by Susan Bliler
Monroe straightened his jacket again, stepping over Remy’s sprawled form as he made his way to his office. “He came after me, and got what he deserved.”
“You can’t…” King shook his head. “What’s gotten into you?”
Monroe spoke as he walked. “Eden has requested to leave StoneCrow. I need to discuss her security.”
King’s head jerked up, and he turned to watch Monroe walk away. “You’re letting her go?” Incredulity laced his tone.
“It’s what she wants.” Then Monroe disappeared down the hall, hearing King hiss, “Son of a…”
***
Seated behind the desk in his office, Monroe frowned up at King who stood planted in front of the desk.
“You knew?” Monroe accused.
King rubbed a hand over the back of his neck, looking contrite. “Yeah. Me, Bishop, Recker, Conn, Tyce, and Aries.”
“Christ,” Monroe muttered, and King winced in sympathy.
Monroe and Tyce were more competitive with each other than any two other beings he’d ever seen. For Tyce to have information on StoneCrow Walkers that the StoneCrow Dominant himself didn’t was unheard of, and another reminder to Monroe of just how absent he’d been from his station during the mess with Eden.
“I made a mistake,” Monroe offered, in rare show of repentance.
King sighed, knowing the Dominant wasn’t referencing the attack on Remy, but the fact that he’d sent Delain after Harlow. “It was one hell of a mistake to make, Crow.”
Monroe’s clear blue eyes flashed dangerously. “I’ve had more pressing issues than keeping tabs on everyone else’s love life!” He lowered his head, frowning up at King from beneath dark, furrowed brows. “I also didn’t expect any Walkers to go claiming mates while we were engaged in a fucking war.” He shook his head with a snort, muttering, “Leave it to Remy fucking McCabe.”
King grinned, crossing thick arms over his chest. “He would find the most inopportune time wouldn’t he? It’s his style though. Find the most difficult path, and take it.” He shook his head and reiterated, “Remy fucking McCabe.” Inhaling deeply, King lowered his arms to shove off the wall he’d been leaning against. “You ready for him?”
Monroe’s eyes cut from King to the door. Taking a moment to roll his head from side-to-side, he finally looked at the door once again, this time with a sneer on his lips.
Monroe was in rare form, and King was honestly worried for Remy. Walking to the door, King stepped into the hall to speak with Remy before granting him access.
Remy, who’d been pacing the length of the outer office, stilled at the sight of King before stalking toward the door. King placed a hand on his chest to halt his advance.
“Hey!” King barked.
Remy’s glowing red eyes jerked to King’s.
“Listen and listen well, McCabe. The Domina has just asked to leave StoneCrow.”
The admission had Remy’s frown slipping a little.
“She requested this mere moments before you attacked the Dominant. Go after him again, and I won’t be able to stop him. He’s nearly feral.” King removed his hand from Remy’s chest and scowled down at his fellow Walker. “Choose your words wisely.” Then he stepped back and opened the door, ushering Remy inside.
As usual, Monroe sat rigidly behind his desk. The once impeccable office now looked like a damn war room. Maps lay across any and every flat surface, while several headsets used for communicating with the human Sentries were strewn about the tables dotting the room. The room reeked of rage, and when Remy’s eyes met Monroe’s, the fury emanating from the Dominant was nearly palpable. Remy inhaled slowly as he approached, attempting to retain his control.
“My Angel was taken by Delain,” Remy clipped out. “Where did you send them?”
Monroe’s jaw worked as if he was fighting to retain control. “I was unaware of your claim. You know,” he canted his head, his eyes narrowing a fraction, “with the whole, ‘Harlow can go from or stay on my team. She means nothing to me’ speech. You remember that, right?”
Remy’s expression darkened. He wanted to throw the fact that Eden had despised Monroe when they’d first met in his face, but after King’s warning, he knew it was bad timing. “Things change,” he ground out. “You know this!”
Monroe’s eyes dipped to Remy’s throat. “She bears your halo?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve claimed, collared, and bound her?”
Remy heaved a great sigh. “I’m still afflicted.” His body tensed. “I had to go after Nyree and Rohm. There was no time…”
He didn’t finish. He didn’t need to. Monroe knew what he meant.
