Chapter Twenty-Four
ROADKILL CAME into the bedroom. “You finished?”
“All done.” Eve pointed to the bag sitting on the floor beside the door.
“Except I’d rather still be in bed. The sun isn’t even up yet.
” She let out a sigh. “Well, Leighton Hall was certainly several steps up from some of the accommodations I’ve had to stay in.
” She glanced at the four-poster bed. “My only regret is that we didn’t get to play with that the way I wanted.
” She met Roadkill’s gaze, and he made a choking sound.
“ Now you tell me. Why didn’t you mention this before?”
“I had stuff on my—”
Holy fuck.
Eve laughed. Their mental image had grabbed Hashtag’s attention in record time.
Why are you two picturing tying me to the bedposts?
She laughed. Are you saying “no no no”?
Fuck that. I’m pissed that you’re telling me about it now when it’s time to go home. Hashtag paused, and his voice changed in a heartbeat. Eve, get down here, ASAP.
She hurried out of the room and down the grand staircase, Roadkill following. Where are you?
Kitchen .
She pushed open the door and almost ran into Richard’s cook and butler, who stood with their backs to her. Hashtag was crouched on the floor next to—
Oh my God.
“Victor?”
He looked like crap, only it was crap that had been savagely beaten. His eyes were practically swollen shut, he was missing a bit of his ear, his mouth was ripped open, and more teeth had been removed.
Whatever state she’d left him in after their encounter, this was worse.
“Someone call for a doctor!” she hollered, falling to her knees beside the wreck that had been Victor .
“They already have,” Hashtag told her. “Richard says there’s a hospital ten minutes from here.”
Victor grabbed her arm. “I don’t wish to be a burden.” His voice was raw.
Eve cupped his bloody cheek. “Hush now. We’re going to take care of you. Who did this? Theron?”
“He… he didn’t….”
Roadkill growled. “I’ll bet. He probably ordered someone else to do his dirty work.”
“I need… I need to ask you for a favor,” Victor wheezed. “Please. I beg you. I don’t know how much time I’ve got left, and I have to make sure she’s—” He erupted into a fit of coughing, and the sound made Eve wince.
She already had an idea of what was on his mind. “You want me to save your sister.”
He managed a nod. “She’s all I have left in the world. As soon as you crossed the moat, Theron decided I should be made an example. He had his men do this to me, then tried to lock me up.”
“But you escaped,” Hashtag observed.
Victor gave another nod.
“How did you find me?” Eve asked.
He gave a gapped-tooth smile. “I’m a hippo. We have a keen sense of smell, which helps when you’re searching for tasty treats. Your blood was on me, so I followed the scent. It wasn’t easy, and I lost my way a couple of times, but I made it.”
“But only just,” Roadkill told him. “We’re about to leave.”
“Dude, we’re gonna fix you up, okay?” Hashtag grasped Victor’s hand. “And then you come work for us. Yeah? Work for the good guys.”
Victor scowled. “I hate the Gerans. Even more now that they… hurt my family. Theron used them to make me do what he said. I never wanted to hurt anyone. And then he tosses out the fact that he’s had them all killed like it was nothing.”
Eve crouched lower and whispered, “What’s her name?”
“Irena.”
She gave him the most confident smile she could manage.
“I will find her, okay? And I’ll make sure she’s safe.
But you know what? You’re going to be around for a while yet.
” She sat on the floor with him, simply holding his hand, trying not to panic about his wounds.
Eve glanced up at Roadkill. They really made a mess of him .
I’ve seen worse. And those guys survived. He will too.
Yeah, you should’ve seen Saul , Hashtag added. I didn’t think he’d make it.
As wrong as it sounded, that comforted her. She didn’t wish harm on Saul at all, but knowing he survived gave Victor a good chance. Then she caught the sound of a siren from outside.
Help had arrived.
Richard Deveraux appeared in the doorway. “Don’t worry, one of my men will go with him. I know you have little time.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
Victor held on to her hand. “Thank you for saying you would find Irena. And by the way… you’re one hell of a fighter.”
“She is, isn’t she?” Hashtag’s voice brimmed with pride.
Medics came into the kitchen, and Roadkill tugged her toward the door.
“Let them do their thing. We have a plane waiting for us.”
“I’ll keep you informed of his progress, I promise.” Richard patted her on the back. “And I’ll be in touch to discuss your move.”
Eve nodded, then gave Victor one last glance. “I’ll see you again, you hear?”
He nodded. “Thank you.”
