by Ava Mason
Hunter straddled Andre and, bunching his hands into Andre’s shirt, he leaned into his face. “Apologize right now or I will kill you before you take your second breath.”
“Hunter.” I tried to warn him.
Andre’s hands were clutching at Hunter’s stomach and in half a second, they’d turned into claws. It would only take one swipe for him to take out Hunter’s guts.
Reacting quickly, I pushed my magic into Andre. It landed on his chest and I directed it towards his hands. Blue energy surrounded them, making it impossible for him to hurt Hunter.
Hunter growled, leaning so close their noses touched. “I said apologize.”
Andre growled in response.
Easton was back on his feet, racing towards us. Avery was crouched next to Hunter and Andre, ready to help Hunter or Easton.
I looked up at Christian and he gave me a nod.
“Hunter, stop.”
He didn’t move. I wasn’t even sure he heard me, he was so focused on Andre.
I felt Andre’s power flowing through the room, pushing against my magic. He was trying to siphon it off. I grabbed Hunter’s shirt and yanked him up. He struggled against me but I gripped him tighter and tugged with all my strength.
“Hunter, stop.” I used my Alpha voice, forcing it to cut through Hunter’s thoughts. “It’s okay.”
Suddenly, Hunter’s eyes snapped to me. He relaxed, leaning against my side, panting. Andre pushed Avery away, his claws already transformed back into human hands. I pulled my power back and it dispelled through the room.
Andre stood up and straightened his uniform, a scowl on his face, but the tension in the room melted away. Easton held his hand out to Avery, yanking him to his feet.
I met Hunter’s eyes. “Let’s go.”
Hunter nodded. I let him go and, pretending to look at my wrist, which didn’t have a watch. “Well, look at the time. I think it’s time we leave, don’t you?”
Andre gave me a death glare. “I’m not done with this meeting.”
“Whoops. We forgot about something we have to do. I’m sorry, we’ll come back later.” I met his eyes. “I promise.”
A promise to kill him, if we found out he was a traitor.
Christian was already out the door, with Avery and Easton on his heels. Hunter pulled at my hand.
Andre began to walk towards me. “Elizabeth. Don’t think this is over. You may feel safe with these men at your back but you’re not.”
I stopped. “Is that a threat?”
He rolled his eyes. “Of course not. But if I didn’t order the hit on you, who did? Whoever it is, is still out there. I would watch my back if I were you.”
I clutched my hands at my side. “That actually looks like something you should be doing, don’t you think? Being the protector of the Queen’s assets, right?”
His mouth dropped open, the only time I ever saw him stumble. He probably never saw himself as my protector.
He snapped it shut. “Of course. I am here to serve the Queen, as well as you. I’m looking into it as well.”
“You’d better.” My voice practically came out a snarl.
His eyes were fixed on me. “You’d better watch your tone with me. You are under the Queen’s protection but I am to be respected.”
Now it was Hunter trying to get me to calm down. He tugged at my arm but I didn’t budge.
“I’ll show you respect once you earn it. And don’t believe for a second that I’ve forgotten how you treated Emma and buried the news about the wolves’ ability to save your little reproduction problem. Or the fact that her husband has gone missing.”
He sighed and, brushing off his coat, went back to his desk. “That’s not your concern.”
“Are you ever going to let them go? Let them lead a normal life?”
“The Queen has been attending to them and their problems.” He glanced at the clock over his door. “In fact, I think she is there right now.”
I huffed, then turned away, allowing Hunter to tug me out of the office and down the hallway. “That’s right. So you’d better watch your back! In case the Queen feels like chopping off heads.”
Hunter burst into laugher and I doubted that Andre heard me but I didn’t care. We’d gotten what we came for.
We walked down the hallway, passing Lucian’s desk without a word. He scrambled to his feet, brushing his blond hair out of his face. “Hunter, wait.”
I paused. There was something inside me, some instinct, telling me that we should listen to him. Hunter’s eyes told me he felt the same thing. He stopped and broke away from the group.
