"I do. But there will come a time when that answer will change. We shall be waiting."
Ilianna didn't answer, and the three women turned and walked into the scented shadows of the Brindle. I blew out a relieved breath and glanced at Stane. He wasn't saying much, just listening, but his cheeks were stained red and his free hand was clenched.
After several more seconds, he said, "All right," then hung up and turned around. "They want a trade."
"Well, I guess that means Tao is still alive."
"He is. I talked to him. The witch has bound his fire somehow, and he's chained with silver."
Silver was deadly to a wolf. Silver shackles might not provide death as quickly as a bullet, but they would irritate and burn his skin, and the longer they were left on, the more the metal would eat away at him, destroying his flesh and poisoning his system. "What time did they want to meet?"
"Midday."
I glanced at my watch. It was nearing eleven now, so we had just over an hour. "Okay, let's contact Rhoan—"
"No!" Stane said, voice holding an edge of panic. He took a deep breath, then added, "They said if we involve the police or the Directorate in any way, shape, or form, Tao will die."
"Stane," I said, holding fiercely on to the fear and trying to ignore the twisted sense that everything that could go wrong surely would. "Unless we get this right, he's going to die. This consortium has played hardball up to now. I doubt that's going to change."
"I know, I know." He grimaced and half shrugged. "Tao's not going to be at the meeting. I'm going to meet one of them there, and then be taken to him. If I sign the papers, they'll let us both go."
"And you believe that?"
"Honestly? No. But signing the sale agreement doesn't give them the property, because the law states there has to be a cooling-off period before the transfer of land documents are signed. That can't—or won't—happen if either of us is dead."
"That won't stop them from holding on to you or Tao."
"No, it won't. But are you willing to put Tao's life on the line by calling in the Directorate? Because I'm not, Risa. And if you call Rhoan, God help me, I'll flatten you."