Page 76 of Bonded By Blood

“I have some more information for you,” he said, pulling away from her. “The operation is going online within the week. Two females are set to ovulate, and the males are ready to go. Several other capture orders are being undertaken as we speak. They hope to have five or six breeding pairs over the next few weeks.”

“Any closer to finding the location?”

“Unfortunately, no. It’s cloaked, and they’re keeping it top secret. Just the researchers and the Overlord—I mean Pavlos—know where it’s at. Everyone else is on a need-to-know basis. All I’ve been able to determine is that it’s located somewhere west of the Cascade Mountains within about three hours of the city.”

“Baby, you’re good like that.” She grabbed his ass and yanked him close. “Now be careful.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “Always.”

And with that, he released her and was gone.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Dom leaned against the cabin’s deck rail, the cup of tea now lukewarm in his hand, and stared into the darkness.

“My brother, Alfonso.” A bitter taste filled his mouth. He could hardly stand to form that name on his tongue, but the need to open up to Mackenzie was something he couldn’t fight any longer. “He used to date a sweetblood woman. He ended up draining her dry one night and left her for dead. I discovered the body and had to cover up the whole goddamn thing from the human authorities. It was difficult—her family was very influential. The Agency tried to locate Alfonso, but he was never caught.”

“Were they bonded like we are?”

“I don’t know anyone who is like us,” he replied.

“Have you talked with him about what happened?”

He scoffed. “No. A long time ago, he betrayed our parents to Pavlos and joined the Alliance. Or maybe it was the other way around. In any event, all he cared about was himself and getting his hands on more Sweet.”

Mackenzie set his cup on the table behind them and took his hand. “So why do you blame yourself for your parents’ deaths?”

“I knew about the threat, but I left them unprotected anyway.” Her calm energies soothed him and the familiar angry knots that balled up in his shoulders whenever he thought about his family didn’t feel quite so solid.

“You said your father was on the Council. How did he not know about the threat?”

“He actually knew about it before I told him. All Council families were in danger, and I urged him to take Mother to London, far away from Madrid, until we got a handle on things there.”

Mackenzie pursed her lips, lost in thought for a moment. “Did you have extra knowledge that you didn’t act on?”

“No.”

“Did your father not believe the threat was real?”

“He knew it was real, but I’m not sure he thought it was imminent. He planned to take my mother toCasa en Las Colinas,our family’s estate overlooking the Cantabrian Sea, but Alfonso brought Pavlos the night before they were to leave.”

She gasped. “Your brother?”

“He waited out in the coach while Pavlos, the Darkblood Overlord, slaughtered our parents. The guards only let the coach through the gates because my brother was inside.”

Tired from the late night, Mackenzie awoke midmorning, wrapped in the protective cocoon of Dom’s arms. During the night, she’d awakened occasionally to find him caressing or lightly kissing her hair. She had hoped to roll over just once and hear the sound of deep, sleep-induced breathing, but she never did.

“What’s bothering you?” Her hand ran absently over his chest.

“Darkblood concerns. Nothing for you to worry about, but we do need to go soon.”

She stiffened. “Didn’t you find that other guy?”

“Lily did. She took care of him.”

Her muscles loosened again, and she nestled deeper into his arms. “Then what’s wrong?”

“We’ve uncovered a new Darkblood plot.”