by Lila Jean
Draven roared into the sky and flew off, toward their rendezvous point, and the dragon would shift and take the last stretch on foot to hide his route, just as they’d planned. Antony lifted the diplomat onto his back once more, bolting through the desert, putting as much distance between him and the smoldering warehouse as possible.
When he finally reached the fully-stocked van that served as their rendezvous point, he gently lowered Emmett onto the ground and shifted, ever vigilant, eyes surveying the desert and mountains as he waited for Draven to return. He tugged on a fresh set of clothes and got out some water and food, kneeling to tend to the still-shivering Emmett as the rodents and snakes of the desert night came to life around them, all of them keeping a wide berth.
“I thought I was a goner,” Emmett said, slurring. “I thought I was gonna die.” He laughed, but in his drugged state, it sounded more like choking. “I didn’t think King William would send you. I knew …” He coughed. “I knew …”
“Shh. You’re okay.” Anthony leaned one elbow on his knee, lifting a canteen to the battered diplomat’s mouth. “You’re okay, buddy.” When the diplomat had his fill, Anthony rifled through the electronics in the van, searching for another headpiece, since his was lost with his shift. When he finally found it, he stuffed it in his ear. “Zane, can you read?”
“Thank the gods,” Zane let out a long, slow sigh of relief. “That explosion was deafening. If you two—if you had—gods, I couldn’t live with myself if we lost you.”
“We’re fine.” Anthony smiled, grateful for his friend. “In large part thanks to you. Emmett’s fine. I’m going to get what I can out of him while I wait for Draven.”
“I have a visual on Draven, he’s clear of the blast.” Zane sighed, and Anthony heard the brush of skin along the mic as the tiger shifter no doubt rubbed his face. “Good, glad you’re okay. Keep me posted.”
“Roger.” Anthony knelt again beside Emmett, offering the canteen this time in the hopes he would be strong enough to take it. The wolf shifter obliged him, though his hand shook fiercely, and he missed his mouth a few times before he could take a swig. “Tell me what happened, Emmett.”
“I never saw who took me.” Emmett shook his head. “They beat me to shit, Anthony, knocked me over the head, injected me with god knows what time and time again.” The wolf shifter laid against the desert sand, chest heaving. “I thought the king gave up on me, really, I did.”
“That’s because he did, Emmett.” Anthony sighed and sat beside the dignitary. “I was ordered not to help you.”
“You …” Emmett leaned up on his elbows, staring at Anthony in horror. “But after all I’ve done for Wolfcrest, all I’ve done for the king, how could he …? How could he just …?”
“I’m sorry, Emmett, but it’s true.” Anthony rubbed his neck as he explained the highlights of what had happened since March since the dignitary had gone missing and Tina had fused with Damara.
“A goddess on Earth.” Emmett shook his head in disbelief. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
“Neither did I,” Anthony admitted with a wry smile, thinking of Tina, his heart twisting with possessive pleasure at the memory of his mate.
“You would mate with her, though.” Emmett laughed. “You would, of all people. You’re a good man, Anthony, and an even better ruler than your father, if I dare say so.”
Emmett sat upright, the movement clearly straining him, but he pushed through. “And you have my loyalty to the end. You saved my life, and for that, I owe you everything. My life, my soul, my loyalty is yours. Anything you ask, consider it done, even if it means I lose my life.” The wolf shifter bowed before Anthony as much as he could, his palm resting on the desert sand, his arm shaking from the effort of merely sitting upright. “I’m your servant and in your eternal debt.”
“Hey, now, I helped,” Draven said, walking around the van and leaning against it, arms crossed, a playful grin on his face. “Don’t I at least get a few errands run for me here and there for the assist?”
“Was that Draven’s smartass mouth I just heard?” Zane asked in Anthony’s ear.
“Yes.” Anthony chuckled. He couldn’t even get a moment’s peace around his new brotherhood, but he didn’t mind. They always had his back, any time he needed them, and he wouldn’t trade them or Tina for anything in the world.
“So, what’s next?” Draven sat beside them and downed the rest of the canteen. “Damn, I’m thirsty. Are there any more of these?”
