Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Abi kept himself hidden under Nash’s shirt. He tried to stay still so Mallor wouldn’t see the movement under Nash’s clothing. Nash wore a loose shirt on purpose just so Abi could have a little freedom to shift into whatever he wanted.
Mallor smelled of sulfur. His magic smelled dark and smoky.
But it was the blood that took center stage.
It belonged to a wolf shifter. It smelled metallic and like pine, as if the poor guy had died in the forest. But the wolf wasn’t dead.
Abi could hear his heartbeat. He could taste the wolf’s fear on his forked tongue.
Nash stiffened. It took Abi a moment to understand he couldn’t move.
Abi could, though.
Try shifting something—your hands or eyes.
Abi moved his head against Nash’s skin to prove he still had the ability.
Nash lost some tension, although not all of it. He remained still, wanting to keep Mallor thinking he still had the upper hand, most likely. Thank you, baby. Do you think you can work your way to Mallor without being detected?
No problem.
That’s fine, baby. Don’t kill him until I tell you. We need to get the victim away from him first. And find out who his friends are.
Got it. Abi shifted into a fly, but he would shift back when he stayed hidden. As long as he continued to shift, Mallor’s magic couldn’t touch him.
Abi had a fly’s-eye view of the room. There were indeed the two people whom he’d scented upon entering.
The room was an office of sorts, with a desk on one side and shelving behind it.
Instead of books lining the shelves, sex toys and tools used in a dungeon lay in neat order.
Dildos and whips. Just about anything one could think of—even some things Abi had never seen before.
The couch was directly across the room from the door.
There was a bar to the right that held a variety of liquor.
“Revenge. For killing my family. That’s why I’m here.
” It wasn’t entirely true. Nash couldn’t exactly tell Mallor that Sylvain hired him to kill him and his associates.
Still, Abi had felt the apprehension almost as soon as they’d bonded.
Nash wouldn’t have accepted the job if not for Mallor continuing to hurt people the way he’d hurt Nash.
“You stayed underground for a long time.”
Mallor smirked. “The people who rescued you were relentless. They didn’t give up easily.”
“I told them to stop looking.” Nash flexed his fingers, as if testing to see if he could still move them.
Mallor didn’t notice. “And why is that?”
“Because I needed peace.”
Mallor lifted his eyebrows. “And did you find it?”
“Yes.”
“How about now? Do you feel at peace right now, in this moment?”
Nash just smirked and didn’t say a word.
Abi landed on the floor and turned into a cobra again. This body was his new favorite. It was very effective and fast.
“I suppose killing me would further that goal, would it not?” Mallor didn’t seem to notice the tension leaving Nash’s body.
“I don’t need to kill you to find peace. But it would help him.” Nash nodded to the victim.
“You are him. You’re just not bloody yet.” Mallor smirked.
Nash chuckled, and then his expression hardened. “Ridding the world of people like you makes it a better place. Everyone you know. Everyone like you. Will die.”
Mallor’s gaze hardened. It was clear Nash had pissed him off. “Do you know why you’re here?”
Mallor rolled a ball of fire in his hand, playing with it on his fingers.
“Enlighten me.”
“We have something in common. You want to kill me, and I want to kill you because you have something I want. You have a beautiful boy.” Mallor threw the ball of fire, not expecting Nash to move so quickly. Nash dived out of the way.
Nash surprised Mallor when his claws came out. Mallor reacted by putting up a wall between himself and Nash. He wasn’t aware of Abi’s presence on his side of the divide because if he had been, he would have taken his chances with Nash.
Nash pounded on the wall. “Abi!”
Abi shifted into his human form but kept his eyes and tongue reptilian.
Mallor was so shocked that he screamed.
Abi flicked his tongue, smelling Mallor’s fear.
Mallor didn’t know what Abi was, but he knew he wasn’t anything he’d ever encountered before. “Looks like you picked the wrong side of the wall, Mr. Mallor.”
