Chapter 75

Evelyn

I felt lost as I stumbled out of the medical tent later that day and plunged into the surrounding city. Even within the short time I’d been gone, the city felt strange, like it had taken on a new, foreign feeling. It didn’t feel the same anymore.

Where once the city had been a joyous escape from the palace, I now noticed that it pulsed with tension. It was in the way people looked over their shoulders, the way windows snapped closed when there were too many passersby on the street, and the way that the fear that a wrong turn could lead to someone disappearing hovered over everything like fog.

I’m sure the paranoid citizens had heard the rumors about me being taken and held captive. On top of everything, there were mounting reports of Jesse taking to the city streets and slithering into some undisclosed location. He was clearly meeting with someone, but who?

Regardless of this new, lingering discomfort, I found myself walking straight into the heart of the city to meet someone who had every right to be furious with me.

Scott’s office building was perched at the top of a brick building. It was a structure that mixed the new with the old, and its coveted location in the city’s center made it prime real estate. It suited him.

I hurried into the building, eager to duck out from the yawning streets. I hurried up the stairs to find him already standing at the top. He was smiling like he had been waiting for me for a while. He was backlit in the doorway, giving him an odd, unnerving look.

"Evelyn!" he said, sounding far too chipper. "You look better than the last time I saw you. I must say, I’m surprised, especially after everything I’ve heard that’s been going on with you. Kidnapped? Oh my! Wasn’t I supposed to kidnap you at one point?"

He laughed, and I ignored the jab with some effort.

Scott led me into his office, and we passed Mira on the way in. She gave me a tight smile before ducking her head again to return to her work.

"Drink?" Scott offered, stopping at an array of glass bottles in the far corner of his room. Since when were professionals allowed to drink on the job like this? It didn’t matter. I was done accepting drinks from people I didn’t know very well.

"No."

He shrugged and poured himself something amber anyway. "To survival," he said, raising his glass in a mock toast.

“I heard about your exile,” I said. “I just wanted to say that I’m sorry.”

Scott waved his free hand dismissively. “I’m sure Logan did what needed to be done.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. This was not the reaction I’d expected. He was practically jovial, where I had anticipated him begging for his spot in the pack back. It was all incredibly odd…

"Good,” I said. “I’m glad there are no hard feelings, because I have some questions for you.”

"Straight to business." He took a seat on the opposite side of the desk and leaned back, eyes dancing. "What do you want to know?"

"I want to know whether or not Emma was involved with the rogues while I was gone. And how she reacted during my absence."

Scott’s smile faltered for a split second. It was just a flicker, but I’d seen it. The first crack in this happy armor he’d donned in my absence.

"Haven’t seen or heard much from Emma since I was… forced to become independent," he said smoothly, swirling the drink in his glass. "As for her reaction, you know Emma. Always dramatic, always distant. She doesn’t exactly update me on her emotional states, especially after the last time she chewed out Mira for possibly working for you."

"So you’re saying you know nothing," I pressed. "Not about Emma and how she could be tied up with the rogues. Not how she might know Jesse. You know nothing.”

"That’s right." He smiled, and the expression settled unnaturally onto his face.

“What did I give you that penthouse for, then?” I snapped.

“Apologies, but I have been a bit preoccupied with being exiled. It’s been hard to gather intel when all of my personal connections to the pack have been effectively severed.”

I snapped my mouth closed from further retort. He was right about that, and ultimately, his exile had helped buy my freedom. I was in no position to pass judgment.

He gave a little shrug, like being exiled was a mild inconvenience, though. “I’ll continue to try and see what I can dig up, but you must understand. It’s been harder. I know your husband didn’t know about our alliance, but he really shot us in the feet when he threw me out.”

“Your exile helped bring me back, and I will always be grateful for that,” I said.

“But you only want to maintain speaking to me if I continue to be useful,” Scott said, taking another sip of his drink. “I understand just fine, Evelyn.”

"Don’t take it personally. I came because I want to end this," I said. "And because a part of me still wonders about Emma’s ties to the rogues. If she is the key to bringing them down, I mean to use whatever I can to bring her to heel first."

His smile tightened. “Well, I apologize for having nothing useful for you at this time.”

I stood. “Well, tell me when you do. That penthouse wasn’t just because I enjoy your company.”

“No, but maybe it led you here, didn’t it? Your penthouse for my deal, then my exile for your freedom.”

I pursed my lips. “Just tell me when you finally have something worth the visit.

I turned to go, but the unease had already started creeping in. Something about him didn’t sit right. That day, he had seemed too rehearsed, too polished. And that smile… it was like he was waiting for a curtain to drop.

No man who had just faced exile should seem so at ease, especially talking to the person basically responsible. I might have even been more comfortable if he had raged at me. But instead, there was this indescribable tension pulling taut as I left.

I had barely reached the stairs when a soft voice stopped me.

“Wait.”

It was Scott’s secretary. Mira’s eyes were frantic as she caught mine. She looked around before waving me over to her desk.

Something about the wild, almost fearful look on her face put me on edge.

"I shouldn't say anything," she whispered. "But I heard what you asked him."

I froze. "And?"

"He’s lying. I’ve heard him on the phone the other day,” she said quietly. “He was talking all about everything Emma does. He was saying things about what he had seen her do recently. And the rogues."

My stomach dropped. So he had lied to my face. But why?

"Who was he talking to?" I asked.

"I don’t know for sure. But the man on the other end… he had a low voice. Rough.” She dropped her voice even lower, now barely audible. “I think he was one of them."

I felt the nervousness branch out from my chest, making even my fingers quiver with fear.“One of the rogues?” I asked.

She nodded. “Yes. At least I think. It was a voice I’d never recognized before, and who else would be asking about such things?”

I felt like the floor shifted under me. I suspected there was only one person who would be interested in these topics besides myself. And without anymore pack ties, Mira’s suspicions were likely right. It was very possible that Scott was collaborating with the rogues now.

"Thank you," I whispered. She turned away quickly, clearly afraid of being caught.

I took the stairs, boots echoing on the polished floor as I hurried down as quickly as I’d dared.

Scott had lied to me because he wanted to misdirect me. But how and away from what? Clearly, he was hiding something, and if it involved Emma and the rogues, it might just be the lead we needed.

But if he was talking to Jesse… then I hadn’t escaped the rogues after all.