“Passenger’s seat, next to the provisions.” Anthony gestured to the van. “Emmett, once you’re better, you’re going back to Wolfcrest.”
“Back to …? But you said he left me to die!”
“He did,” Anthony said with a somber nod. “That’s why I want you to spy on him for me. Don’t tell him we saved you, say it’s some human agency in the right place at the right time. Zane, can we fudge the records to omit the fact that Draven and I were there?”
“Yeah, I can.” Zane tapped furiously on a keyboard. “Five minutes tops. No one made it out of there to correct the record, and I can corrupt the SOS transmission they sent when you were discovered.”
“Good.” Anthony clasped Emmett on the shoulder. “You’re going to become my father’s new best friend, Emmett.” He grinned wickedly. “And then you’re going to tell me everything he does.”
“Are you sure about this?” Zane asked, a little hesitantly.
“Positive.” Anthony cracked his neck, confident in his new plan. True, it would help Tina’s image if Anthony and Draven got credit for saving Emmett, but truth be told, it was far more useful to have a secret ally deep in the trenches. “Trust me.”
6
Killian
Killian took point as he led Tina and Flynn through an abandoned high rise somewhere in Russia, becoming more and more on edge with every passing minute. The live updates coming through from Draven and Anthony’s rescue mission were both a distraction and a godsend, and thus far he was conflicted about whether or not to continue. He was caught between two aspects of his nature, the honor-bound knight who protected the innocent and who was tasked with rescuing the diplomats, and the protective mate whose sole purpose in the world was to guard the woman he loved. The conflict raged within him, his honor and duty at war with each other at every step.
“It’s clearly a trap,” he said, pausing, looking around a corner into the thankfully empty hallway as Zane led them through the labyrinth of half-finished construction, a sharp breeze cutting through the floor from a broken window somewhere on the east side. “This place is crawling with guards.”
“Well, it is a rescue mission,” Tina said under her breath, cracking a thin smile despite the situation. “It’s not like it’s going to be easy, but yes, we know it’s a trap. We chose to come anyway because we can handle this.” She set a reassuring hand on his arm, the warm sensation of her skin against his sparking embers of passion and need despite the danger of the moment.
Killian bit his tongue. It would have been different if Tina had stayed behind, and his primal drive to protect his mate was bordering on irrational as they thrust themselves deeper into harm’s way. It was his duty, his purpose in life to keep her safe, make her happy, and give her all she needed to live joyfully, not escort her into war zones and rescue attempts.
She’s more powerful than you are, he reminded himself, taking in a deep breath. She’s a goddess, and you’re a man.
Tina had many powers, but the strongest was her intuition, the guiding force of a goddess that was almost impossible to con. He had faith in her, one hundred percent, and needed to trust her.
But damn was it hard to fight the urge to throw her over his shoulder and carry her out of harm’s way.
“Zane, do they know we’re here?” Tina asked, tapping her headset as they peeked around the corner, sizing up their next move.
“Not yet. I still have the footage looping from yesterday, with the actual live feed on my other monitor.” Za
ne cleared his throat, the sound of him adjusting in his seat suddenly loud over the mic. “Rutherford is strapped to a chair less than one hundred yards from you.”
“Gotcha.” Tina closed her eyes, her veins glowing gently, her eyes fluttering beneath her lids as she accessed her magic, and Killian resisted the impulse to possessively touch the small of her back.
He and Flynn shared a loaded glance, and the demigod looked once more over his shoulder, as tense and on edge as Killian, but this had been the arrangement. Both knew better than to think their mate would allow them to lock her in a tower while they ran off on adventures. The fact that she would use her deep wells of magic to break out and hunt them down for storing her away, letting them dash off in to danger at her expense, was about the only reason Killian hadn’t advocated for that plan in the first place.
The six of them needed each other, always, and no one was less valuable according to Tina. To Killian, of course, his life meant far less than hers, and he knew his brotherhood would agree.
“Four guards that way,” Tina said with a nod to the left. “Six that way.” She nodded to the right this time. “Four coming up behind, but slowly, and their heart rates are calm. They definitely don’t know we’re here.”
