen.”
    “We could use your vampire shield and sneak in to bring Mary out. That could work, couldn’t it?”
    “Yes, absolutely.” She watched his gaze skate around.
    “What are you thinking?” she asked.
    He stared at her hard. “That before we can put a decent plan together, I need to know more about your fae world.”
    Juliet knew her territory was the least understood of all five, mostly because their lives were lived almost in secret. At least a quarter of the population lived in underground housing. There was more than one development like the Village.
    There were also hundreds, heavily