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“She isn’t Sivanah,” Jericho stated, believing it deep in his bones.

“No, she isn’t. Sivanah was centuries old when you turned her. She was well acquainted with her gift, her control absolute. Alex is none of those things. Even now, Liam shares one of the medical rooms, recovering from the injuries she inflicted.”

Jericho clamped his lips together. Victor wasn’t telling him anything he didn’t know. He’d heard Liam bellowing down the hall aboutbeing back in the fuckin’ geriatric ward again. Though a couple of busted blood vessels and a concussion were hardly life-threatening.

When Jericho remained silent, Victor heaved a sigh, saying in a cajoling voice, “Alexandra is suffering. Her gift is tearing her apart.”

Victor’s pointed look hit Jericho like a roundhouse kick to the stomach. Jericho had ended Alex’s life to ease her suffering, not to cause it. It was a miracle she survived the transition at all. Never would he have chanced torturing her in that way. And yet, the rogue had dared what the man would not.

Like the predator he was, Victor sensed his moment of weakness and struck. “She’s in a tremendous amount of pain. This sort of thing goes beyond even Doc’s capabilities. Ending her would be a kindness.”

The breath in Jericho’s lungs grew heavy, the walls closing in. Then, it occurred to him.He’s manipulating me as he does others.Using what I love against me.

Betrayal tightened Jericho’s gut. “Order her execution, and I’m gone,” he snarled through gritted teeth.

Victor stiffened, eyeing Jericho with icy disdain. “You’d choose her over your allegiance to me?”

Mutinous thoughts riffled through his head like gunfire. Yes. Yes, he would. “Order Alex’s execution, and the male I swore my allegiance to will cease to exist. I won’t serve a clan leader who is so blinded by his own agenda he can no longer see the path.”

Victor wavered, seeming stunned he’d finally pushed one of his most loyal to the breaking point. If Victor drew that line in the sand, he’d find himself alone on the other side.

His silver eyes ticked as he considered the cost. Finally, Victor’s shoulders slumped, his posture resigned. His hardened mask softened with what appeared to be genuine concern. “Trust me when I say this, my old friend. You can’t save her. Do this, and she’ll destroy you both.”

Jericho set his jaw. “That’s a chance I’m willing to take.”

Long minutes passed before Victor relented, stepping back. “You’ll find her in cellblock thirteen.”

Jericho reached for the door, and Victor grabbed his arm. “Understand that should you fail, you will leave me with no choice.” The ominous warning hung thick in the air.

“So be it.” Jericho nodded. Failure wasn’t an option.

He rushed from the medical center, cutting a direct path to the high-security cells located in Claymore’s bowels. Alex’s strawberry fragrance lured him into a darkened hallway. His steps slowed, and he bit out a curse. They’d locked her in an isolated area used to contain their most dangerous prisoners. After all she’d been through,thiswas her reception.

From the shadows, a familiar tattooed figure emerged. Jericho tensed.“What are you doing down here?”

Slade braced his feet and folded his arms over his broad chest. “Victor needed someone to stand guard, so I volunteered.” His lips twisted. “Well, actually, Colin volunteered first, but I pulled rank.” He snorted. “Man, was he pissed.”

Heat flicked through Jericho’s veins. Of course, Victor chose Slade over Colin. He wouldn’t want anyone down here who might object when Alex was executed. “You’re that desperate to take a shot at me? This is low, even for you.”

“It’s not about you. It’s about her.” Slade shifted his weight, shrugging one shoulder. “Figured the little rebel needed somebody to keep watch over her while you were sitting on your ass.”

“So now I’m to believe you’re protecting her?”

“Not like anybody else could do the job without her secret getting out. That was some crazy stuff I saw back at the warehouse.” His black eyes sparked with an evil light. “Your female was fierce, the way she’d crouched over you, ready to take out anyone who came too close. Shit. The tiny fangs and the hair swirling around...” He waved his hand over his head. “Fucking hot.”

“How long have you known?”

“What, that she’s a faerie?” Slade’s grin was mocking. “Since she bled all over that pool room at Howlers.”

Jericho clenched his fist, tensing. “That’s funny since Alex ended up in that cell because someone blew her cover. Funny how you just happened to see that explosion at the casino. Funny how you were the only one to uncover the location of that warehouse.”

Slade rolled his shoulders, his leather trench coat billowing against his back. “Nothing funny about your lack of gratitude or the accusations you’re trying to throw my way.”

That wasn’t an explanation nor a defense. “Wouldn’t be the first time you caused Alex harm. Someone tipped Helen off.”

“Well, that someone wasn’t me. Think about it, dumbass.” He narrowed his eyes, his tone antagonistic. “Besides Colin, who else was at Howlers the night Alex was shot?”

Adam. “Now you’re casting blame on your partner? On a male who’s dedicated his life to the clan. Who pledged his allegiance to Victor, asking nothing in return.” Adam was as squeaky clean as they come. Reliable, loyal, following every order without question.