Search (The Empire Chronicles #2) (13 page)

“Does your whole family agree with you? Do they all support her?”

She nodded. “Yes. If they didn’t, they’d have to answer to me.”

We walked outside. As expected, there wasn’t a van in sight. “Where are the movers?”

“I sent them off for an hour. They’ll be back.”

“So why did you ask me to walk with you?”

“You know why I did.” She patted my arm. “Now let’s head back up and help Casey.”

I shook my head. “Whatever you say, Georgina.”

“I’m glad to see you understand.”

Less than four hours later, Casey was all moved in to her new apartment. I knew she didn’t have tons of stuff, but I still expected it to take longer. Georgina had furnished the place for Casey, so it was really just clothes and some personal mementos that needed to be put away.

“Sit down,” Georgina said to neither one of us in particular. We both went for the same arm chair. I quickly moved out of the way so Casey could sit. “We have some important details to discuss.”

I hoped she wasn’t about to discuss whether I could stay over. That would be awkward.

“Toby, will you be escorting Casey to the wedding?”

She didn’t need to tell me which wedding she was referring to. “I’d like that.”

Casey shot me a look. “You don’t have to.”

I shifted in my chair. “I want to.”

“But…” She glanced at Georgina then back at me. “Even with all your history with Allie?”

“I already told you I’m over her.” Casey needed to understand. She needed to know I wasn’t settling. Allie was a friend, and she’d never be more than that again. It was the way things were meant to be.

“Yeah, but it can’t be easy.”

“Don’t you want me to go with you?” I shot it back to her. Otherwise she was going to keep pushing.

“Yes. Of course.”

“Then it’s settled.” Georgina rested her hands on her lap. “Will you be transporting Casey, then?”

“Yes. The wedding is in Hawaii, isn’t it?” I’d been tuning out the wedding details. Over Allie or not, it’s not much fun to discuss your ex’s wedding. Well, unless it involved spending ten hours on a private jet with your girl. That was a perfectly enjoyable conversation.

“I’m guessing that’s too far to fly ourselves?” Casey looked at me for the answer.

“It’s long. It’s doable, but we’d have to take breaks. We might as well take the jet.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

Georgina leaned forward. “So I assume that’s a yes? You’ll be transporting her?”

I nodded and made eye contact with Georgina. “Absolutely.”

“Terrific.” Georgina stood up. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to New Orleans. I need to have a conversation with my son.”

“Does he hate me?” Casey pressed her lips together into a firm line.

“No. And he will be in touch with you soon.” Without another word, Georgina walked to the door and let herself out.

I sat down on the arm of Casey’s chair. “So… that was an interesting housewarming.”

“Yeah. I wish we had a bottle of wine or something. We need to do something festive, right?”

“Did you really think I forgot that detail?” I walked over to her fridge and pulled out a bottle of Dom Perignon. “Ready to celebrate moving out of your closet?”

“That depends.”

“On?” I took down two wine glasses. Georgina had also fully outfitted her kitchen.

“Whether you’re staying the night.”

“Is that even a question?”

New York had lost its appeal. Instead of exciting, now it just reminded me of disappointments and things I couldn’t have. Or really a girl I couldn’t have. I wasn’t in love with her. I knew that much even without Owen throwing it in my face. What I felt for her wasn’t love, but it was something more than I usually felt about girls. And the worst part? I couldn’t even motivate myself to get with anyone else since. At the rate I was going, I would end up as celibate as Owen. As frightening as a thought that was, getting fired and letting Levi down was a worse one.

I needed to stay on task. I needed to plan our attack on Murphy, or at the very least, protect us from his next one. I couldn’t do it unprepared. I needed more intel, and part of that meant finding out who Toby was interrogating. Somehow that tied in.

I decided to check out a shifter bar in Brooklyn that tended to attract the clientele I was looking for. I threw on a blazer and walked into the Hairy Turn. The bar hadn’t changed at all since I’d last visited a year or so earlier. The bouncer didn’t recognize me, but he let me in without an argument. Sometimes a steely glare can convey everything.

“Are there nymphs around?” I asked the large shifter.

He grinned. “Looking for some action, huh?”