Hashtag and Roadkill ushered her from the room, and Roadkill bounded up the stairs to grab their gear. Eve stood in the entrance hall, her hands at her sides, clenched into fists.
That fucking bastard Theron. Imprisonment is too good for him.
Part of her wanted to stay long enough to bring Logan back with them, but the adoption procedure was proving slower than she’d either anticipated or wanted. She had to be content with a return trip when all the paperwork was signed, sealed, and delivered.
Then Logan will be ours.
ARE YOU sure you want to do this?
Valmer Cooper heard the distress in Rudy’s voice. He held him close. I have to see Theron, okay? I have to tell him what I think of him.
“But why?” Rudy stroked Valmer’s cheek. “You’re safe now. That nightmare is over. ”
Valmer smiled. “He’s in the dungeon. He can’t shift.
What’s he going to do—melt through the bars and strangle me?
And besides, this is my last chance to face him.
Aelryn’s having him moved tomorrow, and once that’s done, no one will know where to find him.
” He was still surprised Aelryn had consented to the visit.
Maybe he understands why I need to do this.
Then again, maybe he understood a lot more than Valmer gave him credit for.
His heartbeat raced. Oh gods, I hope not.
“But what if he tries to….” Rudy’s voice faltered.
“To what? Influence me? Convince me I should stick with the Gerans?” Valmer raised Rudy’s chin with a couple of fingers.
“You’ve heard the rumors, the same as I have.
They’re finished. Maybe not today, but it’s coming.
The Gerans built their world on lies and hatred, and once word gets out—once the truth gets out—it’ll collapse. ”
“I still don’t see why you have to—”
“I won’t be long. I just have to let go of all the anger and hate that’s been building up inside me ever since he took me hostage.
” He kissed the tip of Rudy’s nose. “That’s no way to begin a new life together, is it?
On a foundation of seething resentment and pent-up rage?
So this is for the best. I see him, I vent, and he can’t do a thing to stop me. ”
Rudy sighed. “I guess you’re right. It makes sense when you put it like that.” He kissed Valmer on the lips. “I’ll be waiting for you.”
Valmer pressed Rudy to his chest. “And that’s my incentive to get this over with.” He released his mate. “Like I said, I won’t be long.”
And with that he turned and headed through the door, down the narrow stone steps that led to the dungeon in the basement, and along the hallway to the room Aelryn was using as a temporary cell.
With only one occupant.
Valmer stopped at the door, a guard positioned outside. “I have permission,” he began.
The guard held up one hand. “It’s okay, sir. I’ve been informed. Knock on the door when you’re ready to leave.” He shivered. “Rather you than me. That guy gives me the creeps.”
Valmer said nothing, but waited as the guard unlocked the door. He stepped inside and heard the click as it shut behind him .
Theron was seated at a small square table on which sat a jug of water and a plastic cup. A single bed stood beneath the barred window below the ceiling, the thick wall sloping toward it. There was nothing else in the tiny room that had once been for storage. A wall of bars separated them.
Theron arched his eyebrows. “Didn’t you have enough of my company? I thought I’d seen the last of you. Couldn’t stay away, huh? How sweet.”
Valmer stared at him in silence.
He gestured to his surroundings. “I suppose I should be grateful not to find medieval instruments of torture in here, ready for me. The rack, for example. Or maybe some fiendish machine designed to slowly dismember me.”
Still Valmer said nothing.
Theron frowned. “Well? Why are you here? To gloat? Is that it? Or maybe it’s to find out how they’re treating me? Lavishly, as you can see.” He smirked. “I provided better accommodation for my guards.”
At last he found his voice. “I wanted to see you one last time.”
“Ah, before you shoot me? I’ve been expecting someone to carry out my execution.” He sneered. “How disappointing that they chose you. I suppose Aelryn couldn’t bring himself to do it. Ansfrid must be rolling in his grave to see his descendant so lacking in courage.”
“I wish I could be the one to execute you. God knows I have reason enough.” Valmer’s throat seized, and he swallowed. “You threatened my mate. You made him betray his friends. You had me beaten up so he’d comply. So yes, nothing would make me happier than putting a bullet in your brain.”
“Then why not do it?” Theron waved his hand. “Oh, I forgot how weak you are. How pathetic. Well, if you’re not here to shoot me, why are you here?”
“I had to see you before they ship you out of here. Before they put you somewhere you’ll never see the light of day again.
” Valmer moved closer to the bars. “You’re going to rot, alone and unloved.
” He forced the words through gritted teeth.
“Even the rest of the Gerans will forget you as they learn the truth.”
“Never,” Theron snarled.