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Sutton

Jagger looked up from his phone.“Rune thinks one of his scouts spotted Tarrant.We need to go.”His hand tightened on mine as everyone headed for the door.

Before we reached it, though, he stopped, blocking Kurgan.“You have to stay here, son.”

He studied Jagger, then the massive hound pulled Lenny tight to his side.“I’ll protect Lenny in my den.”

Pain slashed through Jagger’s eyes as Lenny tried to pull away, looking alarmed.

Lucifer stepped forward.“Kurgan and Lenny will stay here with me and Zuri until you finish this,” he said, holding Jagger’s gaze, then looked back at Kurgan.“You can watch me build Fender a prosthetic.I have something stunning in mind.”

Fender was on the couch behind him, Ursula at his side.She punched him in the arm and called him a fucking pussy, which I assumed was her way of comforting him, going by his rough laugh.

Lenny was shaking her head when Roxy bounded over.“We’ll have fun, promise.”

Trying to take Lenny from Kurgan now wasn’t an option.The hound would fracture, he’d need Jagger with him, and Jag was needed above ground.

I took Lenny’s other hand.“We’ll be back as soon as we can.Everything will be okay.”

She nodded, but terror filled her eyes as Jagger led me from Lucifer’s quarters, the other hounds with us.

We rushed along several caverns, then Jagger opened a gateway.Only Lucifer could open one close to his quarters.But when we stepped through, we weren’t in the city, we were just beyond it.

It was dark and Rune along with several of his demons were there to greet us.Warrick stood beside them.

“What’s going on?”Jag asked.

“We followed their trucks from a warehouse just beyond Seventh Circle,” War said.“They’re loaded up with barrels.”

“It’s poison,” I said.“They’re going to drug the water system in an attempt to control the humans in the city.”

Rune’s hands curled into tight fists.“That would explain why we’re by the river.”

A short field stood between us and the large building on the other side.The sound of rushing water came from somewhere close by.A water treatment plant.They were going to dump the drums in at the source.There were several huge trucks, and I spotted at least a dozen demons moving around outside, hauling barrels.There had to be more in the building.

“Would they really have enough in those barrels to poison the city?”Rune asked.

“More than enough.”I wrapped my arms around myself.“If the drugs in those barrels gets in the water, it will poison the whole system.”

“Tarrant’s working for Beelzebub,” Jagger said to his alpha.“Beelzebub got away, though, and he’s angling to overthrow Lucifer.This is part of his plan.His demons will take over the city, make humans their cattle, and cause an all-out revolt here and in Hell.He mentioned some forgotten prophecy, that they need humans to willingly offer their flesh to start some alternate path, then Beelzebub can take over.”

War bared his teeth.“That fuck isn’t taking over this city.”

There were grunts and growls of agreement.

“Tarrant may look like a weaselly piece of shit, but he is Beelzebub’s nephew,” Rune said, his face a mask of hatred.“He’s more powerful than he looks.He and I, we’re closely matched, if you can, leave him to me.”

Jagger nodded.“Lucifer wants him alive, so try not to kill him.And Poe?He’s mine.”

War and Rune didn’t argue, then Jagger turned to me.“Stay here with Brick.I want you safe.”

“I can help.Let me fight,” Brick said, stepping forward.

“You’re needed here,” War said and gripped his shoulder.“Jag’s trusting you to protect his female.”

Brick puffed up a little, nodding to his alpha.

I had no desire to throw myself into the middle of this, but worry filled me.I couldn’t lose Jagger, not when we finally worked things out, not when he was finally mine.“Promise me you’ll be careful,” I said to my mate.