Chapter 5 #2
“Yes,” Atticus says, still calm and steady. “I would’ve informed you, had you not immediately started with the threats.”
Adrian’s grim chuckle is telling. He’s on edge. Flustered, even.
Not a good look for a politician.
But an amazing piece of knowledge for the five of us so that we can keep pushing him further and further off balance.
“I understand. I’m glad that you two boys are sticking close to her,” Adrian says after taking a deep breath. “Now, tell me what was delivered, Maeve. What kind of parcel?”
“Well, while we’re on the topic of that—” Atticus starts, another warning look shot in my direction.
“I’m going to be honest here, Ades, I don’t give a fuck about your wants,” I say, ignoring the look of exasperation from my alpha. “Not when the parcel that was delivered contained the head of—”
“The head of?” Adrian demands. I can almost imagine him now, leaning closer to the phone, gripping it tighter in excitement.
Fool.
“I think you’re misunderstanding my mate, uncle,” Hades says, causing me to audibly groan this time. “It isn’t a metaphorical head but a literal head.”
“That of my first rapist,” I add, causing more growls to sound. I glance to the ursarix at the smell of his blood, but he’s deliberately not looking my way.
His jaw is clenched tight, and his knuckles are white. That’s where the blood is coming from—his nails digging into his palm.
Shit.
I need to be careful to not taunt my angry boss when I’m poking at the unicorn. Two for one is not a good deal right now.
Adrian’s side of the line goes silent. He’s muted us, and I have no fucking idea why.
It’s aggravating.
“Did you take this call in the middle of a body disposal, Adrian? A board meeting? One of your grimy, underhanded bribery chats?” I demand.
Lucifer shakes his head, and I can see the way his hand tenses. I know that he wants to react for me. To protect me from Adrian’s venom, maybe.
To warn me to stop pushing?
I don’t fucking know.
But what I do know is that this is a game I am a professional at.
Lucifer’s meant to be teaching me the way to being banished and hated and all that jazz.
But since I’ve yet to do that, I’ve perfected the art of patronising and pushing the dickhead that controls my entire life.
Asshole.
Atticus clicks a button on his end and looks at Draven. “You’re doing well with holding your composure, but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t drip your blood over my floors.”
Draven snarls, not rising to the bait.
“What is he doing?” Lucifer snarls, glaring at the phone.
“Exploding in secret?” Hadrian offers with a shrug. “Or beating Julian into submission again?”
“I’ve met your brother. He was beat the one time, and I guarantee he hasn’t tried to fight it.”
Lucifer laughs, smirking at me. “You’re not wrong, princess.”
“You are both underestimating him,” Hades says, looking between his cousin and me. “Julian’s fighting for his mate—you, Maeve. He’s not going to stop until he’s dead.”
“And like I have said, repeatedly—” I start before being cut off as Adrian’s side of the line is unmuted.
“I am sorry about that,” Adrian says, much more composed than he was a few moments ago. “When was the… parcel delivered?”
“Don’t play dumb, Adrian. You’re just embarrassing yourself,” I say dryly.
“Why do you always assume that I’m the one at the head of this?”
I hope that pun was not intended.
“Maybe because you’re the Tribunal puppet-master collecting rare shifters like trinkets.”
Atticus purses his lips, but both of the Graves men in the room nod their heads in agreement.
He can’t argue with an archivist—I’ve seen all of the data.
“Paranoia doesn’t suit you, love,” Adrian says.
“Neither does the smell of bleach and trauma,” I drawl. “But here we are, thanks to you.”
Hades covers a laugh with a cough, but Luc doesn’t attempt any discretion with his laughter. Draven doesn’t move, practically a mountain with ears.
“Must you be so argumentative, Nephew?” Adrian asks.
Lucifer sneers. “I’ve barely said two words.”
“Your noises make enough of a statement.”
“Is this a family reunion, or are we going to discuss business?” Atticus interjects. “I’m a busy man, and I know you’re far busier, Adrian.”
Adrian hums, the kind that pretends to be patient but bleeds with his loss of control.
“Business, then. Good. Someone with inside access has to have done this. We’ve not had anyone leave the compound who could be the deranged individual.”
Lucifer’s tone is hard when he speaks to his uncle.
“That’s the most idiotic thing you’ve ever said, and that is saying a lot.
The most deranged people, the true sociopaths, are the ones who can blend into society.
They’re the kind of person you’d never think twice about, the ones who are right there, all of the time, and know everything.
“We’re not looking for some random fucking oddball. Rather, someone on your inside. Someone who knows the inner workings of the compound, and someone who comes and goes with ease.”