Relaxing back in his chair, Monroe offered, “I got a call from our traitor, the same traitor who warned us of the attack. The traitor Bellis StCroix is bringing to me as we speak. The red the Megalya smeared on Harlow wasn’t paint. It was oil, and Megalya blood.”
Remy paled.
“One of them marked her as his mate. The blood is some sort of beacon that calls him to her. Our traitor informed me that the only way to break that signal is for Harlow to be fully mated. If I’d have known…” He shook his head. “Regardless, Delain has her. I told him to take her from the Estate. They know this place now, so he had to run with her, hide her.” His eyes pinched at the corners as he studied Remy. “I didn’t say where, but Commander Drago has informed me that Delain asked about his underground bunker.” A sinister grin took his lips. “You remember the one.”
Remy swallowed hard at the reminder. He’d taken Conn’s Angel, Aries, from the bunker under the belief that she was Mason’s sister. He’d been trying to get back at Mason for hurting him, and in the end, the only one hurt had been Aries. It was something Remy desperately wanted to forget, but lately it seemed reminders of the ass he’d been then were being thrown in his face at every turn. He didn’t care, he couldn’t. Harlow was his only concern now.
Turning, Remy was stalking from the room when Monroe’s words halted him.
“I’ve tried to contact Delain. “He’s either too far away, or underground in the bunker.” Monroe stood from his chair, planting fisted hands on his desk as he leaned forward. “You may want to stop at the infirmary and ask Jenny if she has any information on a dual claiming. Nyree said Delain collared Harlow before he took her. It’s never happened before, not to my knowledge.” He straightened. “There may be issues with conflicting halos on one Angel.”
“There’ll be no issues,” Remy snarled. “That fucker’s halo is coming off!”
“Delain has been searching for an Angel for quite some time.”
“Fucker’s got mommy issues!”
King stepped forward. “He’s been estranged from his mother for years, not by his choice. That’s hardly mommy issues.”
“And that’s hardly my fucking problem,” Remy snarled. “He’s looking for his Angel, fine! But he’s not taking mine!”
Monroe drew Remy’s attention. “Does Mason know you’re claiming his sister?”
Remy’s chin dipped, and he snarled in clear challenge. “I need no man’s permission to claim what is mine!”
Monroe and King watched him storm from the office. Monroe looked to King with a bored expression. “Follow him. If he doesn’t stop to see Jenny, find out what she knows and relay that to him through the mist.”
King pulled his chin down in a nod and took a few steps toward the door before he faltered. “The Domina?”
“Is leaving us.” Monroe’s expression darkened. “She’s asked to go back to what she thinks of as her source…her home.” He said the word with clear disdain, not an ounce of him believing for a moment that Eden had any home aside from the one with him and their children. He lowered into his chair. “Aries will be her personal guard for the duration.”
King waited. He knew Monroe well enough to know the Dominant wouldn’t let his Angel off the Estate with so little security.
“Two teams will ghost,” Monroe continued. “You’ll be in
command.”
“What about the Estate?” King asked, worry etched in every line of him.
“Tyce and his men are going back to Apex.”
That surprised him. King had been aiding the visiting Dominant while he’d run the Estate in Monroe’s absence. King asked, “Do they know that?”
“They will,” Monroe supplied.
“If Tyce is gone, and I’m going out on mission, then who’ll…”
Monroe didn’t let him finish. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, resting his elbows on the armrests. “I am.”
That had King’s brows hiking in shock.
“My Angel has chosen time away from me, and my children are at Apex.” Dark brows speared down as Monroe’s eyes transitioned to black. “I’ve had nothing but hours to think about what it means if she doesn’t come back. Hours to think what I could have done to prevent this. Hours to think…” He stilled, his eyes taking on a far off look. “Hours to think how easy I’ve been on them.”
There was no need to question who “them” was.
“I’ve spent hours fantasizing about what I’m going to do them. To him!”
“Him?”
“Odium,” Monroe said the word like it was poison on his lips.
King paced away from the door, moving closer to Monroe’s desk. “Who is this Odium?”
