He’d make this freedom permanent. Nothing would stand in his way now that he was out.
He glanced around and caught sight of Logan sitting at a table in the darkest shadows, half his face obscured. A grin stretched across his face and he nodded. Damn, it was good to see his old friend. He turned and followed Fiona to the bar, not wanting to alert her to his familiarity with Logan, though he was certain that she was suspicious.
“Pint of Tennent’s,” she told the barkeep, then looked at Ian.
He nodded. She drummed her fingers on the bar, no doubt anxious to get the information she sought. But they were in a mortal pub, and blending in was vital.
Fiona handed over two bills after the barkeep set the pints on the bar. The pub was so dingy that even the golden liquid lacked its usual gleam.
They each grabbed a pint, then strode toward Logan, who surveyed them as they approached, his black eyes falcon sharp. His dark hair and pale skin hadn’t changed, but the shadows under his eyes were deeper. Ian wanted to hug him and punch him. He’d missed his friend, but damn, he’d expected Logan to get him out of prison sooner.
“It didn’t take you long to get him out,” Logan said to Fiona. He didn’t look at Ian.
“Nay. You were verra convincing this morning. And doona bother pretending you doona know him. There’s something between you two,” Fiona said.
Logan shrugged. “You’re brave, then, if you’ve come here believing that Ian MacKenzie and I are in league together. One of you against two of us.”
“Desperate,” Fiona said. “And I can protect myself.”
“That, I am aware of. You’ve been quite aggressive in your hunt for the Book of Worlds.”
“Exactly. Desperate enough to be dangerous. I’ve hunted that book for ten years. I should have found it years ago, and I’m running out of time. It’s the only reason I’m taking this chance.”
“Ironic, isn’t it, that you were hunting me for the theft of the amulet, yet I came to you with something you want even more?” Logan asked.
Amulet? Ian wanted to ask, but Fiona spoke.
“Aye. It’s makes me nervous. You didn’t give me time to ask this morning, but I assume that in exchange for giving me information about the book, you want me to forget you have the amulet?”
“Exactly. You’re tenacio
us. The last thing I want is the university on my trail for something like the amulet.”
Of course he wouldn’t want the university knowing much about him, Ian thought. Not with his secrets.
Fiona scowled, then nodded. “Tell me about the book. I’ll forget you have the amulet.”
“Excellent.” Logan said.
“Good. Tell me why the hell the book is in a human museum.” Fiona asked. “It shouldn’t be there.”
“I put it there.”
Well, that was unexpected, Ian thought.
“What?” Fiona nearly shrieked.
“I bartered it to a god. He had something I wanted. We agreed to drop off our items at neutral locations to make the trade. Except, I didn’t pick a neutral location.”
“Why?” Fiona’s voice was breathless with fear, as if she knew what was coming.
“I’m betting that the god wants to destroy the covenant and reignite the Divine War,” Logan said. “I don’t want that to happen. I quite like earth the way it is. But I wanted what he had to trade more. So I’m giving the university—and you—a chance to recover the book first. With his help.” Logan nodded at Ian.
Ian tipped his head back slightly. Good man, Logan. Cunning, as always. Ian had no doubt that Logan spoke the truth. It was precisely like him. Self-interested, yet if given the opportunity, he leaned toward doing right. He’d deny it, but it was in his nature. Seeing that the covenant was in safe hands at the university made sense. Ian might hate the institution, but it was doubtlessly the best place for the book. Everything about this deal worked out in Logan’s favor. As usual.
“You selfish fucking bastard! If the covenant is destroyed, there are at least a dozen ancient pantheons that would take the opportunity to come to earth to war for worshippers.” Fiona’s voice was horrified.
“True,” Logan said. “And the mortals would certainly fight to defend their beliefs. The ancient gods would have mortals fighting in their name. Nothing would please them more after millennia of being ignored.”