Page 68 of Peacemaker

“Wait,” I said, before he could hang up. “Have you heard from Clayton?”

“Yeah. He and Leo are already back home. No sign of the demon.”

“Thanks,” I murmured, and cut the connection. At least I didn’t have to worry about Shane, Clayton, or Leo. Angus and Rhys were still on my mind, but in the end, I sent them each a text and let it go.

With a sense of urgency, I spent the next few hours talking to every human who would listen. I spoke with reporters. I got on TV, YouTube, the radio.

Both Alejandro and Jade followed me around, my grimly silent bodyguards, and things went relatively well.

Until they didn’t.

I stood on the steps of the courthouse, speaking to the crowd that had gathered, happy to have microphones shoved into my face. I’d picked up a few reporters and some curious followers throughout the day. They walked the city with me, some patting me on the back, when Al and Jade allowed them to get close enough, some of them yelling threats from a safe distance.

When Crawford got word of my actions sent a couple of cops to follow me as well, along with a text telling me not to overstay my welcome.

The city is fragile and volatile right now. The mayor is furious. Don’t hang around, Trinity. It’s not safe. Go home.

I didn’t reply.

“I know you’re afraid,” I told the crowd. “We can help you. The supernaturals want to be your protectors—but they can’t do that if you allow the mayor, the police, and groups of thugs to continue abusing, oppressing, and enslaving them.”

“Not all of us want to see the supernaturals abused,” a man in the crowd replied. “Some of us fight right alongside you for equality. Our voices might not be heard, but we are here. Protect us, Trinity. We’ll help you.”

He was almost immediately attacked by a couple of men behind him, and the fight was on. Police waded into the crowd to break it up, but in seconds, the mob was out of control.

Crawford called me two minutes later. “Get the hell out of there, Sinclair, before you’re arrested for inciting a riot. Go home.”

Maybe my day of entreaties did some good. The humans were scared and hurting. I wanted them to see they had choices. It was a start.

“Call the mayor,” I said, as I’d said all day. TV would pick it up, even if the milling, fighting crowd didn’t. And then I walked away. I hoped they’d aggravate the shit out of him.

I dropped Al and Jade off at his car, and then I went home. It had been a long day, and I needed to touch base with my men. The potion loomed, and despite Angus’s reassurances, I was worried. I didn’t want him to carve off a piece of his flesh to make some damn anti-demon potion. He’d been hurt too much as it was.

And the rifters. It might not be that night, or the next night, or even the next. But the rifters were coming. They were coming, and maybe we were going to die. Maybe trying to convince the mayor not to leash the supernats didn’t even matter. Because maybe the rifters would kill his vile ass.

Clayton called when I was halfway home. “When I returned,” he said, “Angus asked Leo to follow him into Willow-Wisp to take his flesh donation. Leo just returned without Angus.”

And I knew. Immediately, I knew.

“Angus is in trouble,” I said calmly, though my heart was beating out of my chest.

“Yes. He needs you.”

“Leo?”

“He is back in the cemetery. I’ll meet you there.”

Angus was in trouble, and I felt it in my bones.

I didn’t draw a breath all the way to Bay Town.