“Their leader,” Monroe supplied with a sneer. “Their source.” His lips twisted into an evil grin. “Their end!”
His words sent chills blasting up King’s spine. He hadn’t seen the Dominant like this in a very long time. Blood thirsty!
“Go.” Monroe jerked his chin toward the door before dropping his gaze to the stack of paperwork on his desk. In a highly uncharacteristic move, he used his arm to sweep the stack off onto the floor. “Best two teams are with you, but send me a team of six. I don’t believe in serving my revenge cold.” He looked up at King from beneath lowered brows. “Move, Sentry!”
King jerked his chin down in a nod and hurried from the office. In the hall, he realized his adrenal glands were exploding, dumping adrenaline into his system. The Dominant was back, and all hell was about to be unleashed on the fucking Megalya. A burst of giddy anticipation tore through him, only to be tinged by regret. The Dominant was taking the Skin Walkers to war, and King would miss out. Thinking though on his assignment, his chest puffed out. Monroe had chosen him for the most significant task. King would guard the Domina, and with any luck she’d find herself. It’d be phenomenal to gift Monroe his Angel when he returned from dealing with the fucking Megalya.
Chapter 20
Eden sat at a table in the cafeteria pushing lumpy mashed potatoes around her plate with a fork. Tonight was her last night at StoneCrow. Tomorrow, she was going back to the city at her request. Monroe had secured her an apartment, yet the prospect of leaving this place suddenly seemed terrifying. Worse, her “bodyguard” Aries Drago was ghosting her everywhere without actually engaging her, and right now, Eden needed a friend.
“What it do, fool?”
Eden’s eyes snapped up as a short female with dark, spiky hair claimed a seat across from her. She was wearing tight jeans tucked into combat boots and a baggy hockey T-shirt twisted into a knot at her hip. It took her a moment to register that it was the woman who’d waited on them at the Crow’s Nest.
“Uh…, hi?” Eden frowned.
The woman smirked before looking down at Eden’s tray and curling her lip in disgust. “Uh, yuck.” She grabbed Eden’s tray and shoved it aside. “If you want good food, you need to come up to the Crow’s Nest.” Her brows furrowed as she shook her head. “What is that lumpy shit?”
“Potatoes.” Eden replied.
“I sincerely doubt it.”
Eden set her fork down. “Umm, who are you?”
“Oh!” The woman smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, forgot that you forgot. I’m Cindy KillsPrettyEnemy.”
Eden’s mouth fell open. “Your last name is KillsPrettyEnemy? Seriously?”
Cindy winked. “Bad as fuck, right?”
Eden nodded with a grunt. “Yeah.”
“Anyway…” Cindy leaned forward as if about to divulge a secret. “I think you need a girl’s night.”
Eden glanced at where Aries stood by the wall, watching their interaction curiously. “I don’t think I...”
“Oh, you can.” Cindy turned and pointed directly at Aries before waving the woman over.
“Hey, Cin,” Aries offered. “What’s up?”
“Drinks. Lots and lots and lots of drinks.”
Eden looked from Cindy to Aries and waited. It took about two seconds for Aries to start shaking her head. “No. Fuck no!”
“It’s already done.” Cindy smiled devilishly. “I’ve got a car, I’ve got us an escort, and…” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a wad of cash. “I’ve got first round.”
“Are you trying to get us fucking killed?” Aries hissed.
Cindy looked at Eden, her brows raised as she huffed, “Exaggerate much, Aries?”
“Exaggerate?” Aries dropped into the seat across the table from Eden and Cindy, leaning in, “Imagine for a second…Just. One. Second. What Monroe would do if we snuck Eden into town.” She shook her head again. “I like my teeth in their current location, thank you very much!”
Her words made Eden frown. “Monroe wouldn’t hit a female…” She looked at Cindy. “Would he?”
Cindy grinned and stared pointedly at Aries. “He might make an exception. Still…”
“NO!” Aries shoved up from the table. “No, Cindy. I fucking mean it. No! No, no, NO!”
Thirty minutes later, Aries had her sweaty little hands in a death grip on the steering wheel of the truck she was maneuvering on the icy roads toward town. Beside her, Cindy was shuffling through her smart phone seeking out a playlist.
