Free Intoxicating Magic by Deanna Chase Page A

memories always made me want to vomit. The only reason I’d endured was because David had been there taking care of me. All while Talisen had been infiltrating Asher’s inner circle. “Tell me everything,” I said with conviction. “How did you get hooked up with them and what exactly are you expected to do?”
    Tal leaned back into the couch, his legs stretched out in front of him. It wasn’t lost on me that since telling me his secret, he was much more settled. As if everything would be better now that I knew.
    I wasn’t so sure about that, but if he’d been keeping all this to himself the past three months, he was probably more than ready to talk it out.
    “Hunter. He’s been a Void agent since right after Beau died four years ago. He’s been working on the inside of this particular group for over three years. Three years he’s spent in vampire form.” Talisen visibly shuddered. “Can you imagine?”
    I shook my head and wrapped my arms around myself, trying to stop the shiver from his words.
    “But he’s finally gained their trust,” Tal continued. “So when he suggested bringing me in as someone who knows you well, they went for it on his word. It’s obvious most of them don’t trust me, but then I’d be shocked if they did.”
    Unease was circling in my gut. “How did Hunter prove himself?” I asked, too afraid to ask the same question of Talisen.
    He shook his head. “You don’t want to know, Wil. You really don’t.”
    “Talisen. Tell me,” I demanded. “If you expect me to trust him, I need to know how far he’s willing to go.”
    “Shit.” He glanced at the ceiling but then met my stare head on. “He brings them, uh, Void resources and feeds them information about Allcot’s corporation.”
    “Void resources? What does that mean exactly?” Normally I wouldn’t give a second thought about Allcot, but now I was worried. He had Beau Jr. in his care. Did they know that, too?
    “Some of the drugs they use on other vampires to control them. A spell here and there. He walks a fine line between feeding them things and info they can use versus anything too sensitive.”
    I knew the drill. Phoebe was my partner and roommate, for God’s sake. I’d seen her give up information when she was going after a bigger threat numerous times. But none of the stuff she’d given out had been about me. I was too close to this and was having trouble separating my personal and professional feelings. Maybe Hunter didn’t even know about Beau Jr. But Tal did.
    “And what about you?” I asked hesitantly. I wasn’t at all sure I wanted the answer, but I had to ask anyway. “What do you give them?”
    He grimaced. “Mostly stuff that’s readily available to anyone who cares to look hard enough. Info on your shop, what you make, your contract with the Void. That sort of thing.”
    I got up and paced. He was holding something back. I could tell by the way he kept averting his gaze. “Doesn’t seem like they’d bring you into their inner circle just for that.”
    He shrugged. “I don’t tell them anything they couldn’t find on their own.” Then he narrowed his eyes. “Or are you thinking I told them about your nephew?”
    I bit my lip.
    “God, Willow. You can’t be serious.”
    I threw my hands in the air. “Of course I didn’t think you did. But I won’t lie and say it didn’t cross my mind. I can’t help it. Three months ago, I wouldn’t have even considered it. But three months ago you didn’t work for the Void and were never more than a phone call away. Now… Everything’s different. I’m still trying to catch up.” I sat back, exhausted, and blinked away tears. The day had taken too much out of me. Learning about Harrison, coming to Eureka, being kidnapped, and hearing all this stuff I never would’ve thought Tal would be involved with—it all overwhelmed me. And all I wanted to do was bury my head under a pillow until we could leave in the morning.
    “Link,” I said as I