I made a mental note to speak to my father about that, and ensure all guards assigned to Jasper were as far from his physical type as possible. That would slow him down, but it wouldn’t stop him. My father had bought his docility by promising a necromantic visit with his brother’s ghost, but the respite would be only temporary. It had taken Jasper years to plan his attack on the Cabal. He would be in no rush to escape from the consequences. But we could never forget he was planning that escape.

I stepped forward. “You wished to speak to me?”

“I asked for your dad, but you’ll do just fine.” He scanned me, measuring, assessing, noting my expressions, my idiosyncrasies.

“How’s Paige?” he asked after a moment.

I tensed, but he only sat there, expectant, as if simply making friendly conversation, not reminding me that he’d tried to kill my wife.

“That was a clever trick,” he said. “The glamour spell. Really clever.”

Again, no mockery in his voice. Nothing but genuine admiration, as if complimenting a fellow chess player who’d made a brilliant move. That’s all this was to Jasper. A game. And I was only a competitor. Or a pawn.

“You wished to speak to me?” I repeated.

“Hope,” he said. “I want to see her before she goes.”

“She left this morning.”

“Did she say anything? Leave me a message?”

“No.”

Dismay flickered, but he bounced back with a smile. “She’s still mad. That’s okay. She’ll come around. She just needs time. When she does want to talk to me, you’ll let me know, right?”

“I’m sure you’ll be informed.”

“Thanks. I’d appreciate that.”

As he grinned, I almost expected him to pass me a tip, as if I were a concierge at his new five-star hotel.

“Is that everything?” I said.

“Yep. Thanks.”

I started to turn away.

“Oh, sorry,” he said. “One last thing.”

I slowly turned back.

“About the werewolf. Karl, is it?”

I said nothing.

“Could you pass along a message?” A slow smile. “Tell him I’m thinking of him.”

I WAS WALKING from the cell when Carlos strode past the hall door. I resisted the urge to step aside before he saw me.

“There you are,” he said, shoes squeaking as he wheeled. “You’re a hard man to find these days. I’d almost think you were avoiding me.”

“Hello, Carlos.”

“We missed you at the funeral today. Mom was hoping you’d show. She really wants to talk to you.”

“I’m sure she does,” I murmured.

Carlos laughed. “You know my mother. She takes a big interest in your health.”

“If you’ll excuse me…”