take Hugo by surprise, just as he took Harlow.”
“Absolutely,” Yanna replied. “And so you know, Fenton, Salander and a good handful of the other Elektos stand with you and Augustine on this.”
Fenton stood. “I appreciate that, but even if you didn’t, it wouldn’t stop what I’m about to do. This day has been a long time coming.” He tapped the button on Augustine’s LMD, ending the call. “Get the car. We have a visit to make.”
Augustine nodded. “On it. Maybe we should get Dulce and Sydra there, too. For backup.”
Fenton shook his head slowly. “We won’t need them. Not for what’s about to happen.”
“You seem awfully sure of yourself.” Augustine frowned. “What aren’t you telling me?” He’d never seen Fenton like this—angry but in a calm sort of way that made it far worse than if he’d been screaming and yelling.
Fenton pushed his chair in and headed for the door. “You’ll know soon enough.”
Augustine wasn’t sure what Fenton was planning, but it didn’t matter. There was no way Harlow was being shipped off to the Claustrum. He’d kill Loudreux to keep that from happening. At the very least, that way they’d get to go together.
“You can’t just leave Lally there, you idiot.” Harlow tugged at the restraints securing her hands behind her back, but they weren’t budging. At least Loudreux had dismissed Blu after he’d instructed the shadeux fae to put Harlow in restraints. Apparently, he didn’t think she was enough of a threat to keep his personal security on hand. “She’s not fae. She can’t get back on her own.” Lally must be freaking out. At least she had Olivia to keep her company. That didn’t keep Harlow from being wicked pissed at Hugo Loudreux for hauling her off the fae plane like a low-rent criminal.
Loudreux glared at her. “I guess you should have thought about that before you took a human to the fae plane.” His scowl made his pinched little face uglier than usual. “Don’t worry. A few formalities and you’ll be back there. As a permanent resident of the Claustrum.”
“What?” Fear chilled Harlow’s bones. She couldn’t imagine a more awful place. “For taking Lally to see my mother? You’re insane. Augustine won’t let you do that.”
“Augustine has no say in this. In fact, your precious Guardian doesn’t even know this is happening.”
“He’s not my Guardian, he’s the city’s Guardian. He protects all of us. Moron.”
“Whatever.” Voices drifted up from downstairs. He rested his hand on the bolt stick hanging from his belt. “The tribunal is about to begin. Let’s go.”
“Release my hands.”
“Why? So you can run? No.” He grabbed the restraints and forced her out the door ahead of him.
“Who runs with their hands?” She shook her head. “You’re as dumb as you look. How did you ever become Prime?”
He shoved her forward. Apparently, he didn’t find her funny. “Walk.”
She almost stumbled on the first few steps, but caught herself. It gave her an idea. She slipped on purpose this time, tumbling onto her side and sliding almost to the bottom step. Her shoulder throbbed like she’d seriously bruised something but she breathed through it. “I told you to take off those restraints. I think I dislocated my shoulder.”
“You’re fine. Get up.”
“I can’t without my hands, you twit.”
He cursed in words she didn’t understand, then waved the key at her like a weapon. “One wrong move and I’ll zap you with my bolt stick, understand?”
She nodded and tried to look sufficiently intimidated.
He bent to unlock the restraints. As soon as her first hand was free, she latched on to his wrist.
“Hey,” he grunted in surprise. He went for the bolt stick.
Before he made contact with it, she shoved him back against the stairs and kneeled her full weight on his arms. She didn’t weigh that much, but cyphers tended to be on the slight side so holding him down wasn’t hard. His skin was clammy beneath her touch.
She grabbed the fingertips of her glove with her teeth and yanked it off. Then, using what she’d learned, she fastened her hand around his wrist and began to thread emotions through him, starting with fear. “You hate Augustine. I get that. And I guess you hate me by association.”
“Your father,” Loudreux mumbled through a mouth twisted in fright. “He hurt Rue.”
“Yes, he did. He. Not me. I helped find her, you idiot. If I’d wanted her hurt, why would I have done that? Now Branzino is dead and Rue’s on the mend.” She poured weakness into him, doing