Chapter 606 Chapter 606
Asher stood outside the prince’s office, staring at the door. He’d already turned around twice to leave, but his cat let his opinion be known. He had to talk to the prince so someone like Raymond Hardy wouldn’t be grilling Journee for details. He nodded and then looked around to make sure no one had seen that or that he was standing in front of the door, looking at it like it would swallow him whole if he tried to open it. He really needed to go for a run and blow off some—whatever this was happening to him.
The door opened, and he jumped like he’d just been caught doing something he shouldn’t. The prince gave him an amused look.
“Asher, right?” He glanced over his shoulder, “did you need to see me?”
Asher nodded and stood taller, “yes, sir, if you have a minute.”
Devin snorted. “Drop the sir part, and I have five.” He stepped back, “Come on in.” Asher, moved by him, “Ignore the disaster. I had to bring everything from Arcadia here, so I know it’s in one location.”
Asher looked around at the boxes and stacks of files everywhere. “This place is pretty great.” He shrugged, “much better than in the city.”
Devin closed the door and went over, and leaned against his desk, “the headquarters in the city is still operating, just not anything important—for now.” He waved his hand. “We just have to figure out where we’re going to put the prisoners from now on.” He rubbed his hand over his jaw. “Until we know that we have all those spying for Tomas.”
Asher jammed his hands in his pocket. “I can’t wait until we start shutting it all down.” He cringed, “We’ve been doing great lately, but knowing we’re shutting it down for good, that’s different.”
“I agree.” Crossing his arms over his chest, he continued to look at him, “You needed to see me?”
Asher blinked in slow motion; if he were human, he’d say he was coming down with a cold with the foggy way his brain was. At least he’d heard that happened. Unable to stand still, he pulled his hands out of his pockets and shifted his position. “Yes. Sorry,” he gave him a wide-eyed look, “just processing a lot right now.”
Devin snorted, “I feel that.”
“I wanted to know if I could talk to Journee—instead of Raymond Hardy, you know—” the babbling commenced without authorization. “—you know, we—we don’t know what she’s been through or-or where she was,” he lifted his hands and let them slap onto his hips, “being that she is, was, part of my clan, I thought…”
“She might trust you more?” Devin perched on the edge of the desk. “You did find her, and you have her pup.” He grinned. “Cute little thing. Sharp teeth.” He looked at his hand and crossed his arms over his chest. “I can suggest it to Raymond, but generally, he pre-screens before anyone else interrogates…”
Asher stepped forward, his hand out, “I just,” he jerked his hand back, hoping it hadn’t been taken in a threatening way to the prince. “I need to speak to her, sir—prince.”
Devin raised an eyebrow and looked amused. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“No,” Asher shook his head, “maybe,” he scowled at the floor for a second, “I believe,” he rolled his eyes, “my cat is convinced,” that sounded ridiculous, “I think maybe…”
“Asher.” The prince said his name in a clipped way.
Asher raised his chin and looked at him.
Devin smirked. “There’s only one thing that can make a man ramble on the way you are.”
“There is?”
“Yeah.” He straightened away from the desk. “She’s your mate?”
Asher nodded, afraid that if he opened his mouth again that more random garbage would flow out of it.
“That’s,” Devin blew out a breath, “not knowing where she’s been all these years,” he gave him a serious look, “what’s your take on her? Rayne wants to believe that she’s like Leah and defied the odds and made it back,” he shrugged. “Raymond is feeling burned after Allen Dunlap and trusts no one.”
“I don’t know. She was stuck in cat form when I found her, and after her screaming,” he motioned to the door, “when she shifted back, I haven’t spoken to her.”
Devin cringed. “That had to suck.” Asher watched him take a deep breath and exhale slowly, “Okay, I’ll tell Raymond you are talking to her first, and we’ll see how it goes from there.”
Asher let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Thank you.” He cleared his throat. “I just need to know, you know?”
“I get it.” Devin motioned to the door. “I’m glad it’s not me, but I understand.” He nodded his head. “Now I need to go find Blaise.”
Asher thought he’d feel better knowing that Raymond wouldn’t grill Journee, but now he felt nervous, which was worse. “Thank you.” He stepped out of the room and paused. “Any idea when we’re going back out?”
Devin closed the door and shook his head. “We’ll know more in the next day or so, getting reports from those watching places.” He started walking. “You bunch, all of you always want to get back on the road.” He waved his hand. “I’d just like one day where I knew I could sit down for five minutes and do nothing.”
Asher stopped at the hall he recognized that led to the medical area. “We just want to shut it all down.”
“Amen to that,” Devin called over his shoulder and kept going.
Asher looked at the hall that led to where he’d last seen Journee and stood there. His cat prodded him. What if he was wrong and she wasn’t his mate? What if she was and was sent back by Tomas to spy on them? He scowled. Spy or not, someone still had to talk to her, and after what she’d been through in the last day, it was probably better it was him. It’s not like she was going to shift and take off, not with that injury. His cat let him know that standing still wasn’t working for him. “I’m going. There’s a lot to consider.” The animal conveyed the equivalent of rolling its eyes at him. Asher started walking. Once he was through with this, he was going to go for a run. His cat was usually agreeable, but today, this whatever it was, he was not enjoying it.