“I don’t know. I don’t, I swear! Cassie met her a while ago, and she just calls her L. I don’t think Cassie knows her full name either. The witch is the private type.”

“So you traced the amulet to Gary’s store. Then you beat the shit out of him and ruined his life’s work.”

Bob closed his eyes and hung his head. “I didn’t mean to,” he whispered.

“His kids were hiding, Bob. They heard everything. And then I heard it too. I heard your creepy-ass voice threatening their lives.”

Bob flinched, squeezing his eyes shut, as if he could make it all go away. “I didn’t know the belt would do that to me. I didn’t want to hurt him, I swear. I thought James went crazy cause he was just a psychopath, but once I put that belt on… I couldn’t stop. It was… impossible to control myself.”

“Magical artifacts weren’t designed to be used by people who have no magic.”

He nodded. “I could hear myself say things and my voice came out all wrong. It was as if I was possessed. I told Cassie I didn’t want to use it again. James wanted it back, and he figured he could get on Cassie’s good side again. That’s when he went back to the goblin’s shop. Said he was going to find something that would lead us to the amulet. I guess that’s when he shot at you.”

“Yup.”

“I only wore the belt tonight because Cassie said there was no one else for a job we had to do.”

I’d bet money that job involved my death. After failing to blow me to smithereens, Cassie would’ve been pissed.

“Where’s the sword and the amulet?”

Bob closed his eyes. “The sword is buried in a trunk in Cassie’s backyard. We couldn’t find the amulet.”

I had a pretty good feeling I knew why. I was an idiot.

I left Bob sobbing and walked out. Samael followed me and I gave him a look. He can’t have been comfortable walking down the narrow corridors in the Mage Council. I could hear his wings brushing against the walls on either side of us.

“I will stay silent, but these people attempted to take your life. I will be present for this.”

“Fine.”

I opened the door to Cassie’s interrogation room. She looked younger than I’d expected, maybe Evie’s age. She should’ve been hanging out with friends, complaining about her boss and talking about the latest guy in her life. Instead, she’d been killing multiple people. I had to remember that.

Cassie raised one eyebrow, her expression bored. And then Samael walked in behind me. Within moments, her face was sheet white, and her hand shook as she reached for the glass of water on the table in front of her.