“Not action.” I stuffed my hands in my pockets. This was embarrassing, but I didn’t want to admit I was there on official Society business.

“If you say so. There’re a few in tonight.”

“Thanks.” I nodded and headed inside. I stopped by the bar and grabbed a beer.

I hadn’t made it far when a manicured hand wrapped around my bicep. “Nice to see you again, Jared.”

I stared down at a pair of brown eyes and dark hair. “Hi, Nelly.”

“What are you doing in New York?” She turned her head to the side slightly.

“I’m here for work.” I needed to shake her.

“You’re at the Hairy Turn for work?” She cooed.

“Yes. And if you’ll excuse me…” I shrugged off her hand and took a few steps. Nelly reminded me of Toby, who reminded me of Casey. Not the direction I needed my thoughts to go in.

“He’s an asshole.”

“Excuse me?” I turned back to her.

“Toby. You know he’s with her.”

“With who?” I feigned confusion even though her words hit my gut like a ten pound brick. So much for her just returning to him for help.

“Casey. I don’t see why you guys think she’s special anyway.” She said Casey’s name with distaste. That bothered me more than it should have.

“She’s special. That’s all you need to know.” I had no interest in explaining my interest in a girl I couldn’t have.

A smile spread across Nelly’s face. “Oh. Maybe the reason you think she’s special has to do with the interrogation I helped Toby with.”

Maybe Nelly was going to be more help than I thought. “Would you like to sit down?”

“Yes. I’d really like that.” She sauntered over to a darkened booth. I followed, acutely aware of just how many pairs of eyes were on us.

I sat down next to her, careful to keep my distance. “Tell me about the interrogation.”

“Why would you want to know about such a little old thing?” She tapped her nails on the tabletop.

“Because you’re right. Toby’s an asshole.”

She laughed. “I’d be breaking an oath of silence to Toby. Are you going to make this worth my while?”

I groaned. If she wanted sex, I’d be better off with the nymphs. “In what way?”

“I want an invite to the wedding.” She scooted closer to me.

“To what wedding?” I sipped my beer.

“
The
wedding. What other one would I be talking about?”

“Why would you want to go?”

She put a hand to her chest as though she was surprised. “Why? The king and queen are getting married, and you wonder why I want to go?”

“They’re already bound. It’s just a formality.” A pointless and possibly dangerous one. If I were on better terms with Levi, I’d have tried harder to change his mind.

“I want to go.”

Spill her secrets for a wedding invite? I’d take it. “Fine. Give me info I can use, and you’ll get your invitation.”

“You could thank me, you know.” She flipped some hair off her shoulder.

“For?”

“For sending Casey to you.” She smiled. Her eyes begged me to touch her. That wasn’t happening.

“How’d you do that?”

She pushed out her chest. “I may have persuaded her.”

“What? How?” I stopped my beer a few inches from my lips.

“She was in my way. I merely made her see things differently.” Her lips twisted into an evil smile.

“You used magic on her?” That was impossible. It was illegal for a witch to use magic against a Pteron, but even if they did, it wouldn’t have made a Pteron change her mind.

“More than I planned to. That girl’s head is hard to mess with.”

“Because she’s a Pteron. A Royal Pteron. Do you realize what crime you committed?”

She paled. “I thought she was human. I didn’t break any laws.”

“Forget the wedding invite, you’re lucky if I don’t turn you in.”

“Then you don’t want your info?” She leaned closer to me. “Don’t you want to make Levi proud?”

I pushed her away. “Talk.”

“Toby brought in the cousin.”

“The one Casey lives with?”

“Lived with.”

“What? What do you mean?” Had she moved in with Toby already?

“It’s not what you’re thinking.” She laughed. “She got her own place.”

“Oh.” I relaxed. Surprisingly, it wasn’t jealousy motivating me as much as concern. Casey needed to be careful who she trusted. She had so much to learn. “What did the cousin say?”

“I don’t know. Toby kept me out of the room, but he seemed pretty upset afterward.”

“Where’s the cousin now?”

“I’m not sure. I wiped his memories before he left.”

“Why wouldn’t Toby have told Levi this?”

“He’s trying to protect her. At least that’s what I think.”

“Thanks for the info.” I got up.

“When can I expect the invitation?” She watched me.