“What the fuck are you?” It seemed Mallor was very good with the type of magic he could throw around. He tried to throw another fireball, but Abi grabbed his hand. The fire sat there doing nothing until it burned out.
“I’m your fucking nightmare, Mr. Mallor.” Abi got inches from his face and flicked his tongue again. “How pretty am I now?”
The wall coming down was how he knew Eshan was there. Then the door opened. Eshan had brought Peter with him.
Abi grinned. “It looks like all your nightmares have arrived, Mr. Mallor.”
Eshan scooped up the bloody man and carried him out of the room.
“Can I question him now, Daddy?” Abi met Nash’s gaze with a sweet smile.
“In a fucking second.” Nash opened his arms.
Abi pinched a spot on Mallor’s neck.
Mallor passed out, falling against the couch.
He climbed off Mallor and went into his embrace. Nash held him so tight his arms felt like a vice. Nash’s whole body shook. “That scared me.”
He didn’t understand Nash’s reaction. “What did?”
“You trapped with him, Abi.”
“Oh.” Abi patted Nash’s chest, trying to calm him.
“It’s more like he was trapped with me.” Abi grinned.
“You’re right. You’re very capable, baby.” Nash took a deep breath and let it out. “Okay. You’re fine. Panic over.”
“Nice pep talk, Daddy.” Abi gave Nash’s chest one last pat and then pulled out of his hold.
Nash chuckled and placed a hand on his lower back. “You can do your thing now. But we should take him somewhere secluded.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“I’ll fly us there. Let’s drive out of town first.” Nash knew just the place.
“I haven’t tortured someone in so long.” Abi met Peter’s gaze. “Nash is letting me torture him.”
Peter grinned. “He’s perfect for you, Abs.”
Eshan must have handed over the victim because he walked back into the room empty-handed. Eshan chuckled. “He accidentally left someone alive for too long, just so you know.”
Abi hissed at Eshan. They would never let him live that down. “I thought it had been the exact amount of time.”
“You made the guy eat his teeth after you pulled them out of his skull.” The guy also didn’t have an Achilles tendon and hadn’t had one for roughly three days, but that would just further Eshan’s point.
“Don’t say anything else, dickhead.” Abi leaned toward him and whispered, “Daddy might change his mind.”
“I promise I won’t change my mind, baby.” Nash wrapped an arm around Abi. You were a good boy tonight. Impressive stuff.
Abi met his gaze with a grin.
Peter raised his eyebrows. “Is this a party for three, or can anyone join?”
“I’ll give you the GPS location of the cabin.”
“A secluded cabin. Seriously.” Abi clapped his hands. “We can have a bonfire afterward.
Eshan whined. “Now I want to go. Can I have a predator to torture?”
Peter sighed. “If one is still alive, but you'd better hurry. I think Orry is enjoying himself out there.” Which meant the body count was going up by the second.
Eshan ran out of the room just as Jonik walked in.
Jonik met Peter’s gaze. “It’s done in there. If you have cops on the payroll, now would be a good time to call.” Jonik addressed Nash next. “Hey.”
“Is my house still standing? And did you fuck on my bed?”
Jonik snorted. “Yes. And no. Are you okay?”
“I will be.” Nash kissed Abi’s temple.
Jonik held out his fist, and Abi tapped it. “I miss you, skinwalker.”
“Miss you too, shifter weirdo. But we’ll be living together again, so get ready for me.” Abi wiggled his eyebrows.
Jonik smirked and shook his head before walking out of the room.
“I like your family, Abi. I think I’ll look like a saint compared to them.” Never in Nash’s life had he been the good one in a family. No one would ever accuse him of following the rules.
Daruss came into the room and patted Nash on the back. “I wouldn’t go that far, brother.”
Daruss walked over to Mallor’s limp body and flung him over his shoulder. He nodded to Peter on his way out of the room. “Do you want him in the trunk, Nash?”
“Yeah. But get Skippy to tie him up and gag him.”
“One hog-tied bad guy coming right up.”
Peter smirked. “Welcome to the family, Nash.”