Chapter Fourteen
AN HOUR had passed since Eve and Aric returned from Thurland Castle, and Horvan had gathered all the team in Richard Deveraux’s banqueting hall, everyone seated around the long table, grabbing sandwiches and cups of coffee.
Aelryn was there too. He’d stayed after bringing Luciano Orsini to the hall that morning.
Speaking of Orsini, he, Jake, and Doc were talking up a storm at the far end of the table.
Horvan hated to break up their conversation, but it was debriefing time.
“Can I have your attention?” he called out. When silence fell, Horvan indicated Eve, who was sitting between Hashtag and Roadkill. Judging by the way they kept leaning in to kiss her or hug her, he guessed her mates were relieved to have her back in one piece.
“So… tell us what you found out.” He and Eve had already spoken the minute she returned with Aric.
“As missions go, I didn’t learn an awful lot,” Eve grumbled.
“I couldn’t tell you how many guards Theron has beyond the few I saw.
I couldn’t see how well fortified the place was or if they had a security system in place.
” Her face brightened. “Okay, maybe it wasn’t a total failure.
I noticed there were a lot of open windows.
We get another warm night, and that could play to our advantage. ”
Crank snorted. “What—we go in through the windows? They’ll shut them at night and turn on the AC.”
Eve laughed. “This is the UK. Firstly, Brits don’t go for AC the same way Americans do.”
Crank widened his eyes, clearly aghast. “How do you survive? Is that what made you so tough?”
She chuckled. “You need to know something. British summers are nothing like typical US summers. Sure it gets hot, but it only lasts a few days, a week at a stretch. Although if you believe the media, it’s a heatwave and we’re all going to die.
Most of the year, it’s a cool maritime climate, so there’s no need for AC. ”
Crank’s lower lip jutted out. “A week without AC? Babe, you know I’m like a flower. If we have to stay much longer, I’ll wilt in that kind of weather.”
Eve smiled. “Don’t worry, you’ll deal, I promise. Besides that, this is a listed building. They wouldn’t be allowed to install AC. The most they could do is have fans all over the place. And I just thought of something else in our favor.”
“And what’s that?” Horvan was more than happy with the outcome of the visit to Thurland Castle. Aric’s report had opened up all kinds of windows of opportunity.
“They were too complacent,” Eve mused. “They seemed unconcerned, like they were untouchable. Even Theron.”
Roadkill frowned. “If he’d been any more on the ball, you’d be hippo chow.” When Eve didn’t respond, he stared at her. “And you know I’m right, don’t you? I saw Victor’s maw, remember? He could’ve bitten you in half without much effort.”
She stared back at him. “All I’m saying is, they’re lax.”
“And that’s going to cost them, big-time.” Horvan glanced at Aric. “Tell them what you told me.”
Aric finished his mouthful of food. “I was able to go all over the castle. I counted about ten guards, and Eve nailed it—they’re lax.
” He placed a roll of paper in the center of the table and unfurled it.
“This is the layout of the castle, or as much as I can remember. The bits you need to know about?” He pointed to the sketch.
“This small building in the courtyard is their barracks. And they’re pretty comfortable in there.
Couches, fridges, TV, showers…. There’s even a fireplace, and where there’s one of those, there’s a chimney.
Good for dropping gas bombs down, right? ”
Brick’s face glowed. “Nice one.”
“Did you see where Theron sleeps?” Saul asked.
Aric nodded. “This room here, on the second floor. I went inside.”
“How do you know it was his room?” Roadkill asked.
Aric wrinkled his nose. “Trust me, it was his. And talk about fancy. Four-poster bed, silk sheets…. Man, I came this close to shitting in his slippers. But I didn’t,” he added quickly.
“One whiff of that and Theron would know there’d been a shifter in his room.
” He pursed his lips. “But gods , I wanted to pee on his sheets.”
Everyone laughed .
“What about Vic? Where do you think they’re keeping him?” Crank stared at Aric. “Did you see him? Hear him?”
Aric shook his head. “No, but there are a lot of rooms in the basement. He could be in one of those. I couldn’t get into any of them.” His face fell.
Seth kissed his cheek. “You’re an awesome, brave kitty, and don’t you forget it.”
Aric flushed.
“Guys?” Horvan cleared his throat. “We’re going in tonight.” Heads jerked in his direction, and he saw in an instant he’d said the right thing. “Aelryn’s team is standing by, and if Aric’s right, we’ll outnumber the guards.”
Seth’s eyebrows went up. “If?”
Horvan smiled. “Sorry. Since we’re certain Aric’s information is correct…. Better?”
