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Chapter 189
~Valerie’s POV~
I barely had ti to adjust my clothes before bolting out of the school gates.
The mont I hit the sidewalk, I pulled out my phone and booked the fastest cab I could find.
As soon as the cab arrived, I slid in and instantly took out my phone. My fingers flew over the screen as I typed.
:On my way to the hotel we last saw. Need to talk. Urgent.
The ssage was for Ryan—my last hope at sanity. Or, more accurately, Uncle Zade’s Gamma, who sohow always knew just enough to stay useful and irritating at the sa ti.
I turned my head—and groaned out loud.
Solstice.
Sitting right beside in the backseat of the cab, her feet already propped on the edge like she owned the ride.
"Hey," she said cheerfully. "Not letting you do this alone."
"I told you to stay back," I said, slumping against the window. "Like... verbally. Directly."
She shrugged. "And I verbally, directly ignored you."
"You’re insufferable."
"Thank you," she smiled sweetly. "Now buckle up. We’re riding into conspiracy territory."
I shut my eyes and sighed.
One day. Just one day of peace. That’s all I wanted.
My phone buzzed again, pulling out of my internal ltdown.
Ryan:Not at the hotel. I’m nearby, in town. et at the Seabrook Hotel. Room 602. Tell the front desk you’re my niece and they’ll let you through.
Seabrook Hotel? Was he switching hotels like socks now?
I nodded to the cabbie and gave him the new location. Twenty minutes later, the car slowed in front of the glass-and-gold entrance of Seabrook Hotel. Classy. Quiet. Expensive, in that flashy way.
Solstice hopped out first, pulling up her hood. "Okay. Try not to punch any bellboys, alright?"
"I’m not you," I muttered.
The lobby was quiet when we stepped in. Polished tile, warm lighting, a fireplace crackling in the far corner. A bored-looking concierge perked up when I approached.
"I’m here to see Ryan, Room 602. I’m his niece," I said quickly.
His eyes scanned the screen in front of him. "Ah, yes. Mr. Callen said to expect you."
A pause, then a glance at Solstice. "And this is...?"
"She’s with ."
The guy hesitated for a second—probably clocking her ’Definitely not a student’ look—but waved us on. "Sixth floor. Take the elevator to your left."
"Thank you," I said before dragging Solstice along.
The elevator doors closed and Solstice imdiately leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"I forgot how sketchy hotel elevators sll," she muttered.
"You chose to co."
"I choose many mistakes. Keeps life exciting," she said with a half shrug.
The elevator dinged, and we stepped out into a plush hallway. We barely made it to Room 602 when the door swung open before I could knock.
Ryan stood there, grinning like the world hadn’t just gone up in smoke.
He looked the sa—ssy black curls, tan skin, a shadow of stubble on his jaw, and that charming, sly smile that said I know things you don’t.
"Ladies," he greeted smoothly. "Still haven’t died yet, huh?"
He pulled into a brief hug, then ruffled Solstice’s hair like she was five.
"Stop doing that," she muttered, swatting his hand.
"I missed your grumpiness."
He stepped aside, gesturing us into the suite. It was sleek, clean, and filled with just enough ’dangerous bachelor’ energy to make wonder how many weapons were stashed around.
We sank into the large sectional, and Ryan sat across from us, one leg slung casually over the other.
"Alright," he said. "I assu this isn’t a social visit."
"No," I replied. "We ca to ask about... Blue Willow."
For a second, sothing passed over his expression—too quick to read. Then he gave a low whistle.
"Well, well. Soone’s been digging deep."
"So you know it?" I leaned forward.
He nodded. "I’ve heard of it."
My heart jumped in joy. That was a big step forward. Then he continued.
"But it’s not a place."
I deflated.
Ryan chuckled. "Sorry to kill the adventure vibes. But Blue Willow isn’t a club, a person, or even a secret passageway. It’s a password."
"A password," I echoed, staring at him like he just told Santa Claus had a criminal record.
"To access anything Nightshade-related," he continued. "Encrypted files, hidden safehouses, magical wards, you na it. Blue Willow is the verbal key to many doors, but only if you know which doors exist."
I groaned and threw my head back on the couch. "So... dead end."
"Not quite," Ryan said, rubbing his chin. "What else have you uncovered?"
I straightened. "I traced a few threads. There was a data burst three weeks ago from PSA’s server linked to a Nightshade contact. I tried to follow it, but it rerouted. And recently, I picked up a repeating glyph mark that traces back to a Thorn hideout in the past century."
Ryan blinked. "You found a Thorn glyph?"
"Yeah."
"Where?"
"On the back of a textbook in the PSA archives. It’s faint, faded, but Solstice and I traced it."
Solstice added in. "We think it was a dropped clue. ant for soone with a tie to Nightshade to find. Or at least to see if anyone would spot it."
Ryan nodded slowly, impressed. "Not bad. That’s more than most agents have managed."
"Then help ," I said. "I need access. Anything—people, files, contacts. Whatever gets closer to answers."
"You’re serious about this."
I t his gaze. "I’ve been serious from day one."
Ryan leaned back in his chair. "Alright then. I’ll reach out to soone. There’s a contact of mine who used to be stationed near one of the old Thorn hideouts. If anyone knows what ’Blue Willow’ might be linked to... it’s him."
Relief washed through , but it was cautious. I’d gotten this far only to hit brick walls at every turn. This ti, I had to be smart.
Ryan stood, walked over to a small safe built into the wall, and pulled out a sleek silver key card. He handed it to .
"Use this if you ever get to a locked door that feels... wrong. Sotis, Nightshade barriers don’t need locks—they need trust."
I took it slowly. "Thanks."
He nodded, then smirked. "Oh, and Val?"
I looked up.
"If you need to make a scandal disappear next ti, just tell first. Saves the trouble of watching you get slandered."
Solstice crackled beside .
"And six mates, even I didn’t see that coming," Ryan said softly with a smile like he knew more than enough of my personal life.
"You saw that?" He nodded, an answer I already knew but I was too stunned and decided to ask.
"And Uncle Zade?"
"So things are better left unsaid."
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