Easton took my arm, pulling me forward and I stepped in line next to him and Christian. Christian looked at me, his eyes knowing, and grinned. He reached inside his pocket and pulled out a brass and silver astrolabe, an ancient artifact used to measure the stars. It was beautiful. It was also the second artifact we were tasked to retrieve, and it glowed a soft yellow. He handed it over and I slipped it in my bra.
Then we all walked together, down the hallway and towards the elevators. We passed office doors with sleek black desks, busy with important men staring at their computers and growling male assistants.
As soon as we reached the elevator, we stopped and waited for Hunter. He caught up with us, saying nothing, so we all entered and exited the elevator without a word. The same security guard glanced at the lump of my necklace through my shirt. When he saw us looking at him, his eyes slid away towards the screen in front of him.
My necklace, and the astrolabe, set off the alarm again but the security guard just waved us through.
As soon as we were outside, Hunter took my hand and led me towards the Range Rover. When we reached the car, Avery moved ahead of us to open the passenger door for me.
I stared at him as I slid into my seat. As soon as I was in the seat, he leaned over and, for a moment we were alone. His cupped my cheeks, pulling me towards him. “I swear I will do anything to keep my promise.”
Then he kissed me. Softly, gently, and I let his tender lips seal mine in that promise. When he pulled away, I gave him a warning. “You’d better.”
He smiled, nodding, then he shut my door. I smiled, warmed by his touch. The other doors opened and the rest of my guys fell into the seats.
No one spoke until we were out of the parking lot. Easton spoke first. “Well that was interesting. Anybody hungry?”
Christian answered. “What about that gyro place near your apartment, Hunter?”
“Hells yeah.” Avery’s favorite, apparently.
Hunter turned right, entering the lunch traffic. I looked at him. “What did Lucian say?”
“He said that Andre’s been working on a secret project for months. He’s been staying late and acting weird.”
“And that’s not normal?”
Easton laughed. “Yeah, that could be a normal day for him.”
Hunter frowned. “If it was normal, why did his assistant bring it up?”
I nodded. “True.”
Hunter took in a deep breath. “I don’t think he did it.”
I swiveled in my seat to look at everyone, gaging their reaction.
“I think he’s a bastard.” Easton looked out the window, watching the buildings as they flew by.
“Agreed. But that doesn’t mean he tried to kill Lizzy.” Christian looked at Easton.
“That also doesn’t mean that he didn’t.” Avery shuffled in his seat, getting comfortable.
Hunter interrupted them again. “There’s two things we have to consider. We can’t forget the main reason why we went there. Has he been taking the artifacts? And did he try to kill Lizzy? They could be separate.”
I nodded and he glanced at me. “What do you think?”
I paused, mulled over our conversation with Andre, trying to decide if he was telling the truth. My instincts were telling me that he was. “I think that he could kill me just as soon as look at me. He holds no tenderness towards me. So, if he really did want me dead
, he’d have done it by now.” A shiver ran down my back. It gave me the creeps just thinking about it. “And I can’t argue against his reasoning. He’s too smart to give the assignment to Avery.” I winked at Avery and he grinned. “If only for the fact that it’s very possible he would’ve succeeded by now. It makes me sick to think about it, but it’s probably true. And he’s too slick to bring in a tank to the museum. That was a mess for them to clean up. For him to clean up.”
Hunter shifted lanes; we were approaching the block with his apartment. The disposable phone rang and we all turned towards it. Hunter pulled it out of his pocket to answer. The guys continued talking, each voicing their opinions that pretty much lined up with mine. I turned forward again. There was something bugging me, but I couldn’t quite figure out what it was.
Out of the corner of my mind I heard Hunter on the phone. He mostly listened, giving only affirmative answers before thanking them and hanging up.
