Chapter Fifteen #2
Horvan frowned. “Who said anything about an execution? Is that what you think this is? Some kind of lethal injection? This is a dose of your own medicine, to prevent you from shifting.” He watched as the medic rolled up the sleeve of Theron’s robe, swabbed a patch of skin, then administered the injection.
Theron made no movement when the needle pierced his flesh, his eyes locked on Horvan.
“Is that stare supposed to intimidate me?” Horvan chuckled. “You need to work on it.”
Aelryn touched Horvan’s arm. “They’ve found Alec. I’ve had someone send for Doc.”
“Thanks.” When Aelryn didn’t remove his hand, cold flushed through Horvan. “What is it?”
Aelryn’s eyes were filled with compassion. “It doesn’t look good.”
Let me know when you see him . Dellan sounded anxious.
I will, I promise. In the meantime, you and Rael take the first train to Manchester. I’ll have some of Aelryn’s men meet you to bring you to the clinic.
Horvan prayed they’d be in time.
Theron opened his mouth to say something, but fell silent when Eve entered the room. Jake and Orsini followed her, and Theron blinked. “You’re a long way from Rome, Signor Orsini.”
Orsini shuddered. “I remember you. I knew the day you came to the archive that you were trouble.”
Theron snorted. “I have nothing to say to you. To any of you.” He scowled at Eve. “And especially you. Traitorous bitch.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere,” Eve said with a smile.
“It’s okay if you don’t feel like talking.” Jake stepped forward, and Theron’s breathing hitched.
“Don’t you touch me.” His words were more like a growl.
Jake huffed. “I don’t have to touch you. Fielding gave me everything I needed.”
Theron froze. “You lie.”
“How do you think we found this place? We couldn’t have done it without him.”
“He would never have—”
Jake cut him off with a wave of his hand.
“For the record, we’re not interested in anything you have to say.
You’re not the reason why we’re here.” He glanced at the wall of glass, just as eight men came into the room, pushing carts on which sat packing crates.
Then he returned his gaze to Theron. “ That’s why we’re here.
Whatever you’re hiding in those caskets. ”
Theron paled. “No!”
Jake widened his eyes. “Whoa. He’s scared to death. I mean it, Horvan. He’s not faking this.” He cocked his head. “What’s in there?”
“Nothing,” Theron said with a snarl.
Jake walked slowly toward him and stopped, his body rigid.
“You’re lying. That forgery I saw all those years ago? That’s why you had me taken, wasn’t it?”
“Forgery?” Theron’s eyes blazed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He gaped as one of the team opened the glass door and went inside. “No. You can’t do this.”
Jake smiled. “Correction. We’re doing it.”
Aelryn spoke into his mic. “We’re ready for you. Come and get him.”
“What are you going to do with me?”
Horvan nodded to the medic, who stepped forward, a syringe in his hand. “All you need to know is when you wake up, you’ll be somewhere safe—but nowhere near as swanky as a castle that dates back to the eleventh century.”
“A castle nearly as old as the oldest shifter records,” Aelryn added. “When they started building this place, Ansfrid and Ansger were alive. They might even have visited here.”
Horvan didn’t miss the flicker of fear that flashed across Theron’s face, and he couldn’t resist. “So what do you think the Gerans will say when they learn the truth? That there was no animosity between the brothers? That everything they’ve been told is a lie?
Because that’s what we’re going to discover in those caskets, isn’t it? ”
The medic injected Theron in the neck, and within seconds, Theron’s eyelids fluttered and his breathing changed. Before he slipped into unconsciousness, he fixed his gaze on Horvan.
“It doesn’t matter what you discover. No one will believe you. No one.” Then his eyes closed and his chin slumped to his chest.
“They’d better,” Horvan muttered.
Everything was riding on this.
Two of Aelryn’s men lifted Theron from his chair and carried him from the vault. Horvan glanced at Aelryn. “Keep him unconscious until he reaches Leighton Hall. Has Deveraux given you any idea where you can store him until you’re ready to leave? ”
Aelryn’s lips twitched. “Apparently, there are dungeons at the Hall. I think that’s a fitting place for a makeshift prison, don’t you?”
Horvan grinned. “Perfect. Does it come with instruments of torture?”
“Alas, they’re all long gone.”
“Pity.” The thought of putting Theron in an Iron Maiden…. He cocked his head. “Does Amazon sell them?”
SAUL STOOD in the middle of the hallway, confronted by a line of doors, all of them locked. Sing out, baby. We’re close.
“In here!”
Vic’s voice was faint, coming from the door at the foot of the narrow staircase.
Crank was there in a heartbeat, kicking at the base of it, slamming into it with his shoulder. “Vic, step away from the door!” he yelled before aiming his Sig at the lock.
“That doesn’t work, remember? Only in movies,” Saul yelled as he ran to join him.
Crank gave one more slam into the door, and it broke off its hinges. “Oh fuck. Saul, get in here.”
Saul double-timed it into the room to find Vic bound to a chair. He looked like shit, his skin dry and cracked so badly that it had bled. “Goddamn it. I’ll kill that son of a bitch.” Saul’s voice quavered.
“What’s wrong with him?” Crank crouched next to Vic’s chair.
“He’s been out of the water for too long.” Saul tapped his earpiece. “Bring my bag. Now!” He wrapped his arms around Vic’s neck. “We’ve got you, baby,” he crooned. Then he quickly undid the ropes and stripped off the grubby clothes, his heart quaking at the sight of Vic’s body.
Hold on, baby. You hear me?
A soldier came running into the room, carrying a hefty duffel that he handed to Saul, who ripped it open.
He handed Crank a bottle of water, then grabbed another and snapped off the top.
Crank, fortunately, followed suit. Then, very carefully, Saul poured the liquid over Vic, making sure it went everywhere.
