Chapter 29
Narae couldn’t find Koe or Jury, but she did find the cafeteria.
She ate a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, and an English muffin that was left warming on a covered steamer table.
The mess hall had males dotting a few of the tables, engaged in their own meals, but none of them even glanced at her.
Whatever. She didn’t have the time to care.
She ate quickly and then went in search of Koe, secretly hoping to run into Jury, but neither of them materialized.
Annoyed, she’d just reached the top of the stairs on the second level when she heard Jury’s voice.
Whirling around, she saw Jury and Koe coming out of a secret entryway in the stone wall at the bottom of the stairs.
The second she laid eyes on Jury, she knew her sister had been crying.
Nostrils flaring, she picked up the residual scent of Jury’s pain and lost it.
“Hey, motherfucker!” Her angry gaze sliced to Koe, concern for her sister overriding the fact that she’d just called the Alpha a motherfucker.
“What’d you do to my sister?” She raced down the stairs.
Before she reached the landing, the manor’s entry double doors opened.
In her periphery, she saw Daemon step into the manor, but she was on a mission.
Koe held up his hands, “Look, it’s not what you think.”
Beside him, Jury rushed out, “Narae, don’t!”
But it was too late, her fist was already flying. She punched Koe right in the mouth, pain shooting up her arm from the power of the hit. She reared back again, but then Daemon was on her, grabbing her from behind and carrying her away from Koe.
“Jesus Christ, Narae!” Jury spun to inspect Koe’s lip. To his credit, the Alpha didn’t even wince, just brushed the back of his hand beneath his bleeding lip.
Wrapped in Daemon’s arms, Narae felt his body shaking. It took a moment to register that he was laughing. At her ear, he crooned, “Easy, love. You’ll only hurt yourself. His head is basically solid rock.” He paused a moment, then lifted his eyes to look at Koe. “You want me to hit him for you?”
Koe shot Daemon a dark look.
“He didn’t hurt me,” Jury belted. “He came to my rescue.”
Daemon sobered, and at the same time, both he and Narae raged, “Someone else hurt you?”
Jury shook her head, “Oh, God!” She turned to Koe. “How do we explain this?”
They didn’t need to.
The manor door flew open again, and Thrall raced in. “Koe, they’re here! The Biters are in our territory! Northern perimeter.”
Every hair on Narae’s body stood on end.
Behind her, Daemon growled, “Bout damn time.”
Koe asked, “The men?”
“They’re aware,” Thrall assured. “Everyone’s in place.”
Koe nodded. “You stay here with Jury and Narae.” He went to a keypad beside the door and punched several buttons. “No one gets in the house.” As he spoke, metal hurricane shutters rolled over every window in unison, casting the manor into darkness.
Narae wanted to rage that she was going too. She wanted to face Bragga, but one look at Jury froze any such declaration. Jury had gone eerily pale, her body shaking with the sheer terror that was emanating from her.
Koe noticed at the same time. Crossing back to Jury, he grabbed her arms and looked down at her. “No one’s getting near you. I’ll have this taken care of by dinner. I promise.” He pulled her into a hug and breathed, “I’m going to get you that proof we were talking about.”
“No!” Jury quaked, wrapping her arms around him. “Can’t we all just hide in here until they’re gone?”
And that pissed Narae off. Jury had never been like this.
She’d always been fierce and protective.
Watching her tremble in Koe’s embrace was heartbreaking.
Swallowing the lump of emotion that was clogging her throat, Narae’s gaze slid to Koe.
He was kissing Jury’s hairline, holding her tight, and making quiet promises to her.
Huh. Maybe he wasn’t such a bad guy after all.
Daemon bent his head low, his arms still wrapped around Narae, and whispered in her ear, “You’ll be okay here. I promise we’ll make quick work of this.”
And that had unease knotting her stomach.
Daemon was being too cavalier. He wasn’t giving Bragga enough credit.
He was making a terrible mistake. Turning in his arms, she frowned up at him.
“You’re making too light of this. You can’t go into this underestimating him, Daemon. Please, take this fucking seriously.”
