Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
MIKO
My fury boiled, spitting like hot fat over a fire. Ready to destroy Lance and his cronies.
But I stood there as Orion got marched up the escalator against his will, Basil behind him, the shifters smirking at me.
Just call me a useless lump of shit.
My heart screamed in agony, the thumping like a death knell as I watched him leave.
Please don’t hurt him…
God, how fucking weak did I sound?
“Bye,” Lance called after them.
The prick came back to goad me, licking at his palm. “Tasty. Not my thing, but that doesn’t matter. He killed my lover, so he has to suffer.”
He really had me by the nuts.
“And the king?” I asked.
“Did I say you could speak?”
I kept my mouth shut.
“Orion won’t be dying, Miko. I’m not risking a potential payout from a fae king. I’m not a fool. But he needs a spoon or two of retribution shoved down his throat. It will make a nice change from your cock.”
The shifters tittered with laugher.
Yeah, so fucking funny.
I heard a door open and close, my mate’s footsteps fading away.
I’ll sort this. I’ll sort this.
Five more shifters filed onto the escalator with guns.
“Impressed by my arsenal?” Lance asked me.
“Can I answer that?”
“Yes.”
“Yeah. I am. You’ve got a gift for finding what you want.
” That wasn’t a compliment, but more of an observation.
Lance’s one positive quality was his determination.
He always seemed to come out on top. Even being disgraced and banished from London didn’t diminish that.
At his lowest point, Dawn came to change the game. Put him in this position.
Lance bowed dramatically, me his captive theater audience.
He fucking wished.
“You’re too kind, Miko. And so, so right. Anyway, let’s get down to business.”
“Release my pack.”
His right eye twitched. “No more negations.”
There hadn’t actually been any between him and Basil. “They have nothing to do with this.”
Orion’s cherry scent called to me, begging me to follow the sweet trail to save him.
Soon. I’m coming soon.
Just hang tight…
“Irrelevant, Miko. They are your pack. If I let them go, or if I find it in my heart to take them into mine, they will always be loyal to you.”
Afraid of my people, was he? Even with all those guns?
“Do what you want to me, but just let them go. You don’t have to worry.”
He bristled, nostrils flaring. “Who said I’m worried?”
Ah. My mistake there. “Slip of the tongue.”
“Want me to cut it out so you can’t slip up again?”
“I’m sorry. I’m scared for my people.”
True, but also an attempt to play to his inflated ego.
He smiled. “Are you really afraid, Miko?”
Ego stirred perfectly. “Course I am. You can smell it.”
A light chuckle, a deep sniff. “I can.”
And yours reeks… He couldn’t hide the stink of his unease. The best outcome for him was for me to be dead.
“Anyway, I’ve decided we’re going to find answers in Dunstable together.”
Great.
“This all hinges on you.” He made a gun shape with his fingers, pointing it at me.
“You’re the key in all senses of the word.
” He sighed. “How dull. Always you, isn’t it?
Always Miko Reyes being the golden boy, the chosen one, the dutiful werewolf alpha.
If it wasn’t for my curiosity, you’d be bleeding out at my feet right now.
Killing you would certainly be easier. And satisfying. ”
You could always rely on Lance’s curiosity to get the better of him. Taking me out and leaving the mystery of the heart of Dawn in the Chiltern Hills unsolved would drive him crazy. He’d have to see this place for himself first.
At least I wouldn’t be dying tonight. But my pack’s safety remained up in the air.
“You, me, and the troll,” he added.
“Me?” Trev asked, making a move to approach us.
Lance aimed his gun at him. “I didn’t say move.”
Trev froze, his big hands in the air.
“Along with some of my associates and some reassurances in place for me, of course,” Lance said.
I stayed silent.
“What are they, you ask?”
I nodded, folding my arms.
He looked me up and down. “Why would anyone find you interesting? Especially Orion. He seems like a sunny guy. Not like you.”
Spot-on, there.
“That’s irrelevant now. Forget him. Want someone to fuck to get him out of your system? Got a tasty wolf in my pack who’d love to give you a good seeing to. Heard he’s a wizard with his thumbs. I’ve been tempted.”
“No thanks.”
The prick showed me his thumbs. “I wonder what he actually does.”
No response from me.
“Okay. We’re veering off track here.” He laughed.
I wanted to rip out his tongue.
“Your pack will be going somewhere deep and dark. I’ll lock them up and carry the only key.
If anything happens to me, they die. I’m giving us a month to get there and for me to come back.
If I don’t, my pack stops feeding them. Trust me when I say they will have no escape route, and no chance of seeing sunlight again without the key.
If you fail me, you fail them. Understand? ”
It took all my strength to stop me beating him to death. I would. One day, I would. With my bare hands. “Of course, I do.”
“Good to hear.” He glanced around. “Let’s get this ball rolling.” He snapped his long fingers at his cronies. “Bring the vampire, keep looking for the other one.”
I couldn’t smell or hear Daria anywhere.
“I’m looking forward to this, Miko,” Lance said. “A road trip, a proper chance to catch up. I—”
There was a crash from above followed by hurried footsteps. Lance hissed impatiently.
Seconds later, a woman appeared at the top of the escalator covered in blood. “Sir! A zombie horde is coming!”
Daria appeared behind her in a blur of speed, snapping her neck. “Surprise!”
The shifter dropped, Daria speeding out of sight.
It was then I heard the hissing of the speedies.