that looked at the data would see me remaining at the eatery with Grace. They would assume we'd sat for a meal instead of knowing I'd gone to visit with a Soulless and check on the highly illegal stolen portal I intended to use regularly.
When I finished, I glanced up to find Grace adjusting her robes, particularly the part around her neck. I'm an awful friend. Probably why I don't have that many.
I reached out, laying a hand on her arm, which paused her movements. Her gaze found mine, and I watched her eyes as I asked, “Are you sure you're okay to stay here?”
If she wasn't, I had no idea what I would do. With her pass still monitoring everywhere she went, I couldn't allow her to walk right into a secret location. And I really needed to check on the portal because I intended to go to the first of our suspected sites on the rise. Perhaps I should wait until after I dropped her off with the trio later.
“I'm fine. It's not the first time I've had to hide marks from everyone,” she answered, her tone to flippant for my liking.
Either Grace tried too hard to prove she was okay, which meant she probably wasn't, or she'd gotten used to being an object for her father to release his anger on. Both options stirred up the emotions in my well, making my monster bob as it slept on the surface.
I sucked in a breath, still waffling back and forth in my head. What if her father came inside to eat? We are right by the palace, after all. He could have work nearby.
“I'm fine, I told you. Go on. Do whatever it is you need to do.” She gave me a slight push and a smile that appeared to be brittle around the edges.
I opened my mouth to tell her it could wait when Shadow pushed an idea into my head. She offered to remain with Grace, and if I read the images correctly, she would try to crawl into Grace's father if he spoke to Grace.
“I'll leave, but I'll try to make it quick. It really shouldn't take long at all, as long as my contact doesn't go into his story-telling mode,” I finally said as Shadow leapt from my shoulder to Grace. “Shadow's sticking around, so just ignore any random tapping on you. I do.”
Before she could say anything else, I yanked my soul forward and rushed away. The faster I got to the building, the sooner I could get back. Despite what Grace claimed, I doubted she felt secure knowing her father could stroll inside at any moment. I had no idea how he would react to my actions from earlier, but I'd meant what I said to him.
The building that housed Con's portal was located on the same block, and it didn't look special. Nothing about it seemed out of the ordinary, so when I stopped in front of it, no one paid me any attention.
It was small and squeezed between a building that once hosted emissaries from Anilia and a rarely used building that contained old files and the like. I'd chosen the center one only because it had a rear exit, which would help hide the Soulless that came and went. Beyond that, it was nothing special.
I hurried around to the rear, knocking when I reached the door. It opened moments later, revealing Taris. His face broke out into an enormous grin before he stepped back, throwing his arm out in a gesture for me to come in.
“Hey, Zella. Con's inside already. He told me to escort you,” Taris said as I slipped by him.
I didn't need a tour guide, especially since I'd been the one to give him the building, but I didn't argue, either. Tar-is strolled past me, waving gesturing so I'd follow. I blew out a breath and caught up with him, glancing around as we passed through the rooms.
In some, Soulless sat, doing little. In another, a few females and one male were preparing a meal. I spotted a few children playing with homemade toys in yet another. Finally, we entered the largest room at the front of the building.
At the doorways, two Soulless stood, guarding the item in the very center. That item dominated the space and was responsible for the familiar scent. The circular portal had been active recently, and when my gaze found Con chatting with the Soulless at the controls, I lifted an