much amusement flavor her words. “Do we know how any other factions are affected?”
“There were others unconscious on the street and in various states of lucidity.” I leaned against Bishop’s chair. “We couldn’t exactly stop and check species without being trampled. Crescent was a madhouse.”
“Vampires got secondary highs,” Bishop informed us, shocking the heck out of me. “I saw it firsthand.”
Annoyance fizzled through me, but I let it splutter and die. He had called and texted. I was the one who ignored him. He might have told me all this sooner if I had been in any frame of mind to listen.
“Jemima? The bartender Gayle mentioned?” Bishop raised his brows. “I hunted her down, asked her a few questions. She clued me in then ditched the bar scene and went home early to, in her words, beat the dickheads home.”
That was an item checked off my to-do list. I was grateful, if still annoyed with him, to write off one more thing. “Any clue why Krista smelled off to Midas?”
Bonnie Diaz, aka Snowball, aka Iliana hadn’t raised any red flags for him, but he had known Krista. It might be as simple as that.
“Black magic.” Bishop grimaced. “They had worked a spell, perhaps the one to take Krista’s body, within hours of you confronting her. That’s what he smelled. She was still…” he worked his jaw, “…fresh.”
Annnd that’s what I got wishing for simple.
“Goddess.” I rubbed my forehead, but the headache kept tap-dancing a single buffalo on my brain.
“The folks zoned out on the street?” He sent a picture from his phone to the screen for us all. “Mostly vampires who fed on humans who took the drug. The humans themselves appeared to be unaffected.” He leaned back. “Fae appear unaffected as well.”
“Any news on how the Mendelsohns are doing?”
“They were sedated as of the last update,” Reece informed us. “Three females attacked the medics who separated them from their alpha.” His distaste was clear when he finished his report. “Four more turned on each other when Mendelsohn fell asleep after servicing everyone but them.”
“I would joke about him having inhuman stamina,” Milo said, “but it’s only funny because it’s true.”
The side quest Midas and I had volunteered for, collecting the hearts, had been withheld from the team for now, but Bishop’s sharp focus on me warned we would have a long chat once this meeting ended.
One final item headed up my briefing to-do list, but Bishop must have read it on my face.
“Reece,” he said, cutting me off before I got started, “keep us updated.”
“I will,” he mumbled, already distracted. “We’ll have access to the initial test results from the first round of warg blood work within the next six to eight hours.”
“Let’s tie a knot in it here then.” Bishop saluted the team. “Make no apologies.”
“Survive,” we all echoed, and the screens went dark.
Bishop gave the silence a moment to settle, and then he appraised me. “Ready to go get our girl?”
“Born ready.” I scuffed the toe of my sneaker. “Why didn’t you tell them about Blithe?”
“She’s the dealer, not the source.” He crammed the last donut into his mouth. “She’s one anthill you don’t want to stomp until you’re ready to hose it in gasoline and drop a match on it.”
An involuntary shiver prickled down my arms, but I had to admit the gas and match thing sounded good.
“That doesn’t give her a free pass, Bish.”
Dealing was as bad as manufacturing. Worse, maybe, since they were the ones facilitating the buys.
“You sound like him when you talk like that.” He chuckled as he stood. “Linus would be proud.”
A zing of pleasure that he thought so sang through my chest. “You’re bribing me into a good mood.”
First the donuts and now the seal of approval from the boss by proxy.
“I should have handled last night better, but I didn’t realize Blithe was in town. She’s owned that club for a decade or two and never stepped foot in it as far as I know. She’s been content to remain on the outskirts. Someone has offered her a bigger piece of the pie, and she’s hungry for it.”
“The coven has too many irons in the fire.” I rubbed my forehead. “Their attack is so scattered.”
The release of the drug struck me as scattershot too. Everyone had been targeted, not just the gwyllgi.
“Maybe not.” He led the way out into the parking deck du jour. “The drug might have been the goal the whole time. The Martian Roaches can only