A light flickered overhead, weak but enough to light the sparse hallways, no doubt a last lingering bit of electricity run on a generator somewhere far below.
“Left,” Zane said through Killian’s headset. “Tina’s right, four guards around the next corner.”
“I’ll handle them.” Tina closed her eyes, pausing, her body glowing and humming with life as she touched her magic. Around the corner, several men gasped, and seconds later, the sound of them collapsing on the ground carried around the corner. Killian carefully looked into the hallway to find the four men passed out on the ground, immobile.
“Good job, darling,” Flynn said with an impressed nod. “Almost there.”
“Where’s the room, Zane?” Tina asked.
“Dead ahead. There should be a door right in front of you.”
“Wait one minute.” Tina slowed, the flickering light overhead casting strange shadows on her face as she once more closed her eyes. “There’s only one heartbeat in there.”
“Just one?” Killian frowned. “No guards? Nothing?”
“Nothing.” She shook her head, chewing on her lip as she stared at the door as if debating what to do.
“He’s just sitting there,” Zane said, and Killian could almost hear the tiger shifter shrug. “The view is of the whole room, and no one else is in there. He’s alone.”
“I’ll bite.” Tina reached for the handle, but Killian gently lifted her fingers off the knob and shook his head, gesturing toward the door and putting his fingers to his lips.
At this point, they should stay quiet, just in case, and he would most definitely be going in first to serve as her bulletproof vest. No one would harm his woman, not now, not ever.
Killian filed in, handgun lifted, body tense as he surveyed the room and stepped slightly aside for Flynn to join them, careful to keep his body mostly in front of Tina. To his confusion, they saw a feminine figure sitting in the chair under a spotlight, rather than the bulky form of a demigod. Her head draped over the back of the chair, her red hair nearly touching the floor, her hands and legs untied as she sprawled over the seat.
“Who is this, Zane?” Tina hissed into her microphone. “It’s a woman.”
“A woman? It can’t be. I’m staring at him right now. I don’t … I don’t understand how …”
The click of keys on a keyboard filled Killian’s ear as he waited, more intent than ever to leave. His honor demanded that he continue, that he save this diplomat from a horrible death, but he refused to do so at the expense of those he loved.
“We should check on her,” Flynn said with a nod to the woman. “See if—”
“No, we’re leaving.” Tina tensed, eyes narrowing in suspicion as she looked at the woman. “Something’s wrong. Come on, now.”
“I wouldn’t.” The soft feminine voice came from the woman draped over the chair, and as if on cue, the door slammed shut behind them.
An audible click of a massive deadbolt thundered through the room as dozens of red dots appeared on Killian’s, Tina’s, and Flynn’s chests. Furious, Killian scanned the deep shadows along the wall and ceiling, but even with his enhanced shifter senses, he couldn’t see into the almost pitch black surrounding the spotlight in the center of the room.
“Those are from the laser sights attached to some very high-power guns, by the way.” The woman lifted her head and gestured to the red dots as she stretched, her heels clicking against the unfinished floor as she stood. She was beautiful, her slender frame and heart-shaped face appealing despite the cold glint in her green eyes. “Very good, Tina. You passed my little test!” The woman grinned. “I was told Damara had powerful intuition, and you delivered. Excellent to know.”
“Where’s Rutherford?” Flynn took a cautious step in front of Tina, but Killian tensed, ready to knock them both into the hall if need be. They were so close, and if he could only nudge them slowly backward—
“One more step, Killian dear, and I’ll open fire.” The redhead glared, those cold eyes piercing him, and he was certain that wasn’t a bluff. “You can’t expect to protect both her and Flynn, can you? You’d have to choose, and oh, dear, what a hard choice.”
She toyed with her hair. “And as for you, Tina, if I so much as feel my pulse quicken, you’ll be full of bullet holes before your magic has a chance to work on me.” The woman gestured toward the ceiling. “Clever, isn’t it? Want to know how I tricked you all? I do love a good reveal.”