Atticus is frowning, but Draven nods. It’s clear the two of them—or three, I’m sure Hades was allowed to listen silently, considering he has nothing to contribute—have talked in depth about this.
“Well, then, you’ve clearly put a lot of thought into this,” Adrian says carefully. “I was going to suggest coming here. Even just while things die down, and if we make it public with the jet…”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I gasp. My face doesn’t even change, since I’m lying with my dramatics. This is exactly what we wanted.
“I was thinking the same,” Atticus says.
“You’d seriously side with the megalomaniac control freak over me?” I hiss, winking at the alpha.
He rolls his eyes. “I told you when your trial began that your place here was contingent on the Pride being safer than the compound. I like Adrian’s idea of a public lure—”
“A lure?” I demand.
“A controlled one,” Adrian corrects. “It’s the only kind I’ll tolerate where you’re concerned.”
“We’re literally his blood, but, sure, only care about the precious princess,” Lucifer taunts.
Adrian doesn’t even react to the barb. “If we can pretend you’re coming back to the compound permanently but actually only have you here for a little while, it might refocus their efforts.”
I frown, and this one is real. I think the idea is smart, truly, but I don’t like how it’s giving up a lot of my power. If my stalker shifts his energy to targeting the compound, and I leave… I’m placing a lot of power in Adrian’s hands.
He can choose to not share it with me, to keep even more secrets. Or, worse, he could use it as some form of leverage to hold over me.
“What kind of protection protocols will you have in place for her?” Lucifer asks.
“None of your business, Nephew. When on the compound, Maeve returns to my custody.”
“Not a fucking chance,” Lucifer says calmly. “Her autonomy never ends.”
I sigh, letting reluctance slant my mouth while I nudge the domino he thinks is his. Fool.
“Even if I wanted to humour this, Adrian, you’d have to make it worth my while. I’m not walking into your cage, where you lock me in with a light pegasus, waiting for my heat to ensue.”
Hadrian’s nostrils flare with anger, Draven turns away from me, and Lucifer’s face contorts in unhappiness.
Lovely.
But true.
“Julian won’t be there,” Adrian says. My eyes narrow into slits, and I can feel the rage from my chromius. “And I’ve told you this numerous times—you’re not in a cage, Maeve. Protecting your life is worth a limit on some freedoms. You’re still given so much leeway.”
“Surviving isn’t the same as living,” I counter. “And why is Julian no longer going to be there? Has he been sent back home for failure to convince me? Has his execution for treason been scheduled?”
Lucifer’s quiet hiss is a warning, and we all wait with bated breath to see if Adrian has anything else to add.
“I’m not having this conversation with you again regarding Julian. He’s your fated mate, and due to the absence, he’s a little… erratic.”
“Erratic,” I repeat, sweetly. “Funny word for murderous and unhinged.”
Behind me, Lucifer mouths don’t, but Atticus subtly motions for me to keep going. The alpha lion is the one I listen to—he is my alpha after all.
When it suits me, of course.
“When will you be ready to leave?” Adrian asks.
I look at Lucifer, but it’s Hades who answers.
“Give us three hours.”
Adrian nods. “Perfect. Bring the box.”
I gag, shaking my head immediately. I know he can’t see me, but, fuck, is he delusional. I can’t bring that. I can’t be on a plane surrounded by the smell… by his presence.
I can’t do it.
I won’t.
“That can’t be granted just yet, sadly,” Atticus interjects. “I’ve got my team working it over.”
Adrian’s displeasure rings across the line. “I see. Three hours, and I’ll come for you.”
Lucifer’s brows shoot up, and Draven’s shoulders tense. But I think I have the most concerned reaction—is he really coming for me personally?
I really fucking hope not.
“Not a fucking chance,” I immediately say, shaking my head. “If you get on that plane to drag me to the compound, I can promise you I’ll be throwing myself off the plane.”
Adrian’s dry chuckle has me rolling my eyes. Of course, he thinks I’m joking.
“I wish I could be there, but, unfortunately, I think that’ll be more of a security risk,” Adrian says calmly. “I won’t be there—just my pilot and plane.”
I breathe out a sigh of relief. Hades winks at me, and I’m tempted to stab him since I can’t stab his uncle right now. He’s close enough, sharing the same name and cheekbones.
It might soothe my soul.
My chromius snarls at me. So damn annoying.
“Perfect. Then you can suggest—since I’m being so very accommodating and compliant—how you’ll get me there without tipping off whoever’s causing all these issues,” I say.
Adrian inhales sharply, and I know we’ve got him exactly where we need him. It’s quite easy to lure a man into thinking they’re in control—they’re that egotistical, they’d never consider otherwise.