“That was Sophia. She said that Andre was with her all night last night. He didn’t seem to be anxious about anything. She also said that Andre recently scanned the SEPN, our work internet, and found a virus. He’s contained it but they’re going through it now to determine what it did. She’s going to his house tomorrow evening to look for any of the artifacts; he’ll be in meetings late all day.”
Easton spoke up. “If there was a virus, it could have started the paperwork for your mission, Avery. Sophia’s assistant would have prepared it without even looking at it. They have eighty to a hundred or so missions a day.”
“So I think we’re pretty much agreed that it’s a possibility that it’s someone else at least,” Christian said.
Everyone nodded in agreement and the SUV grew silent as everyone considered this.
Andre knew about my conversation with the Queen but he didn’t know what she’d asked me to do unless he’d bugged her room. I closed my eyes, going back to my conversation with the Queen. We’d gone over everything she needed, including the locations for the artifacts. If her rooms were bugged, he’d have known everything. If he’d wanted the mask, he would have left immediately for it, instead of showing up with a freaking military. And why didn’t he hide his own? It was just out there on his shelves, for anyone with the balls enough to take it. No, it didn’t make sense. Just like him assigning Avery to kill me. It couldn’t be him.
So who knew that we were going for the artifact, but not the location of it?
We turned the corner, passing right by Hunter’s apartment and it made me think of the first time someone tried to shoot me. It seemed random that time, someone who appeared to be a fanatic, a wolf hater. But then the attempts on my life only got more persistent, so I didn’t believe that was a random event. Someone wanted me dead from the minute I stepped into Aerwyna.
But who even knew that I was here? Sophia, Andre, the soldiers who brought me here. The Queen. And probably her two closest confidents, and my dad’s friends: Liam and Ember.
My mouth dropped open, in shock for a moment.
Could it be one of them?
Liam knew I had a mission but not exactly where. Virus or not, whoever was trying to kill me had access to the snipers, but didn’t know exactly which one would be chosen. They also had access to soldiers, who showed up ready to kill. But they didn’t show up until after we’d been there for a while. So they were ready but didn’t know where to go until after we were already there. Was it Liam?
“Elizabeth?” Hunter’s voice was soft but it broke through my thoughts. I looked up. The gyro place was right ahead, just one block away. Suddenly a black SUV broke through the intersection, ramming straight into us.
“Shit.” Hunter pulled back and then moved around it, running over the median and into oncoming traffic. A white truck blared its horn at us and we turned into the next intersection. Flying down the road, I looked in the side mirror. Two black SUVs were threading through traffic towards us.
The next light was red and I gripped the console, in shock. I glanced at the rest of the guys. Easton and Avery were leaning over the back seat, digging through the bags. Everyone was okay. The front of the SUV had taken a hit, but it was still running fine. Our tires squealed as Hunter turned right, going the wrong direction down a one-way street.
Clinging to the door handle, I squeezed my eyes shut until I felt a tap on my shoulder. I glanced back, Christian was holding out a bullet-proof vest. “Put this on.”
The guys were prepared, I had to give them that. Trying to keep my balance in the swerving car, I pulled it over my head, noting that Avery and Easton were putting on theirs. My hands were sweaty and the Velcro slipped as I tried to strap it. Then Christian was holding out a gun and a knife.
I looked into his eyes. The gun, great. But the knife? That was for close contact. Taking them, I swallowed hard and felt my wolf alive.
“Like this.” Christian showed me to tuck the knife under the bottom part of my bullet proof vest and I discovered a slit in it just for that purpose. My heart thudded as I slid it up, my sweaty palm making it slippery. I was grateful Easton had worked with me on them.
We careened around another corner into a back alley. Hunter pushed the SUV as hard as possible, shooting us down the road. We had a clear break but the black SUVs weren’t far behind us.
“Help him.” Christian gave me another vest, nodding at Hunter. Unbuckling my seat belt, I leaned over the console and slipped it over his head, then strapped it. His glance thanked me and I settled back into my seat.
