of that is so he doesn’t have to actually talk to his father, although they’re making real progress. Zaid can actually be in the same room with Boral without leveling hateful glares his way or make scoffing noises every time Boral talks.
Hell, just a few minutes ago, Boral asked Zaid if he wanted to play cards, and Zaid, who was admittedly distracted, was actually polite in saying, “No, thank you.”
I took Boral up on the offer, and we’re engaged in a close game of rummy at the dining room table. Zora’s still in the living area with her book, and Zaid is organizing the refrigerator.
It’s his phone ringing that has me freezing. Is that Maddox with an update? Because Carrick would have called me directly. Maddox would call Zaid if it was bad news about Carrick.
I lay my cards down, my palms turning sweaty. Zaid answers from the kitchen, and there’s a moment of silence before I hear him say, “It’s fine. Send her up.”
Boral and I exchange a glance before Zaid comes into the dining room. “Echo is here asking to see Maddox.”
Clearly, Maddox isn’t here, but Zaid didn’t let her know that. She’s been a source of information for us before, and she’d probably bolt if she knew Maddox was gone.
Turning to his father, he says, “After she enters the condo, I want you by the elevator in case she decides to bolt once she learns Maddox isn’t here.”
Boral doesn’t question his son’s request, merely nods as he pushes up from his chair, throwing his cards down.
We all move into the living area, and I speak to Zora with urgency. “I need you to go into your room and stay there until I tell you it’s safe to come out. Someone’s on their way up who can’t know I have a twin.”
She doesn’t hesitate or argue, merely grabs her book and scurries off.
I hear the elevator whir as it approaches, and I brace. Echo is unpredictable. A homeless daemon junkie with a tarlike black aura around her. She’s incredibly strong with sharp teeth, and she has an acute dislike of me in particular.
It’s Maddox she likes and trusts, although, rest assured, if she’s here with information, she’ll want to get paid.
The elevator doors slide open. Echo stands there in her threadbare clothes and dirt on her gray-colored face. I see her true daemon self, of course, but if Zora was in here, she’d only see a young girl in her early twenties. We’ve tried to get Zora to see past auras—using Zaid for practice—but she just can’t tap her magic in that way either. It’s the feeling of darkness welling up when she tries that scares her away. As such, she’s stuck with pulling forth wings and speaking to me telepathically, not that those aren’t impressive in and of themselves.
“Where’s Maddox?” Echo asks as she glances around. She’s comfortable enough in assuming he’s here that she steps off the elevator. When the doors close, Boral moves in front of them.
As a Dark Fae, he’s far stronger than Echo and can keep her contained if necessary. He can also stop her if she tries to attack.
“Maddox isn’t here.” My tone is gentle, but firm. “Do you have information for him? Because you can tell me, and I’ll pay you.”
The minute I say Maddox isn’t here, Echo starts backing up. She turns toward the elevator as I offer to pay her, but freezes when she sees Boral there. She may not have noticed him before, but the way she stiffens, I can tell she understands that he’s not letting her out of here.
“Echo,” I call, and she turns slowly to face me. “We are not going to hurt you. But I have to assume you know something we might be interested in. I’m sorry Maddox isn’t here, but if you have something, tell me what it is and I’ll hand the cash over to you.”
She considers this a moment, her eyes darting over to Zaid before coming back to me. She lifts her chin, not in defiance, but to show she’s not afraid. “I have good information. Two thousand dollars.”
Carrick has ten times that amount just sitting in a desk drawer for these impromptu visits from Echo. I don’t feel like dickering with her on the price today. Besides, her last piece of information was to tell us it was Kymaris who overtook Fallon’s body.
“Deal,” I tell her. “Now give up the info.”
Echo tucks her hands into the pockets of