12 #2
I nod, jerking my chin toward the living room. He presses a hand to Kylie’s back, guiding her behind Kane and Blair, and I follow them in.
As soon as my ass hits the cushion on the love seat, I’m yanked back to my feet and pulled into a hug I don’t expect.
Kylie’s warm breath hits my ear in a rush. “I’m glad you’re okay. I’ve been worried.”
“Me too,” I reply with a smile, hoping the joke will do the heavy lifting at breaking the tension.
She laughs before rushing back over to the comfort of her mate’s arms, and Blair offers me an awkward wave and a smile.
The simple realness of how little we actually know about each other at this stage of a world-changing fight makes me laugh much harder than is appropriate, and the tension in the room ratchets back up.
“What the hell are you laughing about?” Rook asks, concerned.
“Nothing.” I shake my head. “Just…I almost can’t believe how quickly shit has shrapneled since we put our fingers in the fan.
Two fucking weeks ago, we were going to work at our blue-collar jobs and playing fucking hockey.
That’s it. Now, both of you are mated, we’ve made forever enemies of the elites and the Council, found out our mother had the blood of the four , kidnapped two women, got basically kidnapped ourselves and brought here, where I’m spending my days with some of the scummiest fucking vampires on earth, in the middle of this fucked-up shit, balancing blending in with preparation, and all the while, trying to…
deal with the effects of the call to my own mate.
” I shake my head. “It’s just come apart much faster than most things do. ”
“That’s because we’re trying to keep it together,” Kane says sagely. “The things you want to destroy hold together like glue.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “Glue formed in the minds of depraved, powerful men. They need a taste of our fucking lives for a change.”
“So, what are we going to do about it?” Rook challenges. “I feel useless just sitting here waiting for you to figure it out. But we don’t have access to anything electronic, and up until now, we’ve had exactly zero contact with the outside world.”
“You don’t need access,” I say, not bothering with filtering as the words hit me out of the blue. I can’t believe I didn’t realize it before now, but we literally come equipped with the tools we need, straight from our parents’ factory.
When they doubt me, drawing their brows together and sharing a look that I know all too well is to confirm I’m full of shit, I push harder.
“You don’t . Kane can sense intention. You can read minds when you’re invited in. But maybe, with my help, you don’t need to be invited.”
“What do you mean?” Blair asks.
Kane’s voice is unbelievably soft as he explains it to her. “Cal means he can be a vessel. We don’t have the access, but he does. If he opens us up to his conversations, to his interactions…we can read the people as though we’re there ourselves.”
I nod. “You’re already stronger because of your bonds. I think there’s a lot of stuff you could do if we tested your limits. You just haven’t had the space or time to practice yet.”
“Good. Then it’ll be your job to converse with as many people as you can,” Rook agrees. “Vampires, women. Everyone. Stay open to us, and we’ll focus on analysis. Surely there are some ghosts hanging out in these closets that we can use.”
“Though, there is one other option,” I add. “And I think you should consider it.”
“What?” Rook asks.
“The four of you should leave. The door’s unlocked now. Escape, and leave me to handle the rest.”
Kane scoffs. “Not a chance in hell, brother. We’re in this together. Kidnappings, murders, auctions, and all.”
I nod. I wish I could say I wouldn’t do the same, but I would. For my brothers, I’d do anything.
And I can’t deny it’ll be a nice change of fucking pace to feel like I’m consorting with these deviant fuckers for an actual purpose.
“All right. I’ll focus on Lucian too,” I say.
“I think there’s more there, and I think we’re at a real disadvantage if we don’t understand it.
I asked him some questions about Mom this morning, and I think there’s even more to the story than we realize.
More he’s not saying. Maybe even more he will if I ask the right questions. ”
Kane glances to Rook before tiptoeing into the next subject precariously. “And the fated mate thing? How’s that going?”
My chest seizes. I can’t tell them the risk I took last night. They’d lose their fucking minds if they knew the extent of how much time I spent in her room—that I kissed her knowing I had no choice but to leave her behind. But I know I’ve got to give them something.
“I…well…we…” I pause on a sigh. “I guess we… We know her.”
“We know her?” Kane’s brows pull together. “What do you mean, we know her?”
“Romy Spencer. From Boston Prep?” I offer.
“Romy Spencer is your mate?” Rook asks incredulously.
I shrug. “Evidently, yes.”
“Who’s Romy Spencer?” Blair whispers to Kylie, who, trying to listen to the rest of our conversation, puts a finger to her lips.
“And how’s it going?” Kane asks, his gaze searching mine intensely.
I shrug.
Rook frowns. “You did something stupid last night, didn’t you?”
“Stupid, maybe. Worth it, definitely,” I say, sugarcoating the full truth. “We got a chance to talk. I think she trusts me.”
“Talk, huh?” Kane challenges with a smirk. “Is that all you did?”
“Shut up, Kane,” I retort with a punch to his shoulder.
He guffaws. “Oh my God. I was joking. What else did you do? And more than that, how did you do it? Don’t they have the women secluded somewhere?”
Fuck it. Our best defense is a strong offense. I have to be honest about what happened.
“She’s in the room at the end of the ladies’ wing. I snuck in through the window.”
“Well, I’ll be fucked. I didn’t know you had it in you, stud.” Kane winks at Blair. “It’s always the quiet ones, babe. Always.”
I smile, taking the jab good-naturedly. “Personality traits aren’t singular. It’s the being quiet that requires a certain…boldness.”
Kylie laughs. “And what does Rook’s grumpiness require?”
“A pretty girl like you,” Kane replies, making us all laugh out loud. It’s almost as if we aren’t here. As if our lives are like they were before, only better.
I shake my head lightly, wishing like hell that were the truth. Rook, evidently, notices. “Ky, would you and Blair mind giving us three a minute. Maybe finish the breakfast you started?”
She nods, and Blair stands without a fight. It’s not that they don’t deserve to be included in every damn conversation—they’re involved in the stakes. But there are demons to deal with, for myself and my brothers, and I can’t in good conscience ask them to do it with an audience.
As Kylie and Blair disappear into the kitchen, I lower my voice to a murmur and lean in. “I…met our fathers.”
“Fathers?” Kane asks, his voice serious.
I nod. “Unfortunately, our features have very deep biological roots. I couldn’t deny their paternity if I tried.”
“And there are three of them,” Rook confirms. It should be a question, but it’s not. It’s the dot on an I and the cross of a T we wrote out a long time ago.
“Yes. Rook’s father, Nathanial, is the one who selected our mother. And then he shared her with two of his brothers, Ronan, Kane’s father, and Cassian…mine. And then they sold her away to be used until she died.”
Rook curses, his jaw so hard I could break glass on it.
“Trust me, whatever vile picture you have of them in your heads, they’re a hundred times worse.” I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “But they’ll pay for it. I promise. Every single sick bastard here will pay.”
Instantly, Romy’s face fills my mind, and everything inside me wants to rage over the mere idea of one of these vile fucks trying to claim her.
I will straight up murder before that happens.
“What exactly are you going to do?” Kane inquires, the taut line of my every muscle unmistakable.
“Where are you going?” Rook asks when the only response I have for Kane is to get up and head for the door.
“As much as I’ve missed you guys, I don’t think we’re going to dismantle the Elite Council with me hanging out here. I’m going to do my job. You guys do yours.”
“Aye-aye, Captain.” Kane salutes and Rook smiles.
It might not seem like it on the surface, but it’s the most reassuring response I’ve ever gotten.
If the Slater brothers have anything to say about it, by tomorrow night, this whole fucking place will be up in flames.
And Romy will walk away alive.