The Summer King Bundle 3 Stories - Jennifer L. Armentrout Page 0,22

were killing the right fae proved to be a wee bit dangerous. We’d lost the upper hand and the element of surprise. By the time we’d figure out if a fae wasn’t on Team Human, the fae realized who we were.

The Order had been nearly decimated two years ago, and we hadn’t been able to rebuild our numbers.

Which was why Miles was always busy with new recruits.

“Is it possible that these fae chose to go off the grid?” I asked, toying with the neck of my sweater. “Perhaps they don’t want to live here. There’s a big world out there, and some of them that live here have to be interested in seeing it. Especially since they watch our TV shows and movies, read our books and magazines. As nice as this place is, maybe they wanted to experience the world beyond these walls, this city?”

Tanner stared at me like he hadn’t considered that.

Silence crept into the room. Faye shattered it as she reached over, picking up a photo of a dark-haired fae. “This is my younger cousin. His chosen name is Benji. He’s been missing for a week, and I can assure you that he would not do that to his mother. Not after his father died two years ago, fighting the Queen.”

My stomach twisted as I focused on his picture.

“This is his friend Elliot, who went missing about two weeks ago. Benji had told his mother he was going to look for Elliot,” Faye continued. “He disappeared since and we haven’t heard from either Elliot or Benji.”

“I’m… I’m sorry,” I whispered, lifting my gaze to hers. “Truly, I am.”

“Then help us,” Faye said quietly. “You will help us find my cousin and these young fae if you feel sorry.”

“All we want is to know if the Order has any idea what happened to them and if they could possibly keep an eye out for these younglings.” Tanner spoke up as Faye looked away, her throat working. “Kalen has been out there, searching for them with no luck.”

I jolted at the mention of the fae who’d worked closely with Ivy and Ren. I’d assumed he was with them and Prince Fabian.

“I can help,” I said after a moment. “Can I have those photographs?”

Tanner nodded.

“I can check with the members to see if any of them look familiar.” I wasn’t sure if any of the Order members would fess up if they had anything to do with these fae. They were supposed to, but I was learning in the last two years there was very little consequence for these types of situations. “I can also make sure they keep an eye out for them.”

Faye handed over the photo of her cousin to Tanner, and he closed the file. Rising from the desk, he walked it over to me. “We appreciate anything the Order can do.”

Nodding, I took the file and stood, hoping that none of the Order members recognized these young men. If they did, it probably meant they’d met a tragic, unfair ending.

The meeting was officially over. Faye and Tanner were quiet as they led me out of the office and down an empty wide hall. Upon entering the building, I’d been escorted through the front and not the amazing courtyard, and it looked like they were leading me to the front once more.

As we neared the cafeteria area, I began to see more fae. Some lingered outside the wide archway, others walked to and fro, in small groups or alone. Most didn’t pay any attention to me. Others looked on in curiosity while some stared with outright distrust as we made our way to the grand, brightly lit lobby that truly reminded me of an upscale hotel.

“Please contact me directly, whether or not you have any information,” Faye said as we passed several occupied couches and chairs.

“I will.” I reached into the pocket of my purse, searching for my phone. From here, I was going to have to Uber it back to headquarters over on St. Phillip Street. I glanced over at Faye, and could see the worry etched into her face. The concern tugged at my heart. Lord knew I had this same kind of wretched experience of living through the disappearance of someone you loved and not knowing what happened to them. The desperation was the worst, the need to do everything and anything to find them, but not knowing if what you were doing was right or would even help.

Faye was experiencing all of that.

Stopping,