“I’m calm,” I snap, resting my back against the side bench. I can put up with his touch for now, but only if they tell me where they’re taking me and I’m happy with their answer.

“Right,” I say. “I want to know where the fuck we’re going.”

4

“Commander!” shouts Captain Seonu. “The van lights have quit.”

Mason swears. Flanagan looks at me.

“I’m calm,” I protest. Apart from my rapid heartbeat, my churning stomach, and the need to shag something.

Flanagan’s mouth curves with a knowing smile.

“What?” I ask. It’s not his hand arousing me. I’m straight. It’s those tingles passing between us. Definitely the tingles.

He speaks to Laasya. “Can you feel Blood Servants following?”

Blood Servants?

“No, sir. Not at all.”

He raises his voice to address the driver. “Seonu, find somewhere to stop. We’ll call for my car.”

“We’re coming up to the industrial estate,” Seonu says. Her accent is definitely Japanese. “I can pull into a parking lot at the back, sir.”

“Good. Good.” Flanagan pronounces the word as gud, his Scandinavian accent clipping it. An international crew, it seems. He turns to me. “While we wait for pickup, I will explain everything you need to know.”

I just nod. I want answers, but I’m not convinced I’m safe with these people. I can’t help wondering if the stop will give me a chance to escape.

Mason throws me a dark look before addressing his commander. “This is way off, sir. The Channeler shouldn’t need this amount of Grounding. Not with a True Grounder siphoning off his Flame. And why aren’t they following?”

I meet his hostile gaze. I’ll not be intimidated, even by a man wearing enough weapons to take on an army.

Flanagan remains calm. “Michael’s Flame is strong. It will take time to subdue. It’s likely the Blood Servants intend to meet us at the steelworks. When you call for the car, Seonu, tell Nelson I want three units to be waiting there.”

“Three units, sir?” Laasya queries. “You think they’ll be there in force?”

“I think the prince will be very curious about a Channeler this strong. He will no doubt send witches as well as Servants.”

“And where he goes, the Blood Guard goes. Fucking wonderful.” Mason throws me another suspicious glower.

I have no idea what they’re talking about—Blood Servants, Blood Guards, princes, but I get that Flanagan means we’ll be attacked at some point. Mason clearly thinks that’s my fault. If it were up to him, I’d be locked down by now. Flanagan appears friendly, but his touch has a possessive edge. I get a strong sense this rescue isn’t only about my safety. Even though he’s been reassuring me, if I decide I want to leave, I bet all the steel on Mason’s belt the commander would have a problem with that.

The van swerves, tipping everyone to the right. I brace myself using the van’s side bench so I don’t have to grab Flanagan’s leg. After a few more changes in direction, the van slows. A faint white glow replaces the glare of orange streetlight. Traffic noise diminishes to a distant drone.