That had his brows spearing down. “He hurt Jury. He hurt you. Nothing has ever been more serious. I know I’m coming off as cocky, and that’s not my intent. I’m just excited to get my hands on him, is all.”
“He’ll fight dirty,” she warned. “He’ll cheat, he’ll lie, he’ll blindside you. Please be prepared.”
Eyes intent, Daemon nodded. “Thank you for the heads up.” Reaching up, he cupped her face in his strong hands. “I hear you.”
Narae’s eyes flooded with tears.
“I hear you,” Daemon repeated. Studying her, his eyes dipped to her lips, then slid back up to her eyes, before he bent low and angled his head to kiss his mark on her neck.
When he released her and turned away, Narae watched him walk away, a sense of urgency and regret flooding her.
She didn’t want him leaving like this. What if this was the last time she saw him?
What if something went horribly wrong? She didn’t want him walking away from her and into a war for her sake without knowing…
“Daemon!” When he turned to look at her, she lifted her chin and held his gaze.
“I didn’t talk to Koe. And I’m not going to.
If you’re still willing to try this, then so am I. ”
Daemon’s face split into a devilish grin. Turning, he stalked toward her, his movements vulturine. The look on his face, his movements, had something intense and sharp exploding in her middle.
Reaching her, Daemon hauled her body up against him, one hand clenching the back of her hair, dragging her head back so she was forced to look up at him as he dipped his head, his nose mere inches from hers.
Shaking his head, he murmured, “I’m about to kill a whole pack for you, woman. I need more than that.”
Narae swallowed hard, then licked her lips, Daemon’s eyes tracking the movement. “I…I want you too,” she admitted. “And I’ll be waiting for you. Hurry back.”
Daemon sobered a moment, his eyes searching hers. Then he grinned again and bent closer. Narae thought he’d kiss her, but he didn’t. Instead, he brushed his nose against hers before pulling back and releasing her. Turning away, he crowed, “Let’s go get this shit over with.”
Narae watched him head for the door, then glanced at where Koe was saying something to Jury. He was still holding her, but then immediately let her go to turn and follow Daemon. On his way out, Koe shot Thrall a glare. “You still have the thing that Oliver prepared?”
Thrall nodded. “Yes, Alpha.”
“Use it if you have to and keep ‘em safe. Do you understand?”
Thrall nodded again, “Yes, Alpha.”
Then Koe and Daemon were gone, and Narae was aching to follow.
Instead, she stood in the doorway beside Thrall, watching Koe and Daemon shift and race from the manor.
Narae wanted to confront Bragga. She had a million things she wanted to say to him, and she wanted to watch Koe or Daemon end him.
But looking back at Jury, she saw that her little sister was shaking again, tears glistening in her eyes.
Narae knew Jury wouldn’t cry because to her it’d be considered weak, but Narae could tell Jury wanted to.
Rushing to her sister, Narae grabbed her hands.
“Hey. It’s gonna be alright,” Narae promised, hoping she was telling the truth.
Thrall shot Jury a sympathetic look, then went to the door, where he stood with it open, staring after Koe and Daemon.
Narae knew he wanted to be part of the battle, but he was forced to stay with them.
She felt bad, but she was also grateful.
Having him here had to make Jury feel better because it sure as hell made her feel better. But they needed to be ready too.
Walking Jury toward a wing-backed chair, Narae helped her sit before crossing to Thrall and whispering, “What’s the plan if someone shows up here?”
He looked at her over his shoulder. “You think that’ll happen?”
“I think anything and everything will happen, and I think we need to be prepared.” More quietly, she asked, “Is there someplace we can put Jury where they can’t get to her?”
Thrall looked over Narae’s head to where Jury sat before responding in a hushed tone. “We have a panic room. It locks from the inside and is fire and soundproof. It’s a hidden door like the one to the lower cells.”
“Maybe we should take her there now. She’ll feel safer, and that’ll be one less thing we have to worry about if anything happens.”
Thrall nodded and closed the door. “That’s probably a good idea.”