A black SUV pulled up to my window. Their window rolled down and a man dressed in the same uniform as the men from the museum leaned out. Easton rolled down the window, just a slit. He pointed his gun, aiming for the man.
A freaking harpoon sailed out of their car. Easton shot his gun and the loud bang echoed through my ears. The harpoon landed in Easton’s window, then suddenly the car beside us slowed down and our bulletproof window was yanked out.
I yelped as Hunter swerved, trying to keep control over the car. There was a loud bang, and a rocket launched towards the open window. Straightening, Hunter turned down an empty road and the rocket skimmed the side of the car and then crashed into a building. He slammed his foot on the gas and we flew down the road, air whipping through the car.
“Did you hit him?” I turned around, the two SUVs still followed us.
Easton nodded. “I think so.”
Shit, shit. What was that?
I tried to think of what I could do. We were headed towards the lake. If we could make it there, we’d have more of a chance. It was outside the city. Less traffic, less people.
Another SUV came barreling down the road in front of us, headed straight for our SUV. Suddenly, it turned, sliding it’s back end forward so that it was blocking the road.
Hunter slammed on the brakes. We were trapped from both ends. The guys sprung into action, pulling out the rifles.
“Get ready, Lizzy.” Easton warned me before he shot, and it popped loudly in my ears. Avery was next to shoot. They returned fire and the bullets ricocheted off our bulletproof car.
Christian handed Hunter a rifle, then looked at me. “Trade places with me.”
Nodding, I pulled off my seatbelt and climbed in between Avery and Easton. After climbing into my place, both him and Hunter shot at the car in front of us.
Everything was so loud. The ringing in my ears got louder. I pressed my magic out, blocking the noise. I had my gun in my hand, but instead of shooting, I took in my surroundings. We couldn’t stay here long. We were blocked in on both sides by tall buildings. We were like sitting ducks. I was certain that we were outmanned and outgunned. Maybe I could use my magic to blast one of the SUVs out of the way.
I scanned the buildings. The building on our left had a back door.
“Lean forward!” I yelled to Avery. “We’re going through that door on our left.” I pushed him out of the way, then rolled down the window, aiming my gun. I was going to shoot it open.
Then, I hesitate
d.
What if someone was behind it? I couldn’t kill an innocent person. I was a good shot, but I wasn’t going to bet someone’s life on it.
There was a loud boom and I jerked back in my seat. Another one of those large rocket looking thingees was headed straight for us. Hunter and Christian opened their doors. Avery grabbed my hand, pulling me out, just as it landed. The car shook as it crashed through the front window, landing on the dash. A yellow gas spewed out of it.
“Hold your breath!”
I tried to hold it, but it was too late. I’d already breathed it in. The world immediately grew dim. Avery shoved me out in front of him and I fell to the ground. I tried to get up but my head was too heavy. Avery was halfway hanging out the car and I reached for him, trying to pull him to me.
Footsteps pounded on the ground.
Shit. They were so freaking loud.
Hunter was already passed out, lying on the ground.
Boots surrounded me.
“Search for the artifact. Only grab the girl. We can get anything we need from her.” A woman’s voice. The wall of combat boots separated and a pair of black heels came through, stepping over Hunter and coming straight towards me. She stopped and I looked up, blinking and trying to keep my eyes open. They were so heavy.
A halo of light highlighted her face.
“Ember.” I sounded funny, my word slurred.
She smirked. “Hello, Elizabeth.” She leaned over and yanked my necklace from my neck. “Don’t want you using your power, do we?”
Then everything was black.
I awoke to a stifling heat. My eyes were heavy and I tried to open them but I couldn’t. Something scraped across the floor, and my skin felt a prickling sensation run across it. Sweat trickled down my body. It was so friggin’ hot.
“Wakey wakey, little bitch.”
I moaned, my eyes still not opening. I opened my mouth, but it took a minute for my brain to obey my command to answer. “I don’t…” I swallowed, forcing moisture down my dry throat. “I don’t think I’m the bitch in this situation.”