“Soon.” At the moment, I had more important things to do. I needed to find the cousin and figure out what Toby was hiding. I also had to tell Levi I changed my mind. Personal feelings aside, Casey needed protection. If Toby was worried about her, I needed to be too. Something about what Nelly said didn’t sit right. Did she really think she influenced Casey’s mind? How was that possible? No matter what, Casey needed training, and I was the best one to do that job.

We drank the bottle of wine curled up under one of my new throw blankets on the couch. We weren’t cold, but the blanket was cozy especially since neither of us were wearing any clothes.

“Does the place feel lived in yet?” Toby grinned, pulling me back against his chest.

“Uh, yeah. Just a little.” I looked around at my new apartment. I still didn’t quite believe the place was all mine. Floor to ceiling windows gave us a perfect view of Central Park. It was the kind of apartment I’d dreamed about as a teen but never in a million years thought I’d live in.

“I don’t think I could ever get enough of you.”

“Yeah. I can kind of tell.” I could feel how hard and ready he was. I wondered if he’d ever be fully sated. I wasn’t sure whether I wanted him to be.

He brushed his lips against my ear. “I’d say I’m sorry about that, but I’m not.”

“We need to talk first.”

“About?” He settled back.

“You know what, but we need to get dressed beforehand.”

“Why? I like you dressed just the way you are, especially when you’re in my arms.”

I pulled away, and stood up, unconcerned that without the blanket, I was completely exposed. “Because I’m not talking about my family while naked. I’d also love if you would put on some underwear too.”

“You’re no fun.” He stood up, giving me a full frontal view of his body. He was aroused and just as gorgeous as always. I tossed his boxers at him, knowing I’d change my mind if he didn’t get covered up soon. I was beginning to understand that the Pteron side of me was sexually charged. Jared had brought it out before I transformed, and it hadn’t stopped. Things weren’t quite as out of control with Toby, but they were better. We were more equals, and the emotional part matched the physical. Sex was way better that way.

“That’s not what you were saying a little while ago.” I pulled on his t-shirt. I figured I didn’t need to get completely dressed.

Toby watched me as he slid into his boxers. “Do you want another glass of wine?”

“Quit stalling, Toby.”

“Okay. Let’s talk.” He settled back down on the couch, and I joined him. I pulled my legs up underneath me and turned myself so I was looking right at him. “I had a little chat with your cousin.”

“What?” I shot up off the couch, crushing Toby’s leg in the process.

He seemed unconcerned with his leg, but very concerned with my reaction. “He won’t remember the chat though.”

“What do you mean?” I struggled to keep my voice calm. “What did you do to Rhett?”

“He’s fine. Nelly just erased his—”

“Nelly! You subjected my cousin to that bit—” I stopped myself before I could say the word I really wanted to.

“She’s paying me back for the hell she put us through. It was necessary. I’m trying to be completely honest with you. I could have left this part out, but I want it all out on the table.”

I looked down at him skeptically. “Yeah, you really want this all out on the table. That’s why you’ve been so excited to tell me about it.”

He stood up and took both of my hands in his own. “Can you blame me? Things are finally going right for us. I didn’t want to mess anything up. But I don’t regret what I did. We need information, you said so yourself.”

I reluctantly agreed and sat back down. He followed, taking my hands again after I pulled them away to sit.

“Vera went willingly.” He didn’t look at me.

“What? No way.” There was absolutely no way that was true. Vera couldn’t have left me that way.

“I know it’s hard to believe, but he seemed sure of it. I guess she told him goodbye.”

“She didn’t say goodbye to me.” I spoke the words softly, not wanting to hear them uttered out loud. Vera and I had always been close. I didn’t want to believe it. I knew Toby wouldn’t lie about something like this. Nor would Rhett. My heart sunk.

“I’m sorry, Casey. But maybe there’s more to the story.” He put an arm around my shoulder.

“There has to be.” My spirits rose. “Maybe she didn’t have a choice.”

“We’ll figure it out either way.”

“You’ll still help me find her?” I needed his help. Willing or not, Vera had left my life. I needed her back in it, or at least some closure. But was closure possible if she was choosing to spend her time with Murphy? With someone who obviously had something not so wonderful planned for me.