“Tell me where Rutherford is.” Flynn’s hand balled into a tight fist, the sound of his tightening skin loud in the otherwise quiet room.
“Be patient, Flynn, goodness.” The woman smirked. “I knew Tina could feel heartbeats, of course, so I couldn’t rightly surprise you if there were gunmen in the room.” She gestured again to the ceiling. “It cost a fortune to install these remote-controlled turrets, all independently operated by soldiers several floors up to reduce lag, all simply waiting for my order to kill you.” The woman set her hands on her thin waist, chin lifted in victory. “Your little tiger is quite a talent, though. It was tough to trick him, but with a video feed loop and one heartbeat in the room, I did it. Once I’ve had my fun with you, Tina, I’ll have to put him to work for me.”
“Like hell,” Tina seethed, glaring at the woman with disgust.
“Oh, good, she’s feisty.” The woman laughed, the sound heartless and cold. “I like the fiery ones.”
“I’m finding you guys a way out of this,” Zane said breathlessly through the headset. “Hang in there. Stall her.”
“How did you know about Tina’s powers?” Killian asked, itching for a chance to raise his handgun for her heart, hoping the situation would arise once Zane found a way to get the red laser lights off Tina’s and Flynn’s chests.
“I make it my business to know things, Killian.” The woman tapped her finger on one cheek, eyeing him thoughtfully. “I know the ditch where we left Rutherford. I know what news channel will report on him first tomorrow morning. I know where you three will be once you disappear, never to be seen or heard from again.” She grinned wickedly. “But I bet none of you know my name.”
“Enough, damn it,” Tina seethed. “What do you want?”
“You, dear one.” The woman’s cold tone and the chilly glare in her eye contrasted sharply with her words. “I knew I’d be able to snag one of your precious princes in my traps but to get you, well, it’s just my lucky day.” The woman unclasped the necklace she was wearing, an ornate collection of diamonds and gold, and lifted it in one hand. “Now, you’re going to walk over here alone, so I can put this on you.”
“What’s that?” Tina asked with a nod to the jewelry. “To think, I didn’t bring you anything. How rude.”
“One wrong move from them
or one glowing vein on you, and I’ll riddle Flynn with holes,” the woman said, ignoring the jibe. “That’s a promise.”
“Zane,” Killian hissed, as quietly as he could manage, doing everything in his power to mask it as nothing more than an intake of breath as he tried to urge their resident spymaster to figure something out already.
“I’m trying, damn it, I’m trying!” Zane said, the connection crackling in Killian’s ear as the furious sound of fingers speeding over a keyboard filled the silence.
“So, what’s the plan, Cora?” Tina quirked an eyebrow, clearly trying to bide for more time, doing whatever she could to get the woman talking. “You’re going to make me look pretty, put a few shiny rocks on my neck before you kill me?”
“I’m not Ray, little one,” the woman snapped. “I’m no fool, and you won’t get me to spill my secrets so easily. Now come here!”
Despite the severity of the moment, the gravity of the situation, and everything at stake, Killian couldn’t help but linger on what she had just said. It was confirmation that this woman had not only worked with Ray but knew how she’d died. Even if they hadn’t been able to save Rutherford, coming here had given them an incredible lead, one that might finally solve who was framing Tina for murder once and for all.
“All lights will go out in seconds,” Zane said urgently in his ear. “I’ll unbolt the door, but you’ll have only five seconds before the system reboots, so you’ll need to get the fuck out of there as soon as the lights turn off.” He was breathing heavily, clearly nervous and on edge, and that only made things worse for Killian as he tried not to let the tension in his shoulders show. “Three. Two. One.”
In the following moment, several things happened at once. The lights switched off and the door unbolted, the loud grating sound echoing through the room. The woman growled in frustration and shouted, and with the sudden shift in the atmosphere, gunfire erupted in the small room, small bursts of red and yellow illuminating the otherwise pitch dark space. Flynn burst through the door, Tina in tow, and Killian blocked the way, using his impenetrable form to guard them against the gunfire as much as possible. Each bullet hit his skin like a bee sting, but he gritted through it, determined to get out of here alive.