Aric snuggled into Seth’s side, sighing when Seth slid an arm around him. “Much.”
“What time do we attack?” Hashtag asked.
“Oh two hundred. Everyone should be asleep by then, all tucked up in their nice comfortable beds having sweet, pleasant dreams.” Horvan grinned. “And we’re going to be their worst nightmare.”
The murmurs of appreciation told him he’d read the room. His team was more than ready to kick ass.
“So here are the objectives. One, we find Alec and Vic. Two, we search for Valmer Cooper— if he’s still being kept there. Jake saw him with Theron, but that was then. Three, we capture Theron. And four—”
“We remove the caskets Theron is hiding, and take them to a secure location,” Orsini declared.
“Can’t we just open them and see what’s inside?” Hashtag frowned. “Those things are made of stone, Jake said. That’s some weight to be carrying out of there.”
Orsini shook his head. “We cannot open them in the castle. It must be done under controlled conditions.”
“Which means the archive,” Jake concluded. He glanced at Horvan. “Can you organize a plane to take me, Seth, and Signor Orsini to Rome? We’d need to crate up the caskets and get them to the airstrip where we landed. A cargo plane would do. Something that’ll take the weight.”
“I’ve already got Duke on it.” Horvan reached for his phone to confirm the transport .
“I’d go with you, but….” Doc’s voice faltered.
Jake took his hand. “I know, but you’ll have a really important job to do. You have to take care of my grandson and see what can be done for him.” His face tightened. “If indeed anything can be done.”
Horvan’s heart ached at the pain that surged through Dellan. He had to know this might not end well.
Wherever they take Alec, I want to go there.
Horvan sighed. And you won’t be going there alone. Me and Rael, we’ll be with you.
“I’m not happy about you going to Rome on your own,” Doc murmured.
“I wouldn’t let the three of them go without protection,” Horvan announced.
“I’ll go,” Brick blurted, and Seth gave him a grateful glance.
“Are you sure you’re up to this?” Doc peered at Jake, his voice laced with concern.
Jake smiled. “No, but I’m going to do it anyway. When we’ve got all the answers, then I’ll rest. I have to do this.”
“Can we go back a bit?” Crank’s brows knitted. “What about Theron?”
“What about him?” Horvan asked.
“Well, are we gonna leave the bastard alive? He’s way more dangerous than Fielding ever was.”
“Theron will remain our captive.” Aelryn’s voice rang out. “But if Jake and Orsini are right, we’re about to deal him a blow that will leave its mark. And we might yet have need of him.”
Roadkill gazed at Aelryn. “You really believe that, don’t you? That whatever Theron’s hiding in those caskets is dynamite.”
Aelryn nodded.
“I can’t escape the feeling that in our world—the world of shifters, that is—this moment is where it pivots.” Orsini shivered. “May the gods watch over all of us.”
“We have medical facilities on the outskirts of Manchester,” Aelryn told them. “There’s a clinic where we’ll take Alec.”
“A clinic for shifters?” Crank arched his eyebrows.
Aelryn smiled. “For everyone, but yes, mostly for shifters.”
Crank peered at Doc. “The ole secret shifter network strikes again, huh?”
Doc’s eyes gleamed. “We’re everywhere.”
“Do you think the day will ever come when all humans can learn about shifters?” Saul asked .
“One day, perhaps.” Aelryn sighed. “But not yet. You’re not ready for it.” He turned to Doc. “What facilities will you require?”
“A lab, for one thing. And isolation for Alec. We’ll need to tranquilize him for travel. And glove up his hands as a precaution.”
Horvan winced. They turned him into a killing machine.
Something you need to think about , Rael interjected. They did this to Alec. Who’s to say they haven’t done it to other kids? What if there are more Alecs out there?
Horvan didn’t even want to contemplate such a horrific idea, but they had to know. “Aelryn, how are your people doing with the medical records we got from the Maine camp?”
“It’s been slow so far. My tech team is examining all the laptops and data recovered. As soon as we find something, I’ll report back to you.”
Jamie cleared his throat, and Horvan gave him an inquiring glance. “Something on your mind?”
His face flushed. “It’s just… look, I don’t think I can be of much use to y’all. So if it’s okay with you, I’m going to catch a flight to Boston and go to the school. I’m not a fighter, all right? But I might make a good teacher. And if there’s a chance of that, I want to try.”
“You won’t stay away too long, will you?” Dellan’s voice quavered.
Jamie smiled. “Don’t you worry. Now that I’ve found you and Seth and…. Dad, I won’t be away from you for too long. And I promise to stay in touch.”