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“Wait, what’s happening?” she asked, justifiably confused.

Phillip was already rushing around to get everything into place, so I addressed the confused Hunter. “Our location is very likely compromised. Eros will be informed of where we are, and we’ll need to work quickly to get you out.”

“Can’t we just escape now?”

I shook my head, sure Eros wasn’t far even if we tried. “It would put us at a disadvantage to try without a proper plan, and it’d risk putting you in a worse situation than if we were to stay here and prepare.”

She quickly stood from her seat, hands landing flat on the table. “What do you need me to do?”

I really admired her spirit.

Smiling, I walked over to her. “We didn’t get to finish our training, but what would you do in this situation?”

“Reinforce barriers. Lay a trap. Ensure proper escape routes. Be sure to take advantage of anything and everything I could,” she listed off confidently.

Yes. It wasn’t that the granddaughter of Rose had an ability to mesmerize men. Simply, V was an incredibly impressive Hunter at such a young age, and I was attracted to how truly beautiful she was inside and out.

“It’ll be his intention to catch us by surprise, so I imagine in the middle of the night. We may not sleep like others, but in the comfort of a safe home, he’d expect us to let our guard down. That’s how we’ll trap him.”

Her breathing exposed the young Hunter’s fear. “Can you fight him like Phil can?” V’s gaze strayed to where Phillip was laying out several of his favorite inventions, ready to be used and go off.

“I can hold my own,” I promised. “Phillip taught me well. I promise he won’t get the jump on us. Believe it or not, Phillip and I work really well together.”

The redhead’s gentle laughter eased the unnatural tension in my chest. “I guess you would have to, being best friends and all that.”

Best friends? Phillip would die if he heard V say so.

I snickered to myself, not expecting to be labeled as such. “Not sure that’s how he’d put it,” I murmured, getting a laugh out of the hazel-eyed spitfire. “As far as what you can do, I’ll need you ready to escape. You’ll stay close to me while we wait to see if Phillip can trap or distract Eros to give you and I time to escape.”

“And Phillip will what, stay?”

Her expression gave away the concern she felt for the Austrian, and it bothered me to see it. “He’s fought Eros more times than I can count. He can keep Eros engaged longer, and it’d give us more time to escape. Eros has never managed to outwit Phillip. I can promise he’ll be fine.”

“But Eros has the serum,” she countered angrily, the concern in her face intensifying. “He’ll—”

“Eros lost his edge when he used it last time. Phillip knows Eros has the serum. He’ll be ready, and it’s very unlikely Eros will catch him off guard. Besides, he won’t have anyone to protect.” V’s expression darkened, and I quickly backtracked. “Not that you need it.”

Shaking her head, the Hunter sighed. “No. You’re right. I was the reason we were caught by surprise.”

Phillip walked over, his eyes white-hot with rage. “Not even close. You were the reason we survived.” I’d never seen that look on the Austrian’s face, and it silenced me for a second. The air Phillip put out was electric, and it tickled my senses to be near it.

“How?” V argued, her tone that of someone who didn’t fear Phil or anything he’d do to her.

She was one of very few.

Phillip brushed his knuckles across her cheek, and it was just another reason for me to question the man standing in front of me. He was an entirely different person around her. “We didn’t die that day because of Nigel and his pack. They were there because of you. I’d never say it to that damn wolf, but they were the reason I was able to run Eros off.”

Her anger melted away and a gentle smile lifted the young Hunter’s lips, taking me by surprise. “So, you finally admit it.”

Phillip threw his head back, sighing and running fingers through his hair. It was the most petulant I’d ever seen the man. “Don’t make me regret saying it out loud, V.”

“Serves you right,” she rebutted, huffing. “And why’d you have to remind me about the day I almost died, Sloan.”

Not expecting to suddenly be front and center to the conversation out of nowhere, I tilted my head in confusion. “But I didn’t. Not really,” I retorted.

The smile she offered me set my loins on fire, and I’d never had such a powerful urge to kiss someone. “Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that.” With a happy little puff, she crossed her arms. “Okay, what now?”

Phillip’s eyes slid over to me, visibly cautious when I couldn’t control my affectionate smile. “Now we wait. It’s only a matter of time. In the meantime, we intensify training.”