“Ooooh, Guillotine it is!” Music blared to life through the truck’s speakers. Cindy clapped her hands and pointed at Aries before leaning in and singing to her. Aries’ response was to frown hard at Cindy while checking the rearview mirror for the hundredth time. In the back seat, Eden watched the two women. What had moments before been mild amusement, blossomed on her lips into an outright smile. The two women in front were such a contradiction that it was actually comical. Cindy was carefree, and so excited that it was contagious, while Aries’ eyes kept flicking to the rearview mirror, her poor little knuckles going white as her grip tightened on the steering wheel. Something about watching the two women had Eden leaning forward to yell over the loud music, “HAVE WE DONE THIS BEFORE?”
Cindy turned the volume down slightly. “Fuck yes! Aries isn’t always at StoneCrow, so Lilly or Jenny usually comes with us, but we try to sneak into town at least once a month. ”
Aries visibly relaxed a fraction as she grinned. “Try being the operative word.”
Eden looked at Cindy expectantly, and the woman acquiesced.
“Conn and RedKnife worry about us going to town,” she jerked the thumb between herself and Aries. “But Monroe…” she blew out a breath and rolled her eyes. “He blows a gasket every single time.”
“Why?” Eden shook her head. “What’s the big deal?”
“You!” Aries snorted. “You’re the big deal. I mean sure, Conn and RedKnife are protective, but Monroe’s protective instincts where you are concerned are off the charts!” A grin finally lifted Aries’ lips. “The first time the three of us snuck off, he sent four teams, and both helicopters!”
“Holy shit!” Cindy shook her head, her smile slipping when she stared at Aries. “When we were surrounded by the teams of Sentries!”
“I know!” Aries breathed.
“Wait!” Eden held up a hand. “Four teams? And a helicopter?”
Cindy and Aries looked at each other, Cindy’s mouth falling open and holding for a second before she grinned. “Rich people!” She rolled her eyes. “I mean, who hires teams of bodyguards for their wife, right?” She snorted and pulled a face at Aries. “He uses the h
elicopters for business, but made an exception that night.”
Eden mouthed an ‘O’ and nodded, but something felt off. Why would a husband hire teams of bodyguards for his wife? It didn’t make sense.
“I don’t see any headlights behind us.” Aries checked the rearview mirror, looked back to the road, then checked the mirror again.
“Good,” Cindy snorted, earning her a hard look from Aries.
“You said we had an escort!”
Cindy shrugged one shoulder negligently. “RedKnife is on mission, and the Estate is short-staffed.” She winked at Aries. “Good time to sneak out, right?”
Aries’ fists tightened on the steering wheel and she ground out, “Worst time! Worst possible time!”
“What’s the big deal? You’re a Sentry. I’m a scrapper.” Cindy jerked her head toward Eden in the back. “And we’ve got the queen.”
“Queen?”
Both Aries and Cindy ignored Eden’s question.
“That,” Aries accused, “is exactly why we shouldn’t have done this! It’s only going to end badl…”
The truck was suddenly engulfed in bright, white light.
“What the!” Cindy leaned forward in her seat, looking up.
“Son of a bitch!” Aries slowed the truck to stop, the unmistakable ‘whomp, whomp, whomp’ of chopper blades finally registering over the music. “We’re dead! We’re all officially dead!”
Eden tensed in the back seat, fear flooding her. “What is it? What’s happening?”
“Relax,” Cindy pouted, jerking her head toward Aries. “Just us. We’re the dead ones. You’re fine.”
A huge, black helicopter landed in the middle of the road facing the truck. A door opened, and Monroe ducked his head as he climbed out, buttoning his jacket as he strode toward the truck.
“Shee-it!” Cindy mumbled.
Aries dropped her hands from the steering wheel. “Holy fucking Christ!”
“What?” Eden asked. “It’s good, right?
Cindy was shaking her head, the very picture of gloom.
The back door of the truck opened, and Monroe held out his hand. Unsure what else to do, Eden placed hers in his and let him help her from the truck. He tucked her to his side and turned to Cindy and Aries. “Ladies. When you’re back at the Estate, I’d have a word.”
