What if it happened again and I stood by and let someone die? I’d never be able to face my family again. I’d never be able to face the council. Wouldn’t be able to face myself…

“Hope?” Karl was frowning.

“Sorry, I’m just—” I shook my head. “I’ll be fine.”

“You will. And I want you to call your mother in the morning.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I want you to invite her to…What’s her favorite restaurant?”

“Odessa’s in Philly.”

“Invite her there to dine with us next Saturday night.”

“Us?”

“Is that a problem?”

“It just sounds very…couple-ish.”

“Is that a problem?”

I looked up at him. If it all did fall apart, there’d be one person who’d still be there, who wouldn’t care what I’d done. Would he ever know how much that meant to me?

“Karl Marsten?”

We looked up to see Troy’s partner, Griffin, walking toward us. Did his blue eyes frost over as they met mine? Probably my imagination. I was in the mood to see disapproval everywhere.

Karl extended a hand. When Griffin pretended not to see it, I didn’t imagine the icy look in Karl’s eyes. If he was going to make the effort, he didn’t appreciate being repulsed by a glorified security guard.

“Have you heard from—” I began.

“This way,” Griffin said, then headed back toward the building.

I hurried to catch up, but Karl caught my arm, his look reminding me that we were here to assist the Cabal, and damned if we were chasing after our escort.

“I’m sorry you were called away from home at this hour,” I said, as Griffin looked back at us impatiently.

“You think I care about that?” His tone was so sharp I jumped. “My partner’s lying on a hospital bed, fighting for his life. My boss was almost killed, and now he’s guarded by security team flunkies I barely know. And I’m stuck playing escort for—” He stopped himself.

“A werewolf?” Karl said smoothly.

A grunt that could be a yes.

“I don’t know why Lucas assigned you to us, but we had no say in the matter, and as soon as we find William, we’ll be out of your hair,” I said as we approached the front doors.

“Better yet,” Karl said. “We could leave right now.”

“You’re not going anywhere until Lucas says so.” Griffin yanked open the door.

Karl caught and held it. “I beg your pardon?”

“Lucas told me to guard you, and I will until I’m relieved of that duty.”

“Is that Lucas’s order?”

“I know my job.”

In other words, Lucas had said no such thing. As we stepped inside, my cell phone rang. It was Paige.

“We just got to the office,” I explained as I answered.

“Is Griffin there?”

I looked at the bodyguard, who glowered back at me. “Yes.”