“Oh, thank the gods,” Vic croaked.
Crank emptied his own bottle over Vic while Saul picked up another. “I don’t understand. ”
Saul didn’t take his eyes off Vic. “Aquatic shifters need to be near water all the time. Even if it’s just a shower or bath. They kept him locked up in here, and his body is going into shock. We need to hydrate him, then get him medical help.”
“I’m fine,” Vic croaked. Saul brought the bottle to his cracked lips, and Vic swallowed, although more ended up on him than in him.
“You’re a fucking liar,” Saul snarled. “Your blood is pooling on the floor.” He jerked his head toward Crank. “Tell Horvan to get that fucker Theron out of here or I’ll kill him, even if I have to take out our own guys to get to him.”
“And I’ll be there with you,” Crank vowed.
Saul cupped Vic’s chin. “Will it hurt you if I lift you?”
“Just get me out of here.”
He hoisted Vic into his arms, wincing when his lover gave a shuddering cry. He turned to ask Crank to help, but he was already storming toward the door.
“Where the fuck are you going?”
“To kill that son of a bitch,” Crank snarled, his voice breaking. “He has to die.”
“And do you want Vic to die? I—we—need you right now. Please. Wendell… don’t leave us.”
Crank turned back, grinding his teeth, his fists clenching. “I’m sorry. I lost my head.”
“Thank you. I love you.”
Crank calmed at the words, but there was still such anger in him. Saul wondered if it would ever heal.
“We’re going to get you out of here,” he said to Vic.
Vic managed a faint smile. “I knew you’d both come. Leave no man behind, isn’t that what you always say?”
Then he passed out in Saul’s arms.
Saul held him tightly. You’re going to be okay.
He had to be.
DOC WANTED to find Theron and choke the life out of him.
He stared at the man asleep on the bed. There was no mistaking him.
Alec resembled Dellan strongly. What shocked the hell out of him was that he appeared to be the same age as his grandfather.
His face was gaunt, his cheeks sunken. One hand rested on the pillow, and Doc shivered to see it.
The long fingers curved into claws instead of digits.
“Oh my God,” Doc murmured. “What have they done to you?”
This is going to kill Jake and Dellan.
“Doc, I’m not sure about this,” the medic at Doc’s side muttered. “Do we dare tranq him for the trip?”
“We have no choice. We don’t know what we’re dealing with.” He prepared the syringe, then swabbed the skin on Alec’s inner arm. Skin that felt and looked paper thin. “Be careful not to touch his hands. Wrap them in towels before we move him.”
“You’ve got this wrong, Doc. This guy is sixty if he’s a day.”
“And yet he was born last year, at a guess.”
The medic gasped. “Those fucking bastards. Let’s hope he’s the only one they’ve done this to.”
Doc would have a better idea of that once Aelryn’s team had finished going through all the records taken at the Maine raid.
How does the saying go? If at first you don’t succeed….
What worried him was how many times the Gerans would try again.
AELRYN WALKED into the bedroom on the third floor, a guard stationed at the door.
On the bed sat a tall man with short hair and piercing blue eyes surrounded by circles of dark flesh. His face bore the trace of faded bruises and healing cuts, as did his hands.
He regarded Aelryn with interest. “Who are you?”
“That doesn’t matter. What does is who sent me to find you.” Aelryn smiled. “I believe you’re acquainted with one of my team leaders—Rudy Myers.”
Valmer’s mouth fell open. “Rudy? He’s alive?”
Aelryn frowned. “You thought he was dead? What gave you that―?” He growled. “Theron, of course. Believe me, your mate is alive and well.”
“He told me my parents were dead too.”
That look of hope nearly unraveled Aelryn, and he hastened to put Valmer’s mind at rest. “That was a lie too. Rudy contacted your parents when you first went missing. He had me place them in a safe house, in case the Gerans wanted leverage. I assure you, they’re quite well.
Worried about you, but delighted to meet Rudy.
” Aelryn paused. “He never gave up hope of finding you. And he did some terrible things to keep you safe, to get you back.”
“I begged him not to tell them anything.”
“And your captors made sure he saw the mess they made of you.”
Valmer stuck out his chin. “I didn’t make for an easy target. I gave as good as I got.” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Where is Rudy?”
Aelryn smiled again. “Waiting for you not far from here.”
His lower lip wobbled. “I… I don’t deserve him.”
“Yes, you do. You’re mates.” Aelryn sat beside him. “You were made to be together. And all those things you couldn’t tell him because you feared you would put him in danger? They’re about to come to light.”
“The tomb? You… you found what was in there?”
“All the artifacts are on their way to a safe place, where they’ll be examined… studied.”
“And Sarah Delaney? Have they found her too?”
Aelryn frowned. “The archaeologist who discovered Berengar’s tomb?”
“Yes. She disappeared.”
“Then we will find her.” He tilted his head. “You could help us.”
Valmer blinked. “Me? How?”
“You’re a Geran.”
“Correction. I was a Geran. As soon as I realized they were lying to us, I couldn’t do this anymore. It’s why they had no problems torturing me.”
Aelryn scowled. They did this to one of their own.
“I can understand how that might change your mindset. As for the artifacts, if we’re right, we’re about to uncover truths that many Gerans won’t accept, no matter how overwhelming the evidence.
You could spread the word, seek out like-minded Gerans who can be swayed.
Who would in turn spread the word.” Aelryn sighed.
“It isn’t a task that can be accomplished overnight.
It might take years. But we won’t give up. ”
Valmer straightened. “I’ll do everything I can, I swear.”
Aelryn stood. “Then let’s get out of here and reunite you with your mate.”
The battle of Thurland Castle might have been won, but Aelryn feared the war had only just begun.