Page 61 of Blood Day (Blood Alliance #7)

However, Jolene hadn’t been an option for this part. He was too well known as the pack’s former alpha, and word of his involvement would have spread to his son .

That would lead to too many questions, and might even result in Walter killing or exiling Jolene.

So he’d introduced me to a lycan named Viper whom Jolene had suggested I hire for the job. I hadn’t trusted the new addition—an instinct cultivated through vast experience—and it seemed my initial thoughts on the newcomer had been correct.

I’d have to send Jolene some feedback later regarding his suggestion .

Or maybe I’d just send him the lycan’s head.

“Incoming,” Damien warned, noting a trio of lycans in wolf form prowling outside the perimeter. They weren’t anywhere near our location, but they were in Lily’s intended path.

Stop , I told her, my eyes scanning the screen for an alternative strategy. My contact was still nowhere to be seen. And I didn’t like the coincidence of those three lycans having chosen Lily’s exact escape route for their surveillance run.

I pointed to the image on the top left. “Can you unlock one of the doors in that hallway?”

Cedric?

I need a second, I replied.

Another hint of distrust blasted from her mind to mine, but I ignored her in favor of Damien.

“To the morgue?” he asked.

“Yes.” It would help mask some of Lily’s scent. Of course, the lycans would eventually be able to track her directly to that door. But I had a plan for her once she was inside.

Damien hit a few keys, and one of the doors unlocked, answering my question.

Lily, I need you to run back the way you just came. And hurry .

I didn’t elaborate on why; she had to know the lycans were on her trail.

She froze on the camera for half a beat before doing what I’d commanded.

When you reach the corridor you originally came in from, keep going straight. Then I want you to hang a right and open the third door on your left.

She didn’t reply, just kept running, her skepticism darkening her thoughts. She wondered if this was all just in her mind, a trick that would lead to a murderous end.

Mere weeks ago, that would have made her want to fight.

But now…

Now it seemed my sweet flower no longer cared as much as she used to about survival. She’d begun dying in this prison, her mind poisoned by the society that had tricked her into vying for a better life only to throw her to the literal wolves.

I would bring her back to life, give her the vitality her mind and body craved, and take her to a place where she could grow and thrive.

Almost there, Lily, I whispered to her.

Damien was fucking with the doors, making it hard for the lycans to open the one she’d closed in her original hallway.

“It’s like watching mice try to find the cheese,” he mused, his lips curling into a feral smile as he thwarted the wolves again. “Idiots.”

I didn’t respond, because my Lily was the cheese in this scenario. And those idiots would soon use their brute force to?—

“There you go,” Damien commended as the lycans kicked the door open.

Keep going, I immediately told Lily, her ears hearing the sound of their pursuit. Third door, darling. Open it and do not scream.

What?

Trust me.

Trust you, she repeated sourly.

Lily, I bit at her, needing her to focus. Save your anger. You’re going to need it. Now open that fucking door and silently close it behind you.

The screen displayed her doing exactly as I’d commanded.

And then her mouth dropped at the pile of flesh waiting for her as she faced the room.

Don’t—

She clapped her hand over her lips, her eyes rounding in alarm, but no sound left her. I hate you!

I didn’t kill those humans, little flower.

No. You just trained me to become one of them. Is this some sort of sick joke? A way to truly lead me to my fate?

Calm down.

Calm down? she repeated. Calm down?!

Fuck, where was this fire in all the months I trained you?

What do you think drove me to survive all your classes? she shouted back to me, her hand falling from her lips and forming a fist at her side.

I sighed. Lily ? —

No. Tell me your whole plan right now. I want ? —

I need you to move into the back of the room, remove that vent, and crawl inside, I told her. Then I’m coming for you.

Coming for me?

Yes. Now go to that vent and see if you can remove it, I said. “Can you lock…” I trailed off as the door bolted again. “Thanks.”

“It won’t help for long.” Damien gestured to the two lycans who had decided to split up in pursuit of Lily’s scent since it went two ways. “He’ll find her in a few seconds.”

I nodded, my gaze on Lily as she navigated toward the vent. Once you’re inside, replace the vent and start crawling.

“Want me to set off the sprinklers?” Damien asked.

“Once she’s inside the vent, yes,” I said, turning on my earpiece. “Then I’m heading in.”

Damien hit a button to initiate radio contact. “I’ll be here for as long as I can.”

I nodded, understanding what he meant—if the lycans found the van, he would abort the mission. Then I’d be on my own with Lily.

“Thanks for your help,” I told him. “The funds are waiting for you in the usual place, so if I don’t make it out of this…”

“I still get paid,” he translated, glancing at me with his golden-brown eyes. “But we both know how hard you are to kill.”

My lips twitched. “That we do.”

“Then I won’t wish you luck.”

I dipped my chin again. “Good. I wouldn’t want to risk you jinxing anything.”

“Sometimes you remind me of Ryder.”

“Sometimes I wish I was Ryder,” I admitted.

It would be nice to live in seclusion and avoid all the politics of this reformed world.

Alas, Silvano was my maker, and that sort of future would never be mine.

At least I’ll have my flower, I thought, my gaze on the corner of the morgue where Lily had just finished squeezing into the vent shaft. I didn’t need to remind her to resecure the grate; she was already doing it.

“Time to make it pour,” I told Damien, referring to the sprinklers and my intent to kill .

“Blood rain.” The vampire sounded amused. “My kind of party.”

“That’s why I invited you,” I returned, opening the door of the van. “Until next time.”

“Until next time,” he echoed.

Cedric? Lily whispered.

Start crawling, little flower. I’ll be there soon.